Flow Design Principal Visits NCARB as Part of The Re-Think Tank Committed!

From March 13th to March 16th, Flow Design principal Darguin Fortuna was invited to Washington DC as part of a selected group of architects members of NCARB's Re-Think Tank Committed.

What is the Re-Think Tank Committed?

Each year, NCARB selects a group of 12 recently licensed architects from around the country to be a part of the Re-Think Tank. Members of this group have the opportunity to explore challenges and opportunities throughout the licensure process, discuss how architectural firms and NCARB support candidates on the path to licensure, provide feedback on the transition from ARE 4.0 to 5.0, and explore the concept of competency as it relates to architectural practice and licensure.

These and many topics were discussed during the on site meeting to NCARB's new office space. NCARB'S CEO, Michael Armstrong guided the committed through each one of the spaces and explained much of the reasoning behind the design as a bonus component to the visit. It was a treat!

Principal Darguin Fortuna explains that "it was an eye opening experience to see and understand what NCARB does and who they are." The treatment was "spectacular," Fortuna explains. It is hard to find offices were everyone is happy, engaged and willing to help in any way possible.

What is NCARB anyways?

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is the entity that according to Mr. Fortuna "brings all architectural registration boards together, facilitates the process to becoming registered and quite frankly keeps us as professionals going further."

When most clients and potential clients look for architects often they are aware of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) credentials but barely know that the NCARB credentials mean that an architect has met the national standards and requirements to become licensed in any state as well as countries such as Mexico, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. This means that those folks with such credentials are skilled individuals readily available and able to meet clients needs across the nation and beyond regarding health, safety and welfare.

What was discussed at this meeting?

The Re-Think Tank team was involved in several discussions related to the future of architecture and also the future of current services offered by NCARB as well as new services to come as the profession changes.

The topic of firm support for young emerging designers from the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) until finalizing their examinations and beyond, was a rather eye opening one. The creation of an NCARB accredited program where firms would follow best practices and guidelines to support designers through this process and attract talent to their firms was an interesting idea rooted on the focus to furthering the profession as a whole.

What do architects do and what is their value was a rather controversial topic as well. It is incredible that even after centuries of our existence we continue to re-define ourselves and the profession. As technology changes, we also keep changing and adapting in order to remain relevant at our duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Will there be licensed architect BIM models? Will there be artificial intelligence licensed architects? Will firms hold a license rather than an individuals? These are just hints of the discussions that took place.

Finally the team was also in charge of selecting topics to be discussed and further explored by the next group of Re-Think Tank members.

If you want to know more about this experience please feel free to reach out to Darguin Fortuna himself at Dfortuna@flow-design-studio.com. He will be delighted to go into more detail with you.

Darguin Fortuna is a design principal at Flow Design Architects. He also teaches and is a visiting critic at the Boston Architectural College. He has over 10 years in the field of architecture and design.

Flow Design is a visual, art, and architectural design studio serving public and private clients. The studio is rooted in creative and innovative ideas that can solve some of today’s challenges regarding space, art, form, and culture while merging the lines between architecture and art.

For more information, contact Darguin Fortuna at 978-818-5109 and dfortuna@flow-design-studio.com