Internally Yours: Your AIBC Intern Architect Rep to Council Blog

Dear Canada Revenue Agency

WHAT?! I can't claim my AREs on my income tax?!

For some reason you can do it in Quebec. There, in that other world, it's under "Tuition and examination fees".

posted by Lisa @ 11:49 PM 43 comments

New ExAC website launched

Short note, the new ExAC website was launched last Friday: http://www.cexac.ca/

Note this exam does not apply to AIBC interns - I'm just providing it as an FYI. Essentially interns in the rest of Canada will be able to register next May for the first run of this exam, slated to happen in November.

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Though I'm not the Intern Rep anymore it's been suggested that I continue blogging up installments of my life as an intern as it unfurls out of its protective cocoon into a state of fulsome architectness. So I may just do that and will invite the new rep to write too if he wants. Next chapter when I get a chance will be a brief bit on the conference / AGM.

posted by Lisa @ 1:34 PM 0 comments

Intern Architect Rep Report

Here goes - just jetted this to krau@aibc.ca ... Official numbers always come from the AIBC, but given my training as an architect-in-training mine aren't far off...


- Interns of poto:group develop poto:type, an international ideas competition on the podium tower typology. 45 entries from 8 countries. Intern Architect Committee organizes the exhibition preview as the year's Intern Event. Standing-room-only panel discussion at Robson Square in October, with winners coming from Rome.

- July 2008: NCARB AREs transition from version 3.1 to 4.0
- General increase in interns (493 in March 2008; 460 a year ago, April 2007). [With about 1500 architects we are now talking about an IA : MAIBC ratio of 1 to 3]
- Still unbalanced in terms of number of new interns (73 since 2007 AGM; 71 previous year) and new architects by internship (42 since 2007 AGM; 22 previous year), but the latter have doubled over the past year.
- General increase in intern activity: AREs being written (pass/total ratios: average 43/53 per month since June 2007, 80% pass rate; up from approx (I am missing some months) 32/38 previous year, 85% pass rate); Intern-required PD courses (17 courses, 533 intern-seats in 2007; 14 courses and 438 intern-seats in 2006); Oral Reviews (51 pass of 57 since 2007 AGM; 39/50 previous year)

- Intern Architect Committee active in helping interns get through exams (more tips and tricks in Intern Update newsletter; ARE Seminars; though study guides on hold). We bring in for the first time David Thaddeus AIA from North Carolina to teach his 3-day 30-hour Structures ARE Preparation Workshop in November.
- Intern Rep: since seeing in a past survey that about 50% of interns had not even taken one exam I've tried to "demystify" the process and write in my intern rep blog about my own process of taking 8 exams of 9 in the past year. I've generally been active in blogging my AIBC and intern experience, in hopes of bringing both worlds closer together. Also wanted to demystify the Oral so observed 2 real sessions and participated as the intern in first ever Mock Oral Review

- Welcome to Scott Staniul, new Intern Rep

posted by Lisa @ 11:09 PM 0 comments

AGM - What to Wear, What to Say; BP Aftermath

Saturday will require some forethought, seriously! Somehow in the morning I'll have combat boots on and a vest indicating me as a subject for target practice - this for the new Convention Centre site tour. Then something reasonably respectable - visibly clean? - for the AGM. Then I'm supposed to be in "black tie" (which is code for definitely no black tie for me), and my dinner companion has just announced an outfit of a sweatsuit ("freshly pressed") and tuck tape.

Tonight: well between getting a birdhouse done and an outline of my report for the AGM, a little bird is telling me that I should work on the report. Highlights? Nothing new really - pototype, David Thaddeus, Mock Oral, ARE 4.0 transition and then what is now regular stuff (we haven't always had these) - the IAC, the intern update, the preparation seminars. Some stats - which involve me hunting for all my Council agendas and tallying up how well you've done on the AREs - some which come from AIBC staff, which have an air of dependability - number of new interns, number of new architects by internship, course numbers.

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Building Planning

For me, and I repeat emphatically, for me, this plus my last graphics exam SP have seemed really easy, to the point where it has been a challenge for me to study through something so incredibly boring. I don't know if I passed either yet (it's taking a long time!), so maybe I shouldn't be saying any of this but still you can check your solutions against the programmes and "know" if you passed. I'm confused as to why there's such a low pass rate for these graphics exams in particular. Though the 2 feet on the pull and 1 foot on the push is embedded in my head now, I would say that these exams are to me expensive video games. Essentially, it's as if once you know the first 5 moves of the game, it plays itself out which is why it's particularly boring for me. So in practicing the vignettes, I'm just playing out the same first 5 moves over and over again - all my layouts look the same, all my buildings look the same. Maybe it's good thing - all my boring buildings will comply with accessibility and exiting.

Tips
1. Just read Norm Dorf. He's direct. I've found the Kaplan guide not only not helpful but possibly contributing to confusion.
2. The NCARB vignettes are the closest to what is on the exam. I've found the Dorf and Kaplan vignettes "spacious" - in the end it is quite tight for both vignettes. The furniture is also more similar.

I did the practice vignettes twice. The first time a week before the exam, giving myself "unlimited time" to do it. The second time as fast as possible to beef up the "time management" aspect (design a building in _ hours!), and just a day or two before the exam so it's fresh. You get 5 hours to do the exam; I walked away after 3. I think. In any case, my case was that I finished early.

Good luck.

posted by Lisa @ 6:58 PM 0 comments

"E.C. Architects Directive 85/384/EEC"

FYI here is a new website launched March 14th by Ontario interns: http://www.internarchitect.ca/

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Just got an Archiseek competition saying that it is open to architects holding a qualification listed in the "E.C. Architects Directive 85/384/EEC". ? . I have to say that I am pretty unaware of how I can or could qualify as an architect beyond North America once I'm registered in BC.

I suspect that it is not each province that talks with NCARB regarding reciprocity/licensure agreements, but that there is a Canadian body (the table formerly known as CCAC - now with less than 11 member councils) formed by provincial regulators that talk to NCARB. But given that there are now two exams to take in Canada, one of which (the Canadian ExAC) is not recognized by NCARB, how can we think to cross the North American boundary if we cannot get our act together as a country and a continent?

The 1st Accreditation/Validation Round Table was held only in 2006. The second was held in 2007 in Ottawa, http://collaboration.aia.org/iav - not sure if anything is coming out of these tables.

In August 2007 the AIA published a newsletter on "International Organizations" http://www.aia.org/nwsltr_intl.cfm?pagename=intl_a_200607_org_news

Here are some tidbits from the newsletter:

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Architect Council of Europe
The Architects Council of Europe (ACE) held its first of two general assembly meetings of the year in Brussels, Belgium, on April 28–29, 2006. Newly elected President Jean-François Susini of France presided. During the first part of the session, President Susini and Alain Sagne, secretary general, brought the delegates up to date on various aspects of trade in services:

The Mutual Recognition Agreement with the AIA and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) was mentioned and that the ACE was waiting for approval by NCARB’s member states ...

NCARB and International Recognition Agreements
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has signed a mutual recognition agreement with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), which was brought to the annual meeting of the member boards as a resolution for ratification, along with two previously signed agreements: the ACE-NCARB/AIA mutual recognition agreement on professional qualifications for practice between the EU and the United States and the trinational mutual recognition agreement among Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The mutual recognition agreement with Australia is based on substantial equivalency of licensure and is open to U.S. and Australian architects with a current license and five years documented experience, of which two years shall be in responsible control of projects. They shall also have completed a recognized or accredited architecture program.

New Zealand, which has established reciprocity with Australia, has requested to negotiate a mutual recognition agreement with NCARB.

posted by Lisa @ 12:02 PM 0 comments

The Spirit of Norm / AIBC in April

I wonder what the "Architect's Oath" is, if after doing Building Planning I'll swear that I will not willingly and knowingly design inaccessible spaces? That all my circulation spaces and corridors connect to rooms, that my rooms will have doors, that my doors will not have bookcases in front of them? That, even though the software will delete my doors and windows because I have dared to rotate a room layout, I will swear to put them back?

The 7-day countdown to BP has officially kicked off. The cleaning's done, the whites are in the dryer and my colours are in the wash. Once I finish this I'll just sit in front of the computer for awhile. By now I've gone through the Kaplan and Norm Dorf books. Comparing the two, I side with Norm Dorf's attitude and cut-to-the-chase tone - though both are probably helpful.

Note that Norm lives on. Notes from his graphics seminars are available freely from www.areforum.org/guest/GraphicNotes%5B1%5D.pdf. I will plug Nalsa Publishing again: they will be selling a DVD of his graphics seminars in late spring. The company also lists David Thaddeus' workshops, offers his free structures notes, and sells Archiflash cards. I found the flash cards really helpful for all the multiple choice exams - I bought mine last year and just resold them to a group of interns. Again, if you didn't know, AIBC interns (and offices!) can get the Kaplan study guides at 20% discount.

Want more "advice from the ARE trenches"? See www.areforum.org/hints.pdf . Though I have to say that every intern is different and has different strengths, so draw from that to get yourself through this process. You will need to see how any advice applies to you and your particular situation. One friend says that you should do BT last; these notes say that BT is the easiest. As with the entire ARE process, use your intuition and exercise your judgment!

More of my AIBC world: my book review is out in the latest architectureBC (plug, plug), there's an AIBC Council meeting this Monday (it's usually the 2nd Monday), the Intern Committee meets on the 17th (usually the 2nd Thursday), and the AIBC Conference is coming up! I hear it is breathing down all the necks of AIBC staff. I've signed up for the design courses, and am looking forward to the one by John Patkau as in the 10 years of my architectural education I don't think I've ever heard him (verbally) talk. I'll be going to the Marc Boutin lecture, am crossing my fingers to see if I can sneak into a tour of the new Convention Centre, am of course at the AGM and will be at the gala dinner. Though the dinner's officially about the awards and unofficially about networking, I not-so-secretly hope there's a good dance band!

There's going to be a new AIBC Intern Rep announced at the AGM - new blood will be great and will invigorate the possibilities of this position. The AGM's on a Saturday (the 26th) so you should come! I'll be giving a report on the activities of the interns this past year. Generally good for those wanting to do the Oral to come, to get a working sense of the AIBC if any questions about the AIBC pop up in the Oral.

Also a note of the obvious: if you are a young female intern note that there are a lot of older male architects (not all! just a lot ...) that populate this event and that know each other. Note that the overall regulatory context is that many are here to efficiently pick up compulsory LUs in 3 days. Anyways, personally I haven't met one that hasn't been nice to chat with in the spaces in between: either at the breakfast / lunch table or during the breaks between seminars. It's amazing to discover what they do and get ideas for one's future path: they're up in Nelson in a single-person practice, working for a public agency in NWT, they've "gone to the other side" and are developers, they just do DP-related work, or they're retired but do the odd contract for a "package" job. Or they like reggae!

In the past 2 years attending the conference, I do meet former classmates that either as interns or architects and it's great to catch up and see where they are at. And of course, you're welcome to hunt me down and just say hello - I'd be happy to meet up with you!

posted by Lisa @ 10:55 AM 1 comments