In “Tips from the Top,” Architects Share Advice and Insights

When architects are asked to share the secrets to their success they will often give valuable suggestions and guidance — and now some of this wisdom can be found in “Tips from the Top: Architects Share Their Advice for Success.” Guests recently gathered at the Rimadesio showroom in New York City for a panel discussion and signing to celebrate the new book.

Clifford Pearson, a contributing editor at Architectural Record and co-editor of the volume, served as moderator. The book is a collection of advice from 65 practitioners from around the globe. Presented by theme in seven broad categories such as Values, Engagement and Determination, the 144-page book is not meant to be read cover to cover, but rather, with a sense of discovery as one flips through the pages. “It’s organized like a bento box, and people can read a little bit at a time,” Pearson explained.

Ideal for architecture students or individuals just starting out in the profession, the topics and advice found in the tome serve not only as inspiration but are also meant to spark continued dialogue. Each panelist featured in the publication shared their thoughts on a range of topics during the hour-long conversation.

Kim Yao, principal at Architecture Research Office, noted that education does not end when someone leaves the classroom, and teaching in the studio can have a lasting impact. “Learning is about mentoring for us,” she said. “We train people so that they can explore and understand the inner workings across all of the skillsets. Through mentorship you learn from the people you’re interacting with, and they bring new ideas to you.”

Embracing different techniques is key to a firm’s evolution, and each member of the staff must commit to growth as well. For Ali Rahim, director of Contemporary Architecture Practice (CAP), change begins with the individual, and is naturally reflected in every element. “When we started the practice it was evident that we were putting in a tremendous amount of work, not only on the projects,” he noted. “It was based on developing ourselves as architects, as researchers and thinkers.”

With offices in Manhattan and Shanghai, plus a roster of international clients, Rahim explained that while he strives to maintain thinking about the discipline via his own lens, he is still open to different viewpoints and technologies.

Hina Jamelle, also a director at CAP, acknowledges that embracing AI presents more of a challenge. Excitement and worry coexist as colleagues experiment, but it is a tool with benefits and drawbacks just like any other. She likens AI to a probe sent in to complete a specific task that the group could not otherwise complete. “It’s about calibration, until you get that one result out of 100, and it’s not ready to go, but it is the spark,” she explained.

While AI is best utilized to isolate and identify patterns, it is hardly inclusive. “I think whole cultures are being left out of these databases, and the focus on very narrow data concerns me,” Jamelle added. “Another worry is authorship. A designer’s work becomes carelessly used. How do we copyright all of these things?”

Pearson said that a national repository for architectural drawings administered by the government has been talked about, but a viable solution has yet to be formalized, and one may be years in the making or never even come to fruition.

Doom and gloom scenarios abound, and were only amplified when Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and Gates Foundation, proclaimed that humans won’t be needed for most things and that only three roles will be AI-proof: coder, biologist, and energy expert. The tech sector, where hiring is typically robust, is now seeing layoffs across the board. Microsoft confirmed earlier this month that 9,000 employees will be laid off as part of a plan to instead invest $80 billion in data centers for AI-model training.

In an already tough job market, today’s learners are heeding the warning signs and have decided to forego careers in design altogether. These shifts are set to impact education and the industry at large, and leaders can only speculate as to the changes that will occur. “The future is the one thing I cannot predict anymore,” said Rahim. “I do know that students aren’t going into architecture, they’re going into technology.”

As Jamelle continues to grapple with a complex landscape, she recognizes the value that can come from tension. She explained that often the best results are achieved when the firm’s staff is expected to push beyond the comfort zone. “The clients that make you uncomfortable or nervous are looking for your best work, and that’s when you are really breaking new ground.”

Panelists reflected on their personal definitions of success which shape every creation, no matter the budget or scale. Rahim considers it a win if he can produce something with at least a bit of innovation. Meanwhile for Jamelle, the greatest compliment is when someone says the end result looks effortless. No matter how we tally achievements in periods of uncertainty, there are ties that unite us. “Optimism and curiosity are a great common ground, especially when we don’t know what’s next,” Yao added.