Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
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The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, founded in 1839, is the professional body representing architects in the Irish Republic.
The objects of the RIAI are: "the advancement of architecture and the associated arts and sciences, the promotion of high standards of professional conduct and practice and the protection of the interests of architectural training and education."
The Institute is governed by a 24-member council.
In addition, the RIAI sends a representative to the RSUA Council.
[edit] Activities
In addition to providing standard legal services to members, the RIAI operates annual design awards, and is responsible for awarding the Triennial Gold Medal. This prize is awarded every three years to the best building completed in the preceding three years by an RIAI architect.
In addition, the RIAI is involved in architectural education and organises an annual student competition for the RIAI Travelling Scholarship. The competition is open to final-year students at the two schools of architecture in the Republic of Ireland, as well as to students at Queen's University Belfast.
[edit] Membership
The RIAI operates three levels of membership: Fellowship, Membership and Associateship. Members of the three ranks are entitled to use the suffixes FRIAI, MRIAI and ARIAI respectively.
Fellowship is generally awarded as an honour on an individual who would otherwise be qualified for Membership or Associateship.
Membership is the standard level for qualified architects in the Republic of Ireland. It is open to those who have completed a five-year course in architecture at a recognised school and who have passed the examination in professional practice.
Associateship is open to all graduates of recognised five-year architecture programmes. These are generally the same as those recognised by the RIBA, as well as the Bachelor of Architecture course at the Dublin Institute of Technology.
It is not necessary to be affiliated to the RIAI to practise as an architect in the Republic of Ireland, but many practitioners choose to join.
