Caela J. McKeever traces the ways in which the gap between the passion of architecture school and the stark realities of professional practice are discouraging young architects.
Are architecture schools failing to prepare their students for the realities of professional life? Are architecture firms consumed by a lack of respect for design integrity and individual effort? Are young architects unrealistic in their expectations for the speed of professional success? All three may be contributing to the widespread dissatisfaction and disappointment with the architecture profession felt by McKeever and her young colleagues, some of whom have abandoned the profession, while many others struggle to stay in it.
"Those who have left the field have no regrets about
initially pursuing an architectural education even after the recession
forced many laid-off interns to consider a career change earlier than
they may have initially considered," notes McKeever. "But in order to maintain the health
of the profession, a fundamental change in how young interns are
integrated into the design environment, and in how they apply their
education, needs to occur."
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