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When is an architect not an architect? In the fourth part of Archinect In-Depth: Licensure, we explore the proliferation of the title 'architect' in cases beyond the built environment, most notably in the technology sector through terms such as 'software architect' or 'IT architect.' Are such titles legal? Who has responsibility for monitoring their use or misuse? What does their use say about the value of architect the noun versus architect the title?

As the second article in our ongoing Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series explored, the title architect has been protected through legislation in the United States for over 100 years. To present yourself as an architect without first obtaining the necessary license for doing so is a violation of state laws across the US, as architecture students and graduates are often warned.

Stepping outside the profession, however, we see that the title architect has long been appropriated beyond this core context. In the political arena, Henry Kissinger is commonly referred to as an architect of US foreign policy, while George W. Bush nicknamed his electoral strategist Karl Rove 'The Architect.' Historians refer to toppled leaders as being the architects of their own downfall while self-help gurus remind us all that we are the architects of our own destiny.

Nobody would think of accusing Kissinger, Rove, or their commentators of misusing the title architect in this fashion. In the information and technology sectors, however, our topic evokes stronger reactions.

For decades, the title architect has been used by individuals in the fields of information and technology to describe their roles. Followers of our previous Archinect In-Depth: Artificial Intelligence series, for example, will be familiar with the architect and TED founder Richard Saul Wurman, who coined the field Information Architecture as the latter half of the 20th century saw an explosion in humankinds ability to generate, collect, and access information and data. Wurman further published a book titled Information Architects in 1996, offering definitions for the title 'information architect' as: the individual who organizes the patterns inherent in data, making the complex clear, a person who creates the structure or map of information which allows others to find their personal paths to knowledge, and the emerging 21st-century professional occupation addressing the needs of the age focused upon clarity, human understanding and the science of the organization of information.

In the decades since, the title architect has only proliferated across the information and technology sector. Today, the sector is awash with titles following the formula of an X architect be it an IT architect, software architect, systems architect, domain architect, enterprise architect, security architect, solutions architect, applications architect, process architect, and so on. Depending on the organization or sub-sector, each title will come with its own job description. As a generalization, however, these positions are largely responsible for the design of software tools, platforms, and their associated hardware, commonly tasked with designing software solutions, developing technical standards, troubleshooting, and coordinating subcomponents within a larger system.

If you step outside targeted AEC job boards such as Archinect Jobs, the prevalence of the term architect in the IT ecosystem becomes clear. On LinkedIn, a search for IT architect returns over 11,000 results, while Indeed returns over 5000. At the time of writing, in June 2024, OpenAI is recruiting several Solutions Architects in San Francisco, as is Amazon in Seattle. The State of Utah is recruiting an IT Architect while First Citizens Bank is recruiting an Infrastructure Architect. The trend is also visible in companies familiar to the licensed architect. Adobe, for example, is currently hiring a Systems Design Architect in Austin, while Autodesks open roles include a Software Architect in San Francisco and both a Security Architect and Authorization Platform Architect in Portland.

Architects (the AEC ones) are not happy. On the Archinect Forum, threads on the use of the title by the IT industry often evoke substantial debate and discussion. One thread, whose title Architect - Whose name is it anyway? inspired this articles own title, amassed 46 comments. Another, named Title of Architect - Reclaiming it and protecting it has amassed 76 comments. An earlier article in the Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series, meanwhile, spawned a debate on the topic in the comments section.

Specific complaints and objections vary depending on the commentator. Some architects believe that those in the information and technology industry who use the title architect in their job title are breaking the law. Others believe that such use is technically legal, but undermines the value of the core architecture profession, confuses the public on what an architect is, and even confuses fellow architects when reading job adverts and salary ranges. When it comes to allocating blame, meanwhile, we see similar variations. Some blame NCARB while others blame state licensing boards. Some blame the AIA while others blame the tech industry itself.

Some of these concerns are easier to address than others. As our previous article established, protection of the title architect is born out of state-by-state legislation. Neither the AIA nor NCARB have responsibility for enforcing such protection. Instead, responsibility for protecting the title falls to the various state architecture/professional boards, who are charged with enforcing the laws passed by legislators across each individual state. If an individual in California seeks to report another for misusing the title architect, for example, it is the California Architects Board who will receive and process the complaint, before deciding whether or not to take action on behalf of the State of California.

This is not to say that NCARB does not also weigh in on the situation. NCARBs Board of Directors reserves the right to take disciplinary action against an individual independent of state licensing boards if NCARB deems the individual to have engaged in violation of NCARBs standards of professional conduct, including the ARE Candidate Agreement. NCARB maintains a public record of the individuals they have reprimanded which, as of June 2024, contains nine individuals, all of whom have been deemed to have violated the ARE Candidate Agreement. However, the list does not include details on whether the misconduct is related to a misuse of title or an unrelated violation.

To investigate whether or not titles such as software architect are indeed a violation of state laws on the protection of title, I wrote to all 55 licensing jurisdictions across the United States, namely each of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.

The same question was sent to each: In the state of [X], does the protection of use of the title architect extend beyond matters of the design and construction of buildings? For example, would the board feel entitled to take action against an individual working on the design of software who labels themselves a software architect, IT architect, or Information Architect, labels which are common in the technology sector?

At the time of publication, 26 jurisdictions have responded. Of those, 14 referred me to their states statutes without directly answering the question in an affirming or dissenting manner, with some noting that their board was unable to provide an opinion or legal advisory on the statutes. Of the remaining 12 boards, 11 told me that the protection of title did not extend beyond the design and construction of buildings and that they would not feel entitled to take action against holders of titles such as software architect. One final board told me they recommend a software architect instead be called a software designer, but that their board "has the authority to grant exceptions."

While the protection of title is primarily a matter for each individual jurisdiction, I also asked NCARB for its view on the proliferation of the title architect beyond the AEC industry, including whether such use posed a danger of undermining the profession or, conversely, if NCARB believed the titles use in the IT sector was recognizably different from its use in the AEC sector in the eyes of the public.

While I know it remains an irritant to some that the use of the term architect is being applied in all types of contexts, there is no legal violation unless it misleads the public, NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong told me in response. An IT architect is clearly not a building designer, nor is the architect of a political campaign or any other similar reference. Basically, the word is in the public domain; holding oneself out as an architect who designs buildings, when unlicensed, is illegal and can be prosecuted by jurisdictional officials.

As an aside, the position adopted by the state boards and NCARB aligns with that taken by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) in the United Kingdom, where the title architect is also protected by law. The term architect is sometimes used in a way that is unconnected with the built environment, for example software architect is increasingly used within the IT industry, ARB notes on its website. Given the effort it takes to earn the right to use the title, we can understand why its use by any unregistered individual can cause concern. When investigating title misuse, we consider the likely degree of harm as well as the likelihood of the public being misled. We prioritize our resources and aim to take proportionate action so the greatest harm is tackled most robustly.

Misusing the title in connection to the built environment and architectural services is a high risk, ARB adds. However the Act acknowledges there are uses of the term that would not constitute a breach (naval architect, landscape architect and golf-course architect), and experience tells us most people are unlikely to be misled by the use of the title in a purely IT or financial context. Nonetheless, we consider every case on its own merits and should, for example, an IT architect offer CAD services we would consider action.

The consensus among NCARB, the ARB, the state boards who directly addressed our question, and our reading of the statutes that other states referred us to, is that the technology sectors use of titles such as software architect does not breach laws protecting the title architect. To understand this dynamic, there is merit in reflecting once again on the history of how such protection emerged. When states enacted statutes protecting the title architect their stated aim was to protect the health and safety of the public through ensuring that the act of architecture was performed by competent persons. It is through this lens that state legislators carefully define the terms architect and practice of architecture, and through which state architecture boards assess whether an individual using the word architect in their job title runs the risk of undermining public health and safety through building design.

While the wording of statutes inevitably varies across states, the general consensus is this: an individual representing themselves to the public as an architect for the purpose of advertising their qualification to design and oversee the construction of a building must hold a license to do so. Beyond this specific arena of the design and construction of the built environment, a person will not be reprimanded by the state if their use of the word architect does not risk misleading the public into believing that they are a licensed architect in the context of the built environment.

Ultimately, the question of whether or not someone violates this law is in the hands of the legal system, interpreting laws written and voted upon not by the AIA, NCARB, or state boards, but by state legislators. As the laws are currently written, state boards do not appear convinced that such laws permit them to enforce the protection of title in a context beyond the design and construction of the built environment and into realms such as finance, technology, or the organization of information.

Since the first laws protecting the title architect were passed in Illinois in 1897, the value of the word itself has undergone somewhat of a divergence. Practicioners then and now feel that the value of the title architect is in a state of decline, bemoaning displacement by contractors and paraprofessionals on one side, and lower fees from clients on the other. However, the value of the noun architect, the abstracted individual who designs and guides a plan or undertaking, only appears to have increased in a world of ever-more-complex systems, in need of ever-more-coordinated design, be it information, data, finance, politics, or software platforms.

Licensed architects calling for the protection of their title to extend beyond the built environment to encompass the technology industry therefore must reason with the uncomfortable reality that, by dollar value, their software architect adversaries have the upper hand. Would such energy be better spent articulating a value for the profession that stretches beyond the possessive use of a title that is gradually slipping away from its grasp?

A note to readers: in addition to debate over the use of the title architect beyond the AEC industry, a tangential debate exists within the architecture community on the use of architect-adjacent words such as architectural designer and intern architect. This topic will be addressed at a later date in Archinect In-Depth: Licensure. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on both topics in the comments section below.

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Architect: Whose Title Is It Anyway? | Features - Archinect

We often admire skyscrapers as wonders of human engineering. But nature has its own architects, and theyve been around much longer. Termites can build enormous, complex nests that stand several meters tall.

Termites do not just construct random piles of dirt they build intricate tunnels that even have natural air conditioning. But how do legions of these tiny creatures coordinate to create such impressive structures?

A new study by researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy has cracked the mystery. It turns out, termites have a surprisingly simple, yet ingenious secret.

Picture a human construction project. Teams follow a detailed architectural plan, ensuring everything is in its designated place. But termites dont seem to have any grand designs drawn up.

In a fascinating experiment, researchers observed groups of termites (the species Coptotermes gestroi) as they built their way around small arenas with pre-built structures.

Scientists offered following theories to explain termite coordination:

Some insects, like ants, use chemicals called pheromones as signals. These scents can act like a build here! sign, guiding the actions of other insects in the colony.

If termites also relied on pheromones, wed expect them to drop their building materials (clay pellets) somewhat randomly throughout the experimental space. However, the researchers observed a very different pattern. The termites focused their building efforts on specific spots.

Perhaps termites have a way to measure existing structures. If they preferred taller structures, it would suggest theyre aiming to build upward as quickly as possible.

The termites didnt discriminate between tall and short pillars. They were equally interested in building upon structures regardless of their current height. This meant some other factor was influencing their behavior.

What the scientists did notice was that termites were obsessed withcurvature. They consistently added their pellets to the most curved surfaces. Termites favored pillar tops, and even the sharp corners of little walls given to them. This led the researchers to a simple yet brilliant solution.

While the termites didnt stick to one spot or solely focus on height, the scientists discovered they had a clear preference. Termites consistently placed their clay pellets on surfaces with the most pronounced curve. Examples of this were the pointed tops of the pillars or the very sharp bends at the corners of the walls.

This focused building behavior led researchers to consider a new possibility. Since curved surfaces affect things like airflow and moisture differently than flat areas, it suggested that termites might be sensing and reacting to subtle environmental changes caused by the shape of the structures.

Termites are super-sensitive to humidity. Unlike many insects, their soft skin makes them vulnerable to drying out. The researchers suspected the termites could sense subtle differences in humidity levels that are influenced by the shape of the structures theyre building.

Termites are much more delicate than many other insects. Their lack of a tough outer shell means they lose moisture quickly in dry environments, which can be dangerous. This led scientists to think that perhaps humidity plays a major role in termite building behavior.

The shape of a structure can change how air moves around it, which in turn affects how quickly moisture evaporates. Areas with high curvature might create little pockets where humidity remains higher compared to flatter surfaces. The researchers thought termites might be able to detect these subtle differences.

To test their theory, they pulled a clever trick. They repeated the experiment, but this time with clay mixed with a salt solution. As the water evaporated, tiny salt crystals formed and guess where those crystals appeared? All the spots with high curvature favored by the termites.

What really surprised us was to discover that termites use such a simple solution to a very complex problem, said Andrea Perna, a professor in complex systems at the IMT School.

Characteristics of termites and their remarkable nest building:

As discussed, termites need a moist environment to survive. They have built-in sensors that help them detect even small differences in humidity levels within their surroundings. They are naturally drawn to areas where the air holds more moisture.

Clearly, when a termite adds a clay pellet to a structure, it slightly alters its shape. This tiny change influences how air flows around it, and how quickly water evaporates from that spot. More evaporation means drier air, which might be less comfortable for termites.

Even though a single termite isnt trying to communicate, their act of building changes the local humidity. Other termites, also seeking the most comfortable spots, sense this change. They become more likely to deposit their own clay pellets in that same area, further altering the structure and the moisture patterns around it.

Repeating this simple process results in incredibly intricate nests.This continuous feedback loop is the magic ingredient. Each termite simply responds to the immediate humidity levels.

Yet, over time, as thousands of termites make these tiny adjustments, elaborate nests emerge. These nests boast tunnels for travel, chambers optimized for airflow, and structures that help maintain the perfect internal humidity for the whole colony.

Sometimes, the most amazing things can be built with simple rules. Think how a tiny drop of water, responding to gravity, can shape magnificent caves over time. The study demonstrates a fascinating truth:

In our experiments, nest complexity emerges from just one simple mechanism: termites only need to add pellets of material depending on the local humidity, but the pellets that they add in turn change all the pattern of evaporation and humidity, inducing other termites to build at a different location, and so on, until very complex structures are produced, explained Perna.

Nature shows us that sometimes its not about grand plans, but simply responding to your environment, one small step at a time. Thats a lesson humans building their own communities might take to heart.

The study is published in the journal ELife.

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Termites are nature's architects, building well-ventilated nests - Earth.com

The Kendall County Board on Tuesday okayed an agreement with Cordogan Clark architects to begin a major renovation of the County's Office Building located 111 W. Fox Street in Yorkville.

County Board Member Brian DeBolt Chairs the county's facilities committee. He says the remodel is needed to prepare the county for future growth and to make sure that it's compliant with safety and accessibility laws.

Board member Dan Koukol was the sole no vote on the renovation. He says it's a great idea, but now is not the right time with other expensive projects down the line and other costs.

The county architect is predicting that the project will cost about $8.75 million. It will go out to bid in the coming months and will be back in front of the board for final approval.

Board Chairman Matt Kellogg says the county can afford it with cash flow and won't need to borrow any money. County operations will need to move out during construction.

The county is close to wrapping up the construction of a new office building at the Fox Street Campus which is expected to cost about $10 million when all is said and done. That project is being funded by American Rescue Plan Act money.

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County okays agreement with architect for renovation county office building - WspyNews

tenjincho place: a green retreat tucked away in tokyo

Japanese studio Hiroyuki Ito Architects has recently unveiled Tenjincho Place, a new apartment complex in Tokyos Bunkyo ward. The building sits on the edge of a plateau in Yushima, overlooking the approach to a renowned shrine. This rapidly developing area has seen a significant shift in recent years, with hotels being replaced by apartment complexes. The studios design addresses two key challenges presented by the site the plots unusual shape and the limited natural light due to surrounding high-rises. images Masao Nishikawa

The centerpiece of Tenjincho Place is its central courtyard, which Hiroyuki Ito Architects designed to ensure a light-filled atmosphere. A three-pronged approach was implemented to ensure a sense of light and openness. First, the architects minimized the number of corridors flanking the courtyard. By converting corridor ends into two-story maisonette units, they effectively reduced the corridors footprint and minimized shadow formation.

Next, the design incorporates side openings facing the courtyard, creating balconies for both residences and common areas. These openings allow light and air to enter the space from multiple directions. Finally, the team employed a unique textural treatment for the 30-meter (98-foot) high courtyard walls. By using unconventional materials for the formwork, they aimed to achieve a linear yet irregular appearance that enhances the perception of even the slightest light filtering into the space. The courtyard is designed with the potential for engagement with the public, with uses including a co-working area, a cafe, or a market.

the new apartment complex in Tokyo addresses challenges of a curved plot and limited natural light

The formwork for the central courtyard incorporates a sustainable design element. It is constructed from Japanese cedar logs sourced from the Wooden Station Project in Sammu City, Chiba. This initiative aims to support healthy forests by acquiring thinned wood and forest residue from local owners. The forestry industry has recently faced challenges due to fungal diseases, which weaken and permanently mar trunks. By finding value in these materials, Hiroyuki Ito Architects sought to contribute to sustainable forestry practices.

Hiroyuki Ito Architects designed a central courtyard as the centerpiece of the complex

During construction, the logs were sliced into thin sections, retaining the bark on one side, and then affixed to plywood to create the formwork. This technique transferred the organic shapes and textures of the logs onto the concrete, resulting in a courtyard with a captivating interplay of light and shadow. The resulting texture evokes the image of a church in ruins, adding depth and character to an imposing space. The central courtyard is designed to provide residents and future visitors with a welcome respite from the urban environment.

to improve lighting, corridors flanking the courtyard are minimized and replaced with maisonette unit

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hiroyuki ito architects' tenjincho place is a curving slice of nature in tokyo - Designboom

Chad Hunter builds upon nearly two decades at UM

Some of Chad Hunters fondest memories of childhood involve sitting at a table with his grandfather and drawing. Not drawing as one typically does as a kid, but drawing house and building plans.

My grandfather owned a construction company and designed his own buildings, Hunter said. So, I would sit next to him on the table, actually and draw with him. That ended up morphing into me helping my dad design some of his restaurants that he ran.

Those interactions put Hunter on a path to become the director of facilities planning and chief university architect at the University of Mississippi.

With nearly two decades of experience, Chad brings a broad range of expertise in planning, design, engineering and construction, said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. With his vision and steadfast leadership, I look forward to how he will direct the physical planning of our university and guide our development and growth.

Chad will serve as a steward for the campus ensuring that we continue to thoughtfully meet the needs of students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Hunter, who joined the UM staff in 2006, said hes been fortunate to play an integral role in the development and growth of the university campus, but also in the Department of Facilities Planning.

Ive had the opportunity to work on and lead design and planning projects that range from small classroom renovations to bell towers to $175 million science buildings, he said. There arent many design positions in our professional world that get to work on such a wide variety of projects.

Its one of the things I find most exciting on a day-to-day basis here at the university. It truly keeps everything interesting.

As he approaches two decades at Ole Miss, Hunter has contributed to some 1,000 projects and counting.

We currently have approximately 150 active projects right now, he said. The science building is a large one, but coming down the line, were looking at a new student housing building with 981 beds, parking solutions, and were about to begin a deep dive into our research and laboratory facilities master plan.

Another big one thats under construction right now is our data center, which shows the universitys commitment to not only university growth, but also university innovation.

Hunter said one of his most meaningful projects to date is theJim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation.

I did the very first project budget for a science building in 2012, he said. I did a tremendous amount of research on it and was a co-chair of the planning and programming committee when we started planning this project.

Weve gone through a lot of variations of designs, and to see it being constructed and to soon be finished here in the fall is very gratifying. Its exciting to see it come to fruition and be able to serve not only the university, but also the state of Mississippi.

Since his early years designing with his father and grandfather, Hunter continued to work in the construction and hospitality fields. Originally from New Orleans, he moved to Hattiesburg during high school. He received a bachelors degree in architecture in 1997 from Mississippi State Universitys five-year program.

After graduation, I worked back in Hattiesburg in private practice and then moved to north Mississippi and worked in Tupelo, he said. I had about 10 and a half years in the private sector before coming to Ole Miss.

That work has contributed to Hunters success at the university while working with staff who also have private sector experience.

Im extremely fortunate to work with this team, he said. They have a tremendous amount of expertise and experience from work on campus, but also, theyve all served in the private world. We run our office and treat our office as a professional design office. Each one of us has specialties in various groups, whether it be architecture, civil engineering, interior design.

We all touch most of the projects in some way, shape or form, because we all draw from each others experiences. Its just a testament to the professionalism and the knowledge of this team.

Brad Potts, UM architectural draftsman II, worked with Hunter atMcCarty Architectsin Tupelo before joining the facilities planning department in 2007. Theyve worked on several large projects together, such as the first phase of the Jackson Avenue Center construction.

Chad knows construction inside and out, Potts said. He is incredibly intelligent about the makeup of a building. I know that he has big plans that will give our department opportunities to step up.

Virginia Pence, assistant university architect, said she is delighted with the outcome of the director search.

Chad is a wonderful leader, Pence said. In addition to his expertise, its his supportive and encouraging team approach that makes him so effective. His exceptional institutional knowledge is the bedrock of our department.

Looking forward, Hunter hopes to grow the department in order to continue to support critical construction projects on campus.

Its always exciting to see as the university grows, where the various areas on campus grow, whether thats student recreation, student housing, athletics or research, he said. By growing our team to support these needs, theres really no limit to what we can accomplish.

By Erin Garrett

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New University of Mississippi Architect Contributes to 1000 Projects and Counting The Local Voice - The Local Voice

I want to be an architect six words I never expected to hear from my daughter! It certainly came as a shock. She had been leaning towards majoring in computer science at her small liberal arts college in Northern Maine. However, a brief Intro to Architecture course captivated her in a way that simply growing up around me never did. Maybe she finally glimpsed why I enjoy it so much, despite it being such a tough profession with long, expensive studies and low financial rewards.

Now that she was bitten by the architecture bug, I thought I would be able to give her useful advice on how to approach studies and a career. After all, Ive worked in the US for over 25 years, visiting various architectural schools as a critic or a lecturer. But as we investigated her options, it became painfully obvious that I didnt really have a clue how it all worked. What followed was a crash course on the various paths US students take to pursue architecture.

At first glance, the architectural education systems in the UK and the US seem similar enough, with both requiring at the very least seven years to obtain licensure. The notable difference lies in the educational pathways. Unlike the UKs Parts 1, 2, and 3 process of undergraduate and postgraduate architecture courses, the US system offers two alternate routes to completing your studies.

First, its worth remembering that students here, in their last years of school, have no A-level equivalent where they narrow their academic focus down to just three subjects. When they start their typical four-year college education, they initially spend two years taking various general education courses before selecting what subject to major in.

For these students, the path to becoming an architect involves a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) postgraduate programme. The length of these programmes varies based on prior education, but usually lasts two years for students with an undergraduate major degree in architecture and three years for those with a degree in another field.

The second path is a straightforward five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) programme, similar to the UK system. Architecture and engineering are among the very few specialised professional subjects that students can pursue directly after high school. There are no undergraduate courses for law or medicine, for example.

B.Arch programmes are mostly found in the more vocational schools, often at state colleges, and some, such as Cornell, are exceptional. However, the majority of the top architectural schools are M.Arch programmes, such as MIT, Columbia, Yale, and Harvard. Often M.Arch schools provide an architecture major degree within their liberal arts undergraduate curriculum, while some B.Arch schools offer the M.Arch as part of their postgraduate studies.

Whichever path you take, the cost is always a significant factor. The cost of attendance at state colleges averages $25,000 per year, while private colleges can be at least double or even triple that amount. Many students take huge loans to complete their studies leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt upon graduation.

After finishing either path, the next step is the Architectural Experience Programme (AXP) an internship training period under a licensed architect, requiring over 3,500 recorded hours before completion which is then followed by six Architect Registration Examinations (ARE). The AREs, covering both technical and professional aspects of architecture, are challenging and have an average 50% pass rate. The process is long and arduous, taking the average architect 12.5 years to finally get their licence after starting college.

Ultimately, its the high cost of education with its arduous licensing process and low financial compensationthat makes our profession increasingly exclusive

Since my daughters college does not offer architectural courses, she faced a choice: either drop out and transfer to a B.Arch programme or continue with the undergraduate studies at her current college but focus on courses suitable for future M.Arch admission.

After chatting with many friends in education, the consensus was to complete her current college degree, integrating pre-architecture courses, majoring in art or art history, and including courses in mathematics, computing, government, and sociology. During her holidays last summer, she enrolled in a five-week intensive architecture course at Columbia University to confirm her passion (she loved it) and plans to apply to an architecture post-graduate programme in a few years.

In the UK, the ARB and RIBA are hotly debating more effective methods of teaching architecture with the goal of promoting diversity and accessibility within the profession. It sounds like what could emerge is a similar system to here. While the US system offers more flexibility than the UKs, it still struggles to meet the goals the ARB hopes to encourage. Ultimately, its the high cost of education with its arduous licensing process and low financial compensation that makes our profession increasingly exclusive.

>> Also read:The ARB education reforms offer tinkering, when what we need is a radical new vision

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Similar, but not the same: How qualifying as an architect differs between the US and UK - Building Design

Charles E. Dagit Jr., 80, of Gladwyne, celebrated architect, civic leader, author, teacher, dancer, and champion sailor, died Wednesday, March 27, of complications from pneumonia at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Mr. Dagit knew by the time he reached high school that he was going to be an architect. His grandfather, father, two uncles, and four cousins were architects, too, and the familys influence on the Philadelphia landscape is wide.

Every male for three generations has become an architect, Mr. Dagit told the Daily News in 1995. When people hear Dagit, they think architect.

Mr. Dagit embraced his family tradition by studying with renowned architect Louis Kahn and other luminaries in the 1960s, and earning bachelors and masters degrees in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. He founded Dagit-Saylor Architects in 1970 and went on to win scores of awards and design more than 300 construction projects around the country, including his own award-winning home in Gladwyne, before retiring in 2007.

He was especially prolific on college campuses, and the Abington campus Physical Education Building and Snider Agricultural Arena at Pennsylvania State University are two of his most notable designs. He also planned libraries, dining halls, theaters, student centers, and education buildings of all kinds at Penn, Gwynedd Mercy, Shippensburg, and Holy Family Universities; Ursinus, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr Colleges; and many other schools.

Structures at the Philadelphia Zoo, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Cherry Hill Mall, monastery of St. Clare in Newtown, and many other locations also bear his signature.

He was an inspiration to all who knew him and had the opportunity to work with him, a former colleague said in a tribute. Another colleague said: He was such a pleasure to work with and a dedicated, talented architect who loved his profession passionately.

Mr. Dagit built his own family home on a hillside in Gladwyne in the 1970s, and it won an award for excellence in design. He called the structure a white piece of sculpture, and added a Japanese Garden years later that was featured in The Inquirer in 2010.

Gregarious and insightful, he taught design at Drexel and Temple Universities, and Penn, and expressed great satisfaction when his students earned honors for their work. He also lectured at other schools and at conferences, and served for a decade as managing secretary of the John Stewardson Memorial Fellowship in Architecture.

He was a longtime national committee member and chair for the American Institute of Architects, president of the Philadelphia chapter in 1991, and board member of the Pennsylvania chapter from 2008 to 2010. He became the youngest architect at the time to join the AIA College of Fellows in 1983 and never ceased promoting the city and state chapters at national and international events.

He wrote articles for The Inquirer and other publications, and authored Louis I. Kahn Architect Remembering the Man and Those Who Surrounded Him in 2013, and The Groundbreakers: Architects in American History Their Places and Times in 2017. Both received critical praise.

Away from work, he served on boards at Penn, the Philadelphia Zoo, and other groups, and was president of the Gladwyne Civic Association in the 1980s and the Gladwyne Free Library in the 1990s. He was a lifelong sailor who won local races at the Jersey Shore and a 1972 national championship, and he and his wife, Alice, navigated exotic waters together around the world.

He was driven and bold, his wife said. He would do things after other people said, You cant do that.

Charles Edward Dagit Jr. was born July 1, 1943, in Philadelphia. He grew up in Merion, went sailing with his father and others often as a boy, and graduated from Malvern Preparatory School in 1961.

He earned three degrees and won a traveling fellowship and two design competitions at Penn, and worked for Mitchell-Giurgola and his fathers firm after college before establishing Dagit-Saylor.

He took Alice Murdoch on their first date in 1962, and they married in 1967, and had sons Charles III and John. They lived in Center City and West Philadelphia before moving to Gladwyne.

Mr. Dagit played piano and painted, enjoyed golf and dancing, and he and his wife spent more than 60 years twirling to the Charleston, jitterbug, and Texas two step. Charlie was a most remarkable person, a friend said in a tribute. Smart, talented, artistic, and funny. Just so exceptional.

In addition to his wife and sons, Mr. Dagit is survived by four grandsons, two sisters, and other relatives. A sister died earlier.

Visitation with the family is to be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, Pa. 19035. A service is to follow.

Donations in his name may be made to St. Malachy School, Box 37012, Philadelphia, Pa. 19122; and Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania Foundation, 221 Conestoga Rd., Suite 300, Wayne Pa. 19087.

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Charles E. Dagit Jr., award-winning architect, civic leader, and champion sailor, has died at 80 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Tod Williams, co-founder of the renowned architecture firm Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects, will present a lecture about his firms work with stone and masonry titled Building Blocks at 6:30 p.m. April 18 in the Stuckeman Family Buildings North Forum on the University Park campus.

The lecture is part of the Department of Architecture's annual National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) second-year student competition within the College of Arts and Architectures Stuckeman School. Williams will be joined by Alex Odom, a project manager with the firm.

Founded by Williams and Billie Tsien in Manhattan in 1986, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects focuses its work on academic institutions, museums, cultural centers, residences and non-profit organizations. The practice has been significantly influenced by the duos backgrounds in architecture and fine art; however, the work also reflects a collaborative effort that grows out of their relationship as a married couple, said Williams.

In their early work, Williams and Tsien experimented with unconventional materials and reconsidered how familiar materials could be used in unfamiliar ways in designs for installations at the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas in New York and elsewhere.

In their later work, Williams and Tsien were commissioned to prepare a plan for new buildings at the Cranbrook Estate in Michigan. Their design developed ideas of movement and path embodied in their earlier designs for academic buildings in California, at Princeton University and the University of Virginia. The co-educational natatorium at Cranbrook was planned to connect to existing buildings, and large oculi and doors enable the building to be opened up during spring and summer, connecting the building to the landscapes of the Cranbrook Estate.

Residential designs for sites in New York City, Long Island and Phoenix have enabled Williams and Tsien to explore issues of materiality, path and the integration of building with site at another scale.

Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects has received more than two dozen awards from the American Institute of Architects, including the Firm of the Year Award in 2013. That same year, Williams and Tsien were each awarded a National Medal of Arts from former President Barack Obama. Among other awards and recognitions is a 2014 International Fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

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Renowned architect to visit Stuckeman to juror student design competition - Penn State University

The trial of a man charged with killing a Des Moines architect is now underway in Polk County. In 2016, Kirk Blunck was found badly hurt at the bottom of a staircase in an East Village building. He died shortly after from his injuries.Blunck's family successfully sued Des Moines man Zachary Gaskill for wrongful death, winning $6.125 million in 2018.Despite the civil lawsuit, Gaskill was not criminally charged until December 2022. Police say he was responsible for the injuries that killed Blunck.Gaskill allegedly claimed to police that he was searching for a bathroom in a building at 500 E. Locust St. when he and Blunck fell over a railing together. Gaskill said he caught himself, but Blunck continued to fall. Police believe that Gaskill attacked Blunck, eventually throwing him over the railing, and tried hiding his identity to get away with it. Gaskill faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree murder charge. Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI

The trial of a man charged with killing a Des Moines architect is now underway in Polk County.

In 2016, Kirk Blunck was found badly hurt at the bottom of a staircase in an East Village building. He died shortly after from his injuries.

Blunck's family successfully sued Des Moines man Zachary Gaskill for wrongful death, winning $6.125 million in 2018.

Despite the civil lawsuit, Gaskill was not criminally charged until December 2022. Police say he was responsible for the injuries that killed Blunck.

Gaskill allegedly claimed to police that he was searching for a bathroom in a building at 500 E. Locust St. when he and Blunck fell over a railing together. Gaskill said he caught himself, but Blunck continued to fall. Police believe that Gaskill attacked Blunck, eventually throwing him over the railing, and tried hiding his identity to get away with it.

Gaskill faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree murder charge.

Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

Get the latest headlines from KCCI

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Trial begins for man accused of throwing Des Moines architect over a railing to his death in 2016 - KCCI Des Moines

PARIS (OSV News) -- Philippe Villeneuve, Notre Dame Cathedral's chief architect, learned about the 2019 fire 300 miles from Paris and rushed to the capital to help firefighters save the iconic monument.

For France's top architect of historical sites, the evening of April 15, 2019, was especially dark as Notre Dame Cathedral was already his passion when he was a little boy. Since the inferno, he has worked tirelessly to finalize major parts of renovations by Dec. 8 when the cathedral is reopened.

In fact, it was a fascination with Eugne Viollet-le-Duc, the French architect who restored the cathedral in the 19th century, that inspired Villeneuve to become an architect of historic monuments. A graduate of cole Nationale Suprieure D'architecture de Paris Val-de-Seine, Paris' architecture university, he has been entrusted with the renovation of many iconic monuments, including one of the most well-known castles in the Loire Valley -- Chambord.

In 2013, he was asked to renovate part of Notre Dame in Paris -- including repairing the stonework of the flying buttresses and the fissures in Viollet-le-Duc's spire. When the fire broke out, he was working on the spire.

The fire of 2019, the cause of which remains unknown, struck Villeneuve as a personal tragedy.

"Everyone was scared, and it went on for hours, getting worse by the hour," he told OSV News. He was immediately asked to secure the site, and the Ministry of Culture confirmed him in his mission to repair the damaged cathedral. Since then, he has devoted all his time and passion to the challenge.

Today, the chief architect is confident of meeting the deadlines imposed on him. "Yes, the cathedral will be ready for its official reopening on December 8, 2024. The framework is finished. The roofers are still working," he told OSV News. "There was a lot of wind at Easter, so we were a little behind schedule. But we will make it up. We have to hurry, but everything will be fine."

The site of the Notre Dame reconstruction is still sealed off, with tourists patiently watching the front towers of the cathedral from the wooden steps installed in front of it. The steps are placed not far from the place where Villeneuve found the copper rooster perched at the spire's top that was feared lost on April 15. However, on April 16 at dawn, Villeneuve found the battered rooster lying in the gutter of Rue du Clotre-Notre-Dame, a street right next to the cathedral square. The relics of Paris' patron, St. Genevieve, were found intact inside.

After five years of intense work and installation of a new rooster -- one he designed himself -- on top of the new spire, Villeneuve told OSV News they are now "preparing the most decisive phase of the project."

"This involves dismantling the large scaffolding at the transept crossing. Removing it will enable us to rebuild the cross vault, replace the paving and install the altar. We are going to erect a new scaffolding, but this time detached from what is below, to put the finishing touches to the work on the spire's roof at this point," he explained.

"This work, above the transept crossing vault," he said, "is the most delicate part of the project. But everything is going well."

Villeneuve emphasized that this magnificent project was made possible by the international outpouring of generosity and donations that followed the fire. "I would never have imagined that Notre Dame could have aroused such emotion throughout the world, during and after the fire," he told OSV News. "It was astonishing." Those involved in the reconstruction emphasize that many American donors generously supported rebuilding of the icon of Paris and icon of the Catholic Church.

"Notre Dame shows France's influence in the world, and its extraordinary heritage. But the fire was not just a national issue. Notre Dame is also a (UNESCO) World Heritage site, and during the fire, we really felt that it was humanity that was seeing its heritage disappear."

Villeneuve added that "the flames and the fall of the spire sent shockwaves around the world" but "fortunately, the firemen did an extraordinary job, and in the end we lost a frame, a roof, a spire, a few pieces of vaulting, but no more. And thanks to all that, in the end, we will have an even more beautiful cathedral than before the fire. This is very stimulating."

Since the rebuilding work began, all those involved on site have testified to the exceptional quality of the skills and spirit of Notre Dame's craftsmen. "It is true that there is an extraordinary atmosphere," Villeneuve confirmed. "If so far we were able to meet the deadlines, it is because the contractors and craftsmen trusted me. And I trusted them. The complicity and commitment were total, for the good of the cathedral, and also for the pleasure and pride of working on this extraordinary monument".

He said he also has "deep respect and affection for the totally anonymous people on the site, such as those who take care of the daily clean-up," Villeneuve told OSV News. "It is thanks to them too that this project is progressing so well. I greet everyone in the same warm way."

Eight months into the reopening, various teams are working on the process of equipping the cathedral with electricity, IT, heating, lighting, among other systems.

Vileneuve said every person working in the reconstruction has a symbolic task of passing on their knowledge and work for future generations. They "will spread out everywhere after the site is finished," Villeneuve said, "Those who will have benefited from this project to perfect their craft, will pass on all this as (craftsmen did) in the Middle Ages. They will pass on all this know-how." Villeneuve added, "Life is about transmission. We are passersby."

Villeneuve doesn't treat the cathedral's reconstruction merely as a work project. In a conversation with OSV News, he described the cathedral as if it were a human being. "We are giving the cathedral all the elements that will bring it to life," he said. "I would like to give people something that will touch them. I would like to help Notre Dame Cathedral speak to people, as best as it can."

He said, "Notre Dame speaks to me. Notre-Dame means a lot to me," adding that this cathedral "is no ordinary monument. Everything we do has a strong mystical and religious significance. We cannot forget that. There is a mystical and religious dimension in our work."

Villeneuve also confessed that he is already dreaming of seeing people's amazement when they enter the cathedral. "It will be breathtaking," he said. "On the outside, it is now exactly as we knew it. But on the inside, it is more beautiful than we have ever seen it.

"Even us. Even I, who knew it by heart, am amazed to finally see what this cathedral was really like inside (in the further past), in terms of architecture, light, care and quality. It is extraordinary. You will not recognize it."

For Notre Dame's chief architect, this "project of a lifetime" will not end at the end of the year. "There will still be the restoration of the chevet," or apse, he said. "And we are going to use the rest of the donations to restore the sacristy, the presbytery, maybe even the transepts. We will not stop work after December 8. I will be here on a daily basis until 2028."

He said for him the most important thing in life "is doing useful things for others," Villeneuve added. "I am happy to be able to contribute something to the world."

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'It will be breathtaking,' Notre Dame's chief architect says; iconic cathedral reopens Dec. 8 - Detroit Catholic