Regional and Urban Design Committee

An interesting discussion. One post, in particular, prompted a few questions. Do we really know how many architects actually choose to live in the suburbs, but advocate for in-city living? Also, how many male architects are married to women architects and/or women with strong professional aspirations, who might prefer or insist on living in the city, even if they have one or two children?  With all due respect,  the picture of a demanding suburban housewife, who is the wife of an architect, and insists on living in suburbia, seems a little passe. Are there any statistics that prove my point ... or the opposite? 


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Karin Link Assoc. AIA
Seattle WA
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The issue of where architects live is also an economic one. As the former head of the Chicago office of national firm, many of our employees with school age children chose to live in the suburbs. The cost of educating a child can run about $15,000 a year at a private school, and the number of "special" public schools are limited and difficult to gain admission. the remainder of the public schools do not measure up to most parents expectations.
Many other professions have a pay scale high enough to handle this burden and remain in the city and educate their children there, but sadly in many cases ours does not. Until our cities are able to offer first class schools
many people, in the architects income bracket, who would prefer to remain in the city will make the pragmatic choice and move to the "burbs".
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John Nelson FAIA
Owner
Nelson Consulting
Chicago IL
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