BUSINESS EDUCATION As recently as five years ago, the way to some US architects’ hearts – at least when it came to training and development – was through their stomachs. “The [building material] manufacturers would go into architect firms’ offices with food – that’s how they got in – and whichever manufacturer had the better food would become the firms’ training department,” says Thom Lowther.
Mr Lowther, senior director of the American Institute of Architects’ Continuing Education System, has worked hard to ensure this appetite-driven approach to professional development has been consigned to history. The CES programme, which began 13 years ago, helps architecture practices think strategically about their training needs, then bring in trained educators from the manufacturers and other organisations.
