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Architect CV Example

An architect CV presents your design vision, technical proficiency, and project management capabilities for roles in architectural practice.

Recommended template: Modern

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Key Skills to Include

AutoCADRevitSketchUpBuilding RegulationsProject ManagementSustainable DesignClient LiaisonPlanning Applications

Quick Tips

  • Include a portfolio link or attachment showcasing your best architectural projects.
  • Highlight your RIBA Part III qualification or equivalent professional registration.
  • Mention experience with sustainable design and environmental certifications like BREEAM.
  • Detail project scales and budgets to give context to your experience level.

Ready to build your CV?

Start with the Modern template and customise it for your construction role.

How to Write Your Architect CV

An architect CV must balance creative flair with technical competence and project delivery experience. Practices and clients want to see that you can design buildings that are both inspiring and buildable, while managing the practical demands of budgets, regulations, and programmes. Whether you are a recently qualified architect or a seasoned project lead, your CV should demonstrate your ability to take projects from initial concept through to successful completion.

CV Structure

Use a clean, reverse-chronological format with sections for your profile, work experience, education, and skills. Include a link to your online portfolio prominently at the top of the document. For each role, describe the practice, the types of projects you worked on, and your specific contributions. List RIBA work stages you have led to give employers a clear picture of your capability level. Keep the CV to two pages, supplemented by a separate portfolio.

CV Format

Choose an elegant, well-designed template that reflects your design sensibility without being overly elaborate. Architects are expected to present information with visual clarity, so pay attention to typography, alignment, and white space. Avoid cluttering the page with unnecessary graphics — let the layout itself demonstrate your design thinking. Save as PDF to preserve formatting.

CV Profile Examples

Chartered Architect

RIBA-chartered architect with nine years of experience delivering residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects from concept through to completion. Skilled in producing detailed design packages using Revit and AutoCAD, with a strong focus on sustainable design and regulatory compliance. Led the design of a £12M mixed-use development that achieved BREEAM Excellent certification.

Senior Architect

Creative and technically accomplished senior architect with extensive experience in the healthcare and education sectors. Proficient in BIM Level 2 workflows and experienced in coordinating multi-disciplinary design teams through RIBA work stages. Passionate about creating buildings that enhance wellbeing while meeting exacting performance and sustainability targets.

Part II Architectural Assistant

Ambitious Part II architectural assistant with three years of post-graduation experience across residential and conservation projects. Competent in Revit, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, with a keen eye for detail in producing planning and building control drawings. Currently preparing for Part III examination while contributing to live projects in a medium-sized practice.

State your RIBA registration status, years of experience, and the sectors you have worked across. Mention your strongest software skills and one headline project or achievement that defines your career to date.

Key Skills for Your Architect CV

AutoCAD

Producing precise 2D drawings, site layouts, and construction details using industry-standard drafting software.

Revit

Creating coordinated 3D building information models for design development, documentation, and clash detection.

SketchUp

Developing conceptual 3D massing models and design options for client presentations and feasibility studies.

Building Regulations

Ensuring designs comply with Parts A through P of the Building Regulations and achieving building control approval.

Project Management

Coordinating design teams, managing project programmes, and delivering schemes within agreed budgets and timescales.

Sustainable Design

Incorporating passive design strategies, renewable technologies, and BREEAM requirements into building proposals.

Client Liaison

Managing client expectations through regular design reviews, progress reports, and clear communication of options.

Planning Applications

Preparing and submitting planning applications including design and access statements and supporting documentation.

BIM Coordination

Managing federated models and coordinating design information across architectural, structural, and services disciplines.

Work Experience Examples

For each role, describe the types of projects and their scale, then list your specific responsibilities by RIBA stage. Include achievements that demonstrate design quality, project delivery, and client satisfaction. Mention any awards, competition wins, or published projects to strengthen your profile.

Project Architect

Hadfield Partners Architects

Led the design and delivery of residential and mixed-use schemes valued between £2M and £15M for private developers and housing associations.

Responsibilities

  • Managed projects through RIBA Stages 0 to 6, coordinating with structural engineers, M&E consultants, and landscape architects.
  • Produced detailed design packages in Revit including plans, sections, elevations, and construction details for building control approval.
  • Prepared and submitted planning applications, attending pre-application meetings and design review panels with local authorities.
  • Conducted site inspections during construction to monitor quality, resolve design queries, and issue architect's instructions.
  • Mentored two Part I architectural assistants, reviewing their drawing output and supporting their professional development.

Achievements

  • Delivered a 48-unit affordable housing scheme on time and 3% under budget, receiving a regional RIBA award nomination.
  • Secured planning consent for a sensitive conservation area project after presenting a contextual design response to the local planning committee.
  • Reduced design coordination clashes by 40% through implementation of a federated BIM model across all consultant disciplines.

Architectural Assistant (Part II)

Marsden Cole Architecture

Contributed to the design development and technical detailing of commercial office fit-outs and residential refurbishment projects.

Responsibilities

  • Prepared planning drawings, design and access statements, and heritage impact assessments for listed building applications.
  • Developed construction details and specification schedules in accordance with Building Regulations Part B, L, and M.
  • Created 3D visualisations and presentation materials using SketchUp and Lumion for client design reviews.
  • Assisted the project lead with contract administration duties including valuations and site meeting minutes.

Achievements

  • Produced a winning design competition entry for a community centre that progressed to RIBA Stage 2 development.
  • Streamlined the practice's drawing template standards, reducing drafting time by approximately 20% across the team.

Education & Qualifications

List your Part III qualification first, followed by your Part II (MArch/Diploma) and Part I (BA/BSc Architecture). Include the school of architecture, dates, and any distinctions or thesis topics. Mention your ARB registration number if space permits.

RIBA Part III

Professional practice examination qualifying you to register as an architect with the Architects Registration Board.

MArch (Part II)

Postgraduate architecture degree developing advanced design, research, and technical skills required for professional practice.

ARB Registration

Statutory registration with the Architects Registration Board, legally required to use the title architect in the UK.

BREEAM AP

Accredited Professional status demonstrating competence in advising on BREEAM sustainability assessments for building projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include a portfolio with my architect CV?
Yes, a portfolio is essential for architecture roles. However, keep it separate from your CV — include a link to an online portfolio or attach a concise PDF of your best work. Your CV should focus on your experience, skills, and achievements, while your portfolio showcases the visual quality of your design work. Select six to ten projects that demonstrate range and quality.
How do I present my RIBA qualifications on my CV?
Place your RIBA Part III and ARB registration prominently, either in your profile summary or in a dedicated qualifications section near the top. List your Part II and Part I qualifications in the education section with the institution and dates. If you are still working towards Part III, state this clearly and mention your expected completion date.
What should an architect CV include beyond project experience?
Beyond project experience, include software proficiencies with specific programmes like Revit, AutoCAD, and rendering tools. Mention any teaching, lecturing, or mentoring roles. List competition entries, awards, and published work. If you have experience with particular building types or specialist knowledge such as conservation or Passivhaus, highlight these as differentiators.
How long should an architect CV be?
Keep your architect CV to two pages maximum. Use your portfolio to convey design quality rather than trying to include project images on your CV. Focus on concise descriptions of roles, responsibilities, and achievements. If you have extensive experience, prioritise the most relevant and recent projects rather than listing every scheme you have contributed to.

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