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Architects  (NOC 2151)
Halifax Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Architects conceptualize, plan and develop designs for the construction and renovation of commercial, institutional and residential buildings. They are employed by architectural firms, private corporations and governments, or they may be self-employed.

architect, architectural standards specialist, chief architect, consulting architect, industrial and commercial buildings architect, residential architect.

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Architects perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Consult with clients to determine type, style and purpose of renovations or new building construction being considered
  • Conceptualize and design buildings and develop plans describing design specifications, building materials, costs and construction schedules
  • Prepare sketches and models for clients
  • Prepare or supervise the preparation of drawings, specifications and other construction documents for use by contractors and tradespersons
  • Prepare bidding documents, participate in contract negotiations and award construction contracts
  • Monitor activities on construction sites to ensure compliance with specifications
  • Conduct feasibility studies and financial analyses of building projects.

Architects may specialize in a particular type of construction such as residential, commercial, industrial or institutional.

Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Halifax, Dartmouth, Brookside, Goodwood, Hammonds Plains Road, Hatchet Lake, Lake Echo, Uplands Park

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Architects in Halifax Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Architects in Halifax Region as well as in the rest of the Nova Scotia.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Halifax Region Fair 2011-05-31

Currently the chances of qualified Architects finding employment are considered to be fair in the local area. Demand for architects is linked to activity in the construction industry, especially commercial and industrial projects. The economic downturn caused some companies to cut back on investment spending and some major projects to be delayed, although large projects proceeded such as the $42 million Canada Games Centre, the 19-storey Trillium condominium project, as well as numerous projects linked to government stimulus money - to name a few. There are also a number of multimillion dollar projects underway such as King's Wharf, construction of the new submarine maintenance facility at the naval dockyard and Nova Scotia Power's $53.4-million headquarters.

Many architects are self employed or are employed with small firms. Computer-aided design is becoming prevalent in this occupation, and those familiar with CAD technology will have better employment prospects. The ten provincial associations of architects in Canada have adopted a standardized process for admission to the architect profession known as the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP). All provincial associations require that an intern architect gains at least 5600 hours of work experience in specified areas of architectural practice.

In addition to employment opportunities locally, opportunities may exist in other areas of the province or in other regions of the country. People who are able to work elsewhere may want to research opportunities for this occupation in other labour markets within Nova Scotia and across the country. The future employment outlook for Architects in Nova Scotia is expected to be fair over the next 5 years.

Additional information on Architects (opportunities in other areas, training, who hires, current job openings, statistics and other information), is available on other parts of this web site.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the Nova Scotia and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.