WSO/WSP equivalent for architecture?

Struggling to participate in conversations about architecture and often under appreciate it out of ignorance, despite how much it can impact the value of commercial projects.

Other RE aspects seem to be more intuitive—finance, marketing, construction, etc. — but architecture is an art.

Is there a course/program/forum for learning concepts, principals, and all other things architecture?

YT pages and X follows are also appreciated!

10 Comments
 

How deep are you looking to go? I find myself easily understanding architectural drawings, its quite easy to tell for example the scribbly circle is a tree!

Floor area ratio (FAR) = total GFA / total site area

- FAR between 0.1 and 1.25 = low density , SFR or townhouse complex

- FAR 1.25-3.00 - woodframe 5/6 storey 

- 3.5 + typically concrete

Gross construction area > gross floor area (GCA includes walls, etc.)

Slanted earth bad

In all seriousness, I find my knowledge of architecture passable at minimum... how familiar are you with the zoning bylaws of your city? 

What type of conversations do you feel left out of because you don't know architecture? 

PropMetrica | Multifamily underwriting template
 

Top things to look for when working with architects is the net sellable or net leasable area, as a % of total GFA. Residential typically is 85% for multi family projects.

The architect packages developers receive from architects should have a table that breaks down the project in numbers. It will have the site area, all the areas by floors, and units. You use this table for sizing projects. 

PropMetrica | Multifamily underwriting template
 

OP - all the above is good starting guidance. Honestly, unless you are going to be a DM if you're just commenting on architectural drawings as an investments professional who isn't leading the project all you really need to understand are the following:

- FAR/FSI

- Measurements

- Grading/Site layout and its potential implications (this isn't architecture but just from a physical/drawing perspective good to get it)

- Being able to go see a site, then look at a plan, visualize the end product and be able to pick out where problem areas are in terms of usability/livability, effective use of space, etc.

The last item is the one most people struggle with, and while you can get a handle on what is a "good" space for different types of real estate (i.e. what's a good space for a fashion tenant, grocer, what makes a good residential unit), it's impossible to train spatial awareness/the ability to translate that from drawings. You either have it or you don't.

Quite frankly this is what separates "real estate people" who are generally your sponsors on the development side that just get it, from investors who understand the high level and are great at allocating capital but couldn't run a deal to save their lives.

 
Most Helpful

Ok, so there are two different areas that come up when you mention architecture: there is Architecture with a capital A, and architecture with a lowercase a. Studying the former is much closer to studying the fine arts and art history. You need to look into the philosophy of aesthetics, see the historical precedents, understand the political/religious forces and patrons, etc. to study it well. I'll put a brief overview below, but this kind of architecture is what we traditionally look at as "serious" and contains the important buildings in our culture. Think the Louvre, St. Peters Basilica, The Chrysler Building, The Transamerica Pyramid, etc. It explores the aesthetics of façade, the flow of interior layouts, the political/religious/business impulses, the use of materials. You need to understand Claude Perrault's perspective on the classic orders of columns to understand the Louvre's east façade. You need to read Adolf Loos to understand the move to Modernism. You need to know Washington's and Jefferson's love of neoclassical architecture to understand why the White House looks the way it does. If you want to know more about this I recommend taking a class or reading a book about art/architecture history. All my classes were during time at school, so I don't know of any public courses/books that would be of use, sorry. A librarian or local art center would be a good place to start.

The other kind of architecture is what all of us on this website deal with: floorplans, elevations, sections, FAR, GSF, waterproofing details, bathroom layouts, kitchen specs, etc. This is the nuts and bolts of architecture, and it exists for every building. Yes, a warehouse has an architect who draws plans and designs, but a warehouse isn't Architecture. Here is where you need to understand the details of the drawings for their compliance with zoning, constructability, cost implications, durability, leasability, etc. Most of this comes with experience, the more time you spend developing projects the more you understand how the pieces come together and what you need to look out for. You may not fully understand how to look at a 1-bed unit and know the best layout when you first start out, but after your 40th floorplan review, you've seen enough and understand the process to have a better understanding. One of the best ways to learn how to interpret drawings for their real-world implications is to walk your construction sites with the drawings in hand (if you have the opportunity to), comparing everything you're seeing to everything on the drawing. You'll see an area that may look too small or too large on paper can be just right in person (or vice versa), and it gives you a better sense of how to look at what's on the paper.

One of the more unconventional ways to learn about this is to take tours of architecturally (with a capital A ;) ) significant houses and pay attention to how the architect laid out space. Go to Fallingwater (Run Mill, PA), the Robie House (Chicago, IL), the Farnsworth House (Plano, IL), the Glass House (Canaan, CT), the Eames House (Los Angeles, CA), the Miller House (Columbus, IN) or any other house built after 1900 that offers guided tours. (Most houses built before then are going to be in a very different style that is mostly outdated, and depending on how far back you go will have very different design intentions (i.e. Colonial New England houses were built around the fireplace for better heat distribution, not exactly a great lesson on modern design.).) Also, ask your designers a lot of questions, they have a wealth of knowledge that isn't always articulated unless prompted. 

Personally, I think it's important to have a sense of both, even if the latter is ultimately more important for the proforma. Knowing the design inspiration of your architects and being able to speak the same language as them can be really helpful and can help guide the building to not just be functional but also beautiful. I don't think anyone on this forum is building the next AIA Gold Medal or Pritzker Award winner, but you can still influence how your local 5 over 1 looks and make it slightly less depressing. 

 

And now for a bit of architecture history. (note: this section is exclusively regarding Western architecture, I don't have much knowledge on other architectural traditions. Also, this focuses on institutional architecture; homes, abodes and other vernacular architecture is a totally different (and also fascinating) subject.) After the classical period architecture was funded and guided by the Church, with religious meaning taking precedence. Churches were supposed to dominate the local architecture showing the absolute dominance of God, floorplans were laid out in the shape of a cross, etc. The late Renaissance saw architecture moving out of the religious sphere, with people like the Medici of Florence and the French kings commissioning palaces and civic buildings that had no religious meaning. Architecture still mostly relied on local styles, conventions and materials; the open courtyards of the Mediterranean coasts wouldn't play well in Germany, and the brick and timber construction popular in America was inspired by local quarries/forests. This continued until the invention of the elevator and more advanced building materials that allowed for sky-scrapers and architectural movements like Deco, Bauhaus, and the International Style, all of which ushered in Modernism. "Glass Box" style of architecture flourished and then languished, the resulting backlash was termed Postmodernism.  There have been lots of sub-movements within those large categories and some architects (e.g. Robert A. M. Stern) are building in a neoclassical, "traditional" manner, but we're ultimately still living in the world of Postmodernism. Unfortunately, in my opinion, today we have a world that is completely connected via the internet, building technology that allows us to overcome most challenges nature throws at us, and air conditioning that negates any necessity to bend design to comply with local climate, resulting in a uniform style of architecture. Spanish architecture used to be different from French architecture which was different from American, Chinese, Russian, Indian, etc. Today, you can take any of the sky-scrapers from those countries and they all look the same. 

 

Eveniet nesciunt exercitationem quam sed ut et. Omnis consequatur deleniti ex fugit accusamus corrupti omnis. Voluptas aliquam et repudiandae officia eum sit deserunt. Rerum voluptas sunt ut eius asperiores.

Sapiente adipisci commodi quaerat odit ut doloribus recusandae. Facilis dicta perspiciatis a omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”