Chris Beck, a member of IAM Architecture Workers United (AWU) and former employee at Bernheimer Architecture, has released his first book titled “The Labor of Architecture: Creativity, Design, and the Possibility of a New Class Consciousness.” The book is published by Monthly Review Press and examines the relationship between creativity, labor, and class identity within the architecture field. It also discusses how unionization efforts among architects could bring change to the profession.
Beck played a key role in organizing Bernheimer Architecture to become the first private-sector architecture firm in over a century to unionize. He noted that his involvement with the IAM Union was instrumental in shaping the content of his book. “A lot of it came out of the work with the IAM and organizing Bernheimer,” said Beck. “Part of the book recounts that story—how we started organizing, what we achieved in our collective bargaining agreement—but it also asks a bigger question: What took so long for architecture to get here? We have unionized teachers, nurses, engineers—so why not architects?”
In developing his ideas for the book, Beck drew from his experience teaching at The New School’s Parsons School of Design and from coursework in philosophy, history, and economics. These studies helped him relate architectural practice to broader social and labor movements.
“Architecture isn’t very good at thinking about labor and economics,” said Beck. “Taking those classes gave me a better way to talk about the relationship between creativity, class, and inequality and how we can build a more conscious and collective future for designers and architects.”
The publication challenges common beliefs about architecture as an elite or highly paid profession by positioning architects within the larger working class. According to Beck, many architects face long hours for relatively modest pay despite holding advanced degrees. “It’s not uncommon to graduate with a master’s degree and make $60,000 a year while working 50 or 60 hours a week,” Beck said. “There’s this idea of status and privilege that keeps people going—but that same mindset makes it harder to recognize that we’re workers, too.”
Beck remains active with Architecture Workers United by consulting with IAM Union organizers as they seek to expand unionization efforts across additional firms nationwide. He highlighted worker education as an ongoing priority: “Worker education is really where I want to focus,” Beck said. “I had the privilege to study and write about this, but most people don’t get that opportunity. We need more spaces for working people to step back, reflect, and connect what they do every day to the bigger picture.”
“The Labor of Architecture” is currently available through Monthly Review Press as well as independent bookstores. An event featuring Beck discussing his book will take place at Red Emma’s Bookstore in Baltimore on November 6 alongside unionized artists from Maryland Institute College of Art.
