A house by Dreambuilder Custom Homes on the Street of Dreams
BY ROBERT NOBLES
There are no Architects involved in Street of Dreams homes, part of a larger fact of American homebuilding: that less than 10 percent of single family homes are designed by registered Architects. Yet on the Street of Dreams website, Facebook page, and printed guides, are listed the names "architects" associated with each home. (In many cases, after complaints were made to the Oregon Board of Architect Examiners, these have since been changed.) If someone instead searched the ORBAE website for these names, they would find that none are licensed Architects, and some have previous complaints of such false claims.
Architect is a protected title in the State of Oregon. Use of the title first became regulated in 1919 with the establishment of the Oregon Board of Architect Examiners. The board is responsible for ensuring that only individuals that attain a high standard of professional competence are permitted to use the title architect.
Being an architect in Oregon means that you have obtained a professional degree from a National Architecture Accrediting Board program, have completed the minimum 5,600 hours of training units in 16 distinct categories to complete the Intern Development Program, been certified by the National Council of Architect Registration Boards, completed the seven test Architectural Registration Exams, and have passed the ORBAE’s oral and jurisprudence exams.
It is an arduous process to become an architect, but it does not stop there. To maintain your title you must participate in continuing professional education classes to stay on top of new building technology, sustainability, and protection of public health, safety, and welfare.
The public spends most of its time in buildings that have a large effect on our health and happiness. Your home may or may not have been designed by an Architect, but your work surely was, your favorite shops and restaurants, and even your favorite outdoor urban space. Additionally 35-40 percent of energy consumption in the U.S. comes from buildings. There are few titles that require so much effort to attain because there are few professions that have so much potential to affect our lives. That is why it is a serious matter to use the title Architect when an individual that is not licensed by the ORBAE.
It is a slow time for the construction industry in general, and I am sure that the Home Builders Association works tirelessly with the Construction Contractors Board to get unlicensed builders fined and shut down. It is terrible that for the few people who are looking to remodel or build a new home, and possibly hire an architect, the HBA would instead direct them to unlicensed individuals portrayed as Architects. It costs Architects work, damages the profession's reputation, and could expose the public to great risks.
Robert Nobles is a Portland architect.
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As a spec builder who typically uses Architects, we are in the minority. This is especially true considering our homes usually sell for prices far below the median. People who have seen our Martha's Green development know what a talented Architect can bring to the party.
We were once duped by a designer posing as an Architect. We only found out once plans for a 12 unit condo development were rejected at permit. The State fined the guy $10K then waved it upon his request. We sued to get the fees back and obtained a judgement the we have been unable to collect. Lesson learned.
Posted by: A Facebook User | September 07, 2011 at 08:51 AM
Martha's Green looks interesting. Were you also involved in Jake's Run with Fletcher Farr Ayotte Architects? That is one of the projects that made me decide to work there. I bike by it all the time. Great example of what spec builders can do when they work with Architects!
Posted by: Robert | September 07, 2011 at 10:17 AM
As a residential architect (formerly) licensed in Oregon, I can tell you the continuing education requirements are both time consuming and very expensive - for what benefit? You certainly can't charge more for your services since the pay rate for residential design is absurdly low. Unless you do commercial work (where a license is required) it does not make sense to either be a residential architect or be a builder who hires one.
Posted by: Arch True | September 21, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Meanwhile, many architects call themselves "planners", and many architecture and engineering firms include "planning" in their names despite having no planners on their staff.
Posted by: Cyburbia_forums | September 21, 2011 at 11:26 AM
"Planning" can have many meanings in the context of an Architecture or Engineering firm. Facilities planning, Space planning, Master planning, etc.
I worked at a firm that had planning in their title, but we had two Urban Planners on staff at the time.
Posted by: Robert | September 21, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Hello Robert Nobles,
As a building designer, (not a licensed architect) - I agree that those who engage in the profession of building design by fraudulent means and methods like illegally using a protected title should be reported. In addition, organizations like the HBA, should verify their facts and not cause burden on building designers who may have intended to do this with no misrepresentation. This should surely be reported so corrections be made for legal compliance.
Most of us has no intent to misrepresent the public and many of us serve clients in a manner that is A) professional, B) honest, C) with great quality.
This is why I support you on the instance but I want to make sure you understand and not just view all of us as criminals that are out to screw the public. It might be helpful that you don't make allusions that all unlicensed building designers are criminals out to endanger the public. That is a categorization by allusion. Which is a misrepresentation in itself. So be careful and clear about that.
I would be happy to talk with you over phone or in person but I am currently in Eugene and schedule would not allow for a lot of traveling to Portland, Oregon.
Posted by: Rick Balkins | September 29, 2011 at 09:35 PM