Can An Architectural Engineer Become A Registered Architect?

I'm the president of a Queens co-op, and several apartments and common areas in our building have suffered serious h2o damage caused by long-continuing leaks from the roof and parapets. An engineer we hired said the roofing system that was installed about five years ago was inferior (and probably not properly installed), and the parapet walls needed to be rebuilt. We have received proposals from this engineer and several other firms for the repair work, only the board is divided over whether an architectural firm or an engineering firm would be better suited for the projection. Some members fence that considering the underlying roof deck may be damaged we need a structural engineer, while another member says that "architects are for the exterior of the building, engineers are for the within." Is there such a distinction that comes into play with this type of project? Nosotros may seek amercement against the roofing manufacturer and/or contractor who installed the roof, then if we need to litigate, nosotros want to have the right professional testifying about the previous work.

Rand employee inspecting a facade Exterior repair projects can be handled by either an engineer or builder depending on his or her grooming and experience.

A unremarkably held view shared by not but your board but also much of the general public is that architects are primarily concerned with the design, style, and appearance of a building, while engineers nourish to the nitty-gritty details of the building'southward function. In other words, the thinking goes, the architect cares how the building looks; the engineer cares how it works.

While at that place may be an chemical element of truth to the stereotypes of the 2 professions—the abstract, artistic architect with the trendy eyeglasses and stylish dress versus the practical, hands-on engineer with pocket protector and dirt under his fingernails—the reality is more complicated. There are, later on all, many engineers who are conceptually and aesthetically oriented and many architects skilful at mechanical disciplines.

The differences between engineers and architects, while they exercise exist, are not as great equally what the two professions share—the expertise to evaluate, pattern, and maintain buildings and building systems and provide aesthetically pleasing, rubber, well-functioning spaces to piece of work and live. The question is, then, which one is amend suited for the detail projection at paw?

Teaching and Licensing

Engineers and architects receive different degrees in college and each must pass different professional examinations to be licensed. To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in New York Land, an engineer has to pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering examination, which is offered in a number of fields, such as civil, electrical, mechanical, and structural engineering. To become a Registered Architect, i must pass the Builder Registration Test, which covers seven areas, such as Site Planning & Design, Building Systems, and Structure Documentation & Services.

The differences between engineers and architects are not as cracking as what the two professions share.

New York Land does not specify any engineering science or architectural specialty in its licensure: A licensed engineer is simply a PE, non a Structural PE or a Mechanical PE. The same holds true for Registered Architects: An architect who specializes in new building design every bit opposed to one who is an celebrated preservation expert both have the aforementioned RA title. (The one exception is a landscape builder, which has its own RA designation.)

Other than certain restrictions in specialized disciplines or areas, once PE'due south and RA's are issued their licenses, they are entrusted by the state with the responsibility to make up one's mind which disciplines and projects they can administrate.

Practical Experience

While education and licensing are an important function of an engineer'due south and builder's qualifications, over time the professional person'south real-world work experience becomes the near significant factor in determining who is the correct person for your building's projects. Subsequently engineering and architectural students graduate and begin practicing in their disciplines, they typically receive grooming in the services their individual firms offer, and ideally they begin to pursue the types of projects that most closely marshal with their interests and skill set. Equally they carry out the mean solar day-to-twenty-four hours tasks of their piece of work and starting time to become knowledgeable in their field, their experience and expertise eventually matter more than whether they are PE's or RA's.

It's non that the license doesn't thing—far from it. The PE and RA credentials signify that the professional has acquired the necessary knowledge and training required to competently perform his or her work. New York State also has ongoing educational requirements to make sure PE's and RA'south stay up to engagement on the latest products, technologies, and regulations affecting their practices. And, of grade, New York State and City allow merely licensed engineers or registered architects to perform certain tasks, such as signing and sealing design plans filed with the Buildings Section or filing New York City Local Law 11/98 facade inspection reports. Simply when deciding who'south the best qualified person for a particular projection at your building, the professional person'south first-paw knowledge and on-the-job feel probably outweigh whether the initials later his or her name are PE or RA.

The professional person's practical feel outweighs whether he or she is a PE or an RA.

This is not to say that certain projects don't call for specific skill sets that an engineer is more than likely to accept than an architect, or vice-versa. For example, upgrading a heating found or re-piping a domestic h2o system would virtually certainly exist better handled by a mechanical engineer than by an architect—or for that thing, than by a structural engineer. Designing the aesthetics elements of a antechamber renovation or an flat combination, on the other hand, is much more of an assignment for an interior design-oriented architect than for an engineer—or an architect who specializes in exterior work.

Other types of projects, however, such equally roofing replacement, window replacement, facade restoration, leakage investigation, or exterior repair in general could be handled by either an engineer or an builder with the right background. Engineers and architects, later all, don't acquire degrees in roofing, or in concrete repairs, or in finding the source of leaks.

But while all engineers and architects take a general cognition of covering systems, building structure, and construction materials, not all of them accept worked extensively on those types of projects. In deciding which company to engage on your covering replacement project, your lath should consider not only each firm'due south experience on like jobs, but also the project manager who would exist assigned to the projection and his or her familiarity with the particular covering system at your edifice. Also keep in mind that a firm with a staff of professionals with expertise in multiple disciplines will take the ability to handle dissimilar aspects of the project if required—for instance, later on ripping upward the existing roof and finding the underlying roof deck has structural damage.

Adept Witness Testimony

Should your Board accept legal action against the manufacturer of your previous roof or the contractor who installed it, yous volition want to rent the well-nigh qualified person for the job—both in do and on paper—in case he or she has to testify on behalf of the Cooperative. Specifically, the person should be a licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect in New York State and have extensive experience with covering systems, especially the kind installed at your building. If the roof suffered structural damage, it'due south best that the person also exist a practicing structural engineer in add-on to a covering skillful.

A Registered Architect could very well be qualified to make a structural assessment of a roof, but given the misconception (as expressed fifty-fifty by some on your lath) that architects are not suited for structural piece of work, it's best to play it safe and have an engineer testify to maximize the Cooperative's chances for a favorable legal outcome.

Whether you lot engage an engineer or an architect for this or other projects, the principal thing to keep in listen is that the person'south (and his or her firm'south) skills and expertise should match what's needed for the job. Then interview the candidates, ask for references, and select the professional—PE or RA—with your building's best interests in mind.

Stephen Varone , AIA is president and Peter Varsalona , PE is master of RAND Engineering science & Architecture, DPC . This column was originally published in the November 2010 issue of Habitat Magazine.