The Architects Registration Board has published proposals for a new edition of the Architects Code of Conduct and Practice, with the revised Code being designed to act as a positive statement of what professionalism and ethics mean to architects. Chief executive and registrar Hugh Simpson sets out its core aims and standards
For many registered professionals, be they doctors, lawyers or architects, their direct engagement with their profession’s Code of Conduct and Practice may be fleeting. A module or two at university? A quick reference back following a complaint by a client? Or perhaps clicking on a link to a consultation by their professional regulator?
So why does the new consultation on a revised Code of Conduct and Practice matter? It matters because the Code of Conduct and Practice must be more than a document that sits on a shelf or in a shared drive.
When architects make their annual declaration to uphold the Code of Conduct and Practice and the Standards within it, then it should be a conscious affirmation of a commitment to professional practice and high standards.
The Code should reflect the standards the profession commits to upholding, the expectations of architects’ clients and the public and the requirements of the regulator, in this case the Architects Registration Board, and state clearly the standards the profession has committed to meet.
This three-way shared commitment from the profession to their clients and their regulator on behalf of the public underpins the new draft Code, which is currently out for consultation.
Culture matters
There is always a danger in reviewing a Code of Conduct and Practice in the shadow of a public tragedy, such as Grenfell Tower. Regulators can fall into the trap of wanting to be seen to do something, rather than learning the lessons of what happened and taking appropriate steps.
Perhaps the biggest lesson from Grenfell is that culture matters and that having the wrong culture, not just in one profession but across the built environment, can create conditions where tragedy can occur.
Elsewhere, I have seen accusations that professions, including architects, are being infantilised with abstract requirements around social justice or with broader societal imperatives such as climate change.
But the new draft Code of Conduct and Practice seeks to do the opposite of nannying the profession; it explicitly moves away from a ‘rules-based approach’ whereby you can follow a check list of dos and don’ts of compliance and go home happy knowing you’ve done enough.
It was this compliance-based approach and culture of shifting of accountability, highlighted so shockingly in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report, that arguably was the greatest contributor to the tragedy. The question architects and other professionals ask themselves needs to move away from “have I complied with the rule” to “will the public be safe?”.
Core standards
The new draft Architects Code is framed around six Standards: honesty and integrity; acting in the public interest; competence; professional practice; communications and collaboration; and respect.
Having listened to the feedback we gathered from the profession, their clients and the public during the pre-consultation period, these six Standards are our attempt to define the core standards needed for a positive professional culture in architecture.
To give examples, under Standard 2 (Public Interest), the new draft Code asks architects to “challenge others where their actions may put people at risk”. Under Standard 6, Respect, the Code describes how architects will be seen to have met this Standard when they contribute to a positive and inclusive working environment. Taken together, these reflect the kind of culture required in any high-risk, high innovation profession, where psychological safety is absolutely critical.
The draft Standards also reflect that architects do not work in isolation. They work alongside other professionals, with local and planning authorities and contractors. Communicating effectively, working collaboratively and in the public interest are fundamental tenets which must be upheld.
The six Standards will be an absolute requirement for all architects but we have also set out examples under each Standard about how architects can meet the Code. These examples are not in of themselves mandatory, recognising there may be more than one way to meet the Standard given the diversity of practice, but any architect must be able to explain and justify their actions against the Code.
It is our intention to provide supplementary guidance to support architects in meeting the Standards, in whatever contexts they work. The guidance will cover topics such as sustainability, building safety, dealing with disputes and conflicts of interest. We want to test whether these are the right topics for supplementary guidance and are asking for views on our proposed topics as part of the consultation.
This draft Architects Code is not written for the 0.01% of the 42,000 registered architects who find themselves under formal investigation (although, if accepted, it would be a key part of a professional conduct committee’s consideration). It is written for every architect to be able to proudly commit to; it is written for every client – from residential homeowner to global contractor – to see and know the commitments of the profession; and for ARB to reassure the public about the standards architects sign up to.
ARB’s consultation on the draft Code of Conduct and Practice is open until 12 December 2024. The draft Code and consultation can be found on the ARB website.
