The closing date for the Client Service Excellence Award is fast approaching.

 

This Award provides an opportunity for satisfied clients to win recognition for their architect’s service. The selection criteria are focused on common areas of uncertainty and complaint by consumers about architectural services - communication, understanding the processes and management of the contract.

 

The Client Service Excellence Award is open to all architects registered in New South Wales. However, the project cannot exceed $4 million and is limited to projects completed in the last two years in NSW. It will be judged by a committee of architects, consumers and industry professionals. To be eligible, architects or architect corporations and firms should have two nominations from clients.

 

The Board has produced a letter about the Award that can be given to clients at the completion of a project, together with the Award Conditions and the Client Evaluation Form. 

 

The winning architect will receive a Certificate of Excellence and $5,000. The clients who nominate the winning architect will also receive a certificate noting their involvement in the Award.

 

Nominations for the 2006 Award close on 29 September 2006.  Click for a copy of the Letter to Clients, Award Conditions and Client Evaluation Form.

 

As we are now half way through the registration year architects should have a plan for how they will meet their CPE/CPD requirements in this registration year. Please note that the Board has determined that next year an application for renewal of registration in the practising category will be refused unless CPE obligations are met, or that exceptional circumstances apply.

 

See the CPE section of our website for information about CPE/CPD and organisations that may provide appropriate activities. In addition to the range of activities provided by “outside organisations" the Board is currently developing a model to encourage architects to form “Learning Groups”, which will be a valuable adjunct to formal CPE/CPD activities currently available. Learning Groups may be formed by architects based upon common interest (eg specialising in heritage architecture), geographical location, sole practitioners etc, and will allow architects to gain formal CPE/CPD hours through peer education. Click here for more information.

 

The Board has requested the Minister for Commerce to amend the term continuing professional education to continuing professional development in the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct. The proposed amendment will bring the terminology into line with that commonly used across the construction industry, and is consistent with the terminology used by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia, and other jurisdictions around Australia. We hope to have this matter finalised by the end of the year – but for the purposes of architects recording their activities in the current year – CPE has the same meaning as CPD.

 

 Sam Marshall's Supermodels exhibition, supported by the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarships Fund, is part of the St. Margaret’s Design & Architecture Festival between 2 & 24 September 2006 in the St Margaret’s development on Bourke Street Surry Hills. Showcasing architectural models by Sydney based architects, Supermodels is a rare opportunity to view these three–dimensional representations outside of the architect’s office. The exhibition includes over 400 models and a colour catalogue. For more details see  http://www.object.com.au/pages/current.html

 

Ingrid Pearson and Louise Cox were elected unopposed to the NSW Architects Registration Board for a further two year term ending in January 2009. 

 

Calendar
29 September – Nominations for Client Service Excellence Award: applications close

See Client Service Excellence Award  in the Board’s website

 

2-24 September 2006 Supermodels exhibition

St Margaret’s development on Bourke Street Surry Hills

 

See APE section in Board’s website.

 

Third Wednesday of the month

 

The 2006 Register of Architects and List of Architect Corporations and Firms is available in hard copy and electronic formats. To order your copy download order form or contact the Board.

 

Working With An Architect - A Guide For Consumers outlines typical architectural services, an architect’s role and responsibilities, the client’s role in the architect-client relationship and advice on choosing an architect. Click to download a copy ofWorking With An Architect - A Guide For Consumers, or contact the Board to request a free copy.