Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 6: Backlash

Jason Mitchell and Michael Mardis created a controversy with comments they made during an earlier Evolution of an Enterprise entry.

In the Jan. 15 story, “Chapter 3: Opening Day ... Identity Crisis,” Mitchell and Mardis, the owners of design studio theworkshop 308 LLC, said that they could call themselves “architects,” even though they had not been licensed by the state to practice architecture.

Both men are graduates of Drury University’s Hammons School of Architecture and have five years of experience at out-of-state commercial architecture firms. This year, they plan to take the nine licensing tests necessary for becoming architects in Missouri.

“Yeah, there’s kind of a debate that goes on about that,” Mardis said in Chapter 3. “It’s kind of an opinion thing. I think, yeah, we’re architects. I don’t see any reason why we can’t call ourselves architects. We can’t say we’re licensed architects, but we’re architects.”

That comment was partly why the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects received phone calls from concerned architects.

“There is no debate about the use of the title ‘architect,’” said Charles Hill, one of 13 board members. “It’s the law. It’s illegal for anyone to use that title if they’re not registered. That’s done to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Missouri.”

Hill, also president of Springfield architecture and engineering firm Gaskin Hill Norcross of Missouri Inc., wouldn’t say how many unhappy calls the board received, citing confidentiality restrictions. He said no formal complaint had been filed.

Mitchell and Hill talked after the board started receiving calls, and Hill, who is a former Hammons School of Architecture professor, characterized the conversation as informational in nature.

“I suggested to Mr. Mitchell that he get a copy of the law and read it very carefully,” Hill said, referring to Chapter 327 of Missouri’s revised statutes.

“As far as any concerns we had with them, it’s resolved,” he added.

Mitchell agreed.

“There is no problem,” he said, noting that perhaps the duo didn’t clearly communicate their position during the interview with Springfield Business Journal. “We represent ourselves as residential and furniture designers. That’s it.”

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