Exaggeration? Maybe. But In this economy, we are hearing more tales of unlicensed practice.
This is why we were extremely pleased to receive some hard information — albeit anonymously — about a potential problem. In this particular case, there was not enough information to act, but allow us to use it as an example of what we need before filing a complaint.
In this case, it appears the information seems to be from a website for a Harrisonburg design-build firm. The entire staff was listed with positions and e-mail addresses. Also the firm’s claims of expertise were listed along with a testimonial from a client, a church pastor. VSAIA investigations indicated that none of the staff was licensed in Virginia as an architect.
What was missing was the information that could be taken to the investigators serving the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Everything submitted to us showed a firm practicing within the law. It even stated that this firm partners with local and regional architectural firms to complement its in-house design team.
Nowhere did the firm claim to do architecture or that it had performed architecture. The testimonial came close, in that it praised the firm’s design department. Before we would submit this to the board and seek an investigation, we would want to see copies of the documents submitted for construction of this church. If the project were more than 5,000 square feet and if it did not have an architect’s seal, then the VSAIA would submit it for investigation.
The law allows anyone to perform design services on projects below a certain square footage. You may review the full list of exemptions to the licensure law here: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+54.1-402. The VSAIA and its legislative partners may seek to tighten these exemptions in the future, but unless VSAIA members remain vigilant and file complaints or alert the VSAIA to perceived violations of these laws, the law will not be taken seriously regardless of the restrictions.
To file a complaint — anyone may do so — download and complete the form here. When submitting the complaint, always request periodic updates on the investigation’s progress and the final result. Unless this is to be an anonymous complaint, include contact information for yourself so that the investigator may seek additional information. Department officials say they investigate anonymous complaints, but like many architecture firms, it is being asked to do more and more with fewer and fewer resources.
If anonymity is required, please ask the VSAIA to be the intermediary by sending information to Duncan Abernathy, AIA (daber@aiava.org). We can always pass the department’s questions back to the person supplying the information. It is more cumbersome, but the aim is to reduce the incidence of unlicensed practice to maintain the safety provided by licensed professionals.