2 in 5...

I'm reading a report in the Irish times that two out of every five architects will have lost their jobs in the last 15-months. Given that figures are provided by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), it's official. For those in the sector, it's a well known fact that architects are the first in the firing line in any downturn, the rest tend to follow. Does s this mean that the worst is yet to come for tradesmen and builders ? I hope not. But rather than wallow, lets have a look at what out of work architects could now potentially do for a living..

Domestic Architecture Jobs
During the boom times sourcing an architect for a domestic project was like chasing rainbows. For many property owners you had to be related to, close friends with or in possession of some compromising information on an architect in order to get them to consider a taking a domestic architectural job. OK, I exaggerate slightly, but with so many high paying commercial building projects in offing, domestic commercial projects simply didn't register for many. Now however, things have changed. Domestic architectural contracts can offer a steady revenue stream for registered architects and should be considered. At onlinetradesmen.com we are seeing a steady demand from property owners nationwide. See here for more.

BER Assessors
It seems that a lot of skilled construction professionals are banking on the BER regulations as a means to providing a livelihood in the downturn. The regulations now require that all private dwellings that are rented / up for sale have a BER certificate from a qualified BER assessor . This should provide a steady workload for many - if the regulations are enforced (another day's posting). It's early days yet, but the signs on our own service are that property owners are starting to take this seriously. Since Jan 01 requests for BER assessors on Onlinetradesmen.com have increased by about 400%! You can see more at in our BER section.

Qualified Architects pre-qualify to train as BER assessors. Sustainable Energy Ireland are responsible for setting the training standards for BER assessors nationwide, with training companies like chevron training doing the certification. SEI have set the bar so that only holders of a "National Certificate Level 6 Advanced Certificate/Higher Certificate in construction studies or other cognate discipline or equivalent" are eligible to to take the course. According to the SEI,"Equivalence may be determined as a combination of an appropriate construction-related qualification and significant relevant experience." I get a little concerned about the latter statement as it adds a layer of ambiguity as to who can train - I just hope that the qualifications are being policed properly. Bottom line is that architects, with their in depth knowledge on construction technology, practices and materials, are ideal for this area.

Domestic Project Management
While domestic or residential project management services are in their infancy in Ireland, they are well established outside of Ireland. It's a service that makes complete sense for property owners who are undertaking construction projects without the experience or knowledge to manage it themselves. Sure, a building contractor can manage the build, but that still leaves the property owner with an awful lot on their plate. By appointing a project manager to oversee the planning, design, contracts, construction phase and snagging, property owners can ensure a project is completed on time and on budget - without the stress and normal hiccups. This area can be serviced by surveyors, qualified project management professionals and - surprise - architects. Onlinetradesmen.com is launching a service around this for property owners - Architects should apply! See here for more.

Other areas
There are doubtless a vast number of other areas that architects can apply their highly developed skills of organisation, planning and creativity to. Suggestions of interior design, landscaping and other areas come to mind. Perhaps the reader can suggest some others ? Maybe between us we can narrow the gap between the 2 and the 5....