Architecture 645: Architectural Practice in Canada

Study Guide

Unit 7: The Architect as Leader Beyond the Building Project

Commentary

Architects are no longer limited to traditional practice in which they serve as professional consultants, generally in private practice, designing buildings. Unit 7 discusses some of the new opportunities for architects and how their vision, leadership, and problem-solving skills can serve society. CHOP presents ways in which architects and architectural training can build leadership skills and develop opportunities to lead (CHOP 1.1.1, pp. 1–5).

In addition, Unit 7 introduces the students to the topic of Canadian Indigenous communities, suggesting that advocacy and sensitivity toward Indigenous culture and architecture be part of the larger societal issues requiring architects’ leadership, knowledge, and skills. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Indigenous Task Force (ITF) was officially launched June 9, 2016, in Snuneymuxw territory (Nanaimo, British Columbia) during the 2016 RAIC Festival of Architecture. The core purpose of ITF is to foster and promote Indigenous design and architecture in Canada in rural, Métis, and Northern communities, First Nations, and urban spaces and to advocate with and on behalf of Indigenous communities. RAIC and ITF believe strongly that architecture is a public-spirited profession with an important role in reconciliation—addressing injustices by giving agency back to Indigenous people.

Learning Outcomes

After completing Unit 7, you should be able to

  1. Articulate your evolving personal statement of the meaning of leadership and how an architect can or should become a leader.
  2. Apply leadership techniques to problem solving.
  3. Identify and discuss various opportunities for architectural leadership beyond building design.
  4. Discuss the leadership role the architect has in recognizing Indigenous reconciliation and fostering Indigenous design and architecture in Canada.

Required Readings

  1. Reread the following in CHOP (2009): Chapter 1.1.1, The Role of the Architect
  2. How Architects Can Be Catalysts for Civic Initiatives
  3. RAIC International Indigenous Architecture and Design Symposium Highlights Report

Selected Readings

The following readings are excellent additional resources.

  1. Bennis, Warren. (2009). On Becoming a Leader. Philadelphia, PA: Basic Books.
  2. Burns, James MacGregor. (1979). Leadership. New York: Harper & Row.
  3. Cashman, Kevin. (2017). Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life, 3rd ed. Oakland: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
  4. De Pree, Max. (2008). Leadership Jazz: The Essential Elements of a Great Leader, rev. ed. New York: Doubleday.
  5. Peters, Thomas J. and Robert H. Waterman, Jr. (2004). In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies. New York: HarperCollins.
  6. Swett, Richard N. (2005). Leadership by Design: Creating an Architecture of Trust. Atlanta, GA: Greenway Communications.

Resources

  1. Leadership and public speaking
  2. RAIC, Indigenous Task Force
  3. Venice Biennale in Architecture

Self-Study Questions

Work through the following self-study questions. Use the Course Discussion Forum to post comments/questions.

  1. What are some opportunities for architects beyond private practice?
  2. What are some national and international organizations that require the services of (in-house) architects (e.g., Habitat for Humanity)?
  3. How can architects hone their leadership and facilitation skills to better serve society and the profession?
  4. How can architects be part of the large effort to bring advocacy and sensitivity to Indigenous culture and architecture in Canada?

TOP