Project Architect

Full job description The Opportunity The Ohio State University's Office of Planning, Architecture, and Real Estate (PARE) is currently seeking a Project Architect. This role entails collaborating with university stakeholders to oversee various architectural projects, ensuring alignment with the institution's strategic goals and standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong architectural background coupled with exceptional leadership and communication skills to effectively manage project teams and foster productive relationships. This presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the university's development and enhancement of its built environment while engaging with diverse stakeholders and supporting the university's overall mission and vision.
The Ohio State University The Ohio State University is a world-class public, urban, land-grant research university with very high research activity, as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. As Ohio's flagship university, it is the leading comprehensive teaching and research institution in the state, and one of the nation's top 20 public universities. Nearly 68,000 students are enrolled at OSU, including 53,557 undergraduates, 11,110 graduate, and 3,290 professional students. The OSU campuses include the Columbus campus; its regional campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark, which are all open-access campuses; and its Wooster campus, home to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Agricultural Technical Institute.
The Ohio State University has 15 colleges that offer more than 200 undergraduate majors and 97 master's programs, with 94 doctoral and professional programs. OSU is recognized for its top-rated academic medical center and premier Comprehensive Cancer Center. OSU has almost 5,000 tenure-track, clinical, and research faculty and 2,655 associated faculty. The faculty includes members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Sloan, Guggenheim, and Fulbright scholars; and distinguished fellows from numerous learned societies. The Ohio State University is a member of the Association of American Universities and is the only public university in Ohio to which the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching has given both its highest overall classification of Research University Very High Activity (R1) and highest undergraduate admissions classification to the university. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has also twice honored OSU, most recently in 2015, with its Community Engagement Classification. The honor recognizes OSU for its extensive engagement programming and how its mission, culture, curriculum, and resources are structured to support high-impact community engagement.

About Planning, Architecture and Real Estate The Ohio State University's Planning, Architecture, and Real Estate department serves as the central hub for all real estate transactions, physical planning developments, and space management endeavors across the Columbus campus and regional campuses. With a portfolio encompassing over 900 campus buildings, 6 regional campuses, and 16,000 acres of real estate, the department plays a pivotal role in shaping the university's physical landscape. Physical planning collaborates closely with colleges, units, and the university at large to strategize and implement campus-wide improvements.
The department encompasses several key areas vital to the Ohio State University's physical infrastructure and strategic planning. Physical Planning collaborates with colleges, units, and the university as a whole to guide decisions regarding campus-wide physical improvements. Space Planning is responsible for tracking and allocating university space to departments, offering valuable studies and recommendations, and aiding in the identification of additional or surplus space. Capital Planning plays a crucial role in identifying capital needs, analyzing them, and formulating annual Capital Investment Plans. Additionally, the dedicated real estate team provides expert assistance with property searches, legal reviews, and various other real estate-related tasks. Together, these functions ensure the effective management and development of the university's physical resources.
Key Responsibilities Under the direction of the Senior Director of Campus Planning and Design, the Project Architect plays a multifaceted role within the university's architectural landscape, where the individual will serve as a crucial conduit between the institution's vision and the tangible realization of architectural endeavors.
Key responsibilities include providing comprehensive architectural guidance aligned with the university's overarching vision. This encompasses various facets such as programming, building siting, and ensuring architectural character that harmonizes with the university's vision.
Collaboration is paramount, as the incumbent will work alongside an internal team to develop a spectrum of studies, from facility scoping to planning and programming. Additionally, they will lead or offer guidance on special projects as designated by the Senior Director of Campus Planning and Design.
A pivotal aspect of the role involves interfacing with architectural and engineering design teams, from interview processes to selection, ensuring alignment with institutional goals. Throughout the design and construction phases, close collaboration with the Design Review Board ensures the intersection of design intent and vision.
During the active construction phase, the individual acts as an administrative liaison, in close partnership and collaboration with Facilities Design and Construction, ensuring that the approved design intent is executed. This includes oversight of construction processes, from material mockups to value engineering decisions, to maintain design integrity.
Furthermore, the role encompasses contributions to historic preservation initiatives on campus, as well as providing professional input on the university's civic structure funding program. Close collaboration with Facilities, Design, and Construction is imperative, offering architectural and urban design expertise across all project types and phases.
The Project Architect will play a key role in quality assurance, with a focus on reviewing construction documents for design integrity and consistency with the Design Review Board's directives. Moreover, the individual provides architectural expertise during construction, addressing any issues that may arise, thus safeguarding the project's integrity.
In addition to project-focused responsibilities, the role oversees and directs the PARE Student Design Studio, a vital component consisting of students providing graphic support and conceptual planning. Building and nurturing relationships with peer institutions through professional affiliations is also integral.
This role holds active participation in university-related advisory groups, including committees such as the University Building Design Standards, Antenna Review Group, Signage Committee, and Arts & Memorials Committee. This involvement extends to acting as a liaison between the Ohio State University Design Review Board (DRB) and project teams, as well as providing support and expertise to the Vice President of Planning, Architecture, and Real Estate, the PARE Campus Planning and Design Team, the PARE Student Design Studio, Facilities Design and Construction, and serving as a subject matter expert for all colleges, business units, and associated stakeholders of the university including the Columbus campus as well as all regional campuses.
Required Professional degree in architecture from an accredited program 6 years working in the profession Strong proficiency in AutoCAD / Revit / Adobe Creative Suite A portfolio exhibiting design and graphic sensibilities Preferred 8-12 years working in the profession Registration in the State of Ohio Experience leading design projects Client-facing experience Per University policy, use of a personal vehicle may be required (mileage reimbursed); by the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17, this position has been designated as a standby position; successful completion of a background check and a valid drivers license required prior to start date.
Applications and Nominations Applicants should submit the following:
A current and comprehensive resume. A project-based portfolio. A letter of interest describing why you are interested in the Project Architect role, why you are a good candidate for the position based on your experience, and why now is a good time for you to consider the opportunity. Questions about the opportunity can be emailed to: Shannon Rice, Closing Statement The Ohio State University is committed to building a faculty and staff for employment and promotion to ensure the highest quality workforce, to reflect human diversity, and to improve opportunities. The university embraces human diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and eliminating discrimination. This commitment is both a moral imperative consistent with an intellectual community that celebrates individual differences and diversity, as well as a matter of law.



Regular 40 First Shift