ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA 1.0Introduction 2.0Sole Proprietorship Firm 2.1Partnership Firm 2.2Limited Liability Firm 2.3Group Practice 2.4Inter-disciplinary Practice 2.5Professional Design Consortium 2.6Architects In Public Service 3.0References

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 1.0INTRODUCTION An architectural firm usually has at least one “principal”, a licensed architect who is the sole proprietor of the firm, or one who shares an ownership interest with other architects in the firm either as a partner in a partnership, or shareholder in a corporation.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.0sole proprietorship firm A sole proprietorship firm is a business entity that is owned and run by one individual and commonly practiced amongst Nigerian architects. Advantages; 1.The principal is the sole boss. 2.Decision making process is faster. 3.Relationship with client is personal. Disadvantages; 1.No second professional opinion at principal level. 2.Continuity is not assured.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.1PARTNERSHIP FIRM Partnership is a business relationship between two or more persons with the common view to make profit. Advantages; 1.Possibility of a second professional advice at principal level. 2.Mutual benefits and support. Disadvantages; 1.Partnership liabilities are unlimited. 2.Partnership is automatically dissolved by death. Dissolution of a partnership occurs when the duration of the partnership ends or due to bankruptcy or illegality.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.2 LIMITED LIABILITY PRACTICE OR CORPORATION The limited liability company is a hybrid legal entity that has both the characteristics of a corporation and of a partnership. Advantages; 1.Capital can be raised from public funds. 2.Limited liabilities of directors. 3.Continuity is assured. Disadvantages; 1.Ownership and management are separate. 2.Impersonal relationship with clients.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.3GROUP PRACTICE This type of practice occurs when independent architectural firms collaborate but with varying commitments. For this type of practice to be successful, partners must be temperamentally compactible. It doesn’t involve full commitment of a proper partnership agreement and it allows partners and there staff to experience working together.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.4INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE This type of practice embraces some or all of the main professionals in the building industry i.e the Quantity surveyor, the Land surveyor, the Architect, the Planners, the Estate managers etc. work procedure differs in this type of practice and remuneration of partners differs.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.5professional design consortium This type of firm differs from the group practice. It refers to the association of firms of different professional skills acting as one for carrying out project jointly yet retaining separate identities. Each profession has their own responsibility to the client.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2.6architects in public service They are employed in both advisory and executive capacities. They therefore perform essentially the same functions as the architects in private sector. In addition, they help moderate standards and costs on some special government projects.

ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria ARC 807: Professional Practice and Procedure Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 3.0REFERENCES Usman Lekan(2008): Architectural Education and Practice in Nigeria, ’A Paper presented at the Architectural Week of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Architecture Students Association, (LAUTASA), Ogbomoso’. Lecture Note; Professional Practice and Procedure 1, ARC Web Search; http// firms\types of architectural firms in Nigeria- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.mht