“Standards of Excellence: Members should continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic excellence, architectural education, research, training, and practice.”
–AIA Code of Ethics, 2022
In the first few statements of the AIA Code of Ethics is the above (Canon I, Ethical Standard 1.2) that mentions furthering research in architectural practice. In addition to Ethical Standard 1.2, the Institute promotes research through chapters of Architectural Graphic Standards and the Handbook for Professional Practice, as well in AIAU continuing education credits. Research may seem to be something we all already do, as it is a standard nearly everyone in practice knows of; and as such we all must work to keep improving on what is set as a standard.
Architecture offices have varying degrees of research included by the AIA requirement that architects have university training. That research is obligatory. Another bridge with academic research is that offices may have university clients, and dedicating researchers or research teams in the office helps build common language with clients working in research. There are also many architects that teach or have positions as research faculty at universities as well. Continuing education, offered at many opportunities, adds to the equation.
Heightening research can give an office several advantages,
Excellence: research can inform best practices and improve performance.
Funding: research grants and awards can expand options for office income.
Credibility: research includes scientific theories and methods that add to project authority.
Common language: Clients working in research or academia can relate and better understand the work.
Applicability: research benefits not only immediate stakeholders, but also can be published and conveyed to the profession, and public.
A framework for research in architectural practice, as modelled on standard dissertation format, is as follows: I) Introduction: after briefing, help define and clarify scope and goals of project. II) Literature: review literature and precedents applicable to project goals. III) Methodology: describe and outline research design and method. IV) Results: after research is conducted, convey results. V) Conclusions: summarize research, discuss implications, and make recommendations.
Architectural research takes many forms, can be performed with many methods, yet its medium is knowledge and information. Dedicating researchers or research teams in offices can help better serve the offices, clients, profession, the environment, and the public.
June 12, 2022
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