DIFINITION OF ARCHITECT

Architect is a word with a specific definition; the word is defined as "a person who designs buildings and supervises their construction" but is also defined as "any builder or planner" in Websters new world dictionary.
For Mr. Gates to use the word to describe himself and his role at Microsoft is appropriate use of the English language. It is generally the intent of the law however that regulates the practice of Architecture in the US to reserve the word "Architect" for the use of individuals who practice Architecture, defined as "the art or science and profession or "trade" of designing & constructing buildings".
The real issue is not with Mr. Gates but rather with the large number of unqualified, unlicensed and unexamined persons in the US that earn their living through "the art, science and profession of designing & constructing buildings". Such parishioners are bad for the profession of architecture and our built environment.
Such common design activity by the unqualified, unexamined and unlicensed "building designer" is openly supported in this nation by the construction industry, and such practice is very serious since it affects directly the practice of architecture, allowing lay people who have no architectural qualifications, to masquerade as persons with “architectural expertise".
Our building departments must stop permitting projects by such persons. Our cities are smothered with the enduring consequences of permitting this particular "fraud" to come to form.
The unqualified, unexamined and unlicensed certainly have no business passing judgments and approvals on professional work, or designing, or permitting, or constructing buildings without a licensed professional appropriately involved in the role to protect the public welfare. That is after all the purpose that license law for architects was created.
The AIA should communicate a clear position on this matter & take serious action regarding such practice and related persons, the AIA should communicate its concerns and interests to the state licensing boards and through them to the building departments. We should stop such practice of slipping around the intent of the law. We should require an Architects stamp on all technical submissions nation wide on every building permitted and constructed.