Career Information: Interior Architecture

With ample opportunity for creativity and teamwork, interior architect careers focus on projects that fill in an empty space and make it usable and efficient. Interior architects incorporate design techniques for a wide spectrum of projects such as affordable housing, corporate headquarters or private estates.

General Information

By working closely with professionals in the building industry and allied fields, interior architects complete structural projects by creating unique, functional designs. Due to projects requiring specific skills and knowledge, most interior architects specialize in one area, such as retail space or exhibition designs. Unlike interior designers, interior architects not only add beauty to a space but also incorporate and streamline the space functionality based on work or living needs.

Safety

Interior architects are knowledgeable in areas such as structural design and occupational and safety standards. This knowledge is helpful in maintaining project safety standards and applying end-use applications that adhere to and maintain structural integrity.

Education

An education in interior architecture will include courses in drafting, planning, structural systems design, heating and cooling systems, safety standards and design. The interior architecture education is similar to architecture education with many of the same course requirements. Many schools also incorporate technology tools for interior architecture majors such as computer aided design software.

License Requirement

The profession of interior architecture is regulated and requires not only a formal education but also a state license. A practicing interior architecture cannot legally use the title of "Interior Architect" unless requirements for becoming a registered or licensed architect are completed. Most interior architects obtain a license after receiving a formal education and one to three years of professional experience.

Salary & Employment

An entry-level annual salary average is $40,000. However, salary ranges vary depending on experience, licenses, education and employment. An interior architect career provides employment flexibility, allowing the professional to be self-employed or to be employed by a company.

Related Careers

Careers and course studies related to interior architecture include architectural engineering, architectural history, urban planner, architecture, civil engineering, interior design and landscape architecture.

References

• College Board
• Rhode Island School of Design
• The Princeton Review

Resources

• American Institute of Architects