Architectural Modelmakers: SW Florida

Charlotte Architectural Displays. www.architecturaldisplay.com

We make architectural models and topographic displays for architects, developers, real estate sales centers, real estate investment fund raising, non-profit and historical groups. Please visit our website at www.architecturaldisplay.com for more information.

Beautiful models! Very nice work. I've always admired the skill and patience it takes to construct models. I always built models for all projects I designed in school. Since then, and unfortunately, not so much.

Now I gotta ask: Is it legal in Florida to use the word 'architectural' in a business name or promote 'architectural' work if the owners are not architects? A certain ghostly presence on this newsgroup has learned something about this throughout his years designing homes. I know it isn't legal in Colorado and most other states I know something about...

Curt

It is presently in litigation. There are over 200 businesses in Florida with the word *architectural* in the business name, that have no architects on staff. Some don't even have any relation to architecture at all. Seems the word *architectural* is somewhat generic.

It doesn't seem generic to me, but then I'm a bit biased...

I met a cousin last weekend whom I hadn't seen in thirty years (!). He asked me what I did, and when I told him, he asked, 'a building architect?' I probably looked a bit dazed and confused for a second before he informed me with great pride that he was a Software Architect!

Hmmmmmmmm.

He's a nice guy. But still...

Curt

I draw a distinction between the *Title* Architect and the *description* architectural. While I am not an Architect I believe my houseplans are architectural. Regarding your software buddy, www.m-w.com says : Architect : 2. a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking <the architect of American foreign policy>

We've been down this road ... caveat emptor.

So ?

I'm paraphrasing of course, but most state licensing regulations say that no person or company may represent themselves as architects, nor use any variation of the work architect or architecture that might imply that they could be an architect or architecture firm, unless the individual or firm owner(s) be licensed in that state.

To my knowledge, every time a state regulatory agency has ruled on the use of terms 'architectural' or 'architectonic' or 'archi-whatever' they have come down against its use by non-licensed individuals or non-licensed owners of companies.

As you and I know, Ghost-Sniper, home design is indeed 'architectural' work and doing that design work is legal and permitted to you by all state standards. It just sounds like you have learned (the hard way?) to be careful in how you represent and market your credentials

Well, until the litigation is settled I'll just have to wait and see if an adjective is the same as a noun. I find it peculiar that it is legal to do architectural work (houseplans) but may not be legal to say so. Especially when you consider that all plans must be reviewed and sealed by an architect/engineer anyway. It's the code, man.

caveat emptor

Oh look, brudgers learned some new words. And like a 2 year old he just keeps saying them over and over and over.....with no clue as to what they mean. LOL Quick Maw, grab the Kodak !