Case Studies in Licensure

On Monday the 5th of February, the AIA UK held a licensure workshop featuring case studies in the various paths to licensure and conversion from and into US architecture licenses. First Katharine Storr, licensed in New York State, presented the standard path to US licensure. There are three typical steps: education at a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited university, experience supervised by a US licensed architect and the six exams called AREs. She also introduced NCARB, National Council for Architectural Registration Boards, the organization that facilitates application for licensure in all the US jurisdictions. This route is the most straightforward and easiest for candidates who have studied in the US. Regarding proof of experience, it is important to know that for any candidate, no matter what type of experience reporting they choose to complete, there are minimums for how much of that experience must be supervised by an American licensed architect. The exams are self scheduled and administered in special proctored testing centres on a computer. There are only a handful of testing centres outside of North America and London is one of them.

Adelina Koleva, a current US licensure candidate in Illinois, who has recently taken several of the AREs, spoke about the updated exam format. ARE 5.0 was introduced in 2016 and consists of six standard exams that test for competency in topics across all project phases as well as practice management. Adelina walked the attendees through sample exam questions with the online practice exam available to candidates once they have registered via the NCARB website. For candidates studying in the UK, the AIA UK has a set of study Brightwood guides for the 5.0 AREs, sponsored by Kaldewei, which can be checked out from our library (email: emergingprofessionals@aiauk.org).

Nick Kehagias, licensed in both the UK and Connecticut, presented his case study in conversion from a US license to a UK license. Licensure in the UK requires the completion of a Part I (bachelor degree), a Part II (master degree) and Part III (a diploma in professional practice).  To become licensed in the UK, designers who did not study in the UK or the EU must do a degree “conversion” to prove their education has covered the same ground as a UK degree course would. The ARB, the Architects Registration Board in the UK is the organization which oversees this process. (For an understanding of the difference between the RIBA and the ARB please see an article by Lester Korzilius here.) The ARB first requires the candidates for conversion to prove they are eligible to sit an examination by showing they have sufficient architectural education. If they are eligible, then the actual examination consists of the preparation of a portfolio and an interview by a panel of examiners. The portfolio must present architectural projects (either academic or professional) and show how the experience combines to meet a complex set of criteria set out by the ARB. During the interview candidates will be asked questions about their portfolio and understanding of the British system. Nick’s general advice was that while conversion is possible, due to the arduous task of the portfolio preparation and the interview as well as the high fee, that anyone considering this path should be sure they are ready to take on all the steps.  

Ben Lee, licensed in Pennsylvania, presented the final path to licensure of the evening, converting from a UK or other foreign license to a US license. If the candidate is from a country which has “formal record keeping mechanisms for disciplinary actions” then they can submit a Credential Verification Form which proves to NCARB that the candidate is registered abroad. Then, they will be required to complete the experience and exams the way any other candidate would. If the candidate is not from a country with these record keeping mechanisms in place, then they must complete an EESA evaluation by sending their transcripts and descriptions of all their completed courses to NAAB.

Written by: Katharine Storr, AIA College of Fellows, AIA International Region

Movie Night - Helvetica

For our second movie screening of the year, we went for a different aspect of design and screened Gary Hustwit's independent documentary 'Helvetica.' This is an independent feature-length documentary about typeface and graphic deisgn, centred on the typeface of the same name. The documentary was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957. Its content consists of a history of the typeface interspersed with candid interviews with leading graphic and type designers. The film aims to show Helvetica's beauty and ubiquity, and illuminate the personalities that are behind typefaces. It also explores the rift between modernists and postmodernists, with the latter expressing and explaining their criticisms of the famous typeface.

The documentary generated some interesting debates, and the members & guests in attendance were happy to discuss about the way graphic design links and influences architecture among many other things. Many thanks to all who attended this final screening of the first segment of the 2018 movie nights, and we look forward to welcoming all of you back to the BFI in the autumn for more screenings & debates!

Second Annual FAIA Dinner at the RIBA

We were pleased to welcome some 60 guests to our Second Annual AIA International College of Fellows Dinner in mid December at the RIBA Headquarters on Portland Place. This convivial gathering followed an excellent and compelling lecture by Steven Holl FAIA. The lecture is an annual event expertly organised by Lester Korzilius FAIA and Amrita Raja AIA, with the RIBA.

Our CoF Dinner guests included Steven Holl and Charles Jencks, Honorary FAIA Members; Eva Jirinca, John Tuomey and Sheila O'Donnell, Sunand Prasad, Jack Pringle, Rod Hackney and Michael Wilford with Grimshaw and Ian Ritchie Architects.

We were also joined by RIBA CEO Alan Vallance, President Ben Derbyshire, Past President Jane Duncan, AIA IR Leaders Stephen Miller and Lester Korzilius and a number of UK FAIA Members and UK Chapter Directors. A great group for our second annual event with a lively discussion on the stewardship of our profession

The 200 plus Honorary FAIAs are a significant untapped resource. Our idea is to use major Chapter events in the AIA IR, to invite the many Honorary Fellows to “ get involved ” with our mentoring and life-long learning programmes. It was again a very special evening in the Edwin Landseer Lutyens Room at the RIBA, and our outreach programmes to engage these honoured valuable members of the AIA family.

Many thanks to Fiona McKay Hon AIA, our AIA UK Chapter Executive, for organising and managing this special AIA IR CoF event. Shueco and Erbay are our generous Patrons.

Written by: Stephan C Reinke FAIA RIBA, AIA College of Fellows, AIA International Region

AIA UK X Armstrong Architecture Pub Quiz

Do you know the difference between a morel and a morello? Or where you would find an architrave? Or even which body part is missing on a Manx cat? If you do, you might have won AIA UK’s pub quiz last November.

Six teams were battling for points through four tough rounds of questions helped by the odd sip of beer or wine. Bea and Laura belted out the questions cruelly, without the least hint or clue, no wonder everyone was scratching their heads and breathing hard. In the end the Boffins – who else – took first prize – a bottle of champagne. It was a terrific evening, the second annual pub quiz organised together with our sponsor Armstrong UK. As a surprise Armstrong drew lots for a special consolation prize – tickets to a Six-Nations Rugby Game. Make sure you don’t miss the quiz this year.

Written by: Bea Sennewald, AIA

Movie Night - Frei Otto: Spanning The Future

For the The AIA UK inaugural movie of the 2018 we screened ‘Frei Otto: Spanning The Future,' by Simon K. Chiu.

This is a documentary about the incredible life and work of Frei Otto. As an architect and engineer he laid the foundation for contemporary lightweight architecture, and his ideas are still awe inspiring, decades after he revealed them. This fact was cemented when he was named the 2015 Laureate of Pritzker Architecture Prize.

In one of the final interviews given before his passing, Frei Otto tells how coming of age in the years surrounding WWII influenced his work in tensile architecture. Along with Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller, Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Richard Neutra, Frei Otto was a visionary. His approach to form finding to solve structural as well as social problems is the foundation for modern architecture. 

This was a sold-out screening full of lively discussion at the end.  A huge thank you to all who attended for starting off the 2018 screenings with such good attendance and debate. 

‘NCARB and You – Licensure and Architectural Practice in the USA’

On 3 Oct 2017, AIA UK hosted a talk entitled ‘NCARB and You – Licensure and Architectural Practice in the USA’ at the Desso Gallery in Clerkenwell with distinguished speakers Michael Armstrong, Gregory Erny and Stephen Nutt from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Topics included the role of NCARB, the 3 major components (Education, Experience and Examination) to achieve licensure, and some of the latest programs introduced by NCARB to make attaining the Education and Experience requirements easier.   Particular emphasis was given on ways non-US education or work experience could be accommodated.

There was also a recap on the most current requirements for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE), including how to optimize completion of the ARE in as few exams as possible under the Transition Plan, which is a mix of exam divisions under the expiring ARE 4.0 and the current ARE 5.0 exam system.

Turnout was extremely positive, with many UK and European architects and those interested in pursuing a career in architecture attending.  Several members of the RIBA engaged in an informal, but useful Q&A debate at the end of the session. The AIAUK also reminded the audience and members that the Chapter supports those who are undergoing the US licensure process and that various study materials are available for loan on request.

For more information on the AIA UK Chapter’s initiatives for Emerging Professionals, the ARE and the licensure process, please contact the AIA Chapter Executive, who will put you in touch with Ben Lee and/or Katharine Storr, who head the Emerging Professionals initiative.  Please look on our website for upcoming mentoring events.

Written by: Benjamin Lee, AIA