Architecture, unlike the other arts, is rarely an individual endeavor. It involves the architect, client, engineers, contractors and many others in a collaborative effort to bring a building to reality. The process, if approached correctly, can be a rewarding experience.

Architects design buildings that fulfill the client’s needs and goals while also meeting the professional, technical, financial, and legal requirements that apply to the specific type of building. The architect must also take into consideration the interaction of the building with the environment and the setting in which it will be constructed. Buildings are usually composed of a series of integrated spaces intended for human habitation. These spaces have specific functional requirements to make them suitable for human habitation.

It should also be the goal of all architects to design buildings which meet or exceeds the functional, economic, and social context of a building. Depending on the specific type of building and budget the complexity of these factors can vary greatly. As societies have evolved over time the architects role has changed to meet the new challenges. In earlier times architects were mostly involved in the design of religious and institutional buildings. Over the years this has changed and range of building types has increased to include housing, industrial, research medical, cultural and educational buildings.