By:   Arch. Nathaniel Baker

                                   ULA-Program Coordinator

ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE IN LIBERIA

A Joint Workshop for Comprehensive Assessment of Private Practice

May 8, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Graduate School Building, UL Capitol Hill Campus, Monrovia, R.L.

Host: University of Liberia - Moderator, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Scope of Workshop

• Comprehensive Assessment of the Practice of Architecture in Liberia
• Focus on the Registration of Architects, Architect Act, Rules and Laws
• Focus on Schools of Architecture, Tracking of Architecture Graduates

9:45 – 10:00 Sign-in - Introduction of Participating Leaderships, Representatives, and Faculties

• University of Liberia (UL) Leadership/3
• Liberian Institute of Architects (LIA) Leadership/5
• Ministry of Public Works (MPW) R.L. Official Guest/2
• Engineering Society of Liberia (ESoL) Representative/1
• University of Liberia (UL) Department of Architecture Faculty/4
• Stella Maris Polytechnic Department of Architecture Faculty/3
• UL Architecture Program Coordinator - Workshop Organizer/1

10:00 – 10:30 Discussion One: State of Private Practice

Statement by Sylvanus O’Connor, AEP Owner, President of the Liberian Institute of Architects Practitioner Viewpoints on the State of Private Practice, Perceived Hierarchy and Realization

• Pillar 1: Liberian Institute of Architects – Charter Goals of the LIA Secretariat
• Pillar 2: Allied-Profession Institutions – Planning and Engineering Disciplines
• Pillar 3: Licensing and Regulations – Practicing Architects and Architectural Firms
• Pillar 4: Private Sector Procurement of Architectural Services – Realization
• Pillar 5: Public Sector Procurement of Architectural Services – Realization

10:30 – 11:00 Discussion Two: Registry of Architects

The LIA Registry for Membership – Number and Seal – Maintaining Integrity Standards and Conduct, Protection of Health, Safety, and Welfare – File Keeping for Public Sector Outreach

• File 1: Architect Registration Board
• File 2: Ministry of Public Works
• File 3: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• File 4: Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
• File 5: Ministry of Justice
• File 6: Ministry of Education
• File 7: Ministry of Internal Affairs
• File 8: Ministry of Agriculture
• File 9: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
• File 10: Ministry of Lands and Mines
• File 11: Monrovia City Corporation
• File 12: National Housing Authority
• File 13: Environmental Protection Agency
• File 14: General Services Administration

11:00 – 11:30 Discussion Three: Architect Act, Rules and Laws + Next-day Wrap up Session

LIA Guide to Procurement of Architecture Service in Liberia – Definitions – Standards for Diploma, Internship, Training, Licensure and Registration, and Professional Practice in Liberia

• Doc. 1: Architectural Service Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Mechanism
• Doc. 2: Register of LIA/ARB Certified and Registered Architects
• Doc. 3: Register of Architectural Firms entitled to Provide Architectural Service in Liberia
• Doc. 4: Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the Architectural Profession
• Doc. 5: Guide on Conditions of Engagement, Charges and Agreement for the Professional Architect
• Doc. 6: Outline of Professional Practice Training and Qualification Program for the Registration and Licensing of Architects

11:30 – 12:00 Discussion Four: Architect Registration Board + Next-day Wrap up Session

• Nine-member Appointed Body with Administration Duties
• Admin 1: Maintaining Integrity
• Admin 2: Approving Professional Practice Training Courses
• Admin 3: Administering Qualification Examinations
• Admin 4: Keeping a Register of Architects
• Admin 5: Addressing Public Complaints for Resolutions
• Admin 6: Monitoring of Accreditation Standards for Higher Education Institutions Offering Architecture Degrees

12:15 – 1:00 Lunch

• Catered Lunch Service for Workshop Participants

1:00 – 1:30 Discussion Five: UL Architecture Program

• Program and Student Criteria
• Curriculum and Professional Degree
• Accreditation Standards

1:30 – 2:00 Discussion Six: Stella Maris Architecture Program

• Program and Student Criteria
• Curriculum and Professional Degree
• Accreditation Standards

2:00 – 2:30 Discussion Seven: Tracking Architecture Graduates + Next-day Wrap up Session

• Dialogue 1: Census of the Past 8-10 Years
• Dialogue 2: Local Architecture Degrees
• Dialogue 3: Foreign Architecture Degrees
• Dialogue 4: Private and Public Sector Capacity for Internships and Career Paths
• Dialogue 5: Perceptions of Equity and Equality
• Dialogue 6: Credentialing for Private Practice
• Dialogue 7: Establishing Recipient Rules for LIA Membership and Private Practice, based on Technical Merit Reviews; Professional Merit Reviews
• Dialogue 8: Determining an Acceptable Criteria for Merit Reviews, to Qualify for Licensing, and Award of LIA Membership to Eligible Recipients
• Dialogue 9: Addressing the Pros and Cons, Risks and Constraints, for definite Pathways to Private Practice, based on a dedicated Collaborative Deliberation

2:30 – 3:00 Closing Remarks: Forward-thinking Solutions, Approach for Consensus Building

• Resolution on School Programs for the Practice of Architecture in Liberia
• Clarity on Registration of Architects and Legislation for the Architect Act
• Resolution for Architecture Graduates on Transition into Private Practice

3:00 – 3:30 Adjournment, Recap of the Workshop Discussions for Committee Follow-through:

Maintaining Integrity – Rules and Laws – Professional Conduct – Transition into Private Practice