RIAS QUARTERLY | Autumn 2018
EDINBURGH COARUM
by Julie Wilson, EAA Past President
In November 2017 the EAA held a workshop to gather members’ views on the future direction of the RIAS. Our fundamental objective was to ensure that all present could be active contributors, with those present setting the themes for discussion. It was a very diverse group and together we produced a substantial contribution moving on the debate around the Incorporation’s future. The evening generated a raft of ideas for positive change and signalled that the calls for reform and renewal comes with a strong affinity for the Incorporation.
“...what I found particularly striking at the workshop was the number of young and engaged practitioners who were clearly interested in becoming involved in a reformed organisation and contribute to the growth and progression of architecture in Scotland.” (emailed comment from workshop attendee)
The EAA carefully documented and recorded member views and produced a detailed report which was issued to RIAS Council and all those involved in the event. You can all view this document on the EAA website. Many participants thought this first workshop should be the start of a sustained and considered process. We thought that more events would really encourage focused discussion and debate on the key themes which emerged that evening.
As a result, early this year, the EAA launched COARUM (Scots for a group, gathering), a series of monthly workshops lead by local practices to focus on these key themes. It was very important to EAA Council that as broad a range of people as possible could participate; we wanted these events to come from our grass roots. RIAS members and non-members alike were enthused to get involved to organise and host the workshops.
Our first Edinburgh COARUM was held in March on the subject of Public Procurement and was hosted by Reiach & Hall Architects at their office. This was followed by a workshop in April on Representation hosted by 7N Architects, an event that focused on equality, diversity and inclusivity in the profession. In May, Helen Lucas Architects hosted COARUM, to discuss RIAS Communications followed by a workshop in June on RIAS Structure and Governance organised by LDN Architects at their office in Fountainbridge.
After a short summer break, the cycle resumed in August on Leith Walk at Smith Scott Mullan Associates; an impassioned event that debated Sustainability and why it should be at the core of the future RIAS. In Autumn, GRAS/ Groves Raines Architects host a COARUM workshop focused on RIAS Member Services, and The Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, will hold an event titled Young Members. This COARUM workshop is organised by four student and associate members. It aims to focus and generate debate as to how the Incorporation should support the growing number of students and architectural assistants, who represent a quarter of total RIAS membership.
As with the initial workshop, members’ views raised and debated at each event have been recorded and a report produced. These will be shared with the new RIAS Strategy group lead by its Chapters. This will then be combined with consultative work undertaken by the other RIAS Chapters to prepare a member-lead, five year strategy for the Incorporation.
None of this could have happened without the enormous and sustained contribution from all involved, and I must pass on particular thanks to the EAA Strategy sub-group, host practices, workshop speakers and attendees. It truly has been an incredible collaborative effort.
Each COARUM workshop has booked up extremely quickly and all have been well attended and received. There is clearly a great appetite to discuss, debate and get actively involved amongst the RIAS membership and broader profession in Scotland, which had been incredibly heartening. Architects throughout Scotland, care greatly about their Profession, and the challenges it faces. We live in uncertain times that makes it all the more important that we craft a modern and progressive professional body, that represents all our needs and the best in the built environment.
Coarum Workshop 1 – Public Procurement
by Libby Heathcote – Reiach & Hall Architects
The first members workshop in the Coarum series on “Public Procurement,” was organised and hosted by Reiach & Hall Architects, Edinburgh on 22nd March 2018.
The focus of this well attended workshop was public procurement, potentially the most important issue currently facing the profession. The event was organised and chaired by Libby Heathcote of Reiach and Hall architects with four contributing speakers:
Andy Law, Reiach & Hall Architects - “The State of Construction’ – The organisation of the industry and who employs us”
Rab Bennetts, Bennetts Associates, “The case for new metrics – choosing an architect” Willie Watt PPRIAS, Nicoll Russell Studio, “Working with Government and what has been done by the RIAS to date to effect change’
Malcolm Fraser , Halliday Fraser Munro - “Joined-up Public Investment in Scotland”
Following the talks there was a broad discussion and debate from the floor, which saw a general consensus that the current public procurement climate was depressing and the processes were not working. This was seen as a very challenging time for the industry and whilst some practices seem to be navigating their way through this, it is not without significant difficulty and cost. It was agreed that the profession needs to be working together to:
1 Improve the quality of our public buildings by looking at how they are procured
2 Improve the working conditions for Architects in Scotland by looking at the procurement of design services.
Modern procurement strategies have seen the profession lose its relationship with its clients to contractors and project managers. Whilst this might in part be justifiable, these groups are typically uncomfortable with the necessary state of the unknown that is inherent in the design process. To de-risk a project means to them to close the process down as soon as possible. To survive the profession needs to be able to demonstrate the importance and value of the design process, explaining it not as a risk but as a significant benefit from a cost, quality and time perspective.
The recent events at Grenfell Tower, Edinburgh Schools and the collapse of Carillion all highlight catastrophic failings of modern procurement strategies. It was suggested that this may be a pivotal moment for the profession to regain public and government awareness and support, and that the time is ripe to promote the requirement for significant changes within public procurement.
Architecture Fringe event
The discussion started at the Coarum workshop was continued by an event ‘Towards a New Procurement’: hosted by the Architectural Fringe on 12th June 2018. This was organised and chaired by Malcolm Fraser with presentations from Andy Law, Rab Bennetts and Phil Prentice of Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
The key outcomes:
The various models for the selection of Architects need to be critically reviewed and an agreed vision of what a sustainable procurement process looks like should be established and then promoted. This must take into account the incentives and pressures acting on the various parties, placing responsibility and authority accordingly.
A re-design of the system should seek to embody the best of the principles put forward by
Latham and Egan, but should acknowledge where the implementation of these has led to issues and failures
It was agreed that the profession requires to re-assert the value of architects and the principals of professionalism
It was felt that an outline code of practice should be drafted and if feasible the profession should redefine what it is they do and agree a scope of service.
Next Steps:
A new Public Procurement Working Group has recently been formed by the RIAS jointly chaired by Willie Watt and Andy Law. This group is now mobilising to continue the progress made to date.
If you are interested in contributing to this new group or have any questions please contact Willie or Andy.
Coarum Workshop 2 – Representation
by Nicholas Taggart – 7N Architects
The second members workshop in the Coarum series on “Representation: Promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Architecture in Scotland,” was organised and hosted by 7N Architects, Edinburgh on 26th April 2018.
Speakers:
Gillian Hanley Crew Architects : A View from Inside the Tent
Danna Walker – Built By Us : Promoting Equality Diversity & Inclusion
Alan Jones – Alan Jones Architects / RIBA : Social Mobility - Education - Our Future Profession
Jude Barber – Collective Architecture : Voices of Experience
Three key recommendations for future RIAS strategy were highlighted by speakers at the workshop:
1. Role Models
RIAS should support and develop mentoring programs to build a more representative profession in Scotland, by implementing it’s own role models program and/or supporting those of partner organisations.
2. Data
RIAS should gather representative data on the diversity, makeup, and experience of it’s membership and the profession in Scotland to form a factual “state of the nation” basis for strategy going forward.
3. Engagement
RIAS must engage directly with it’s membership. Urgent changes are needed to promote a collegiate, diverse and representative profession in Scotland. The makeup of our professional body should take action to reflect this.
The key outcomes:
A number of key ideas and catalysts for change were suggested by attendees to be taken forward through RIAS’ ongoing strategy discussion. The following represent a sample of suggestions discussed:
Make RIAS Council more representative. The relationship of RIAS councils + committees should be more transparent, and their operation should be open to a broader geographic audience using digital technology.
RIAS Council should engage with a younger audience.
Could moving out of Rutland Square be a catalyst for transformational change to turn the RIAS into an open forum for it’s members and society? Could it be the type of place that a teenager from any background could confidently walk?
Construction + Architecture should be promoted at primary / secondary school level.
RIAS should promote the positives of a diverse workforce - social, legal, business, wider economic.
Drop-out rates are high for women in the profession- RIAS must address this, including support for members at key career points and positive representation of female role models.
RIAS should adopt and support the Scottish Government’s programme for public, private and third sector organisations to sign up to the Partnership for Change and to set a commitment for gender balance on their boards of 50/50 by 2020.
RIAS should partner with related organisations to develop and support its ED+I strategy e.g. Equate; Accelerate by OpenCity; RIBA etc
Architectural students should be better represented on RIAS Council.
RIAS should develop a fair pay policy for all chartered practices to ensure a living wage for all staff including students and free-lance workers and should aim to encourage and promote fair pay for all members.
RIAS should support Socio-Economic Diversity in the profession to create a fairer profession and society. Our professional body should recruit from a wider pool of talent. RIAS should address intersectionality across its approach to ED&I.
RIAS could sign up to “Social Mobility Toolkit” and gather institutional support from other bodies.
The image of the architect is powerful in society. RIAS must work to promote an image of the architect which is pluralistic, and is representative of the diversity of the industry and the collaborative nature of it’s role.
RIAS must promote positive role models for women in architecture.
RIAS should then ‘practice what it preaches’ e.g. ensure gender balanced panels at RIAS events.
RIAS should provide more support to ground-up engagement initiatives such as Archi- Fringe and Voices of Experience.
RIAS should highlight the positive narratives of the diversity of the profession in Scotland which already exist but are under-represented.
RIAS should have a pivotal role in changing the conversation in Architecture in Scotland. – Representation is ‘speaking for someone’ going forward RIAS should speak to and for the breadth of the profession.
The full workshop report can be viewed here.
Coarum Workshop 3 – RIAS Communication
by Christina Gaiger – Helen Lucas Architects
The third members workshop in the Coarum series on “RIAS Communication,” was organised and hosted by Helen Lucas Architects Ltd, Edinburgh on 17th May 2018.
“The ease of modern communication conceals the distance between us”
The importance of communication runs through every aspect of The Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland, it is a complex subject which also overlaps with governance and transparency. However, the focus of Workshop 3 was not to dissect the internal workings of the RIAS but to look at communication in three ways:
1. Image
2. Information 3. Outreach
The speakers for the workshop included:
Gail Turpin, Gail Turpin Design: ‘The Importance of Image & Visual Communication’ Astrid Johnston, AST + RED: ‘Information Distillation – What do you want to say?’
Andy Summers, Co-Founder Architecture Fringe: ‘The Mosaic of Architectural Culture in Scotland’
Gail and Astrid’s presentation explored the importance of a website, it’s image, material content and message. The website has become a natural progression for branding and is a key platform to deliver information. The development of a website naturally asks the question ‘how do you want to present and represent yourself?’.
Andy addressed the bigger picture, and posed the question: ‘do we have an idea of what we want to do in Scotland as a profession?’
Key points that emerged from the workshop for future RIAS Strategy and further discussion include:
The RIAS Website
The website should deliver a clear message and act as an advertisement for the profession. It is a public face for the importance of Scottish Architecture, alongside a resource for architectural practices. It requires refinement and a re-design.
The RIAS Logo
The RIAS logo carries a lot of history, however despite its heritage it forms more of a barrier than an invitation to explore. The RIAS should look at it’s message as a whole; who do the RIAS want to reach out to, and how can the graphical representation (across the board) help to facilitate this?
Printed Communication
If the website provided a better platform for content and news updates, could the RIAS Quarterly become an annual publication? Printed communication is very important and niche publications are having a resurgence. However, is ‘less but better’ a more progressive strategy?
The Cultivation of Events & Community Engagement
The RIAS should promote and support freelance architectural events in Scotland. It is not key for the RIAS to organize or play a role in these events, however their promotion and continuing encouragement is critical. They are an important resource which highlight key architectural issues and concerns of both the public and the profession.
Connectivity
The RIAS should connect with overlapping activity, civic groups, academia, community groups, practices and local authorities etc. to harness cumulative energy and facilitate progress. This could be done on an issue by issue basis to link the best available resources.
The voice of the RIAS
The heritage of the RIAS has value, the strength and weight of the professional body is essential in order to lobby and engage with the government on behalf of the industry. The capacity of the RIAS should be utilised as a means for positive change.
In summary, the representation of the RIAS should help to support and celebrate the profession. It is a public interface, which can offer a strong platform to promote Scottish Architecture.
Coarum Workshop 4 – RIAS Structure & Governance
by Roderick Binns
The fourth members workshop in the Coarum series on “RIAS Structure & Governance,” was hosted by LDN Architects, Edinburgh on 20th June 2018.
Roderick Binns of the EAA presented a brief introductory powerpoint to explain the context of the workshop series, which was followed by further powerpoint presentations from Dr Richard Atkins and Gary Mees and then a general discussion.
Richard's presentation explained the history and current position of RIAS Byelaws, including the issue of byelaw changes within recent decades not having been properly
validated. Richard is a member of the RIAS Interim Governance Committee and explained the current work of this group, highlighting that the longer term intention may involve the complete replacement rather than revision of the existing byelaws. Over the coming months the IGC will work closely with the RIAS Strategy group to establish how best members views can be taken on board to input into the re-structuring process.
Gary Mees is the immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), an organisation of a similar size to the RIAS which went through its own restructuring process 10-15 years ago. Gary explained CIAT's structure as having a council and then a smaller executive body with governance being organised into three tiers of documentation:’ The Charter’, ‘Bye Laws and ‘Regulations’. It was explained that the smaller executive body were responsible for implementation of CIAT’s strategy, but that Council had ultimate control over decision making. Gary also explained that they have a separate (funded) group for young members who determine their own agenda and activities.
The key outcomes:
The general discussion was broad ranging, but some of the key points included:
should RIAS adopt the CIAT model of council and executive body
should the federal model of the RIAS and chapters be retained
should RIAS council be reduced in size
should there be a minimum attendance requirement for all councils and committees
carrying out a skills audit of the RIAS council and then recruiting trustees, potentially
including non-architects, who have these skills and those who can bring in
experience of other organisations
should the RIAS charter, as well as bye-laws, be redefined in order to make it fit for
purpose
should RIAS and potentially chapter presidents be paid part time in order to open up
the pool of candidates
how can restructuring of the RIAS allow it to become more representative and
engaging of architects, including non-members
should the RIAS relationship with the RIBA be redefined
The full workshop report can be viewed here.
Coarum Workshop 5 – Sustainability
by Ben Rainger – Smith Scott Mullan Associates
The fifth members workshop in the Coarum series on “Sustainability - why it should be at the core of the new RIAS”, was hosted by Smith Scott Mullan Associates, Edinburgh on 23rd August 2018.
Education, promotion and leading the profession
Climate change and adapting to its effects are increasingly being recognised globally and locally as an urgent requirement. The build environment contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and as such will play a key role in reducing the impact of climate change and reducing global temperature rises to the lower end of predictions.
This event was part of a series of events organised by the EAA to canvass members on their thoughts on what the new RIAS should look like and what its priorities should be focused on sustainability. Hosted by Smith Scott Mullan and Chaired by Ben Rainger (EAA vice president) the speakers Chris Stewart (Collective Architecture), professor Sandy Halliday, Richard Atkins, Chloe Yuell, Scott McAulay and Delia Murguia discussed how the RIAS approached sustainability in the past and present and outlined thoughts on why is should be at the core of the new RIAS going forward.
Previously, the RIAS has championed sustainability, developing an accreditation scheme and having a strong environmental policy. However, over the years these have fallen by the wayside.
The speakers discussed a series of areas where the RIAS could make sustainability the core of the organisation going forward, including;
Accreditation in sustainable design
The RIAS Accreditation in sustainable design is a good measure of an architects knowledge, experience and understanding of sustainable design and construction, and should be better promoted both to architects and amongst the wider construction industry as a recognised measure of competence, similar to Conservation Accreditation.
Sustainability policy
The RIAS should revive its sustainability policy
Learning
Architecture and construction are one of the few if not only industry where we do not analyse the completed building to learn for the future. RIBA stage 7 provides an opportunity for learning and understanding where designs have succeeded, failed or not worked as expected.
Education
It was felt that education is at the core of understanding how sustainable design works and how it benefits the client, occupiers and wider society. The new RIAS should seek to promote education in sustainable design in schools, university and across the profession. This could be as part of a wider strategy to encourage architecture forming part of the school curriculum and making sustainability a core element of the university courses so new architects have an intuitive understanding and appreciation of sustainable design.
CPD
The RIAS should include sustainability as part of the mandatory CPD requirements to enable continual learning.
Sustainability committee and champion
There was disappointment that sustainability does not have a voice within the RIAS. A new committee or group to develop strategy and promote both inside and outside the RIAS. Furthermore, a sustainability champion should be considered
Procurement & Plan of works
Sustainability should be embedded into procurement, including recognising the RIAS sustainability accreditation within the public procurement process, similar to conservation accreditation.
Lobbying
The RIAS should continue to lobby Scottish Government to recognise the importance of sustainable design and its value to wider society. This is increasingly important as the population increases along with associated new development.
Working together across organisations within the construction industry
The key to delivering successful sustainable design is ensuring that all members understand the benefit of what is being developed. By working with other industry bodies, the RIAS can help promote, educate and lead the construction industry to design and deliver sustainable development.
Overall, the event was hopeful that the measures discussed and put forward could enable the RIAS and Scotland to take the lead in the design and delivery of sustainable buildings and developments. We look forward to the next steps and opportunities these could present.