# Commonwealth Association of Architects

The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), established in 1965, is a professional association of national architectural associations representing architects in Commonwealth countries. The stated purpose of the CAA is to "maximise the contribution of architects to the well-being of society." The organisation's mission is to help facilitate real change through the Commonwealth network by advancing policy, education and practice to increase inclusion, equality and prosperity. Ultimately, the CAA aims to help make cities and human settlements safe, resilient and sustainable. The CAA is one of 80 accredited organisations which support the work of the Commonwealth of Nations.

## History

At the time of its formation in 1965, the CAA was formed by six architectural institutions. By the 1990s, the organisation had grown to represent 38 architecture institutions, with a combined membership of over 44,000 architects from across the Commonwealth.
The first President of the CAA was Sir Robert Matthew CBE from 1965 to 1969. Peter Oborn served as President of the organisation between 2022-2024. Following a General Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda in 22 August 2024, Steven Oundo from the Architects Association of Kenya was elected President for the 2024-2026 term.
A five-day International Architectural Exhibition of the Commonwealth Association of Architects was held in Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013. It ran concurrently with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The organisation held a two-day international summit in London, in June 2015, to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

## Srtructure
### Constitution

The CAA is formed by Constitution which was first adopted at the general assembly of June 1965. Since then, it has been regularly amended and updated in 1971, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2003, February 2016, August 2022 and August 2024. The Constitution outlines articles on the objectives, membership, assembly, council, finances, committees and by-laws which govern the day-to-day operation of the CAA.

### Governance

The strategic direction of the CAA is determined by an elected Council, drawn from member organisations and elected at a General Assembly held on a two-year cycle. The CAA Council is supported by two committees - Education and Practice alongside a part-time Secretariat and a five-member Board of Trustees. The CAA is a registered charity in the UK.

### Council

The CAA Council is comprised of the following members:
* President
* Senior Vice President
* Immediate Past-President
* Honorary Secretary & Treasurer
* Executive Director
* Vice President, Africa
* Vice President, Asia
* Vice President, Caribbean and Americas
* Vice President, Europe
* Vice President, Pacific
* Chair of Education & Validation Committee
* Chair of Practice Committee
* Youth Representative

## Initiatives
### Research

Published in 2020, the CAA's Survey of the Built Environment Professions in the Commonwealth identified that Commonwealth Countries are forecast to account for nearly 50% of the projected growth in towns and cities over the next 30 years. The survey also revealed a critical lack of capacity in many of the Commonwealth countries which are urbanising most rapidly and are among the most vulnerable to climate change.

### Accreditation of Commonwealth Architecture Schools

One of the principal initiatives of the CAA is to provide guidelines on development of architecture schools, including a validation system for architecture courses. It has focused on ensuring schools of architecture include The Habitat Agenda and principles of environmentally sustainable design to be part of every syllabus for courses validated in the Commonwealth. The process of accrediting schools was first developed in 1968, when the CAA published a List of Qualifications in Architecture Recommended for Recognition. Since then, it has been regularly reviewed and overhauled, eventually becoming integrated with a Statement of Objectives and Standards of Recognition of Schools and is informally known as 'The Green Book'. In 2012 the UK's Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) ceased to recognise CAA accreditation of Commonwealth architecture schools, after the CAA refused to grant 'significant' RIBA representation on its accreditation panels to inspect schools first-hand. At the time CAA validated 41 colleges, though only visited 15 of them beforehand.

### Awards Programme

The CAA runs an awards programme held at its general assembly once every two years, with a focus on recognising the work of architects and students that engage with contemporary challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanisation together with associated increases in vulnerability, inequality, and biodiversity loss. The awards celebrate individuals who have made a demonstrable contribution to addressing such issues and contributes to delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The awards programme is comprised of:
* The Lifetime Achievement Award (Robert Matthew Award) - Awarded to an individual or architectural practice in recognition of innovative contributions to the development of architecture in the Commonwealth.
* The Environmental Impact Award - Recognises work in any sector which can demonstrate achievement of a significant positive environmental impact in areas such as circular economy, energy and carbon, water, ecology and biodiversity and/or connectivity and transport.
* The Social Impact Award - Recognises work in any sector which can demonstrate having achieved significant positive social impact in areas such as affordability, community development, health and well-being, and social value.
* The President's Award - Recognises work of a student in Years 4, 5 & 6 which critically and creatively addresses issues associated with social, economic and environmental well-being in the context of the current climate emergency.
* The Student Award - Recognises the work of a student in Years 1, 2 & 3 which creatively addresses issues associated with social, economic, and environmental well-being in the context of the current climate emergency.

#### Lifetime Achievement Award (Robert Matthew Award)

First awarded in 1983, the CAA Lifetime Achievement Award, also known as Robert Matthew Award was established to recognise innovative contributions to the development of architecture in the Commonwealth context and commemorates the legacy of the fist President of the CAA, Sir Robert Hogg Matthew.
| Year | Recipient | Country | Commonwealth Region |
| 1983 | Philip Cox AO | Australia | Pacific |
| 1985 | ARUP Associates | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1989 | Raj Rewal | India | Asia |
| 1991 | Hampshire Country Council Architects Department | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1994 | Ian Ritchie Architects | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1997 | Gregory Burgess Architects | Australia | Pacific |
| 2000 | TR Hamzah and Yeang | Malaysia | Asia |
| 2003 | Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi | India | Asia |
| 2016 | Grimshaw Architects (Joint Winner) | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 2016 | Pervaiz Vandal & Associates (Joint Winner) | Pakistan | Asia |
| 2019 | Prof. Richard England | Malta | Europe |
| 2022 | Rafiq Azam | Bangladesh | Asia |
| 2024 | Yasmeen Lari | Pakistan | Asia |

## Presidents

Presidents of the CAA are elected by members at the general assembly and serve a two-year term.
| Term of Office | President | Country | Commonwealth Region |
| 1965-1967 | Sir Robert Matthew CBE | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1967-1969 | Sir Robert Matthew CBE | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1969-1971 | Dr. Jai Rattan Bhalla | India | Asia |
| 1971-1973 | Dr. Jai Rattan Bhalla | India | Asia |
| 1973-1976 | Mr. Ronald Andrew Gilling OBE | Australia | Pacific |
| 1976-1979 | Mr. Oluwole Olusegun Olumuyiwa | Nigeria | Africa |
| 1979-1982 | Mr. Frederic Rounthwaite | Canada | Caribbean & America |
| 1982-1985 | Prof. Peter Johnson AC | Australia | Pacific |
| 1985-1987 | Mr. John Wells-Thorpe OBE | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 1987-1989 | Dato I Hisham Albarkri | Malaysia | Asia |
| 1989-1991 | Dr. Wale Odeleye | Nigeria | Africa |
| 1991-1994 | Mr. David Jackson AO | Australia | Pacific |
| 1994-1997 | Mr. Rusi Khambatta | India | Asia |
| 1997-2000 | Prof. George Henderson | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 2000-2003 | Mr. Philip Kungu | Kenya | Africa |
| 2003-2007 | Mr. Llewellyn van Wyk | South Africa | Africa |
| 2007-2010 | Prof. Gordon Holden | New Zealand | Pacific |
| 2010-2013 | Mr. Mubasshar Hussain | Bangladesh | Asia |
| 2013-2016 | Mr. Rukshan Widyalankara | Sri Lanka | Asia |
| 2016-2019 | Mr. Vincent Cassar | Malta | Europe |
| 2019-2022 | Mr. Kalim A. Siddiqui | Pakistan | Asia |
| 2022-2024 | Mr. Peter Oborn | United Kingdom | Europe |
| 2024-Present | Mr. Steven Oundo | Kenya | Africa |

## Sources

* ↑ https://commonwealtharchitects.org/
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* ↑ "Organisations". Commonwealth. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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* ↑ "COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS - Charity 288022". Register of Charities (UK). Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ Oborn, Peter (2020-07-08). "Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA)". Commonwealth Association of Architects. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
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* ↑ "2024 CAA Environmental and Social Impact Awards, Call for Entries". ArchDaily. 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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* ↑ tal-Periti, Kamra (2019-08-27). "PR 27/19 | Richard England honoured with the CAA Robert Matthew Award". Kamra tal-Periti. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ "Architect Rafiq Azam wins Robert Mathew Life Time Achievement Award". The Daily Star. 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ Architects, Commonwealth Association of. "Rafiq Azam receives 2022 CAA Lifetime Achievement Award". Commonwealth Association of Architects. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ "IAP celebrates successful conclusion of the 2024 Commonwealth Association of Architects Symposium and General Assembly". The Nation. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ "Obituary: Architecture Australia, July 2005". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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* ↑ "Griffith University". experts.griffith.edu.au. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ "Preparing for Commonwealth Association of Architects Golden Jubilee | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2025-02-04.
* ↑ Architects, Commonwealth Association of. "Our Team". Commonwealth Association of Architects. Retrieved 2025-02-04.