On becoming a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects

I've been made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects! I get to put some fancy letters behind my name!

If you're not in the profession, the letters FRAIA probably don't mean much, so here's the short version. Fellowship is one of the highest grades of membership the Institute offers. It isn't an award for a single building. It recognises a contribution to the profession over time, both inside practice and beyond it. That can mean design work, mentoring, advocacy, education, research, writing, serving on boards, or community work that improves the built environment.

The usual guideline is at least 12 years as a member. I'm not quite there yet, and the committee chose to use its discretion. I'm genuinely humbled by that, and very grateful to the NSW Recognition Committee for putting me forward.

None of this was done alone. I learned most of what I know about how buildings actually perform from nearly a decade at Light House Architecture and Science. Since then, the work has been shaped by our clients, our builders and consultants, and the communities of south-west NSW and the Victorian High Country, who have trusted a small regional practice with their homes and engaged with us so collaboratively.

My focus at Cooee for the next few years is for Ella and me to continue working closely and thoroughly with a small group of clients, while filtering what we know to a drastically larger audience through online resources, regional events, publications, podcasts, and social media. The latter part of that mission often fuels imposter syndrome, and the most important part of this recognition is that it's another vote of encouragement to keep doing what we're doing.

Back to work.

Want to hear some of Sarah’s podcast interviews?

Check out these guest podcast episodes with Sarah.