Architects are licensed by states.
Each state has guidelines in order to become licensed to practice there. An architect who holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate can obtain licensure in multiple states with relative ease.
A new graduate with a Bachelor or Master of Architecture degree is not yet an “Architect.”
In order to become a licensed architect, most states require architecture graduates to complete an internship, which is typically with an architecture firm, and is regulated by NCARB’s Internship Development Program (IDP). Concurrently, the person must pass seven individual exams on a range of topics. Once an individual begins, all seven must be passed within five years. After IDP requirements have been met and all exams have been passed, the intern can apply to the state for a license.
Licensed architects must complete 24 units/hours of Continuing Education credits every two calendar years in order to remain licensed and in good standing with the state’s jurisdiction. The Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors & Landscape Architects.
Architecture is collaborative.
An architectural design team is usually comprised of a Principal in Charge, Project Manager, Project Architect, and additional design support staff. Often, they are different people, but on smaller-scale projects, or in smaller firms, these roles overlap.
Architects are facilitators.
In the evolution of the architecture profession, the architect was the “master-builder” who managed and coordinated all facets of the project from design through construction. Continuing in this tradition, today the project architect facilitates other professional serves required by the project such as civil engineering; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; structural engineering; and interior design.
At BR&P, your project will likely be designed in three dimensions.
This is quickly becoming the standard, but has not yet been adopted by all design firms. In 2005, BR&P converted from an AutoCAD drafting platform to Revit, Autodesk’s Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. This across-the-firm-conversion changed the way BR&P’s architects and structural engineers conceived, detailed and collaborated in building projects. With more than nine years’ experience in BIM, BR&P’s professionals now are disciplined to intuitively resolve work in all three – and sometimes four (time) dimensions. BR&P uses BIM for programming, preliminary design, design visualization, project coordination, construction documents, quantity surveys, conflict management and as a graphical database for suppliers and fabricators.
At least two in-house architects review each project.
From time to time during design, a licensed architect who is not on the project team reviews the work with a fresh set of eyes to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.
Architects also provide non-traditional services.
Examples of these services include: being a client advocate and spokesperson, fundraising assistance, community/stakeholder engagement, and expert witness testimony and building forensics.
If your next project needs a licensed architect or structural engineer, call on BR&P’s 36 years of experience. We’d be glad to help.