Architects Combatting Not Only the Recession...

From what I have learned over the past month, there are three major threats to the architecture profession, within its own industry (i.e. not even pertaining to the aftermath of the Great Recession). I'm presenting the three issues to you in a nutshell below, for your own awareness.

1.) Licensing of Interior Designers authorizing them to seal drawings for permits. The argument is that granting them this license is compromising public health, safety and welfare, because they do not have the same education, training and evaluation as architects do. Obviously, if interior designers can seal drawings for permits, that is tapping into the architects' client base creating even more competition for work. (This was an issue up for discussion at AIA PA's Architects Day in Harrisburg 2 weeks ago.)

2.) In Texas, engineers are fighting for the right to provide "architectural services." The argument is the same, architects alone should be the designers of "any structure that's for human habitation." The bill with greatest viscosity right now is called HB 2284. (This information is taken from April's issue of Architect.)

3.) "Since congress passed the Brooks Act in 1972, all federally funded architecture projects have been governed by the qualifications-based selection (QBS) process." State legislators are currently trying to get rid of this QBS process in an effort to cut costs. What the QBS process does, is allows all architects to compete for a job based upon their qualifications for it - NOT by the lowest bid. The argument (which makes a ton of sense unless you don't think about it at all) is that when you are trying to get a project, you don't fully know the depth of it or what problems exist. Only once you have been awarded the contract are you able to delve in, determine what problems exist and begin to generate options for resolution. "The owner is hiring the architect not to solve the problem, though that's part of it, but to first help define the problem. ... When you're bidding a project, you have to assume the project is already defined, and there lies the rub: It isn't defined." You don't want architects trying out out-bid each other, because then you will be sacrificing quality there, the architects will need to cut costs and it's just a snowball effect thereafter. (These quotes and information are excerpts from Architect's April issue, page 25.) I should note that this issue is partially relative to the Great Recession, but also relative to the fact that the current legislators were not around at the time of the Act's adoption and therefore don't understand its importance.