- - The original note follows - -
From: rkamins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Kamins)
Subject: Re: Architectural Accreditation
Date: 20 Aug 1994 19:37:54 -0700
The biggest failure of the AIA can be seen when you compare it with
other professions. Law students can take the bar right out of school,
not three or four years later, and though the exam is difficult, it is
not the barrier to entry that the NCARB is. Medical students perhaps
go through a more difficult learning process after the classroom, but
life and death is a special case. Only if you wanted to prevent people
from becoming architects would you design a system like we have now.
The trouble is that people then decide that they don't need
to be licensed and the architect is marginalized. What the AIA should be
raising hell about is the bypassing of architects entirely. In some states
now engineers are allowed to stamp plans, no architect needed. The
construction manager's association has put them in the role of advising
the owner and making the decisions about materials and methods and
budgets. Contractors seem to get around the need for architects in
residential construction almost at will. The AIA has left the profession
undefended and the rest of the industry is having us for lunch. For God's
sake real estate agents get 6 or 7% just to sell the building!
The AIA has neglected its duty to make the public aware of the
positive role of architects in the building process and instead tried
to protect thoses architects with licenses by just restricing the franchise.
In twenty years the profession of architecture may be virtually gone.
From: rkamins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Kamins)
Subject: Re: Architectural Accreditation
Date: 20 Aug 1994 19:37:54 -0700
The biggest failure of the AIA can be seen when you compare it with
other professions. Law students can take the bar right out of school,
not three or four years later, and though the exam is difficult, it is
not the barrier to entry that the NCARB is. Medical students perhaps
go through a more difficult learning process after the classroom, but
life and death is a special case. Only if you wanted to prevent people
from becoming architects would you design a system like we have now.
The trouble is that people then decide that they don't need
to be licensed and the architect is marginalized. What the AIA should be
raising hell about is the bypassing of architects entirely. In some states
now engineers are allowed to stamp plans, no architect needed. The
construction manager's association has put them in the role of advising
the owner and making the decisions about materials and methods and
budgets. Contractors seem to get around the need for architects in
residential construction almost at will. The AIA has left the profession
undefended and the rest of the industry is having us for lunch. For God's
sake real estate agents get 6 or 7% just to sell the building!
The AIA has neglected its duty to make the public aware of the
positive role of architects in the building process and instead tried
to protect thoses architects with licenses by just restricing the franchise.
In twenty years the profession of architecture may be virtually gone.