by Douglas L Steidl, FAIA
AIA President

Nearly 150 years ago, 13 men met in New York City to change the practice of architecture. They made a solemn commitment to formalize professional education, share their knowledge through libraries and learned journals, raise the standards by which we practice, and burnish the reputation of the profession as standard bearers of innovation, service, and excellence. Amazingly, they succeeded. They created a profession that provides value to clients and earns a living for those who practice the art and science of architecture.

Today’s AIA still protects and promotes the business of architecture. Today’s AIA still works to insure that laws and regulatory procedures treat the profession fairly, that the business of architecture is conducted transparently and impartially through the use of industry-standard AIA contract documents that impartially represent the interest of all parties, that the public and clients understand the broad and expanding range of our services, and that timely knowledge critical to the efficient practice of a creative and rapidly changing profession is not only developed, but also shared.

However, our work fills a far larger canvas than practice-related issues. It stretches beyond our offices, beyond the communities in which we practice, even beyond the nation in which we live as citizens. What we do touches the world. It embraces all mankind. My pledge to you is that I will be president of an honored professional society that serves both the architect and the citizen. We will honor our obligations to both.

Big Picture stance
Last September, the AIA Board voted unanimously and with fantastic enthusiasm to partner with the Enterprise Foundation to define, evaluate, and facilitate the design and construction of half a billion dollars worth of “green,” affordable housing communities. This sort of bold action has not always been typical of the AIA. But it is certainly indicative of the Big Picture stance increasingly characteristic of today’s AIA. It reflects a broadly shared commitment to translate words into action when we talk about serving our clients and society.

This is just a beginning. I pledge to you to extend the grasp of our vision and to explore, with your help, ways to take action that reflect our values.

When a conflict arises between what we value and a potential benefit to the organization, I will choose values. I ask that each of us take on that commitment within our own firms. Our ability to make a positive difference depends on our serving the public’s interest first as honest advisors and advocates.

Former Supreme Court Justice Brandeis once said: “A profession is an occupation primarily in service to others.” Barry Posner, dean of the business school at Santa Clara University and a former public director on the national AIA Board, put it even more strongly. He challenged us to be guided by what he called our “moral obligation as architects.”

Stewardship: Our moral compass
What is our “moral obligation”? Stewardship. To be a good steward is to be accountable for all we have been given as architects and as citizens of this unique planet. Accepting accountability for how we use our training and our talent, and how we relate to others is what nourishes our values. Stewardship is our moral compass. It guides us in many ways:

• If we truly love our profession, we are good stewards for those who will come after us. We accept our accountability to future generations of architects by being mentors and role models.
• Since our work literally shapes the face of the land, we are called upon to be faithful stewards of the fragile beauty of this planet. We are accountable for how this planet’s resources are allocated and how life will be meaningful in the future.
• Because our work results in community, we are accountable for the quality of life where we live and practice. To be truly accountable, we must design projects that elevate and enrich the quality of life. We must be engaged with our neighbors in leading conversations whose outcome will guide how our communities grow and how they facilitate positive social relationships.

Some, including architects, see the AIA as primarily self-serving. They criticize it for being, as they see it, hardly more than a trade organization dedicated to a narrow agenda of self service and self interest. This is not the organization I joined. It’s not the organization I serve. And it certainly is not the organization I will lead in the months ahead.

Service is the true measure
I believe in an AIA that serves its members. But service to society, the true measure of stewardship, must be foremost in our vision. If we serve society well, we will be valued and we as a profession will flourish. On the other hand, if we put selfish interests first, we will squander our legacy and lose our capacity to lead significant change.

What is in our hearts—our motives—are readable by the public. Our motives are the foundation of our reputation, and our reputation is what gains us access to the public trust.

Architects are blessed by the talents we’ve been given, the skills we are taught, and the opportunities to serve that come naturally with the territory of the profession. We’re trained to envision what is not yet there, to pull ideas from a client, and flesh them out for all to see. We’re trained to imagine the shape of visions, which others can only feel as needs. That power must be used to help our clients and the public articulate a vision and then, together, help turn that vision into reality. It is our obligation to build a better future, a better future for all people.

That is the full measure of our stewardship. This is the obligation and opportunity that are conveyed with the title “architect.”

Let us joyfully and unselfishly help build safe, healthy, and sustainable communities for future generations. We have a responsibility to the future. It is in our hands. And I invite each AIA member to join me in service to our profession and all the peoples of this world. Service is not only our legacy; it is our destiny as members of the American Institute of Architects.

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