作者：洪育成
在AIA（美國建築師協會）訂定的制式合約B172𥚃有特別定義「請照建築師」（Architect of Record）職位。
Agreement Between Owner and Architect for Architect of Record Services
AIA Document B172™–2013 provides the agreement between the owner and the architect of record, an entity who is separate and independent from the program manager and design manager, and who acts as a project specific architect. AIA Document B172–2013 is coordinated for use with AIA Document C171–2013, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Program Manager for use in a Multiple Project Program, and B171™–2013, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Design Manager for use in a Multiple Project Program. The architect of record is responsible for preparation of the construction Document, based on criteria received from the owner in a “transfer package”, and related design and bidding phase services, and administration of the owner/contractor agreement on a project by project basis. AIA Document B172–2013 may also, with some modifications, be appropriate for use in other circumstances where an architect is asked to prepare construction Document based on the preliminary design work of another, and to provide related bidding and contract administration services for a project.
「請照建築師」在美國相當普遍，一個案子由設計建築師Design Architect擔綱設計，由「請照建築師」（Architect of record）負責請照（請照圖說及簽證）。
例如Louis I. Kahn設計的Kimbell Art Museum 就是如此，Louis I. Kahn是設計者，但業主另外找了德州當地建築師Preston M. Geren 作為 Associate Architect，同時也是負責請照簽證的Architect of record。
設計越戰紀念碑的Maya Lin 林櫻是一個有趣的案例，她自己承認她不適合當建築師，所以也沒去拿執照。她的許多案子（包括建築）都是找Architect of Record配合，有趣的是AIA過去在辦一些慈善活動，也常找林櫻一起加入一些著名建築師的行列。這大概是美國這種國家才會有的現象。
AIA對於外國的設計師如Renzo Piano、安藤忠雄、妹島和世等人在美國拿案子作設計頗尊重且禮遇，美國政府建築主管機關認定的是Architect of record （例如紐約的New Museum 和妹島合作的Gensler Architects建築師)的簽證。房子是否符合法規，符合公共安全，簽證建築師要負責，至於業主要找誰簽約做設計，那是業主的權利。
在許多的國際競圖也是依循這樣的規則。例如日本的Tokyo International Forum 當初公佈國際競圖時資格是完開放，任何人（不只是註冊建築師，）或公司都可參加，唯一的要求是拿到競圖之後，一定要找日本當地建築師來配合。
建築是一個複雜且需要團隊合作的專業，不再是像過去那樣一個人可以獨挑大樑。大型的公司像是Ove Arup，有時當配角，有時當主角，有時當顅問。建築的團隊合作及整合是在國際舞台競爭中非常重要的。台灣人過去比較習慣是單打獨鬥，但是團隊合作及整合的概念是必需且要學習的，才能在國際舞台有競爭力。