Ohio Architects Board Executive Director, Amy Kobe, testified Tuesday on SB 183 which would re-position a grandfather exemption from the requirements of the Architects Law granted to certain corporations.  She explained that a prominent Columbus architectural firm that was grandfathered under original firm ownership legislation in 1982 is currently operating under the leadership of a person who is not a licensed architect.

“In 2008, three complaints, by both clients and contractors, were made to the board about this unlicensed individual practicing architecture,” Kobe said, noting the owner subsequently pointed out to her that “the firm in question is not only exempt from the firm certificate of authorization requirements, but was also exempt, entirely, from the board’s jurisdiction.”

She said, having talked with a living member of the board from 1983, that this outcome was not the intent of the grandfather clause.