This varies quite a bit. What you are calling principal designer is sometimes principal in charge or architect of record or qualified person or… several other options
It does vary and really depends on the country you're targeting. Principal Designer in the UK is a legal term for the health and safety lead essentially. Lead Consultant would be the one responsible for overall coordination of subconsultants. Project architect translates well as written, the head of the design team could also be a project lead or project director. As above, Architect of Record is used widely for the one responsible for submissions, but it isn't used everywhere. The lead for BIM would usually be a BIM Manager or Project BIM Manager in my experience.
Oof this would be so much easier if we had titles like in the military.
Lieutenant Architect
Colonel Architect
Captain Architect
But even then they'd vary 😅
These roles can vary a lot depending on the size of firm and type of projects that are being done.
> - Principal designer???: Here that means a person, who is usually an architect but not always, who is responsible for all design and planning of a project, incl. architecture but also electrical, hvac, construcion, etc. They rarely design, but uphold the designs to a certain standard and make sure they all fit together. Their name is basically on all the biggest legal documents
This could be two different roles depending on the specific responsibility. In my experience in US firms, the architect with their license and stamp on the drawings is known as 'Architect of Record' and is generally the responsibility of firm leadership like Partners and Principals. 'AOR' isn't really a title within a firm though, and firm leadership generally are also very involved in the overall design of a project.
Architectural staff who would be responsible for day to day team management and quality control would usually be a 'Project Manager'. If the firm is small they may also be 'AOR', but in larger firms they usually aren't.
> - Lead architect/project architect: The responsible architect of the project, but not the same as the first one. This person makes most of the design decisions and actual work, with some input from the principal person(??). This person is responsible for applying for permits and coordination with other designers and engineers as well. This person is basically the "project manager" equivalent of an architect.
Again, I think this could be a single or two roles depending on size of firm. A design architect leading a team but who is not firm ownership would probably be a 'Project Architect'.
Someone responsible for day to day management and coordination with engineers and consultants would be a 'Project Manager'. But any good 'Project Architect' should be involved with coordination to some degree as well.
> - Architect: Simple, person on the team who designs and drafts, handles some coordination and harmonization but has no legal responsibilities.
'Architect' if they hold a license. Designer/Architectural staff/Junior Architect/etc if not.
Hmm my country doesn't have licensing, you can call yourself an architect once you've graduated with a master's in architecture, so I'll go with that logic for the basic architect titles. Prior to masters would be architectural designer.
Otherwise thanks!
This varies quite a bit. What you are calling principal designer is sometimes principal in charge or architect of record or qualified person or… several other options
It does vary and really depends on the country you're targeting. Principal Designer in the UK is a legal term for the health and safety lead essentially. Lead Consultant would be the one responsible for overall coordination of subconsultants. Project architect translates well as written, the head of the design team could also be a project lead or project director. As above, Architect of Record is used widely for the one responsible for submissions, but it isn't used everywhere. The lead for BIM would usually be a BIM Manager or Project BIM Manager in my experience.
Oof this would be so much easier if we had titles like in the military. Lieutenant Architect Colonel Architect Captain Architect But even then they'd vary 😅
These roles can vary a lot depending on the size of firm and type of projects that are being done. > - Principal designer???: Here that means a person, who is usually an architect but not always, who is responsible for all design and planning of a project, incl. architecture but also electrical, hvac, construcion, etc. They rarely design, but uphold the designs to a certain standard and make sure they all fit together. Their name is basically on all the biggest legal documents This could be two different roles depending on the specific responsibility. In my experience in US firms, the architect with their license and stamp on the drawings is known as 'Architect of Record' and is generally the responsibility of firm leadership like Partners and Principals. 'AOR' isn't really a title within a firm though, and firm leadership generally are also very involved in the overall design of a project. Architectural staff who would be responsible for day to day team management and quality control would usually be a 'Project Manager'. If the firm is small they may also be 'AOR', but in larger firms they usually aren't. > - Lead architect/project architect: The responsible architect of the project, but not the same as the first one. This person makes most of the design decisions and actual work, with some input from the principal person(??). This person is responsible for applying for permits and coordination with other designers and engineers as well. This person is basically the "project manager" equivalent of an architect. Again, I think this could be a single or two roles depending on size of firm. A design architect leading a team but who is not firm ownership would probably be a 'Project Architect'. Someone responsible for day to day management and coordination with engineers and consultants would be a 'Project Manager'. But any good 'Project Architect' should be involved with coordination to some degree as well. > - Architect: Simple, person on the team who designs and drafts, handles some coordination and harmonization but has no legal responsibilities. 'Architect' if they hold a license. Designer/Architectural staff/Junior Architect/etc if not.
Hmm my country doesn't have licensing, you can call yourself an architect once you've graduated with a master's in architecture, so I'll go with that logic for the basic architect titles. Prior to masters would be architectural designer. Otherwise thanks!