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Can you explain some things about design and engineering?
- What is the difference between an Architect and a Structural Engineer?
- Do you provide Engineering services?
- Can you explain how Architecture and Structural Engineering are regulated in Illinois?
- What do Structural Engineers do for building design?
- Do Architects do Structural Engineering?
- Do I even need an Architect?
Architecture and Structural Engineering are closely related professions. Legally they are somewhat interchangeable - in Illinois Architects are exempt from the Structural Engineering Practice Act and Structural Engineers are exempt from the Architectural Practice Act. Legal requirements vary across the United States. There are a variety of trajectories a professional may take in his or her career, but the basis of obtaining and maintaining licensure depends on a combination of credentials and experience.
If you want to learn more about Illinois statues in this matter visit:
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the governing body that regulates Design professions in Illinois. You can find out more about the requirements to practice Architecture and Engineering in Illinois here https://www.idfpr.com/profs/Architect.asp
https://www.idfpr.com/Profs/se.asp
https://www.idfpr.com/profs/ProfEngineer.asp
https://www.idfpr.com/profs/proflist.asp
Facilities Design Group PC has been providing architecture and engineering services since 2004. Before that, we worked at Facilities Design LTD (founded in 1958) providing the same services. We have decades of experience with old and new structures. Structural engineering required for the design and construction of small commercial and industrial buildings, low rise multi-family, and single family residences is within our area of expertise and professional experience. When we design structures, we compute the loads and stresses on the building and compute the size and connections of the parts using mathematical calculations based upon scientific principles and engineering data. When our in house architects design structures, there is no difference between our approach and that of a structural engineer. We have the credentials and resources to provide all the building related engineering services: we maintain a reference library of construction manuals for concrete, steel, and wood construction as well as resources for plumbing, HVAC and electrical engineering. When our workload is busy, we may outsource our engineering work to other licensed design professionals. We are both qualified and experienced to perform structural design.
When we encounter buildings that have structural systems outside our experience - for example truss design and long span structures - we hire structural engineers. Conversely, we have been hired by structural engineers to collaborate on design when the building code authority was outside their experience - for example dealing with the City of Chicago which has its own building code and unique requirements. During the course of our 14+ years in business, Facilities Design Group PC has worked with structural engineers and provided structural engineering services to other architects.
When we encounter buildings that have structural systems outside our experience - for example truss design and long span structures - we hire structural engineers. Conversely, we have been hired by structural engineers to collaborate on design when the building code authority was outside their experience - for example dealing with the City of Chicago which has its own building code and unique requirements. During the course of our 14+ years in business, Facilities Design Group PC has worked with structural engineers and provided structural engineering services to other architects.
Architects are regulated by the Architectural Practice Act of 1989. Structural Engineers are regulated by the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989 in Illinois. There is a lot of overlap between the two professions, and each is exempt from the other's Practice Act.
Under the Architectural Practice Act of 1989 :
Sec. 7. Exempt from Structural Engineers' Act. Any person licensed to practice architecture in this State under this Act is exempt from the provisions of any and all Acts in force in this State regulating the practice of structural engineering.Under the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989:
Sec. 3. ...Persons licensed to practice structural engineering in this State are exempt from the operation of any Act in force in this State relating to the regulation of the practice of Architecture.Based on the Illinois Structural Engineers Practice Act of 1989:
Sec. 5. A person shall be regarded as practicing structural engineering within the meaning of this Act who is engaged in the design, analysis, or supervision of the construction, enlargement or alteration of structures, or any part thereof, for others, to be constructed by persons other than himself. Structures within the meaning of this Act are all structures having as essential features foundations, columns, girders, trusses, arches or beams, with or without other parts, and in which safe design and construction require that loads and stresses must be computed and the size and strength of parts determined by mathematical calculations based upon scientific principles and engineering data.Based on the Illinois Architectural Practice Act of 1989:
(b) The practice of architecture within the meaning and intent of this Act includes the offering or furnishing of professional services, such as consultation, environmental analysis, feasibility studies, programming, planning, aesthetic and structural design, technical submissions consisting of drawings and specifications and other documents required in the construction process, administration of construction contracts, project representation, and construction management, in connection with the construction of any private or public building, building structure, building project, or addition to or alteration or restoration thereof.
It depends. Some project types are not legally required to have an architect, depending on the project location. Even when it's not a legal requirement, hiring an architect is a good investment.
The involvement of an architect is not required for the following: (A) The building, remodeling or repairing of any building or other structure outside of the corporate limits of any city or village, where such building or structure is to be, or is used for farm purposes, or for the purposes of outbuildings or auxiliary buildings in connection with such farm premises. (B) The construction, remodeling or repairing of a detached single family residence on a single lot. (C) The construction, remodeling or repairing of a two-family residence of wood frame construction on a single lot, not more than two stories and basement in height. (D) Interior design services for buildings which donot involve life safety or structural changes. However, when an ordinance of a unit of local government requires the involvement of an architect for any buildings included in the preceding paragraphs (A) through (D), the requirements of this Act shall apply.All buildings not included in the preceding paragraphs (A) through (D), including multi-family buildings and buildings previously exempt from the involvement of an architect under those paragraphs but subsequently non-exempt due to a change in occupancy or use, are subject to the requirements of this Act. Interior alterations which result in life safety or structural changes of the building are subject to the requirements of this Act.