President of the Association of Consulting Architects Australia (ACA) South Australia, John Held, together with committee member Susan Phillips, have been awarded the 2015 Architectural Practice Board of SA (APBSA) Research Fellowship to investigate recent structural changes in the profession.

Their research project, The State of the Profession – SA Pilot Study, seeks to understand the current position of the profession so that a firm evidence base from which to strategise about future roles can be provided.

According to the ACA, the project focuses on two questions:

  • What structural changes have occurred with the profession in the last decade?
  • How might these structural changes impact on the profession in the future?

“The project will provide a clear picture of the current state of the architecture profession in South Australia. This will provide a vital evidence base for architects, practices and professional bodies as they strategise for the futures of the profession,” the ACA said.

“Such an evidence base is currently lacking, but is fundamental to effective future planning.”

The organisation intends for this project to be the pilot program for a larger, nation-wide study.