General Interest Questions
Industry-related Questions
1. HOW CAN I FIND AN ARCHITECT?
For a comprehensive list of Bay Area firms specializing in residential and retail projects, we offer several options: Visit the Find a Professional area of our website, which allows you to search alphabetically, by specialty, firm size, or location; purchase our 2005 Membership Directory & Resource Guide or Small Firms, Great Projects magazine from our bookstore or office, or visit the Small Firms, Great Projects area of our website.
Each September, AIA San Francisco hosts the popular San Francisco Living: Home Tours weekend allowing members of the public an inside look into the world of distinctive residences in San Francisco. By attending this program, you can come face to face with some of the best design the Bay Area has to offer and meet the architects behind the projects.
2. IS THERE A RECOMMENDED PROCESS FOR HIRING AN ARCHITECT?
There is. We recommend downloading You and Your Architect, a comprehensive pamphlet created by the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C. that helps clients not only understand the process of hiring an architect, but also establishes criteria for working with your architect of choice to create a successful project and partnership.
3. HOW CAN AN AIA CONTRACT DOCUMENT ASSIST ME?
California law requires a written agreement for architectural services. AIA contract documents are industry standard documents that protect everyone’s interests and have a long-standing reputation of fairness to all parties. Since 1888, when the first document was published, owners, architects, contractors, attorneys, insurance experts, and many others have contributed to the development and revision of these documents.
Contracts may be purchased through the contracts area of our website or in our office anytime between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday–Friday.
4. HOW MANY BAY AREA ARCHITECTURAL SCHOOLS ARE THERE?
There are several, but not all of them are NAAB Accredited, which refers to professional under-
graduate and graduate programs that grant graduates educational credit toward the state licensing board process.
NAAB Accredited institutions include:
California College of the Arts
UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
Non-NAAB Accredited institutions or institutions that offer classes in architecture include:
Academy of Art University
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco Institute of Architecture
University of San Francisco
5. DOES AIA SAN FRANCISCO RECOMMEND SPECIFIC BUILDINGS OR TOURS TO VISITORS?
If you're looking for a guide to San Francisco's most compelling buildings, we recommend purchasing Architecture + Design SF ($12.50) by Mitchell Schwarzer from our bookstore or office.
We also recommend the following local architectural tours:
San Francisco Living: Home Tours
San Francisco Architectural Heritage Tours
San Francisco City Guides Walking Tours
6. CAN I VISIT AIA SAN FRANCISCO EVEN IF I AM NOT A MEMBER?
Our programs and events are open to everyone. Furthermore, we host year-round gallery exhibitions that are free and open to the public, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
7. WHAT IS THE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN AND WHERE IS IT?
Opening fall 2006, the Center for Architecture + Design is the first center of its kind on the West Coast to enhance public appreciation for architecture and design. As such, it will celebrate architecture and design both locally and internationally through exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series and other programs that aim to reveal the richness of the design arts. The Center will also be a collaborative environment where design organizations and affiliates can engage in the overall programming goals.
The Center for Architecture + Design's Resource Library will be open to the public, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm and will serve as a community resource for both members of the public and all design professionals.
The Center for Architecture + Design will share space with AIA San Francisco in its newly renovated home within the Hallidie Building. It will be located at 130 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco.
8. WHAT IS THE ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION OF SAN FRANCISCO?
The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco is a nonprofit educational organization that involves San Francisco elementary and secondary students in a mentored appreciation of architecture, engineering, construction, and the design process. For more information on the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco's work, visit www.afsf.org.
9. HOW DO YOU BECOME A LICENSED ARCHITECT?
To become a licensed architect, you need to have a professional degree in architecture, complete the intern development program, and take the Architectural Registration Exam. If you have attended school or practiced abroad, be sure to contact the California Architects Board for additional information.
10. WHAT IS IDP?
IDP stands for Intern Development Program and is a joint program of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). NCARB is based in Washington, D.C. and can be contacted at www.ncarb.org or www.aia.org. For further information about IDP training requirements and conditions or NCARB Council Record application procedures, go to www.ncarb.org, e-mail NCARB Customer Service at customerservice@ncarb.org, or call NCARB Customer Service at 202.879.0520.
11. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CALIFORNIA ARCHITECTS BOARD (CAB) AND THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA)?
The California Architects Board (CAB) is one of numerous boards, bureaus, commissions, and committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs responsible for consumer protection and the regulation of licensed professionals. CAB establishes regulations for examination and licensing of the profession of architecture in California. For more information visit: www.cab.ca.gov.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) empowers its members and inspires creation of a better built environment. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect is held to the highest standard in professional practice. The AIA comprises some 300 chapters around the world to serve the needs of US architects at the national, state, and local levels, including American architects working in foreign locales.
12. DO YOU HAVE LISTINGS FOR ARCHITECTS LOOKING FOR AVAILABLE OFFICE SPACE?
Yes. Visit the Classifieds area of our website.
13. HOW CAN I FIND A CAD PROFESSIONAL?
Visit the Job Board area of our website for this and more.
14. WHERE CAN I FIND A MODEL BUILDER?
We recommend visiting the following resources: The Building Trades Directory website at www.buildingtradesdir.com or DMOZ's Open Directory Project at http://dmoz.org.
