Herzing Blog

Herzing College started offering a Sustainable Architecture training program several years ago. This program offers an alternative to people who want to participate in eco-friendly building design, but don't want to invest years in university to become a licensed architect.

Our program trains students in the principles of sustainable architecture and the software and technical skills required to draft architectural designs.

Moncef Noual has been teaching the program since 2017—and was recently recognized as Herzing College Montreal’s instructor of the year! The honour reflects the fact that he really gets to know his students during their tenure with Herzing and goes out of his way to make sure they have the best possible experience from beginning to end.

We chatted with Moncef recently to learn more about his career journey and the sustainable architecture field in general. Here are the highlights of that conversation.

Updated December 2022

Like the idea of making a living in the architecture field? Not interested in spending years in university?

You’re in luck: there are a variety of architecture careers that require neither a bachelor’s nor a master’s degree. In fact, you can get started as an architectural drafter, architectural technologist, or appraiser with just a college diploma.

In this post, we walk you through the details of each of these architecture careers, including job descriptions, salaries, and training requirements.

Compare all three roles and see which path is right for you.

Photo: One of Canada's greenest buildings is the Centre for Sustainable Development in Montreal, Quebec

Like the idea of helping to create the next generation of sustainable buildings? Don't want to invest years in university, training to become a licensed architect?

A career in green building design and drafting could be a perfect fit.

Green building design focuses on creating safe, functional structures that have minimal impact on the environment. The aim is to produce buildings that satisfy human needs and respect the surrounding ecosystem.

But what does that mean in practice? What makes a building "green"?

How is a green building drafter different from a regular draftsperson? And what kind of training do you need to get into this field?

All those answers are in this post. And by the end, you'll be better prepared to decide if a career in sustainable architecture is right for you.

Let's begin.

Updated September, 2021.

Think you might want a career in architectural design, but have no real idea what training involves—or what it means to study "sustainable" architecture?

You're not so different from Robbie Hart. Robbie was a carpenter for 15 years before heading back to school to study sustainable architecture at Herzing College Montreal.

When he first started, he knew very little about eco-friendly design and had no drafting experience. Robbie understood the building process, but he'd never created technical drawings or used CAD software.

Now, just 6 months after graduation, he has built a successful freelance career as an architectural technician. Robbie is currently working for several companies, including McGee & Associes Inc. in Beaconsfield, Quebec. 

We interviewed Robbie to find out what he thought of Herzing's Sustainable Architecture program. We also wanted to know how he landed his first clients and how his career is progressing.

Read on for the highlights.

Herzing instructor, Sam Graceffa has over 20 years of experience in sustainable architecture and building design

Sustainable architecture is a very fast-growing field in Quebec, throughout Canada, and across the globe.

This industry is all about designing structures with minimal environmental impact. Sustainable building designers use cutting-edge technologies and products to conserve energy, lower costs, and protect natural resources.

Updated January 2023

Architectural technicians provide an essential service to architects, civil engineers, and construction companies. They combine expert drafting skills with thorough knowledge of building codes, best design practices, and creative insight.

If you're passionate about architecture and enjoy the meticulous, detailed process of creating blueprints and technical drawings, training to become an architectural technician could be your ideal career path.