The Architectural Profession - Roles, Responsibilities and Challenges of the FutureDifficult Times for the ArchitectIntroductionThe last few years have been difficult for the whole country and in particular for the sector construction and the architectural profession. Challenging times, however, provide an opportunity to reflect and debate what is provided and delivered by the architectural profession. I will briefly discuss how factors such as climate change, technological developments and the economy have impacted the role of the architect. the role and job of an architect is to strive to satisfy a client's aspirations for construction projects employing design and aesthetic principles to meet all functional, financial and technical requirements; that the client's specifications, project objectives and site context are the starting point and inspiration towards the architecture. An architect's skill is to ensure that these ideas and goals are maintained or developed as the project progresses through each stage. Regulatory and legislative frameworks extend the challenge for the architect and for the profession. Architects increasingly have a role to play in combating climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid and significant reductions in global carbon emissions are needed to reduce climate change, with a minimum 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. This is set out in the RIBA Climate Change Policy which adopts the philosophy contraction and convergence. This means reducing (reducing) the emissions of industrialized countries and converging (joining) the emissions of all nations towards...... middle of paper ......tionalbimstandard.org/faq.phphttp://www .bdonline.co.uk/Journals/2012/05/15/d/x/f/BIM_Overlay_RIBA_Plan_of_Work_Embargoed.pdfhttp://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/Practice/RIBAPlanofWork2013Overview.pdf (accessed March 9, 2014)http ://www .bdonline.co.uk/Journals/2012/05/15/d/x/f/BIM_Overlay_RIBA_Plan_of_Work_Embargoed.pdf (accessed March 8, 2014). http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/ Practice/RIBAPlanofWork2013Overview. pdf (accessed March 9, 2014).http://www.citb.co.uk/documents/research/cicprofreport-nomicpers_tcm17-18670.pdf (accessed March 8, 2014)http://www.ribajournal.com/pages /sept_2013__intelligence_employment_and_earnings_220455.cfm (accessed March 8, 2014).http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/News/2011/Willarchitectsexistin2025.aspx.Word Count 1567.