Australian Institute of Architects facts for kids
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AIA National and Victoria Chapter Offices, corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, Melbourne by Lyons Architects 2014
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| Abbreviation | RAIA |
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| Formation | 6 September 1929 |
| Legal status | Professional body; members association |
| Headquarters | Level 1, 41 Exhibition Street, Melbourne |
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Region
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Australia |
| Fields | Architecture |
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Membership (2022)
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13,798 individual, 1925 A+ practices |
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CEO
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Prof. Cameron Bruhn |
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President
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Stuart Tanner |
| Subsidiaries | NSW Chapter VIC Chapter QLD Chapter SA Chapter WA Chapter TAS Chapter NT Chapter ACT Chapter |
| Affiliations | International Union of Architects |
| Website | Architecture.com.au |
The Australian Institute of Architects, also known as the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), is the main group for architects in Australia. It's like a club or a professional team for people who design buildings.
Members of the Institute can use special letters after their names, like FRAIA or ARAIA, to show they are part of this group. The Institute helps about 14,000 architects across Australia. It also supports Australian architects working in other countries.
There are special groups for students and new architects too. SONA (Student Organised Network for Architecture) is for students. EmAGN (Emerging Architects and Graduates Network) is for architects who have graduated in the last 15 years.
Contents
History of Australian Architects
Early State Groups
Before Australia became one country, different colonies (which are now states) had their own groups for architects.
- The Royal Victorian Institute of Architects (RVIA) started in Victoria in 1856. It received a special "royal charter" in 1889.
- In South Australia, the South Australian Institute of Architects began in 1886.
- The New South Wales Institute of Architects was set up in 1871.
- Queensland started its Institute of Architects in 1888.
- The West Australian Institute of Architects (WAIA) was formed in 1896.
The Australian Institute Begins in 1929
The Australian Institute of Architects was officially created on 6 September 1929. This happened when the different state groups decided to join together to form one big national group. The Victorian group (RVIA) was one of the first to join.
In 1930, the group was given the "Royal" title, becoming the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. The Queensland Institute joined in 1930, and Western Australia followed in 1943. South Australia joined in 1962.
The main office for the Institute used to be in Canberra. However, since August 2008, the Institute has mostly used the name 'Australian Institute of Architects' for its daily work, while still keeping 'Royal Australian Institute of Architects' as its official legal name.
What the Institute Does
The main goal of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects is to support and improve the architecture profession. They work to make sure buildings are well-designed and built in a way that is good for the environment.
The Institute works with many national and state groups in the building industry and with the government. It is also connected to the International Union of Architects (UIA), which is a worldwide group for architects.
Each state and territory in Australia has its own "chapter" of the Institute. These chapters hold events, activities, and annual awards for architecture in their area. The winners from these state awards then go on to be considered for the national awards.
Awards and Prizes
The Institute gives out awards and prizes to celebrate great architecture and architects in Australia.
National Architecture Awards
The National Architecture Awards are held every year, usually in late October or early November. These awards have been given out since 1981. Buildings and projects that win state awards earlier in the year are chosen to be considered for these national awards.
The awards cover many different types of buildings, such as:
- Homes
- Public buildings (like libraries or community centers)
- Schools
- Office buildings
- Interior designs
- Small projects
- Urban designs (how cities are planned)
- International projects
- Buildings made with steel
- Buildings that are good for the environment
National Prizes
National Prizes have been given out every year since 2010. These prizes are different from the National Architecture Awards because they don't focus on specific buildings. Instead, they celebrate people who have done great things to help the architecture profession, like promoting good design, new ideas, or education.
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is the highest award an individual architect can receive from the Institute. It has been given out every year since 1960.
Other National Prizes
- Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize (for fairness in the profession)
- National Emerging Architect Prize (for new architects)
- National President's Prize
- Leadership in Sustainability Prize (for environmentally friendly design)
- Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture
State and Territory Awards
Each state and territory chapter of the Institute also gives out its own annual awards. These include awards in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Victoria. The winners of these awards are then considered for the National Awards. There are also awards for international projects.
Regional Awards
Some regions, like parts of New South Wales and Queensland, have their own special architecture awards too.
National Presidents
The Australian Institute of Architects has had many leaders over the years. Here are some of the people who have been National President:
- Alfred Samuel Hook (1929–1930)
- William Arthur Mordey Blackett (1930–1931)
- Lange Powell (1932–1933)
- Arthur William Anderson (1934–1935)
- Louis Laybourne Smith (1937–1938)
- Otto Albrecht Yuncken (1939–1940)
- Cobden Parkes (1950–1952)
- Kenneth Charles Duncan (1959–1960)
- James Campbell Irwin (1962–1963)
- Raymond Berg (1964–1965)
- Bryce Mortlock (1974–1975)
- Richard Norman (Peter) Johnson (1981–1982)
- Louise Cox (1994–1995)
- Graham Jahn (2001–2003)
- Melinda Dodson (2009–2010)
- Shelley Penn (2012–2013)
- Clare Cousins (2018–2019)
- Helen Lochhead (2019–2020)
- Stuart Tanner (2023–2024)
- Jane Cassidy (2024–2025)
Coat of Arms
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The Institute motto, "Artem promovemus una", literally translated, means something like "Together we advance the profession". More subjectively it is construed in the first tenet of the Memorandum of Association of the Institute as "the advancement of architecture"; for when it speaks of a profession, our motto obviously means that of architecture. |
The Australian Institute of Architects has its own special coat of arms. This design was approved in 1956. It includes symbols that represent Australia and architecture.
The shield on the coat of arms has a rising sun and an Ionic column, which is a type of ancient Greek pillar used in buildings. On either side of the shield are kangaroos, which are famous Australian animals.
The motto, or slogan, of the Institute is in Latin: "Artem Promovemus Una." This means "United we advance architecture." It shows that architects work together to improve the art and science of building design.
