I am incredibly excited to be serving on the NCARB education committee this year, with a group of stellar changemakers. NCARB is short for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. The organization regulates the licensure process of Architects, through its programs and administers our professional education, experience, and examinations across 55 U.S. jurisdictions.
Last week, committee members from across the country collaborated over several days in Washington D.C. Our mandate is to improve access, support, content, and resources, all while building efficiencies within the system.
The world is at the cusp of tremendous change, and the risk of not making radical efforts, to align systems of old, with the opportunities and challenges of the future are too great. To that end, the NCARB Futures Collaborative hosted a marvelous and thought-provoking symposium on Space Architecture, Extreme Environments and Artificial Intelligence to kick us off.
The path to licensure is a rigorous and lengthy one. According to the latest data, it takes on average, 13 years to become licensed. (https://lnkd.in/errDggAu) In order for us to succeed as a profession, we must break down barriers to entry, without sacrificing the rigor and most importantly, empower those on a chosen path to the finish line. Diversity of thought, experience and backgrounds is crucial, for a profession whose essential responsibility it is to protect the public health, safety, and ‘wellbeing’ of the public. How can we deeply empathize with the people we design for and curb alienating ethnocentric behavior without it?
I truly wanted to commend NCARB for their exemplary work to absorb every single viewpoint and build consensus among large groups of stakeholders. It was most certainly an inspiring lesson on inclusive decision making. Looking forward to the rest of the year and beyond.
And, a big thank you to my firm EwingCole for the support.
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
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