Project Architect/Designer

Project Architect / Designer

This role focuses on the planning, design, and delivery of PreK–12 educational facilities, serving as both a project architect and designer. You lead K–12 school projects using Revit, contribute to conceptual and detailed design, and ensure that construction quality aligns with the intended design. You manage the client relationship and the project from initial concept through construction completion, delivering functional, flexible, and sustainable learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design efforts for K–12 school projects, from early concept and schematic design through design development and construction documents.
• Develop high-quality architectural drawings and documentation in Revit for educational facilities, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to project standards.
• Participate in and guide design decisions that create functional, flexible, and sustainable environments where learning thrives and communities are strengthened.
• Manage projects from start to finish, including planning, design, documentation, coordination, and follow-through during construction.
• Oversee construction quality to ensure that built work faithfully follows the design intent and complies with contract documents.
• Coordinate closely with internal team members and external stakeholders to integrate architectural, engineering, and planning requirements into cohesive project solutions.
• Engage directly with clients throughout the project lifecycle, building long-term relationships and serving as a trusted advisor on educational facility design.
• Prepare and refine schematic design and design development packages, including drawings, details, and supporting materials.
• Produce and review construction documents, including detailed drawings and specifications, to support bidding and construction.
• Contribute architectural detailing and drafting expertise to ensure constructible, code-compliant, and durable design solutions.
• Support or lead project management activities, such as scheduling, design milestones, coordination meetings, and documentation of decisions.
• Collaborate within project teams of three to four people on each school project, sharing responsibility for design, documentation, and coordination.
• Apply knowledge of K–12 or higher education facility requirements and best practices to inform planning and design.
• Use Revit Architecture as the primary design and documentation tool for all project phases.
• Support continuous improvement of design standards, documentation quality, and processes within a multidisciplinary practice.

Essential Skills

• Professional experience in architecture with a focus on K–12 or higher education facilities.
• 5–15 years of architectural experience, with at least 10 years of relevant project work strongly preferred.
• Architect license in Pennsylvania, with experience in educational K–12 building projects preferred.
• Proficiency in Revit and Revit Architecture for design and construction document production.
• Strong background in architectural design, including schematic design, design development, and construction documentation.
• Demonstrated experience producing construction drawings and detailed architectural documentation.
• Hands-on experience with drafting, detailing, and construction-related coordination.
• Ability to manage architectural projects from concept through construction, including client and team coordination.
• Knowledge of construction processes and the ability to evaluate and support construction quality as it relates to design intent.
• Experience working as a project architect or architectural designer on educational facilities.
• Capability to work effectively in project teams and collaborate with multidisciplinary planning, architectural, and engineering professionals.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with PreK–12 school design is highly preferred, given that the majority of work is in this sector.
• Background in higher education projects is beneficial and applicable to the role.
• Ability to contribute both as a designer and as a production architect involved in construction documents and detailing.
• Strong client relationship skills, with the ability to build and maintain long-term partnerships.
• Familiarity with planning and design of educational facilities within a multidisciplinary firm environment.
• Interest in creating sustainable, flexible, and community-focused learning environments.
• Ability to thrive in a setting that emphasizes single-source responsibility and comprehensive in-house disciplines.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to participate in and lead project discussions.
• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality, accurate documentation.
• Adaptability to work on multiple projects and schools with small, focused teams.

Work Environment

You work within a nationally recognized, multidisciplinary planning, architectural, and engineering practice dedicated primarily to PreK–12 educational facilities, where approximately 98% of projects involve schools. Project teams typically consist of three to four professionals per school, fostering close collaboration and shared responsibility. Revit is the standard platform for design and documentation, and all architectural project work is completed in this environment. The office maintains a business casual dress code and operates on eight-hour workdays, with core hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., allowing some flexibility around these times. The culture emphasizes long-term client relationships, comprehensive in-house disciplines, and single-source responsibility, creating a setting where functional, flexible, and sustainable learning environments are the central focus.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Golden Valley, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $45.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Golden Valley, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.