PALS is the Australian Institute of Architects Practice of Architecture Learning Series and is is the most comprehensive way for graduates to prepare for their registration examinations. The program comprises 15 online modules and is integrated (in Western Australia) with 7 face to face tutorials with local practising architects. The tutorials are held twice per year; February/March and September/October

The WA Chapter is seeking expressions from registered architects interested in facilitating the PALS tutorials. We are indeed keen to use multiple tutors to take advantage of knowledge in particular areas of practice.

The positions are remunerated and candidates will be chosen by the Institute’s Education Committee. If you would like to be involved please send a brief CV outlining your architectural and teaching experience to Kim Burges by 27 November 2015: kim.burges@architecture.com.au . Or feel free to call (08) 9287 9900 for more information.

Dear Members

You may have seen some recent press releases from Autodesk advising of significant changes to the way it provides software licenses .  The changes purport to allow you more flexibility and certainty of expenditure and for many practices, the changes may be advantageous or make little impact.  However, members may wish to consider the long term cost implications of Autodesk’s decision to change to rental only licenses.

We understand that:   After 31 July 2016, new software licenses of “suites” like Building Design Suite Premium will only be available to rent on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.  Other stand alone products like Revit, Navisworks and AutoCAD change over on 31 January 2016.    While the rental licenses do not incur a large initial capital outlay, they may cost significantly more overall.

What does this mean to you?

1. You will now be able to access new rental licenses for less initial outlay on an as needs basis that suits you.
2. If you currently have a number of perpetual licenses on subscription, you can continue to pay annual subscription; no change.
3. If you want to add more licenses for the long term to grow your practice, or are starting out as a new practice after 31 January or 31 July 2016, the ongoing cost to maintain your software will be significantly greater.

Point 3 should raise serious concerns to the profession. “Flexibility”, as purported by Autodesk, should allow the user to make an informed choice to either purchase or rent licenses, not restrict them to one rental model at significantly increased costs.   It may assist you to carry out the following calculations and considerations over a 4, 5 or 6 year period:

1. Taxation considerations; capital expenditure on a depreciation schedule versus subscription
2. Current cost of purchasing outright plus annual subscription over 4, 5 & 6 years.
3. Cost of annual rental of the same software over 4, 5 & 6 years; and every year ongoing.

Autodesk are holding an information session on 20 October in association with A2K Technologies.  If you have been invited, we strongly urge you to attend and establish what these changes mean for your firm in the short and long term. If you have not been invited, or are unable to attend, you may wish to contact your reseller or Autodesk directly and ensure you are fully aware of the impact of these changes.

The Cities of Melville and South Perth are calling for suitably qualified and experienced architects and urban designers to join the Canning Bridge Structure Plan Design Review Panel (DRP).

The purpose of the DRP is to provide the Cities with independent and professional advice on design quality in relation to particular planning applications or relevant strategic planning proposals.

A previous EOI process has resulted in considerable interest from professionals across a broad range of relevant disciplines. The Cities remain particularly keen to hear from professionals from the architecture and urban design fields who are interested in being considered for membership of the DRP.

Prospective applicants should demonstrate considerable professional expertise in their field and possess relevant skills and experience in the practice of design review for major development proposals.

Existing nominees need not re-apply as all existing nominations for membership of the group will be considered in due course.

EOI period closes 5.00pm Friday, 23 October 2015.

For more information, visit www.melvillecity.com.au/canningbridge,or for terms of reference or general enquiries, call Peter Prendergast, Manager Statutory Planning on 9364 0626 or email peter.prendergast@melville.wa.gov.au.

Congratulations to John Taylor on his ‘Personal Contribution’ award in last week’s Western Australian Heritage Awards. It is well deserved and recognises his 25 year involvement in heritage architecture, his best-practice approach and highly-skilled technical expertise.The award also recognises John’s pro bono work in developing biographies of eminent Western Australian architects.

On the topic of awards, we have a near record number of entries in the WA Architecture Awards this year including many more in remote areas than normal. Judging of projects is well underway and jurors seem impressed with what they have seen so far. Invitations to the awards events in July should have arrived in the mail by now and we hope you will be able to come along. We are also launching the Awards Installation Competition today and you can read more about that exciting opportunity in this detailed brief.

A reminder also that the Building Commission’s Statutory Review of the Architects Act closes for comment on 22 May 2015. A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement provides 24 proposals for improving the operation of the Act and the Institute will be submitting a response. More information online.

Finally, it is hoped that the Green Paper for the new Heritage of Western Australia Act might be available for comment in the next three to four months.

As 2014 draws to a close, I can reflect on a successful year at the WA Chapter. We managed to have David Karotkin installed as the Institute’s National President and support from members gave me the opportunity to be State President. Among our achievements was a re-invigorated awards program, increased membership, a highly successful CPD program, an increase in sponsors, and we welcomed Michael Woodhams as State Manager.

National Council continues to wrestle with re-structuring the organisation, its business systems and the committee structures, which in the course of 2015 will wash through and make us a stronger and more contemporary organisation.

Most importantly, I would like to thank committees and volunteers for a huge contribution in 2014, especially on expert subjects, such as planning reform. There is much for the committees to do next year.

Sponsor contribution to the Chapter and its events has been both generous and committed. Sponsors have been very engaged this year and many have been looking at new ways to help us, which is very pleasing. A special thanks to Kim for developing and maintaining sponsorships.

To Chapter staff Michael, Kim and Laura, thank you so much for your commitment, working unsociable hours and remaining cheerful.

Finally, best wishes for the festive season, enjoy a well earned break, and lets do it all again next year, but better.

Regards

Philip Griffiths

Architecture Week is rapidly approaching and we have an action packed schedule planned. I urge you to join us at the Networking Party on Monday 20 October, because apart from the pleasure of mixing with colleagues in the profession and across the industry, it is really important for as many members as possible to help support our sponsors.

The awards season will also be upon us very shortly and we are keen to attach a sponsor to the new Education category (a separation from the current Public Architecture category)  – perhaps an organisation closely aligned with the fitting out of schools. It’s not often that a new category is created and we would be delighted for someone else to come on board. Please get in touch with Kim Burges if you have any ideas.

I am also very pleased to announce that Leonie Matthews of Matthews McDonald Architects and The University of Western Australia, has agreed to be Chair of Juries for the Awards in 2015. Congratulations and many thanks for taking on this important role.

Finally a reminder about the International Speaker Series talk on next Friday. This time it is Simone Carena, co-founder of MOTOElastico, one of the leading architecture offices in Korea. The international series is an important way of diversifying our education program, giving rare insights into international practice. It needs your support to continue and we hope to see you there.