What's the difference between a Civil Engineer, a Structural Engineer, and an Architect?

Question

It seems to me that they all do the same thing, design and build things. Also, if all three of these guys were at the same construction site, which one would most likely be the boss of the other two?

Answer 1

They are very different fields, but assuming that you are referring to a single project, the owner hires the Civil Engineer who works with a surveyor to verify land forms, identify potential issues pertaining to the site (drainage, water table, topography), and location of utilities.  Don't be mistaken that the Civil Engineer performs the duty of a Planner.  But the Civil Engineers do procure documents, under the direction/input of a planner,  that the City needs to finalize the layout of different tracks and parcels of the General Plan.

An architect also is hired by the owner and design, observes constructions and administers contracts.  Since our scope of work takes precedence over the others, the architect is often looked upon as the "boss".  The Civil Engineer has to design the drainage flow around the architect's design (in theory).

The Structural Engineer usually serves as a consultant to the architect.  By default of the contractural agreement, the architect is legally the engineer's client.

But in all, all three members are a part of a team including the owners, interior designers, MPE engineers.  The "boss" is the owner of the project, for he is the only one who can decide whether the project moves on or not.

Answer 2

You need to remember that these projects are much more complicated than you know, and these professionals do not do the same thing.

First, Architects are not engineers.

Second, structural engineers start out as civil engineers.

Third, each will answer to questions in their area of responsibility.  You won't ask the civil about what door handles are specified or the architect what the correct elevation of a manhole rim is.

If it is a bridge project, the civil will run it.  The structural guy will work for the civil.  If it is a high rise, the architect will run it.  The structural guy will work for the architect.

On a marine drilling rig construction, the structural guys will run it.

It is a very big and complicated world out there, with room for all good engineers and architects.

Answer 3

I'm no expert on this, but here's the way I understand it and maybe someone else can clarify my answer if necessary.

A Civil Engineer deals with major construction projects for Government on the federal, state, or local level.  The municipality decides what they want built, and the Civil Engineer deigns and oversees the project.

A Structural Engineer will come in under the Civil Engineer, and is responsible for making sure all the building materials used meet the codes and requirements of the structure and the job it will perform.

An Architect is the one who decides what the structure will look like.  He draws pictures of the finished project and designs how the rooms or offices will look and where everything needs to be.  Once the architect has all his designs planned out and drawn, he submits them to the Civil Engineer who then puts it all together and makes it happen.

Architects get all the glory for the finished product because they are the craftsmen of the job.  The "artists" so to speak.  However, without the Civil Engineer, the Architect's dream would never become a reality; and without the Structural Engineer, the structure may not stand up to it's environment.

The Structural Engineer would answer to the Civil Engineer, but the Architect would be a separate division.  However, if the Architect designs something that is not possible for the Civil Engineer to build, then the Civil Engineer can reject the plan and make the Architect do it a different way.

I hope this clears things up a bit for you.

Answer 4

A civil engineer is more concerned with bridges, roads, dams and natural structures.

A structural engineer is concerned with structures, big buildings, that type of thing.

An architect is mostly concerned with buildings inhabited by people.

If all three were on the same job, as an example, they would be in charge according to the order above.