Lesson 5

The Reading Module

Read the text: Building designer

Building designer is the term used in the United States and Australia for people involved in the design of buildings who are not registered architects.

In Australia anyone may legally call themselves a building designer in the broad sense, however, the official term ‘Building designer’ is recognized as describing a person who is registered with the various state bodies as being suitably experienced, qualified and holding the required indemnity insurance to design low rise structures. The majority of residential buildings in Australia are designed by a Building Designer.

As in Australia, many of the states within the United States have exemptions in the Business and Professions Code allowing persons to design residential buildings and light commercial buildings without having an architectural license, given certain guide lines. Those who have chosen to specialize in that discipline are legally allowed to call themselves Building Designers. Building Designers are commonly known as residential designers due to the fact that many of the people in this field specialize solely on Residential Design and Residential Remodeling. Formerly there existed a National Certification for Building Designers in the United States, which provided legal standing, but this has since been removed due to the lobbying of the Certified Architectural portion of the Industry, specifically the AIA. However, in the state of Nevada, a specific license for residential design has been re-established.

Because the focus of a building designer’s practice may primarily be residential in nature, this particular class of design professional may or may not have the same or similar qualifications and experiences as registered architects. Building and residential designers in the United States seeking credentialing for their skills may qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by the National Council of Building Designer Certification. Those who have successfully passed the NCBDC exam are given the title Certified Professional Building Designer.

I. Reading exercises:

Exercise1. Read and memorize using the dictionary:

building designer, register, in the broad sense, suitable experiences, low rise structures, light commercial buildings, architectural license, residential designers, residential remodeling, legal standing, re-establish, certification, Certified Professional Building Designer

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. What does the term ‘Building Designer’ mean in the USA and Australia?

2. Who designs residential buildings and light commercial buildings in the USA and Australia?

3. Who administers for a certification exam in the United States?

4. Who is given the title Certified Professional Building Designer?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. Building and residential designers may qualify	1. as residential designers.
2. Building designers are commonly known	2. who are not registered architects.
3. Building designer is the term for people	3. a building designer in broad sense.
4. In Australia anyone may legally call themselves	4. to sit for a certification exam.

Exercise 4. Open brackets using the right words:

As in Australia, many of the states within the United States (had/have) exemptions in the Business and Professions Code (allowing/allowed) persons to design residential buildings and light commercial buildings without (have/having) an architectural license.

The Speaking Module

II. Speaking exercises:

Exercise 1. Describe building designer; residential designer; certification; certified designer; legal standing using the suggested words and expressions:

building designer

the term; people; involve; design; register

residential designer

building designer; due to the fact; specialize; solely; on Residential Resign; Remodeling

certification

exist; provide; legal standing; Building Design; re-establish; specific license

certified designer

exist; National Certification; for Building Designer; provide; legal standing

legal standing

provide; National Certification; remove; due to, lobbying

Exercise 2. Ask questions to the given answers:

1. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Building Designer is the term for people involved in the design of buildings.

2. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Business and Professions Code allows persons to design residential buildings.

The Writing Module

III. Writing exercises:

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the suggested words: as; may not have; have passed; are given; may

This particular class of design professional _____ or _____ the same or similar qualifications and experiences _____ registered architects.

Those who _____ successful _____ the exam _____ the title of a Building Designer.

Exercise 2. Fill in the table with words and expressions from the text:

Building and residential designers	What may they do?	for a certification exam.
Building and residential designers may sit for	What for?	administered by National Council.
Many of the people specialize	On what?

Exercise 3. Compose a story on one of the topics (up to 100 words):

“Residential Design and Residential Remodeling”

“National Certification for Building Designers in the United States”

“Are there people involved in the design of buildings who are not registered architects in our country?”