Role of Architects and Structural Engineers In The Construction Industry in India
Architects and Structural Engineers are considered to be the backbone of a construction project. They jointly work to ensure the structure, durability and flair of a figure.

In this article, we have discussed the various important roles and duties that an architect and a structural engineer play in the Construction Industry.

Who is an Architect?

Architects mainly design residential and commercial structures, but their responsibilities do not actually end there. An architect should also think about the style, safety and stability of the building, along with its owners, and meet the requirements of state and federal regulators. Before making plans, they must meet their customers to find out their specific goals, budget and any specific requirements for the project. Architects also collaborate with other professionals whose work complements theirs and can help them to further the precision of their own work. Engineers, construction representatives and developers, town and city planners, landscape architects, interior designers are all professionals who work hand-in-hand with architects to achieve the perfect design and business organisation. Architects must also have excellent oral and written communication skills as they need to directly deal with various clients and professionals.

Roles of an Architect

Design, Planning and Development

An architect is responsible for drafting designs and plans and undertaking development activities. Architects should provide reliable and valid information, and verifiable statistics regarding relevant subjects like the environmental impact of the concerned project, feasibility studies, and analysis of land use patterns and the cost-effectiveness of the project. The architect is in charge of construction plans and blueprints. These are the fundamentals which are referenced by the builders during construction.

Research and knowledge

Architects must possess complete knowledge about, and take care of, building codes including fire codes, zoning ordinances and city ordinances, and other responsibilities when they are drafting their plans. As far as government buildings are concerned, they need to be well aware of disability access laws. As these rules change from time to time, architects must keep up to date with various policies and regulatory changes. They should be familiar with the latest energy-efficient products and construction techniques.

Technical applications

There is a lot of technology in the current structure. Architects must be technically trained as well, and capable of constructing technologically efficient, computer-aided drafting, modelling and other related systems. They need to be innovative so that they are able to come up with various manufacturing processes and software designs that can achieve the necessary aim and simultaneously be compatible with the basic office software.

Who is a Structural Engineer?

Construction engineers play an important role in the planning, design, monitoring and execution of a construction project. They are responsible for keeping the project safe and sound from design to completion. They are responsible for the overall design in terms of feasibility, strength and integrity of the structures. Overall, the construction engineer’s work plan begins with proper coordination with the architects and MEP engineers and ends with the approval of the necessary authority to execute and complete the project.

Roles of a Structural Engineer

The duties and responsibilities of a structural engineer are as follows:

• Technical Distribution of Structural Engineering Design on a wide variety of projects. This may include commercial buildings, offices, mixed-use development projects, warehouses and villas.
• Building a construction system and developing a finite element analysis model
• Design and interpretation of design results with the help of construction design programs for the assigned project with a view to the safety and sustainability of the structure as per the governing code.
• Optimize the design to meet project needs and clearly defend and explain the design team’s approach.
• Prepare a complete construction plan and detailed drawings according to design results coordinated with the Department of Architecture and MEPs for submission and approval of the authority.
• Discuss the assigned project with the authority and address their views until getting the building permit.

Architects and Structural Engineers definitely have significant roles to play in a construction project and boasts of a number of responsibilities necessary for building up a sturdy yet elegant structure.