What is the "College of Architects" in Spain?

It is the official body that represents architects in Spain. To work as an architect in Spain you must hold a qualification recognised in Spain and you must be registered at a College. Each region has it own college, SKH are registered with the Catalan College of Architecture, the COAC, in Tarragona as well as the COAA, the Aragonese College of Architects in Zaragoza.

The client does not need to have any dealing with the College directly, but it is worth knowing that the College is responsible for the process of 'visado' whereby it is accepting a share of the responsibility that the project produced by your architect is according to Spanish regulations. Before plans are submitted to a Town Hall in order to apply for planning permission, they must pass through the College in order to obtain this official approval. Colleges of Architects are therefore indirectly involved in the process of obtaining a Licencia de Obras, as well as in the process of the Final de Obra, when they approve the documentation which allows the developer to register and 'legalise' the construction.