Association of Consultant Architects ACA
The Association of Consultant Architects (ACA) is the national professional body representing architects in private practice. It was founded in 1973 by former presidents of the RIBA at a time when there was no organisation dedicated specifically to the interests of private practitioners. It is governed by a council of practising architects elected democratically by and from the voting membership. The council is chaired by the President.
The ACA’s main objectives are:
- To encourage excellence in the quality of service provided by ACA members to clients.
- To represent private practice architects, their interests and aims. Supporting them on issues pertinent to architectural practice and the field as a whole.
The ACA is not a regulatory body. It offers practising architects an independent voice within the construction industry and maintains close contact with the press, government and professional and trade bodies. It promotes the value of architects, the importance of their work and the ways the everyday life of the public is impacted by architecture.
Membership is open to registered architects practising on their own account, either alone or in partnership or as a director of a company whose business consists wholly or mainly of an architects’ practice or an allied field. Members may adopt the suffix ‘ACArch’.
Membership is practice based. Registered architects working as principals in private practice are eligible to become full voting members. Non voting membership is open to architects employed in practices whose principals are not ACA members, students of architecture and retired architects. Architects who choose to become ACA members can join FREE simply by signing up at http://www.acarchitects.co.uk thanks to sponsorship of membership by TOWERGATE PI. (They used to pay a membership fee based on the number of people working within their practice).
The ACA support members by providing information to help with practice issues such as professional indemnity insurance, health and safety, legal questions and environmental obligations. The work of members is promoted in email newsletters, website updates, social media posts, exhibitions and meetings.
The ACA is an associate member of the CIC (Construction Industry Council).
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