Looking Forward – The Institute of Cayman Islands Architects (ICIA)
Cindy O’Hara, Chairman of the ICIA, presenting Brian Macdonald of Design (Cayman) Limited (and Treasurer of the ICIA), with his registration membership certificate.
Cindy O’Hara, in her manifesto on the purpose of Architecture, states:
“Whatever its relationship to the past or present, its prime duty is to look forward, to construct new relationships between what exists and what can come into being”
During 2020 a group of leading Architects in the Cayman Islands, recognised it was time to “Look Forward” and came together to establish The Institute of Cayman Islands Architects (ICIA).
Core professions in the building design and construction industry, notably architecture and engineering, are regulated globally to ensure minimum standards of competency, professional qualifications and adherence to ongoing standards of continuing professional development.
Through the ICIA, as the registration body for Architectural professionals in the Cayman Islands, our Cayman community will have the assurance of the highest quality of Architectural services, standards, and professionalism, Cayman has to offer.
In addition, the ICIA will provide tools and opportunities not only for Architectural professionals but the opportunity for the public and young Caymanians to develop their Architectural interests and understanding of the value of the profession within the Cayman built environment.
Design (Cayman) Limited are proud to be founding members and look forward to actively supporting the ambitions of the Institute.
Whilst the ICIA website is under development (for launch later this year), should you wish to learn more, please contact either Brian MacDonald or Cindy O’Hara.
The ICIA will aim to promote;
Accountability – building design standards are currently administered exclusively by the Central Planning Authority. While responsibilities are shared under principles of common law with the design professionals operating in the jurisdiction without any formal constitution of these professions, an unnecessary burden of liability is placed on the CIG. Architects undertake to perform professional services only when they, together with those whom they may engage as consultants, are qualified by education, training, and/or experience in the specific technical areas involved.
Expertise – The process of architectural education, training, and examination is structured to assure the public that when an architect is engaged to perform professional services, that architect has met acceptable standards enabling the proper performance of those services.
Autonomy – Architects provide objective expert advice to the client and/or users. Architects are charged to uphold the ideal that learned and uncompromised professional judgment should take precedence over any other motive in the pursuit of the art and science of architecture.
Commitment – Architects bring a high level of selfless dedication to the work done on behalf of their clients and society.
The ICIA’s primary goals are to Unite and Support by encouraging cooperation between all members working within the architectural drafting, design and professional fields, to develop a more collegiate approach and increase our advocacy of good architecture and how it matters to everyone.
