Personal reward, fulfillment and compensation. And much, much more. The findings startled many. To others, including the elected leadership, it was a validation of conclusions many of us had already reached. Architecture is a very small profession.
Architectural practices are very small businesses.
Over two-thirds of our practices are 1 or 2 architects, some with a few support staff. Profitability in practices is very low compared with many other small businesses. Compensation to principals and to employed architects and interns is far out of step with the extensive preparation necessary for licence, and the responsibilities we undertake daily. Given the results of the 1996 Survey, the Council faced the challenge of identifying ways of addressing the issues it had identified. A large, dedicated team of volunteers worked with the Council and staff for most of the following year conducting the 1997 OAA Review.