Architecture and engineering are both essential processes to the creation of a building, but they can often be confused for each other. It is understandable why one would confuse them; they do do similar things. They’re both needed for the construction of buildings and they both contribute to the design and development of them. However, just because their jobs coincide does not mean that they are the same. 

Here is what you need to know about architecture and engineering, in what they are, in how they are similar, in how they are different, and in how they work together. 

What Is Architecture?

Architecture is the process of combining art and science to design a building. While an architect must understand the construction process and building materials and methods, architecture skews more towards being an art form than a science, although it requires an expert understanding of both.

What Is Engineering?

Engineering brings science and technology together in order to design and build buildings, machinery, and more. While it can work with architecture in order to assist with functionality and purpose behind design, engineering is more science-based, focusing on applying mathematics, scientific principles, and more to the construction of buildings. 

Similarities Between Architecture And Engineering

People wouldn’t get architecture and engineering confused if they didn’t have plenty of similarities. Both architects and engineers have to take on project management roles, work with the budgets given to them, are highly specialized fields, and require licenses in order to be able to practice their work legally. 

As such, both architects and engineers must have strong math and scientific skills, be able to think analytically, and be good leaders who are professional about time management. Projects cannot take forever, so both architects and engineers must manage their time well to meet deadlines. 

Both architects and engineers can specialize in different subsets of their fields. An architect might focus on commercial or residential or landscaping or some other kind of projects while an engineer might specialize in seismic, environmental, structural, or another type of engineering. 

Differences Between Architecture And Engineering

Just because architecture and engineering are similar does not mean that they are the same field, though. Architecture focuses more so on the aesthetics and design of a space while engineering focuses more on the incorporation of technology and engineering principles. While they do a similar job, they come at it from two very different perspectives and ergo require different skill sets. 

Architecture is more creative and reliant on the ability to think theoretically while engineering is more math-based and focused on certitude. Architecture is more of a “right brain” field, while engineering is more “left brain”.

Architects tend to be more involved in the pre-construction process while engineers are more involved in the actual construction process. As such, architects tend to work more in an office than engineers do. Architects also mostly focus on buildings and their interiors while engineers also work with roads and dams and tunnels and the like. 

How Architecture And Engineering Work Together

Architects and engineers work in unity in that while architects design a building, engineers will ensure that the design will work. They will communicate with each other in order to ensure that the design is both beautiful and scientifically sound, and make adjustments for each other as necessary as they go. Since engineering is science-based and applies those concepts to a design, architects must have those scientific principles in mind when creating their designs. 

The Takeaways

Architecture and engineering are similar and do work together, but they are not the same. Architecture is rooted more firmly in the arts and artistic expression, requiring a plethora of creative expertise, while engineering is more in the realm of science and technology and rooted in technique. Architecture is needed for the design of a space, engineering expands on that. In tandem, they create beautiful, functional buildings to suit the purposes required of them. 

Are You Curious About Architecture And Engineering?

Here at BGW Architects, we value communication between everyone involved in a design project. We seek to reduce conflict and create a more harmonious work process between the architects and general contractors. We believe in collaboration so that goals are met and the end result suits your ideal. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us at BGW Architects today.