Maryland
Society AIA
A
Society of the American Institute of Architects
1 State Circle
Annapolis,
Maryland 21401
410.263.0916 888.516.7242 410.268.2225 Fax
"Striving
to improve the
practice
of architecture in Maryland through legislative and governmental action
since
1972."
May
3, 2002
Gordon
H. Chong, FAIA
President
The
American Institute of Architects
1735
New York Avenue, NW
Washington,
D.C. 20006
Dear
President Chong:
I am writing on behalf of the Board of the Maryland
Society of the American Institute of Architects to express our State Board’s
opposition to the expansion of the title “architect” to anyone other than
licensed architects. State laws are
already very clear on this matter and we are in opposition to any
efforts to broaden the title.
Having
said this, we would also like to express our support to the notion that the AIA
should reach out to other professionals and non-licensed professionals who are
in allied fields or who have pursued careers not on the traditional
architectural track. The notion of
“inclusivity” is certainly a popular notion.
The meaning of this term is, frankly, not clear and is open to a variety
of interpretations. We would like to
keep the issue of inclusivity separate from the issue of the legal title of
“architect.”
Smarting as we are in
Maryland, where we fought and lost this year’s legislative battle to prevent
interior designers from obtaining a “seal” under their Maryland Title Act, we
are entirely opposed to the further erosion and meaning of the title
“architect.”
Thank you for the opportunity to express our views
to you.
Sincerely,
Ravi S. Waldon, AIA
President,
Maryland Society of the
American Institute of Architects
cc. Harold Adams, FAIA
Stan
Britt, FAIA
Norman
Koonce, FAIA
AIA/Columbus