Contact an OAA Practice Advisor by telephone or email for information, guidance, and to discuss issues, questions, and problems. Telephone discussions are encouraged as they allow an open dialogue on issues, and allow for a fuller exchange of information. (If you require accommodations to facilitate communication, please contact us.)
The Practice Hotline service is free and addresses questions related to a wide range of issues pertaining to the architectural profession and to the practice of architecture. The service is used by OAA members and their employees, Intern Architects, clients, building officials, lawyers, procurement departments, contractors, consultants, and other construction-related entities to obtain assistance on various matters ranging from small home additions to multi-million dollar projects.
Become familiar with what a Practice Advisor can assist you with:
- Client and consultant relationships;
- Questions related to membership and opening a practice;
- Clarifications relating to the Architects Act and Regulation 27;
- Key highlights use of available OAA and RAIC documents;
- OAA standard architectural service and consultant agreements;
- Client-authored contracts;
- Requests for bids or proposals for architectural services including RFPs, Vendor of Record lists, and client-authored supplementary conditions;
- Allowable scopes of work;
- Copyright in instruments of service; and
- Statutory holdback, prompt payment, and adjudication (Construction Act).
Note: The OAA's Office of the Registrar is the appropriate source for assistance with the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), licence requirements, issues relating to Certificates of Practice, and filing complaints.
- Projects that require design by an architect;
- Client/architect relationships and possible solutions to difficulties;
- Services offered by members and professional standard of care;
- Architects' role in construction contracts;
- Available OAA and RAIC documents related to finding and contracting for architectural services;
- Selection methods, such as Qualifications Based Selection (QBS);
- How fees are determined;
- Replacing an architect on a project;
- Confirming whether the person you have hired is actually an architect; and
- Ownership of drawings and CAD files.
- Key highlights of available OAA standard contracts, documents, forms, and templates;
- Architects' role in construction contracts;
- RFPs and other means of securing architectural services;
- OAA review of RFPs (before and after being issued) and supplementary conditions for compliance with the Architects Act and Regulation 27;
- Client relationships; and
- Clarifications relating to the Architects Act and Regulation 27.
- Mutual protection of the public interest;
- Clarifications relating to the Architects Act;
- Projects that require design by an architect;
- Professional standard of care;
- Building permit applications;
- New municipal forms; and
- General Review procedures.
If you are a member of the public looking for general information on the OAA, the profession, or architecture, contact the OAA’s Public Outreach Specialist, Cynthia Mykytyshyn.
Effective Interactions with Practice Advisors
Whether you decide to call, email, or leave the Practice Hotline a voicemail, it is helpful to know:
- which type of caller you are (architect, client, building official, etc.);
- your name;
- which practice/authority you are with;
- the best telephone number at which you can be reached;
- in broad terms, the type of concern you want to discuss (e.g. fees,
liabilities, scope of work, taking over a project from someone, or
modular construction);
- what major parameters impact the situation (e.g. project location),
which version of which contract is being used, and whether the Construction Lien Act or the Construction Act applies;
- any other pertinent details.
If you leave a voicemail or send an email, this information helps PAS
prepare to respond, and decide which Practice Advisor may be best
equipped to assist you. In most cases, a Practice Advisor will respond
with a phone call within two or three business days. This enables us to
elicit any missing information, and to address nuances or other related
issues that may not have been considered in your email or voicemail.
There is no need to leave a detailed message, as the information is
likely to be part of the conversation.
Practice Advisors offer possible direction and suggestions based on
the information provided. They will not address technical questions
related to design matters, interpret building code technical provisions,
or make code interpretations.
Disclaimer: The OAA does not provide professional legal, accounting,
or insurance advice, and expressly disclaims any responsibility for any
errors or omissions with respect to discussions regarding same. You are
advised to consult their own legal, accounting, or insurance
representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.