Baskervill and Scott & Goble Receive AIA Award

Washington, DC, March 21, 2007--The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected Baskervill of Richmond, Virginia and Scott & Goble Architects Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma as the recipients of the 2007 Intern Development Program (IDP) Outstanding Firm Award. Every year the Intern Development Program Advisory Committee (IDPAC) recognizes architecture firms that demonstrate exemplary commitment and contributions to architectural interns in their professional development. This national award is given to recognize a firm’s balance of comprehensive training opportunities, continuing education programs, and commitment to the IDP. The award will be presented at the 2007 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in San Antonio.

Baskervill can attribute the high honor of receiving the Outstanding Firm Award to their focus on professional development, personalized attention, and firm-wide support. The in-house Baskervill IDP, officially created in 2004, has grown from three to 15 interns. Baskervill, a large firm, uses their strong community ties, client contacts, and resources to increase their interns’ involvement, which has ultimately improved the learning process. As a result, Baskervill has become known as one of the top firms in the region for intern training experience. The firm’s hands-on attitude toward their interns has helped retain talent.

“Through their progressive and proactive approach they’ve been able to retain talent,” said Jury members.

Scott and Goble Architects Inc. (SGA), a large firm, has been honored with the Outstanding Firm Award because of their unwavering commitment to IDP. Having been named the first “AIA Oklahoma Intern-Friendly Firm”, SGA was ranked 7th nationally as the “Best Architectural Firm to Work For” based on their commitment to provide a positive work environment and challenging and interesting design opportunities for employees. SGA’s IDP training helps formalize their efforts to introduce new interns to SGA’s preferred methods, processes and culture. SGA’s IDP training satisfies the intern’s desire for knowledge, experience, ethical & environmental standards and a sense of pride in his/her profession. Ultimately, SGA’s IDP graduates are loyal, develop solid client relationships, enhance the bottom line and perpetuate the high standards established by the profession.

“[SGA] embraces the idea that it should be part of a firm’s mission to see their interns achieve licensure,” said Jury members.

The Jury

The 2007 jury was comprised of representatives from the various organizations involved in IDPAC: Dale McKinney, AIA, representing the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB), Gary E. Demele, AIA, IDP state coordinator representative, David Hinson, AIA, IDP educator coordinator representative, and Jaclyn S. Toole, Assoc. AIA, National Associates Committee (NAC).

About IDP

The Intern Development Program started in 1976 as a pilot program developed by the AIA and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards to ensure the continued support of interns by the changing profession of architecture. IDP is a profession-wide, comprehensive training program that is focused on the professional development of architectural interns. Through a series of required activities, IDP enables participants to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that form the core competencies related to successful architectural practice. IDP is structured in a way that effectively responds to the training needs of architectural interns by providing a wide range of resources, established progressive benchmarks, advice and mentor guidance throughout the extensive internship process.

About the Intern Development Program Advisory Committee

The Intern Development Program Advisory Committee is a unique cross-collateral committee, which includes three representatives from both the AIA and NCARB, and one member each from the NAC, American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) as well as one independent intern representative, a member from the Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) and the Society of Design Administrators (SDA). As a group, they are the IDPAC and they are charged with monitoring the program and making recommendation on IDP policy.

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