Economic Depression?
That's what The Donald says.
If this economic clusterfuck is going to last for years, I'm wondering what I'm going to do about my career trajectory.
It's not obvious to me that a demand for architects will exist to match the supply. But it's quite possible, and here's why.
The demographics and usage of cities and suburbs are going to change dramatically. Exactly how is uncertain. With the foreclosure crisis and energy prices certain to rise again, far-flung suburbs could become slums or even ghost towns. If economic forces create a different demand for the building which are already there, there's at least going to be business in re-adapting these houses and empty big-box stores to some other purpose. Obviously, that would call for architects. Someone commented on a Times article that New Jersey's tracts of McMansions may become fields of alzheimers housing as the boomers age. (He could have a point. I doubt that enough families will want to live in these neighborhoods in the future, and the projected numbers of Alzhemier's patients really are staggering.)
The same is true for blighted urban areas. Photos of Cleveland are unbelieveable. Shopping malls are completely empty during business hours. There are entire blocks of foreclosed, vacant homes in the middle of the city. And if anything is going to get built in Cleveland after these buildings are demolished, then there's a demand for architects. Same goes for Boston, Worcester, et cetera...
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Suppose that an equitable financial system comes into place and the economy rebounds. It bears cautioning that an economic rebound may not last, due to the scarcity of oil. If we fail to implement a renewable energy infrastructure, replace our transportation system with vehicles of extremely high efficiency, and/or revert to very localized food production, experts believe that the world economy will collapse around 2030. I'm being generous - many of these geologists believe this is inevitable considering the amount of oil left on the planet. If that happens, it's unlikely that any of us will die of old age. So there's some food for thought.
If this economic clusterfuck is going to last for years, I'm wondering what I'm going to do about my career trajectory.
It's not obvious to me that a demand for architects will exist to match the supply. But it's quite possible, and here's why.
The demographics and usage of cities and suburbs are going to change dramatically. Exactly how is uncertain. With the foreclosure crisis and energy prices certain to rise again, far-flung suburbs could become slums or even ghost towns. If economic forces create a different demand for the building which are already there, there's at least going to be business in re-adapting these houses and empty big-box stores to some other purpose. Obviously, that would call for architects. Someone commented on a Times article that New Jersey's tracts of McMansions may become fields of alzheimers housing as the boomers age. (He could have a point. I doubt that enough families will want to live in these neighborhoods in the future, and the projected numbers of Alzhemier's patients really are staggering.)
The same is true for blighted urban areas. Photos of Cleveland are unbelieveable. Shopping malls are completely empty during business hours. There are entire blocks of foreclosed, vacant homes in the middle of the city. And if anything is going to get built in Cleveland after these buildings are demolished, then there's a demand for architects. Same goes for Boston, Worcester, et cetera...
***
Suppose that an equitable financial system comes into place and the economy rebounds. It bears cautioning that an economic rebound may not last, due to the scarcity of oil. If we fail to implement a renewable energy infrastructure, replace our transportation system with vehicles of extremely high efficiency, and/or revert to very localized food production, experts believe that the world economy will collapse around 2030. I'm being generous - many of these geologists believe this is inevitable considering the amount of oil left on the planet. If that happens, it's unlikely that any of us will die of old age. So there's some food for thought.