Committees & Knowledge Communities

The Architect Licensing Advisory Committee’s task is to be remain up to date on current requirements for becoming licensed in the state of Minnesota and to assist Associate members complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP, formerly known as IDP) and prepare for taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

Co-chairs: Jeremy Van Minsel, AIA and Kyle Bauman-Burr, Assoc. AIA
C0-chair elect: Matt Wingard, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: First Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

The Architecture in the Schools Committee works to create ties to the K-12 education community, brings architectural ideas and concepts into the classroom, and develops educational materials.

Co-chairs: Kelly Martinez, AIA, and Angela Wolf Scott, AIA
Co-chair elect: Sarah Lembke, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: Second Thursday of the month at 8:30 am at AIA Minnesota

The Architecture MN Committee meets monthly to assist the editor in identifying content for upcoming issues, planning the magazine’s annual Videotect video competition and other magazine-sponsored events, and brainstorming ways to promote the magazine and grow its circulation. The group is composed mostly of AIA members, but it also includes a few landscape architects and marketing specialists.

Co-chairs: Edward Eichten, AIA and Dan Yudchitz, AIA
Co-chair elect: Monica Hartberg, AIA
Staff liaison: Chris Hudson
Meeting date: Third Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

Do you want to know what’s happening with codes, have an impact in shaping code changes, or help to promote the statewide enforcement of codes? This knowledge community provides a great opportunity to do just that.

Co-chairs: Scott Anderson, AIA and Mark Haugen, Assoc. AIA
Co-chair elect: Gerhard Guth, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Second Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

Award-winning architecture, architects, and collaborative efforts are the focus of this committee. Juries are selected, criteria is evaluated, and talent is recognized through Honor Awards, Special Awards, Young Architects Awards, 25 Year Award, Louis Lundgren Award, Gold Medal, Firm Award and the Affordable Housing Design Award.

Co-chairs:  Nate Steuerwald, AIA and Samantha Turnock Mendiola, AIA
Staff liaison: Chris Hudson and Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: Second Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

This new committee will focus on diversity, inclusion and equity, with particular (but not exclusive) emphasis on diversity of gender and race/color/ethnicity (the areas where it is well documented that the demographic makeup of the profession of architecture does not reflect the demographic makeup of the population of Minnesota).

Co-chairs:  Anna Pravinata, AIA, and Rachel Usher, AIA
Co-chair elect: Jennifer Christiaansen, AIA
Staff liaison: Mary-Margaret Zindren
Meeting date: First Friday of the month at 8:30 am at AIA Minnesota

AIA Minnesota’s mission for continuing education is to produce high-quality, affordable programs offered regularly throughout the year. Topics are selected and developed by architects in order to address timely issues and to meet the diverse needs of our members. This task is accomplished through our Conference Continuing Education Committee.

Co-chairs: Catherine Britt, AIA and Sarah St. Louis, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christianse, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Friday’s (March-September) at 8:00 am at AIA Minnesota

The Council of Firms Knowledge Community provides a forum for firm owners and principals to advance the profession and their own practices through collegial sharing of ideas, knowledge, and best practices. The hour-and-a-half discussions generally focus on a particular challenge for architecture firms and are sometimes sparked by a presentation by an industry partner or other special guest.

Co-chairs: Mary Shaffer, AIA and Scott Neal, AIA
Co-chair elect: Daniel Kodet, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Second Monday of the month, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Locations vary.

The Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC) provides an open forum for architecture professionals at the early stages of their careers to engage and connect through networking, leadership, and professional development. It also actively reaches out to architecture students in the state.

Co-chairs: Nickisha Benjamin, AIA and Molly Ellis, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: First Tuesday of the month at 7:30 am at AIA Minnesota

American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society. AIA Minnesota is the voice of the architecture profession dedicated to: serving its members; advancing their value; and improving the quality of the built environment

Co-chairs:  Ann Voda, AIA and Bob Shaffer, AIA
Staff liaison: Mary-Margaret Zindren, CAE and Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: First Monday of the month at 4:00 pm at AIA Minnesota Boardroom

The goal of this knowledge community is to provide a network of individuals engaged in healthcare design for the purpose of sharing knowledge, and to establish a regional presence for the Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH).

Co-chairs:  Jim Lammers, FAIA and Kristen Staloch, Assoc. AIA
Co-chair elect: Rebecca Lewis, FAIA
Staff Liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMNM
Meeting date: Last Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm at various locations. No meetings scheduled in June, July, August, November and December.

The Housing Advocacy Committee (HAC) addresses affordable housing and homelessness in the state of Minnesota. Architects can play a key role in resolving these social problems by joining this committee. They may also assist in planning and participating in our annual Search for Shelter Design charrette, held each February, to benefit local housing agencies, along with other committee activities.

Co-chairs: Andrew Jacot, Assoc. AIA and Matt Finn, AIA
Staff liaison: Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: First Tuesday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

The Knowledge Community on the Environment (kCOTE) works to advance, disseminate, and advocate — to the profession, the building industry, the academy, and the public — design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment. COTE serves as the community for and voice on behalf of AIA architects regarding sustainable design and building science and performance.

Co-chairs: Michael Refsland, AIA and Alan D’Souza, AIA
Co-chair elect: Marco Vincent, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN 
Meeting date: Second Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 9:00 am at AIA Minnesota

The Lake Superior Design Retreat (LSDR) is an annual winter weekend design conference in Duluth, MN. Architects and others interested in design gather together at Fitgers Inn to explore the corners of design with six invited design professionals who share their passion for their art and/or craft and discuss their creative stories.

Co-chairs: Duane Johnson, AIA and Dave Morck, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIA MN
Meeting date: Third Monday of the month at 11:30 am at AIA Minnesota

The Leadership Forum Committee’s task is to develop an annual six-session forum for a small group of mid-career member architects. The goal is to focus on strengthening their leadership skills in the areas of communication, ethics, motivation, community outreach, and mentorship.

Co-Chairs: Steven Wolf, AIA and Amy Meller, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Meetings scheduled as needed

Make a difference in rural Minnesota communities by volunteering with the Minnesota Design Team (MDT), which organizes multidisciplinary teams to visit small towns in the state of Minnesota. MDT researches the community’s needs and recruits a variety of design professionals to assist the town in improving their built environment.

Chair: John Workman
Staff liaison: Mary-Margaret Zindren, CAE
Meeting date: Second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

This committee’s purpose is to serve as volunteer partners in conducting primary and secondary research on issues of significant concern to the Board of Directors of AIA Minnesota, in conjunction with staff and additional committees as appropriate, and within the constraints of staffing and budgetary resources, as communicated by the Executive Vice President. The Committee’s purpose is primarily programmatic in nature (directly involved in the work of implementing AIA Minnesota programs and services, rather than advisory or governance in nature).

Co-chairs: TBD
Staff liaison: Mary-Margaret Zindren
Meeting date: TBD

This group of architects meets to discuss issues and challenges specific to residential firms. The committee plans and organizes the Homes by Architects Tour as well as other awards and programming that serve as outreach tools to the public.

Co-chairs: Gabriel Keller, Assoc. AIA and Greg Kraus, Assoc. AIA
Co-chair elect: Chris Christofferson, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: First Tuesday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

The Technology in Architecture Practice Knowledge Community meets to discuss the impact of technology on the architectural profession with a cross-disciplinary mix of architects, contractors, educators, lawyers, and manufacturers.

Co-chairs: Mike Engel, Assoc. AIA and Adam Wilbrecht, AIA
Co-chair elect: Brandon Pike, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen
Meeting date: Starting in February 2019, this group will meet on the third Thursday every other month at 5:00 PM. Locations will change each meeting. 

This new committee, started in 2014, has formed to promote a strong future for the architecture profession by advocating for women in architecture through recognition, networking, professional development, and mentorship.

Co-chairs: Katie Pope, AIA and Heather Whalen, AIA
Co-chair elect: Jill Vowels, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: Second Wednesday of the month at 8:00 am at AIA Minnesota