Advice for Young Architects in the Vortex

After a few years in the architecture field, it can be hard to see the bigger picture. San Diego Gensler architect Marin Gertler provides perspective based on his own experiences.

1 minute read

January 30, 2017, 5:00 AM PST

By wadams92101


More than in other fields, in architecture takes a longer time to feel the professional satisfaction of a completed project. This can lead to disillusionment and burn out. Marin Gertler, a San Diego based Gensler architect provides some perspective and advice to those in the early years of a career in architecture, or those considering a career in architecture. For example, 

Following the romantic notion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, we all find ourselves faced with the reality of the business of architecture (or the business of another traditional profession). In most companies there is a sink or swim environment and that’s ok. This type of pressure is not dissimilar from what we faced with a professor organizing a semester around a unique challenge and typology. One could argue that this is actually healthy and like a young child, it is at this point in time that we are the most receptive to learning. Patience is really the key here, along with stamina. In this industry, it typically takes 3-7 years to actually have a chance to see one or more projects come to fruition and begin to connect the dots.

For more of Gertler's thoughts on the architecture career path, please visit the source article.

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