One of the biggest influences in architecture today is concern for the environment and the development of green buildings. Designing a building to be environmentally-friendly involves the use of renewable materials, using less energy, and reducing the overall environmental impact a building's use will have. Another popular trend that follows the same ideas of green building is the development of pedestrian-friendly communities that encourage the use of bicycles and walking rather than driving.

Other key developments architects are working on include super high skyscrapers. Developers all over the world are attempting to create buildings taller than the last. China presents one of the key markets for skyscrapers and other urban planning and has been referred to as an architect's playground.

Job opportunities for architects lately have been most favorable for those who have a strong mastery of technology, such as computer-aided drafting programs, as well as those who offer a specialization in a particular type of building, such as schools, hospitals, or hotels. Such architects are particularly attractive because they possess knowledge of unique building codes.