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The person behind the thinking process is the
architect. An architect is a person involved in
the planning, designing and oversight of the
construction of a building. An architect can
design anything from a house to a skyscraper.
Today, the word architect carries a lot of
prestige with it, but in the early days, there
was nothing prestigious about it. In fact,
anyone from a carpenter to a bricklayer could
call themselves an architect. This all started
to change in 1857 when 13 architects came
together to form what would become The American
Institute of Architects. The whole purpose of
their action was to promote the skill involved
with their work and to elevate the status of
being an architect.
The work of the original 13 architects that met
that day, did pay off, because over time the AIA
grew bigger and stronger, as more architects
from around the country started to join. One of
the greater accomplishments of the AIA came in
1866, when they helped create standardized
contract documents to be used in the
construction industry. In 1867, they turned
their focus to education and debated on whether
they could create a national school of
architecture. Their idea never came about, but
during the years that followed, architectural
programs were being created at four
institutions.
There was no legal definition of architect
before 1897, but in that year, Illinois became
the first state to adopt an architectural
licensing law. And about 50 years later, all the
states had licensing laws. Architects of today
are required to have specialized education and
documented work experience to get a license. The
AIA did a great job in accomplishing their
goals. The architect is now seen as a very
unique and masterful professional, working in a
field that not many people are qualified to do.
The architect is even viewed, on some level,
like an artist.
Not only have buildings and designs changed over
the years, but so has the minds of those
individuals whose job it is to produce such
visual and thoughtful structures. What may look
like an old building to some, will appear as a
work of art to others. When you view the present
work of an architect, you never know if you're
looking at history. Because if an architect is
great at his craft and the design is so
creative, then the public will be talking about,
writing about and taking photos of his designs
for years to come. |
