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June 1954

1--Obligations of Good Practice

The profession of architecture calls for men of the highest integrity, judgment, business capacity, and artistic and technical ability. An Architect's honesty of purpose must he above suspicion: he acts as professional adviser to his client and his advice must be unprejudiced, he is charged with the exercise of judicial functions as between client and contractors and must

act with entire impartiality; he his moral responsibilities to his professional assocites and subordinates: he is engaged in a profession which carries with it grave re-; sponsibility to the public. These duties and responsibilities cannot be properly discharged unless his motives, conduct and ability are such as to command respect and confidence.

Planning technical guidance, advice and

consel constitute the service of the profession. Given in verbal. written or graphic form, they are tendered in order that buildings with their equipment and the areas about them, in addition to being well suited to their Purposes,. well planned for health, safety efficient operation and economical maintenance and soundly constructed of materials and by methods most appropriate and economical for their particular uses, shall also have beauty and distinction

In order to promote the highest standard of conduct in the practice of architecture

The American Institute of Architecture has formulated the following basic principles for the guidance of the profession:

A. An Architect's relation to his client depends upon good faith. Before undertaking any commission he should explain the exact nature and extent of his services. and of his compensation therefor. Where a fixed limit of cost is established in advance of design. the Architect must be given freedom in determining the character of design and construction needed to meet as nearly as feasible the cost limit established but should not be understood to gurantee the final cost which will be determined not only by the Architect's solution of the owner's fixed requirements but by the fluctuating conditions of the competitive construction market.

It is an important duty of the Architect to keep the owner informed. during the progress of the work. as to the probable cost of construction invoIved.

B. An Architect should consider the needs and stipulations of his client and the effect of his work upon the life and well-being of the public.

C. An Architect may offer his services to anyone on the generally accepted basis of commission. fee, salary or royalty as Architect. consultant, adviser, or assistant, provided that he rigidly maintains his profession integrity

D. An Architect should not make use of services offered by manufacturers, suppliers of building materials. appliinces and equipment. or contractors. which may be accompanied by an ohlicalion detrimental to the best interest of the client.

E. An Architect's drawings. specifications and other documents should he complete, definite and clear concerning his intentions, the scope of the contractor's work the materials and methods of construction to be used therefor, and the conditions under which the construction work is to be completed and paid for.

F. An Architect should guard equally the interests of the contractor as well as those of the client. The Architect will condemn workmanship and materials which are not in conformity with the contract docu. ments, but it is also his duty to give every reasonable aid toward a complete under. standing of those documents so that mistakes may be avoided. Ile will not call upon a contractor to make good omissions and errors in the contract documents.

G. An Architect in his investments and in his business relations outside of his profession must be free from financial or personal interests which tend to weaken or discredit his standing. as an unprejudiced and honest adviser, free to act in his client's best interests.

H. An Architect should promote the interests of his professional organizations and do his full part of the ork of those organizations. He should share in the interchange of technical information and experience with the design professions and the building industry.

1. An Architect should inspire the loyal interest of his employees, providing suitable working conditions for them, requiring them to render competent and efficient services, Ind paying thern adequate and just compensation therefor.

J. An Architect should endeavor to provide opportunity for the professional development of those who enter the profession, by assisting them to acquire a full understanding of the functions, duties and responsibilities of Architects.

K. An Architect should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs, and to the best of his ability advance the safety, health and well-being of the community in which he resides.

Finally, every Architect should do his part to forward justice, courtesy and sin. cerity in his profession. It is incumbent on him in the conduct of his practice to maintain a wholly professional. attitude toward those he serves, toward those who assist him in his practice. toward his fel. low Architects, and toward the members of Other professions, and the practitioners of other arts. lie should respect the distinc. tion between professional practice and non. Professional enterprise.

II--Mandatory Standards

1. An Architect shall not accept any compensation for his services other than from his client or employer.

2. An Architect shall not render professional services without compensation. He shall neither offer nor provide pre liminary services on a conditional basis prior to definite agreement with the client that if the contemplated project proceeds, he will be employed as its Architect.

3. An Architect shall not knowingly compete with another Architect on a basis of professional charges, nor use donation as a device for obtaining competitive advantage.

4. An Architect shall not offer his services in a competition except as provided in The Institute's Competition Code.

S. An Architect who has been retained as a professional adviser in a competition shall not accept employment as an Architect for that project.

6. An Architect shall not render architectural services to non -professional enterprises connected with the building industry, except when

(a) He does not either directly or indirectly solicit orders for the said enterprises.

(b) He is paid by salary, fee or royalty for his architectural services and does not participate in any profits of the a fore said enterprises which would influence his professional integrity.

7. An Architect shall not engage in building contracting.

8. An Architect shall not knowingly injure falsely or maliciously, the professional reputation, prospects or practice of another Architect.

9. An Architect shall not attempt to supplant another Architect after definite steps have been taken by a client toward the latter's employment.

10. An Architect shall not undertake a commission for which he knows another Architect has been employed until he has notified such other Architect of the fact in writing and has conclusively determined that the original employment his been terminated.

11. An Architect in soliciting work shall not divide fees except with professionals related to building design, and those regularly employed or known to be associated with his office.

12. An Architect shall not use paid advertising, nor use self-laudatory, exaggerated, or misleading publicity.

Factual materials, verbal or visual, which dignify the profession or ad. vance public knowledge of the Archi. tect's function in society may be presented through public communication media.

13. An Architect shall not solicit, nor permit others to solicit in his name, advertisements or other support toward the cost of any publication persenting his work.

14. An Architect shall conform to the regristration laws governing the practice of architecture in any state in which he prac. tices and he shall observe the standards of practice established by the local Architects' professional body.

I5. An Architect shall at no time act, in a manner detrimental to the best interests of the profession.

Conclusion

Since adherence to the principles herein enumerated is the obligation of every member of The American Institute of Architects, any deviation therefrom or from the broad principles of good practice as set forth in Section 1, shall be subject to discipline in proportion to its seriousness..

The Board of Directors of The American Institute of Architects shall have sole power of interpreting theise Standards of sessional Practice and its decisions shall be final subject to the provisions of the by-laws