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60 Years of
Acumen Practice Notes

Barangaroo House | Collins and Turner | Photographer: Rory Gardiner

Celebrating 60 years of Acumen Practice Notes

Our Acumen Practice Notes continue to provide knowledge and engagement to all levels of the profession, from students to experienced practitioners.

This year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Acumen Practice Notes. On this dedicated page, take a look back at a timeline of Acumen’s history, read some member reflections and learn more about this membership benefit.

View the history of Acumen timeline

Your Acumen reflections

For years as a young practitioner I saw the 4 coloured folders in our studio library and didn't know what they were for. They sat there quietly holding their secrets until I pulled them off the shelf and looked at the wonder inside. A repository of all the questions I had, a way to make the profession more professional!
Tristrim Cummings
I had access to Acumen notes during my graduate years. These notes were paper printouts on a wall in my old workplace. They were beneficial to me when I was preparing for the architect registration exam. Additionally, the EDG environment notes provided me with knowledge of sustainable design. I feel privileged to be part of the Environment Advisory Group. These resources are incredibly valuable for anyone who wishes to gain a good understanding of the architectural field. I would like to wish Acumen a happy 60th birthday and thank the Australian Institute of Architects for providing trusted resources for architectural practices for decades.
Shanica Saenrak Hall
I still have, on a shelf beside me, RAIA, 'Advisory Notes' Practice Services Folders, Numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4! Invaluable they were as today's Acumen - To me an essential series of documents for EVERY practice.
Dennis Carter LFRAIA
During my time as a content review panel member, there were a couple of months in 2021 where all members were female!...During most of my time, the majority of members were female, juggling full time work in a small or large practice, and family commitments. I was very impressed with the dedication of these members. This is worth celebrating! Particularly during International Women's Day month.
Luisa Manfredini
After many years as an architect and lecturer at TAFE and UTS [I] was appointed to the National Practice committee which I attended 4-5 times a year, for up to 3 days, and from 2000 to the National Contracts Committee. It was enlightening to follow the pathway for final publication of a practice note. Even the best of submissions would take months/years to get through. It was the first time I had seen a detailed recording of each editorial detail being issued to all the national members in writing (some of the meeting notes were over 200-300 pages in length), then debated, and finally published.
David Springett
Acumen is a brilliant resource.
Kathlyn Loseby
I found that reading all the Practice Notes, [was] one of the best ways to prepare for the ARBV examinations almost 40 years ago. I still give that advice to graduates who are working towards their own registrations.
Paul Di Nello
I recall my first interaction with Acumen Practice Notes was in the early 2000s at the university’s resource centre when completing the Professional Practice units, that years later, I would come back to tutor for a brief stint. I first accessed the notes via physical folders prior to investing in a CD-ROM version in the fifth year of the architecture course. My favourite notes, particularly accessed when studying for the APE registration exams and later when directing other graduates during my time as a PALS tutor, are the guidance letters... Other favourites are the ones that I have been involved in updating during my time working with the Institute: Gender Equity and Contract Administration notes (in particular notes relating to the ABIC contracts). The notes are a valuable resource to students, graduates, architects and academics.
Beata Davey
As a student, it was my job to circulate the new Practice Notes to staff, and then to file them in the binders. It took me a while to realise that they were colour coded, and organised by topic. Scanning through the new notes was a good introduction to what was changing, as well as the gravity of the 'practice of architecture' in our profession.
Institute member
I remember back in about 2000 the Practice Notes were hard copies in coloured folders, and when updates were received from the [Institute] (previously RAIA), it took some time to remove/update the superseded notes - it was quite a task, and you had to take care, as others in the practice were relying on the notes being current.
Scott Hardcastle
The first time I heard about Acumen I was impressed with the concept. I had never seen anything like it before overseas, and I thought it was a mature approach to capture various elements of our complex profession. As I read through the notes I realised that the topics were diverse and helpful, and I appreciated the time and effort that was clearly put into it by many people over time. A few years later I joined the Acumen Content Review Panel to do my part in enhancing this valuable tool.
Daniel Trevino
Acumen was fundamental to practice subjects at university. Real practice examples were sobering to a young student and has led to a reliance on the Practice Notes when in doubt.
Institute member
The offices I worked for in the 80s and 90s had binders with the Practice Notes. The graduates who sought registration referred to the notes as they prepared for the exam.
Nicholas Brown
I utilised Acumen during my early years as a technician to gain insight into the field of architecture. The aspects that captivated me the most were related to fee management, fee setting, and shop drawing review. From then on, I have incorporated the provided phrasing as a PDF stamp for every shop drawing I review.
Sander de Vries
I think Acumen has come a long way since the Practice Notes of the past. They are very searchable, and the breadth of topic and usefulness has increased manifold. I haven't been able to get through them all but I think many still follow the logic and the intent of the practice notes so there is still continuity of sorts... I hope some of the detail experiences and requests from [Senior Councellors] can serve to prompt meaningful updates to the series.
Institute Senior Councellor
...When studying for registration, my colleagues and I had a study group. Once, two of us were on our way to study over lunch, got stuck in the lift, so we spread out our notes across the lift floor, and kept reading and testing each other, until the lift started moving again - I know it wasn't that long, but it was long enough.
Matt Devine
The original arrangement with mail outs and folders was a great resource.
Graham Betts
Doing uni assignments - I thought they were so tedious - but then when I went into the workplace I saw all the referenced elements actually in practice and I realised how relevant and useful they were. I then quite enjoyed studying them for registration as I could see the things they talked about happening at my work.
Institute member
I found the Acumen notes to be a really important resource whilst completing assignments and essays; from using it to learn about contracts and procurement to fees and business structures/planning. To all architecture students in Australia, I would highly recommend using the platform whilst studying and as you enter the industry.
Blake Hillebrand
If you don't know where to start, or want a head start on learning the lingo and standards used in practice then I can easily recommend Acumen with two thumbs up. It's an extremely useful resource used by industry which allows everyone to have a standardised knowledge base.
Liam Leblond
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ACUMEN

Predecessor notes are published in the RAIA yearbook

The first recorded publication of practice notes for Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) members was prepared by the NSW chapter. Notes included Engagement Contract between Client and Architect, A Form of Agreement Between Client and Architect, Advice to Tenderers, and Standard method for the Cubing of Buildings.

Image. 1959 to 1960 Yearbook cover page and page from A Form of Agreement Between Client and Architect.

1959 to 1960
A practice group of Victorian practices is formed to provide mutual support and advice in practice matters

A practice group of Victorian practices was formed by Sir Osborn McCutcheon of Bates Smart McCutcheon in response to ‘a study of the effects of government initiatives on architectural practice, arising from the then proposed Australian Universities Commission. This particular study led to the conclusion that many architects’ offices had common problems which could and should be solved, or at least studied, collectively.’ (The Arbitrator 1986)

Image. A model of ICI House by Bates Smart McCutcheon (ArchitectureAU 2018)

1962
Practice Services is established by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects and the publication of Practice Notes commences

The publication of Practice Notes began immediately and was soon followed by notes on topics such as management, law and cautionary notes, along with reports and dissertations. The practice group transformed from an informal and private organisation to a formal part of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, led by Richard Butterworth.

Image. Richard Butterworth (ArchitectureAU 2000)

1964
RAIA Practice Division is formed

‘In 1970, the RAIA adopted its present structure, with functional Divisions, and in 1971 the RAIA Practice Division was formed as the first of those Divisions, with Richard Butterworth as the first Director.’ (The Arbitrator 1986)

Image. 30 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne. In 1978, the National Practice Division was located in this building.

1971
The National Practice Committee is supported by Practice Committees in each Chapter

'Practice Notes were drafted by Practice Committee members or their state members, or [the Practice Division], then circulated for comment and given approval for publication at a quarterly meeting of the Practice Committee, usually in Melbourne…Once approved…they were printed on a little off-set printer….and it was all hands to the plough to collate, staple and mail the notes to the subscribers’ (Lothian 2024).

Image. NPC circa 1980s, Sydney (Image: Margo J. Photographics) (click to enlarge image)

1970s to 2000s
Practice notes become ‘Advisory Notes’ and the four volume hard-bound coloured folder set is established

The Practice Notes were reviewed and reordered under the new collective name ‘Advisory Notes’, comprising around 550 notes. The notes were printed and organised into the recognisable hard-bound coloured folder set.

Image. Advisory Notes coloured folder set

1996 to 2009 (approx.)
CD-ROM version of the Advisory Notes is made available alongside the hard-bound coloured folder set

In 2005, there were over 500 notes in a full set. The Association of Consulting Architects (ACA) sponsored the RAIA Practice Notes from 1999 to approx. 2009, noting the ‘ACA supports RAIA Practice Services, recognising that it is an invaluable resource in the successful practice of architecture. The RAIA Advisory Notes on CD are proudly sponsored by ACA’.

Image. Advisory Notes CD-ROM 2006 

2000 to 2009
Practice of Architecture Learning Series (PALS) commences

The Practice Notes became an included benefit of the PALS program with Acumen notes forming an ongoing part of the PALS reading material.

Image. Current PALS banner

2001 (approx.)

Acumen launches as an online platform based on the Advisory Notes

In June 2014, there were 1264 individual notes published on Acumen. The original notes were divided over different notes to accommodate the new digital format.

Image. Original Acumen logo

2009 to 2018
The Acumen Content Review Panel (ACRP) is formed and has its inaugural meeting

Since its inaugural meeting, there have been 20 members of the ACRP from Feb 2014 to Feb 2024 inclusive. See Acumen Acknowledgements page for full list of ACRP members.

2014
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Australian Institute of Architects and the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) is established

The MoU enabled Acumen access to newly registered non-member architects within given years. The MoU facilitated a commitment to the development of a new Acumen platform and establishment of dedicated Acumen editor role.

Image. ARBV logo

2017 to 2019
Revised Acumen website is launched in April 2018

The design of the current Acumen website was established, with four main sections – Practice, Project, Resources and Environment.

Image. Screenshot from current Acumen website

2018 to current
Revised Acumen website is launched in April 2018

A separate subscription for non A+ members is no longer required for access to Acumen.

2018
Environment is introduced into Acumen, incorporating the Environment notes

Environment notes (previously the online Environment Design Guide (EDG)) is incorporated into Acumen in December 2018. See more about the history of Environment here.

Image. Original EDG branding and current Environment logo

2018
Acumen is available to all members

Acumen is made available to all members (including Affiliate members) as a membership benefit. 

2023
The Acumen Content Review Panel (ACRP) celebrates 10 years

The ACRP celebrates 10 years as an Australian Institute of Architects national committee, tasked to develop and maintain the accuracy, currency and quality of the Acumen Practice Notes.

Image. The ACRP over the years (click to enlarge image)

2024
60 years of Acumen

The Australian Institute of Architects celebrates 60 years of the Acumen Practice Notes.

Image. Dedicated 60 year Acumen logo

2024

References: 

ArchitectureAU 2000 – Obituary: Architecture Australia, July 2000

ArchitectureAU 2018 – Australia’s first skyscraper turns 60

The Arbitrator 1986 – ‘Richard Butterworth Awarded High Honour’, August 1986

Lothian 2024 – Marg Lothian, former Legal Officer, Director of the RAIA Practice Division, between 1986 and 1989

*This timeline has been complied to the best of knowledge, input and available resources.

Membership benefit

Acumen Practice Notes is an online resource of architectural practice material, providing an extensive database of advisory notes on managing architectural practice and projects in Australia.

The Practice Notes are continuously updated with new and revised notes, informed by the Acumen Content Review Panel and Environment Advisory Group, and include downloadable resources such as the ABIC reference contracts (as applicable to all states and territories), digital versions of the Institute’s Client Architect Agreement and the Client Architect Agreement for Limited Services, Guide letters, Client information notes and Case studies.

Acumen covers the primary streams: Practice, Project, Resource and Environment.

Acumen is an included membership benefit.

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