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” through Monthly Review Press. The publication examines how unionization is influencing the architecture profession and explores issues related to creativity, labor, and class identity within the industry.
Beck played a significant role in organizing Bernheimer Architecture to become the first private-sector architecture firm to unionize in over a century. He credits his experience with the IAM Union as being central to shaping 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?”
While writing, Beck drew on his teaching background at The New School’s Parsons School of Design and coursework in philosophy, history, and economics. These studies helped him connect 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 book addresses common misconceptions about architecture as an elite or highly paid field. Instead, Beck argues that most architects share challenges faced by other working-class professionals such as low pay and long hours.
“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 and supporting efforts to expand unionization across more firms nationwide. He highlights education as key for empowering workers.
“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 now available from Monthly Review Press as well as independent bookstores. Beck will present his book at Red Emma’s Bookstore in Baltimore on November 6 during an event featuring unionized artists from Maryland Institute College of Art.
