Christian Architecture Colleges and Universities

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Architecture is more than just a blueprint. Architecture is an art form, designing structures and buildings that cultivate community, see businesses thrive, and become the homes that see families form and grow. An architecture degree teaches students how to plan buildings, yes, but it also teaches them how to analyze culture and purpose and put it into a design that functions on multiple levels.

An architecture degree from a Christian college will teach students to harness the creativity that they have been blessed with and combine it with wisdom and thoughtful planning. A major in Architecture will prepare students to make meaningful impacts in society’s built-environment and reflect the creative design that God put into us, his own creation.

Some example careers for students who major in Architecture:

• Architect: An architect is a certified professional trained to design buildings and structures and ensure that they are safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Architects work closely with clients, engineers, and construction teams to bring to life structures that meet clients’ expectations and reflect the culture, values, and environment of the world around them. Architects create the concepts and plans for these structures, adhering to best practices and regulations.
• Interior Designer: An interior designer focuses on designing and planning out the use of space, furnishings, and light in an interior space. They plan out the use of light, color schemes, furnishings, materials, and plan the flow between rooms to ensure it meets the client’s needs and identity and enhances their quality of life. Interior designers work closely with clients, architects, and contractors, and adhere to safety codes and regulations in order to bring out the desired vision.
• Urban Planner: An urban planner puts together plans and designs for larger community, residential, or urban areas. They take into consideration environmental impact, community input, economic and social trends, and other various data to plan how to best use space, accommodate growth, or revitalize physical structures/facilities in communities. They work with government officials, developers, and the public to plan and create working, sustainable, and appealing urban environments.
• Landscape Architect: A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces like parks, gardens, campuses, residential areas, and recreational areas. They consider ecological sustainability, historical and cultural context, and functionality, combining natural and built elements to create a space that is aesthetically pleasing and usable. They work with urban planners, architects, clients, and engineers.
• Sustainable Design Consultant: A sustainable design consultant focuses on ensuring that a project has the least negative effect on the environment as possible by integrating environmental sustainability principles into the planning and creation of the structure. They advise clients on what systems to include or exclude in order to be energy efficient and eco-friendly. Their goal is to create spaces that meet the client’s needs while also being sustainable and efficient.
• Construction Manager: Construction managers oversee construction projects from start to finish, ensuring safety of work environment, keeping to the budget, managing schedules, and working with contractors. They work closely with architects, engineers, and clients to make sure that the vision is being met by the construction crew while also complying with regulations. Construction managers are vital to the completion of the project and making sure that things progress according to schedule and plan.
• Architectural Historian: An architectural historian studies the history and heritage of architecture, the development of building styles, techniques, and use of materials over time. They work to document, preserve, and inform the public about historical buildings or structures and their value. Architectural historians work closely with preservationists, architects, and planners to ensure historic preservation is present in modern development and design.
• Rendering Specialist: A rendering specialist turns architectural designs into 3D models using software and animations. These models help architects, design teams, clients, and stakeholders visualize the lighting, space, materials, and environment of the completed project. A rendering specialist has a strong grasp of architecture and technology, and their work is vital to the design and decision making for a project.

A successful career as an architect boils down to a couple of factors. Namely, education, experience, and certification. Not every job in the Architectural field requires certification, however, in order to use the title “Architect” or land a high level/senior roll in an Architectural firm, certification is required. Certification requires at least a bachelor’s in architecture from an accredited college, around 3,740 hours of professional experience served under a certified Architect, and passing the ARE (Architect Registration Examination). The certification process, with all parts combined, can take a few years to complete.

Again, not all jobs in the architectural field require certification. An architecture degree can get students jobs as a designer, drafter, or architectural intern, among many other things, at a firm where they can still contribute to projects and planning. Without certification, there are still many options for employment, and most certainly a path that can suit anyone’s personal definition of success.

Architecture is a major that is ripe with opportunity, especially in areas that are heavy in construction or development. While there is no absolute statistic for graduate success with a Degree in Architecture, many graduates find employment and opportunity quickly. Because of the certification process, getting an internship while still in school is a common and recommended way to ensure experience and better opportunity upon graduation. The estimated salary for a graduate with an Architecture Degree is around $64,700, varying depending on portfolio, experience, and, eventually, certification.

Architects analyze culture, values, the environment, and the space provided them, and craft a structure that reflects all these things in an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional way. To major in Architecture is to understand that you are never done learning. Architects need to keep updated on best practices and safety regulations. It means studying other’s creations and learning what works and what doesn’t. An architecture degree is committing to ongoing learning, being adaptable, and being dedicated to the details. Designing structures requires focus and attention down to the smallest measurements. Even the slightest miscalculation could leave a building unsafe or unstable. Architects also need to be able to work well with others and communicate clearly to ensure everything is done according to design.

Communication, attention to detail, commitment to continued learning, creativity, and the know-how to put it all together make Architects invaluable in society. There will always be a need for architects. But their benefit extends beyond just business. Architects also play a valuable role in the Church and ministry.

Work Cited: 

• “Junior Architect Salary in United States.” Indeed, 18 Aug. 2024, www.indeed.com/career/junior-architect/salaries?from=top_sb.

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

People with an architecture degree will have no trouble finding their place in the service of God’s kingdom.

Exodus 25: 8-9
“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”

God is the original architect. He created the world and everything in it. He could have just created the tabernacle, but instead gave the Israelites a detailed blueprint for how His sanctuary was to be built. We know that we are created in God’s image, given different gifts to use for His will. So then, those who are gifted to create and design have been given this gift by God and can follow the example He sets in intentional and detailed planning of structures to bring Him glory.

Architecture plays a critical role in the development of the Church building. Be that the way that the actual building is formatted, the walls, floor, the materials, and shape, or the way that the rooms are decorated and furnished. Architecture can take a space and make it more welcoming, symbolic, and comfortable. Architecture can be used in the Church to rebuild a space to make more room, to create a more open or reverent environment. An architect will be able to plan out the best use of space and know how to make safe adjustments to accommodate the Church’s needs.

An architecture degree can also be valuable for ministry, in outreach, or church planting. Someone with a degree in architecture and certification to be an architect can safely and effectively design new church buildings or how to make the best use of buildings already present. Architects will be able to make the best use of what light is present, what materials can be afforded, and what space is available. They can make a building feel more like a home, or a welcome and divine space where people can feel safe and comfortable to worship together.

An architecture degree gives dedicated, creative, and determined students the opportunity to make profound impacts in their career and in the Church. If you are creative, ready to learn and keep learning, and devoted to the details, then getting a degree in architecture may be right for you!