Based on my observations, among the important questions in AIA's position on residential design is its relationship with the building community. This includes the homebuilders' associations. Locally and nationally the associations have clout, more than AIA, more than any of the professional associations, because of their size and their importance in the overall economy.
In support of a relationship with the building community, AIA has opposed efforts to require architectural licensing requirements for single family projects, for example. Generally speaking, builders and contractors do not need designers meddling in their plans, and permitting agencies look the other way.
Permitting jurisdictions would gladly change their policy but would find resistance from the building community, and alas, from the AIA - not all AIA members, but as an organization this has been the case.
In the context of discussion on the issue, I don't believe all the right questions are being asked, and for the nth time I raise this politically incorrect question again. It seems to underlie many of the complaints about the disenfranchisement of the profession in this otherwise growing sector of services.
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Allen Neyman AIA
Principal
StovallSmithNeyman and Associates Architects
Germantown MD
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