Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Jack. Jack Wonders, “What does an architectural engineer do?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Jack!

Do you love to make art? You probably have some great works that have made the front of the refrigerator. Your siblings, dogs and cats, and rainbows were probably popular subjects.

Some kids also love to draw buildings. Do you? Buildings, from houses to skyscrapers, can be fun to draw. Plus, it’s easy to make their straight lines with a ruler!

Of course, some people never stop drawing buildings. They even get paid to do it. Who are we talking about? Those professionals who design all the buildings we live and work in: architects!

When you think of a house or office building being constructed, what do you picture? You might think of the construction crews. Or maybe you picture all the heavy equipment they’ll use. Before those construction workers and dump trucks ever show up, though, tons of work has already gone into the project.

A building—any building—starts with a plan for its design. The people who create those designs are known as architects. Their finished plans take the form of blueprints. Other construction experts use these to create a plan for how to make the brand new building come to life.

So what is being an architect all about? Quite a bit, as a matter of fact! The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada describes architecture as “the art, the science and the business of building.” Architects must combine both art and science to create functional, appealing buildings.

When you’re an architect, you can be called upon to design any type of building. From small houses to huge mansions, architects design all kinds of homes. They also design large apartment buildings. Beyond homes, they might make the plans for skyscrapers, office buildings, hotels, universities, and hospitals.

Architects meet with building owners to learn what the purpose of the building will be. They must make sure the building meets the needs for what it will be used for. They also determine the style the owner would like. Then, they can create plans for builders to follow to turn vision into reality.

Do you want to become a famous architect? You could join the ranks of Zaha Hadid, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maya Lin, and Paul R. Williams. First, you’ll need to make sure you have the right training. Architects often take many classes in engineering and mathematics. They usually earn either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in architecture. These programs may last five or more years.

If you love science and art, architecture could be the right career for you. It can be both fun and rewarding to watch the buildings you design come to life!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CAS.A.1, NCAS.A.2, NCAS.A.3

Wonder What's Next?

Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day takes a closer look at a geographical phenomenon caused by glaciers!