NCARB 2013 Annual Report

 

 

Collateral Partnerships

NCARB is one of five collateral organizations that play an important role in the profession of architecture:

●  The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)

●  The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

●  The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

●  The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)

●  The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Each organization represents different groups responsible for the education, training, registration, and practice of architects. In response to shifting demographics and rapid change in the profession, the Council has fortified its relationship with these collaterals to identify and address significant issues that impact the future of architecture.

 

“Our relationship with our collaterals is at one of the strongest points it’s ever been,” said 2012-2013 President
Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB. “We have worked very hard over the past three or four years to break down the barriers between NCARB and our collaterals. The future of architecture is changing, and we and our collaterals have to change with it.”

 

In May, leadership from the collaterals convened at NCARB headquarters in Washington, DC, for the spring Five President’s Council meeting. The Five Presidents Council, which meets twice annually, is comprised of the presidents, presidents-elect, vice presidents-elect, and chief staff executives for each of the five architectural collateral organizations.

 

 

 

 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Coordinators from across the country gathered in Chicago, IL, for the 2012 Intern Development Program Coordinators Conference (IDPCC). Held jointly by NCARB and AIA, the conference brings together the IDP coordinators of schools, states, and firms. Representatives from the five architectural collateral organizations gathered for a special panel on licensure. Moderated by National Council of Architectural Registration Board CEO Michael J. Armstrong, the panel featured NCARB President Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB; American Institute Architecture Students (AIAS) Vice President Brent Castro; National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) President Keelan P. Kaiser, AIA; American Institute of Architecture (AIA) President Jeffery Potter, FAIA; and Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture President Donna Robertson, FAIA.

 

For the first time, NCARB was invited to contribute to AIA’s Architect’s Handbook for Professional Practice. In addition to authoring an article on the Intern Development Program (IDP), NCARB contributed content on the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), NCARB certification, and the IDP Coordinators program. The Handbook is used by many professors as the text for their classes, so contributing to the publication offers the opportunity to share vital information with a wide audience.

 

In a continued effort to engage emerging professionals, NCARB attended eight AIA conferences and gave 22 AIA component presentations—including the AIA National Convention in Denver, CO, where staff presented two well-attended seminars on gaining supplemental experience and using data to drive decisions.

 

The Association of Collegiate Schools
of Architecture (ACSA)

During the 2012 ACSA Administrator’s Conference, NCARB announced the 2012 NCARB Award recipients. The NCARB Award recognizes architecture programs that integrate practice and education; raise awareness of the architect’s responsibilities for the public health, safety, and welfare; and bring non-faculty practitioners into the academy. Learn more about the Award-winning proposals here.

 

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)

In February, NCARB released its contribution the NAAB 2013 Accreditation Review Conference (ARC). NCARB’s paper is based on common threads and recurring themes identified in the data from the 2012 Practice Analysis of Architecture Survey, feedback from the Council’s Education Committee, and “blue-sky” concepts regarding the role of the academy in licensure. You can download NCARB’s paper here.

 

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

In FY13, NCARB partnered with AIAS to develop the pilot IDP Student Coordinator Program. Sixteen architecture students were nominated by AIAS chapters to serve as peer-to-peer advisors regarding the IDP and path to licensure. Throughout their one-year term, student coordinators:

●  Encouraged students to take advantage of supplemental experience opportunities while in school

●  Provided architecture students with resources and information pertaining to their career and the value of licensure

●  Developed events and presentations for students

●  Communicated with NCARB to maintain a thorough understanding of IDP requirements, objectives, and resources

●  Participated in IDP coordinator training and development programs

 

The pilot program was a success, and it is being expanded in FY14 to all schools with NAAB-accredited degree programs.

 

NCARB also attended nine AIAS conferences, including two regional meetings, known as Quad Conferences. NCARB was invited to deliver a series of presentations titled, “Designing Your Future: Creating Value in Your Career.” More than 300 architecture students attended these presentations, where they learned about navigating the path to licensure.

 

This year’s AIAS Spring Quads were held in Amherst, MA; Spokane, WA; Charlotte, NC; and Detroit, MI—conference themes for MA and WA had a strong sustainable design focus, while those in NC and MI were focused on architecture challenges and opportunities faced by their host cities. In addition to NCARB, the conferences featured a range of guest speakers, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., AIAS President Nick Mancusi, AIAS President-Elect Matthew Barstow, and a number of experts from local firms and organizations.