Professionalism for the Built Environment

This book is both an introduction to and an examination of professionalism and professional bodies in the built environment and construction sector including a view of the future of professionalism in the sector and the organisations serving it.

The book follows and builds on a previous study by the Author (The Professionals' Choice, Building Futures, 2003), the Edge's 2012-13 investigation into New Professionalism and the Edge Commission of Inquiry on Future Professionalism (2014) involving all the major professional institutions covering the sector, being co-ordinated by the author.

Although there is a considerable literature on professionalism in other sectors, notably education and healthcare, and a small amount on ethics for architects there has been almost no study on the issues of professionalism specifically in the built environment and construction sectors. This book aims to help fill this gap.

Simon Foxell is Principal of The Architects Practice. He has designed buildings across the UK including houses, schools and offices and in 1996 was awarded the prestigious Benedictus Prize by the Union of International Architects. In recent years he has worked with schools and local authorities, designing new facilities and advising on development programmes. He was lead design adviser to Birmingham City Council’s Transforming Education programme from 2007 to 2010.

He is a core member and co-ordinator of the Edge, the built environment think tank, and is on the Green Construction Board’s Routemap group. He is a former member of the RIBA Council and Board and was Chair of both Policy and Strategy and RIBA London region as well as Vice chair of Practice and Building Futures.

He is a member of several Design Review panels including the Home Office’s, The London Borough of Islington and Shape East. He is an RIBA Client Adviser, member of the Academy of Urbanism and a former Board member of the European Forum for Architectural Policies.