Architectural Technician Job Kit

Architectural Technician with STEM™ CAREERS JOB KIT

Use cutting-edge technology to help turn building plans and models into reality

Reimagine spaces. Redefine living.

Smart by design

I’ve always had a strong interest in architecture and the built environment since my school years. I loved drawing, making models, and was fortunate to be able to travel around the world with my family. I was drawn to the history and culture of foreign places, and the way thoughtful design has, and can, shape how people experience spaces. That early curiosity led me to pursue a career in architecture, and I’ve spent over 25 years working across a range of respected architectural practices in Sydney.

Now, as a senior learning facilitator and course coordinator at Billy Blue College of Design, I help introduce students to architectural technology. This discipline highlights how digital technology can be effectively used to enhance architectural design and building efficiency.

Studying our Bachelor of Architectural Technology allows you to explore the tectonic potential of materials and apply learnt knowledge of construction assemblies in the architectural design process.

The course also provides a unique opportunity to learn how to design and document buildings using innovative digital technologies. Billy Blue College of Design graduates will offer employers

and clients a highly valued set of knowledge and skills across design, building information modelling and interactive software.

This agility is significant for the design and construction administration of buildings. It’s also important for meeting the needs for the human experience of living with and through personal digital technology that is connected to the digitalised built environment. You’ll learn how to propose buildings with new physical and digital layers of experience to generate vibrant, connected communities.

Dive deeper into all architectural technology’s benefits and opportunities on the following pages of this Job Kit.

CREATE INTELLIGENT SPACES

What is an Architectural Technician?

An Architectural Technician coordinates technical and design information and monitors the technical progress of architectural projects. They assist with preparing building designs, regulatory applications and construction specifications.

Billy Blue benefits

By studying architectural technology at Billy Blue, you’ll:

✔ Leverage a range of technologies used in creating innovative built environments

✔ Learn how this tech can help in sustainable lifecycle design and processes used in the industry

✔ See how 3D modelling and game engines can influence a range of architectural design proposals

✔ Become an expert with the software architectural firms use

✔ Undertake 120 hours of experience by completing an internship or working on a live brief

✔ Get industry connections. Billy Blue works with Arterra Interactive, BVN Architecture, AJC Architects and more who are leading the way in sustainable design

Architectural Technicians use technology and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) skills to bring building ideas to life, and implement Building Information Modelling (BIM) within digital models during a project’s design phase. These models help guide the construction process and support the ongoing maintenance of a building throughout its lifecycle. Get hands-on with AR, VR and 3D technologies to create building walkthroughs and digital twins.

Job opportunities

Demand

Top tasks

It’s an Architectural Technician’s job to:

Assist in designing and managing projects of all sizes. Projects can range from minor up to large-scale commercial renovations for educational, hospital, industrial, and residential properties, as well as public places or historical site renovations.

Lead or assist in the coordination of the project’s tech design and documentation linking concept, innovation, site topographical detail and realisation.

Use CAD to build the foundations of the design concept.

Utilise BIM to evaluate building efficiency and performance as well as carry out construction phase risk assessments.

Keep up to date with building regulations and new tech in the architectural industry (like artificial intelligence).

study time

To be an Architectural Technician, you’ll need a qualification like Billy Blue’s Bachelor of Architectural Technology. Throughout this degree, you’ll learn to create immersive built environments using cutting-edge CAD and BIM practices, all while mastering the latest software and tech. You’ll balance sustainability with innovation to create a smarter, greener world. By the end of this course, you’ll be industry-ready and set to help build the future from the ground up.

Learn more here: bit.ly/ architecturaltechnology

Or scan the QR code

Software checklist

As an Architectural Technician, you’ll use software like:

✔ SketchUp

✔ Revit

✔ Rhino3D with Grasshopper

✔ Unreal Engine

✔ V-Ray

Myths busted

#1 BIM is the same as 3D modelling

Reality: No. 3D modelling is one component of BIM.

#2 Sustainable architecture is too expensive

Reality: Long-term energy efficiency and reduced operational costs often outweigh the upfront investment in sustainability, as sustainable buildings can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

Potential career paths

Architectural Technician

Average salary: $80k - $100k

Construction Project Manager (construction)

Average salary: $125k - $145k

Building Designer

Average salary: $85k - $100k

Sustainability Consultant

Average salary: $85k - $100k

*SALARIES

#3 You work solo

Reality: As an Architectural Technician you’ll be working with stakeholders across every design phase – from brainstorming with clients, to working with construction teams, to architects signing off your designs.

#4 Architectural Technicians aren’t needed if you have a builder

Reality: Architectural Technicians provide the vision, details and documentation for builders to bring to life.

Planning his future

After spending over a decade in construction, Henry Payne put down the tools to upskill in architectural technology

henry payne architectural technology student

Growing up in North Queensland, architecture wasn’t available to study locally after Henry left school. His focus turned to rugby, then he went on to work in construction and HVAC (which stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

Henry’s interest in architecture was still there though, and he eventually swapped building for studying. When he came across the Bachelor of Architectural Technology at Billy Blue, he liked that the course was part-time, online and that it gave him a framework to apply years of observations and knowledge to an actual design process with real-world briefs. Henry enjoyed the course so much that he soon transitioned to full-time study.

At Billy Blue, he loves that his tutors are industry professionals and that he gets exposure to a range of software and technology. Before starting the degree, Henry barely used computers. Now he’s doing computational design.

“The lessons for complex software and programming are structured and digestible,” Henry explains.

“As for computational design, it felt like I’d spent years fishing from a boat on the reef, then I chucked on goggles and had a snorkel for the first time. It was a whole new world.”

Now in his final year of uni, Henry is thinking about his future career and wants it to involve his new skills in computational design. “The built environment shapes how people live, communities function and how cities evolve, so I’m eager to join a team actively contributing to it.”

If you’re considering architectural technology for your own study and career path, Henry says, “Start drawing now!” He also recommends that high school students choose subjects like visual arts, industrial tech, design, science and maths. One more way to get in the mindset? “Observe your surroundings and notice how people use space.”

observe your surroundings and notice how people use space”

A day in the life of an ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

During her 9-5, Anneisha Wrobluski works across multi-residential, education, and mixed-use projects for TPG Architects

As an architectural designer and communications manager, Anneisha contributes to concept development, visualisation, and documentation, while also coordinating tender submissions with the bid team. “This includes understanding project specifics, aligning consultant teams, and positioning bids to be competitive,” she says.

The best part of her job is working at the intersection of design and strategy.

“While on the bid team, I’m not just producing drawings, I’m a part of acquiring new projects, and how our story and strategy is successfully communicated, and a new project is ultimately secured,” Anneisha says.

As for the design process, she finds it really rewarding to see an idea move from the client’s vision and early concept through to a successful development application and then into delivery.

On the job

8am

Review emails, set priorities and set out my plan of action for the day before the office gets busy.

9am

Continue work on documentation tasks with pre-construction projects. This could be on a mixed-use residential project or retrofitting and designing school amenities. This includes a lot of butter paper, sketching to scale, as well as referencing the National Construction Code (NCC) for Australian standard dimensions and regulatory requirements.

10.30am

At this time I am deep in project work. This can shift between developing drawings in Revit, producing visualisations, or speaking with consultant teams.

1pm

Lunch and continue with the priorities I set in place at the start of the day.

2pm

Now I move between design and proposals, progressing concepts, preparing visuals, or I work on refining evaluation responses of a tender submission.

4.30pm

Review, reflect and reset. If a submission is due, this means quality control and I’ll be checking consistency, structure, and clarity. Otherwise, I’m wrapping up project work and setting priorities for the next day.

Get the job!

Start designing your career path with a little help from these tips and resources

Play

Like games? The following will allow you to flex your design skills:

✔ Architect Life: A House Design Simulator – PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC)

Watch

In Pursuit of Passive (YouTube)

This film follows the journey of constructing the first net-zero, Passive House in the Grand Tetons-Yellowstone region – one of the most challenging climate zones in the US.

The Human Scale (Apple TV) Explores the work of Danish architect Jan Gehl and champions urban designs that prioritise people, sustainability and social interaction.

Grand Designs (ABC iview) This series focuses on individuals building their dream homes, highlighting sustainability, innovative engineering and modern design. You’ll find episodes from Australia, New Zealand and the UK on ABC iview.

✔ Hotel Architect – PC

✔ The Sims (build mode) – PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One

Listen

Hearing

Architecture

Produced by the Australian Institute of Architects, this pod features architects, builders and designers from around Australia. They chat about how their work is improving the country’s cities and neighbourhoods.

apply

Follow

Electives checklist

Get prepared for life as an Architectural Technician by taking these subjects while you’re still at school. ✔ Design and technology ✔ Environmental science ✔ Maths ✔ Physics ✔ Software design and development ✔ Visual arts

Want to study architectural technology at Billy Blue? Explore scholarships: bit.ly/ TorrensScholarships visit

Australia has so many incredible buildings to get inspiration from: ACT: Parliament House NSW: Sydney Opera House

Vic: Fed Square

WA: The Great Wall of WA

‘How to build a career in Architectural Technology’ by Dr Scott Skipworth

Learn more about how architectural technology is influential in shaping the present and future of the built environment, plus career pathways and opportunities in this article: bit.ly/ DrScottSkipworth Read

Why not check out the building in your state or territory? If you can’t get there, read up about it and what it took to bring it to life.