Monday, May 31, 2010

Oral Reviews - Tuesday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The AIBC will be hosting its next set of oral reviews on June 22 and 23, 2010. The oral review is open to those intern architects who have:

* completed and logged at least 2800 hours; and
* completed the required AIBC courses.

Eligibility will be confirmed by the Registration & Licensing department. Click here to view complete details and to download the application form.

In preparation for the oral reviews, the AIBC will be hosting an Oral Review Preparation Workshop on Wednesday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the AIBC offices (#100 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver). All interns and alternative qualifications candidates are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to registration@aibc.ca

The application, the letter from your employer and the oral review application fee, must be received by Wednesday, June 9th, 2010.

If you have any questions regarding the oral review or the application for registration, please contact the Manager of Registration and Licensing, Róisín O’Neill, at registration@aibc.ca.

Cornelia Oberlander on PRAM

If you haven't stumbled across the interview with Cornelia Oberlander on the PRAM site I recommend it highly. It's not everyday that you get a peek into the creative and domestic life of such an auspicious designer. Renowned North American Landscape Architect and Order of Canada recipient, Cornelia estimates that she's cooked 143,000 meals in 56 years of marriage (minus seven days) that included raising 3 children.

Four additional interviews should be going "live" anytime now.

Under "resources" be sure to have a look at the RIBA 2003 study titled "Why Women Leave Architecture". This document is a concise read with content that is relevant to both women and men.

Stephanie Robb MAIBC

Friday, May 14, 2010

PRAM

Dear Interns Architects,

There seems to be a high rate of attrition of women in the architectural profession.
With a copy of the 2008 AIBC Member Directory, a pencil and a calculator, I recently tallied some numbers.

In 2008…

51% of the population of Metro Vancouver was women.
45% of the graduating class at UBC SALA were women.
42% of the award recipients at UBC SALA were women
38% of the intern membership at the AIBC were women.
11% of the registered architects (MAIBC) at the AIBC were women.
2% of BC architecture firms greater than four people were owned by women.

I'm not an Ipsos Reid pollster - but I think these numbers indicate a problem.
For some reason, significant numbers of women are choosing to leave the profession during their internship.

Hmmm...I wonder why?

Low pay?
Long hours?
Laddish culture?
Family unfriendly work environment?

Pram In The Hall is a feature posted on the AIBC website which begins to address this issue. It consists of a series of interviews with women and men who practice while raising children.

There are some "resources" listed as well.
Be sure to have a look at the 2003 RIBA study titled "Why Women Leave Architecture" - it's surprisingly good reading. (The issue of "sidelining" really hit home for me).

And finally, please post a comment on the "feedback" page if you feel inclined.
The powers at be are aware that this is an important issue,
and every comment posted just adds more traction.

Thank You,

Stephanie Robb MAIBC
(Mother, Principal, Registration & Licensing Board Member, and 2010 Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Medal in Architecture recipient)