Last edited 20 Mar 2015

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 where there was no organisation dedicated specifically to the interests of private practitioners.

The ACA is constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It is based in Bromley in Kent. It is governed by a council of elected practicing architects.

The ACA’s main aims 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 practicing architects an independent voice within the construction industry and maintains close contact with the press, government and professional and trade bodies.

The ACA promotes the value of architects, the importance of their work and the ways that the everyday life of members of the public is impacted by architecture.

They respond to important topics and issues that arise, providing opinions, seminars, networking events and discussion groups.

Membership is open to registered architects practicing 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. Architects that choose to become ACA members pay a membership fee based on the number of people working within their practice. All of the registered architects within the practice then become full-voting members of the ACA. Members may adopt the suffix ‘ACArch’.

ACA members do not have to be members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Architecture is a regulated profession and architects must register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), but membership of the RIBA is voluntary.

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.