Global Practice and Asean Integration

Global Practice
& ASEAN
Integration
"We just need to prepare
professionally and be
globally competitive by
consistently educating
ourselves".
ROBERT M.
MIRAFUENTE
ASEAN Architect -
since they are hoping to
have “borderless
practice” of architects
within ASEAN by
2020.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
integration.
only 52 out of the 39,000 registered
architects in the Philippines, including the
2016 board passers, are accredited to practice
in other ASEAN countries.
The Architecture Act of 2004 or RA
9266, already promotes the CPD,
seeking to improve the quality of
architects, enhance their
competence, and ensure that they
keep up with new technologies and
practices.
APEC Architects
An APEC Architect is a person who is registered, licensed or otherwise
professionally recognized as an architect in a participating economy, and
whose name is enrolled on a section of the APEC Architect Register
maintained by that economy.
ASEAN Architect (AA)
An Architect who possesses the qualifications and professional experience
requirements specified in Part B of this Assessment Statement may apply to
be registered in the ASEAN Architect Register (AAR) and accorded the title
of ASEAN Architect (AA).
• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) certified - is an internationally recognized
green building certification system, providing third-
party verification that a building or community was
designed and built using strategies aimed at improving
performance across all the metrics that matter most
• CERTIFIED BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive
Design Excellence) Professional
• APEC Architect
• ASEAN architect
• PIEP, ENP - Phil Institute of Environmental PLanners
• CBP - certified BERDE Professional
• REA - Real Estate Broker
SETTING UP AN
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
Choosing a Business Structure
for Your Architecture Firm
Sole Proprietor
A very popular choice for new firms is the simplest
structure; sole proprietor. This is an unincorporated
business with no legal distinction between the owner and
the business entity. You are entitled to all profits and are
liable for all debt, losses and liabilities.
Although sole proprietorships are easy to form and

relatively easy to understand, a major disadvantage is
that you are personally liable for all business debt, loss
and liability. You have no personal protection from
actions against the business including any liabilities
caused by an employee.
8 Tips for a Sole-Practitioner Architect to Build Credibility
1. Decide Who You Are.

Sole practitioners can’t do everything for everyone because of their
limited resources. A key to success as a sole practitioner is to
“decide who you are, what makes you happy, and figure out what it
is you want to do on a daily basis,” says Kevin Harris, a Baton Rouge,
Louisiana–based architect. “I didn’t like the projects other firms
were doing, which is why I started my own practice.” Harris does a
variety of residential work, but as a sole proprietor, you may be
happiest focusing on a specialization.
2. Do Pro Bono Work. Whether you need to build your portfolio or

just have a heart of gold, doing pro bono work is a great way to
build your reputation.
3. Get Involved in Your Local Community. Harris says that an architect’s training
prepares you to serve as a valuable board member of many organizations, and to
be of help to your community in various other ways. Having high visibility in your
community, and volunteering your time with organizations, puts you in front of
potential clients and gives them an opportunity to get to know you before doing
business.
4. Plug Into a Professional Network. “Connections”
5. Establish Yourself as the Expert, and Get Published. If you have

some downtime in your schedule, one way to bolster your income and
reputation is to teach.
6. Win Awards and Get Write-Ups.
7. Boost Your Professionalism. Even when your firm is just you, it’s important to present
yourself professionally.
In terms of online presence, “it’s important to keep your website fresh and updated,”
“This is critical for the residential market.” A sole practitioner’s website should “show
your personality, show what you’re working on, and broadcast a message that says, ‘Hire
me because it’s going to be fun to work with me.’”
8. Have Good Systems in Place, and Hire Help. Part of the challenge of being a
sole practitioner is that you have to do it all to keep the firm going, including
designing, architecture marketing, and billing. Without a good project-
management tool sole practitioners are prone to making mistakes, letting things
slip through the cracks, and not getting to everything they need to get to—thus
undermining their credibility with clients.
Partnership
A partnership is a single business owned by two or more people.
Unless defined in a partnership agreement, all aspects of the
business are divided equally among each partner. Partnerships are
formed by registering the business as a partnership with your state.
A disadvantage to a partnership is that all liabilities are shared by

the partners. Each partner is not only liable for his or her own
actions, but the actions of all the employees and partners within the
business. Partners personal assets are also at risk and can be used to
satisfy the partnership’s debt, whether or not the individual partner
was personally involved.
Corporation
A corporation is an independent legal entity owned by shareholders.
Shareholders are protected from liabilities for all the actions and
debts the business incurs. Corporations offer the ability to sell
ownership shares in the business through stock offerings.
Corporations receive a tax ID number and are required to pay taxes

separate from it’s shareholders. Unlike sole proprietors and
partnerships, corporations pay income tax on its profits. The
complex legal and tax requirements of a corporation could make it
more appropriate for larger companies.
THE END

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Global Practice

Although sole proprietorships are easy to form and

1. Decide Who You Are.

2. Do Pro Bono Work. Whether you need to build your portfolio or

4. Plug Into a Professional Network. “Connections”

5. Establish Yourself as the Expert, and Get Published. If you have

A disadvantage to a partnership is that all liabilities are shared by

Corporations receive a tax ID number and are required to pay taxes

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