National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding on May 2, 2019. Over the next 100 days, the organization will share highlights from NCARB’s history, beginning with the launch of a Centennial website on January 22, 2019.

Founded by a small group of architects in 1919, NCARB’s original mission was to facilitate architectural licensure in the United States by promoting uniform standards that ensured public safety, as well as creating a pathway to out-of-state (or reciprocal) licensure that would be accepted in all U.S. jurisdictions. The organization’s mission has evolved over time to keep pace with the needs of its members and the profession, but its key goals have remained the same.

“For the past 100 years, NCARB has been the foundation of the architecture profession,” said NCARB President David L. Hoffman, FAIA, NCARB, Hon. FCARM. “As we celebrate our Centennial, we’re taking the time to honor our accomplishments, highlight important milestones, and to examine in depth the Council’s past and present planning for the profession’s future.”

Centennial Website
To kick off the 100-day countdown to NCARB’s 100th anniversary, which started on January 22, the organization has created a Centennial website featuring a timeline of important moments and people from NCARB’s history.

Over the next several months, new pages will be added to the website, exploring the deeper narrative behind the Council’s initiatives, programs, and purpose.

The Centennial website will eventually include a brief history of the regulation of architecture in each of the 55 U.S. jurisdictions, whose licensing boards make up NCARB’s membership.

Positioning for the Future
Over the past 100 years, NCARB has built a rich legacy that underscores the organization’s role as a leader in architectural regulation. However, the Council is also seeking to ensure that its programs and services are anticipating the future needs of its Member Boards, customers, and the public.

In preparation for NCARB’s second century, the organization is advocating for the crucial role regulation plays in public protection, exploring the impact new technology will have on the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), and more—leading up to the implementation of a new Strategic Plan at NCARB’s Centennial Annual Business Meeting in June 2019.

To learn more about NCARB’s Centennial, visit www.ncarb.org/centennial.