'Sleek and modern' or 'wonky and industrial': A reminder of an architect's duties

This is another article in our legal series provided by AIA UK partner, Beale & Co.

A recent decision in the English Technology and Construction Court has found that an architect was A recent decision in the English Technology and Construction Court has found that an architect was negligent for altering the design of a cinema room without first informing or agreeing the changes with his clients.

Although it is a fact specific case, it provides useful guidance on the duties and obligations that the court expects an architect to meet. This includes the importance of a formal appointment, clear and accurate record keeping and ensuring that architects have finalised written briefs prior to commencing work on a project, as well as complying with the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct and the ARB Code of Conduct.

Nathan Modell and Priya Thakrar provide more detail in their article here.

Written by: Nathan Modell and Priya Thakrar

Global Architecture Billings Index (GABI)

The AIA – in coordination with partner organizations around the world – is looking to expand the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) into the international realm. To help the architecture profession better understand business conditions, opportunities and risks around the world, the new Global Architecture Billings Index (GABI)initiative will help monitor design markets across the globe to assess the construction outlook in key countries and regions.

We are currently signing up firms to join the GABI survey panel. As a GABI panelist, you will be asked to complete a brief survey on the firm billings (to indicate if billings have increased, decreased, or stayed the same – we will not request proprietary data!) and business conditions on a quarterly basis. You will receive early access to the survey results before they are published, and may have access to the survey data in the future. 
 
If you would like to join the GABI survey panel, we ask that you complete a brief background information form. This information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with others or linked back to your firm; it will only be used for analytical purposes and your responses will only be reported in aggregate with others. If you are not the correct person at your firm to provide this type of information and participate in the survey, please share this invitation with the appropriate colleague.

Thank you for your interest, and please contact economics@aia.org if you have any questions.

Sign up for the GABI survey panel: Background Information Form

AIA Fellowship – UK Update

The 2019 crop of AIA Fellows and Honorary Fellows has been announced and includes two UK-based architects. Congratulations to Jane Duncan and Amanda Levete on their elevation to Honorary Fellowship!

Former RIBA President Jane Duncan received an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her contribution to the profession including being the Champion for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion on the RIBA board.  She established student and practice mentoring guidelines and set priorities for mental and physical health initiatives. She also initiated the publication of a guide for those with disabilities wishing to enter the profession and supported development of a financial assistance fund for deserving architecture students.  Following her election as RIBA President she advanced her initiatives with a new five year Strategic Vision for the RIBA, International Women in Architecture Day, and she constructed a review of Council make-up to bring in a greater proportion of student and young people, launching the Young Architects & Developers Alliance (under age 35) to bring equality, diversity and inclusion to a level never before seen.

Amanda Levete also received an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her design work, both at Future Systems with Jan Kaplicky, and latterly as Amanda Levete Architects.  Her work frequently involves the creation of buildings that create new or positively impact existing urban spaces. Whether the waterfront esplanade at Lisbon’s MAAT complex or the city centre redevelopment of Selfridges Birmingham, her work reaches out to the public, engaging them in a carefully considered dialogue between building and site. She is adept at integrating heritage structures into her work; the recent Victoria and Albert Exhibition Road Quarter skilfully inserts contemporary form and function into a 19th century courtyard, creating a new vibrant entry plaza while respecting the resonance of the museum’s historic architecture.  

Written by: Lester Korzilius; FAIA, RIBA

Board Members Meet with AIA CEO

AIA National EVP/Chief Executive Officer, Robert Ivy, FAIA, took the opportunity to meet AIA UK board members while in London on business.  Robert hosted the board members for lunch on the 26th of February.  Among the topics discussed were the AIA UK’s liaison with the RIBA and the AIA’s national convention.   This takes place on June 6-8 in Las Vegas.

L to R: Michael Lischer, Bea Sennewald, Robert Ivy, Lorraine King, Lester Korzilius, Robert Rhodes, Etain Fitzpatrick, Amrita Raja

Written by: Michael Lischer, FAIA

Document Retention under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

The Data Protection Act 2018 came into force on 25 May 2018. It implements the General Data Protection Regulation as well as, supplementing and bolstering it.

In this article, James Hutchinson, partner at Beale & Co., explains how document retention has changed due to this new legislation, and what it means for policy standards and data sharing in the future.

To read the full article, please click here.

Written by: James Hutchinson , Beale & Co

2019 Annual General Meeting - Approval of Minutes

The AIA UK Chapter Annual General Meeting is a unique mixture of social evening, continuing education event and business meeting all in one.  Following a tradition starting in the 1990s, this year’s AGM – held on Thursday 17 January 2019 – was hosted by our long-term sponsor, Herman Miller.  Herman Miller’s generous hospitality before and after the business meeting made for a most enjoyable evening.

Prior to the meeting, Herman Miller’s representative, Bertie van Wyk, gave a presentation on “Cognitive Wellness”.   He started his talk with the startling projection that the largest health risk to be faced in 2030 will be ‘depression’.  He then continued with an analysis of how we might avoid depression and stress through understanding how environmental information is processed.  As architects, we should aim to achieve a better fit between our brain and our surroundings, allowing the environment to tell us what to do so that we can make better decisions quicker.  As ever, the Herman Miller talk was both entertaining and instructive – and earned attendees 1.0 Continuing Education credits.

The formal part of the AGM dealt with approval of the 2019 Accounts and the election of the 2019 Board of Directors and Officers.  Additionally, the 2018 President, Alex Miller AIA, gave an overview presentation of the past year and the 2019 President, Amrita Raja AIA, gave a preview of plans for 2019.   These presidential presentations can be viewed in full HERE.  A summary of the 2018 Accounts, a review of Chapter membership and the list of Board Directors and Officers can be accessed through AGM Minutes via the link below.

According to the UK Chapter Bylaws adapted at last year’s AGM, the Minutes of the AGM must be presented to the overall membership for approval.  If there are no relevant additions, comments or modifications within a month from this notification, the Minutes will automatically be approved.

Please send any comments to secretary@aiauk.org.  

REVIEW AGM MEETING MINUTES HERE.