This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Housing Knowledge Community and Custom Residential Architects Network .
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Perry Cofield AIA
Design Ways & Means Architects
Arlington VA
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Any number of unliscensed folk are qualified to some degree to design a single family residence- it is a just single building type among many. But Architects can frequently do better with the bigger picture- sitework, interiors, green issues, community planning, etc. Judging from some of these posts, AIA folks would rather debate this than stand behind other members. Is an association of competitors worse than no association at all? That is what is so sad about the folks that marginalize other members while basking in the "glow" of the three letters that define this lustrous group. While there is no debating that some are better salespersons for their firms than others, why debate that our training, cont education, and elaborated viewpoint offers more, in general, to the John Q Public? If you don't beleive this, why do you belong to the AIA?