Liberian Architects Hold Convention, 56th AUA Meeting in Monrovia

Monrovia – The 56^th Council Meeting of the Africa Union of Architects and the First Annual Convention of the Liberia Institute of Architects are expected to jointly commence in Monrovia, with a call for the training of more architects in the country.

The AUA is a continental body that seeks the welfare and wellbeing of architects from countries Africa, while the LIA, formerly the Liberia Chambers of Architects (LCA) is the umbrella organization that regulates and monitors the works of architects in the country.

According to the President of LIA, Mr. Adolphus G. McCritty, the convention of his group and the Union’s meeting which kick off today, November 9-12, 2016, will primarily focus on the challenges confronting Liberian architects in the country.

He said the convention and meeting will also look at ways, means and strategies that can be implore to get rid of those problems Liberian architects are faced with.

He pointed out that trainings in respective architectural fields including building inspection, specification writing, designing courses, city planning and basic land surveying courses, among others will be discussed at the convention and meeting.

Mr. McCritty noted that the convention and meeting would bring together architects and engineering students from every county in Liberia.

According to him, the training of young Liberian architects and engineers is significant to guarantee the beatification and safety of the capital, Monrovia the citizenry.

He said not anyone who draws a house plan is an architect, and as such, proper training must be provided.

Speaking further, the LIA President named the lack of proper training as the major challenge confronting the architectural sector of Liberia.

He said architects must be academically qualified if their works are to have a longer life span.

“Generally here in Liberia, anybody can consider himself to be an architect if you can draw a line that looks like a building. But being an architect involves more than just drawing buildings and making plans.

There is a full responsibility that is attached on the head of that individual for the life of the building.

And in order to be an architect, you have to be academically qualified, in addition to minimum 10 years to 15 years’ experience in the business,” he stated.

Mr. McCritty further expressed regret over the lack of a school of architectural in Liberia to academically train Liberian students desirous of venturing into the field of architecture.

For his part, the Vice President of the LIA, Mr. Elijah Karnley named the lack of education or public awareness as one of the main reasons most people considered draftsmen to be architects in Liberia.

He said architects deal with designing of buildings, radical structures, environments, communities, amongst others.

He maintained that the lack of a full-fledge institution to adequately regulate the profession is paramount in Liberia if the profession must be respected and dignified.