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-chair:  Matt Wingard, AIA and Gary Demele, FAIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: First Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm

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.

Chair: Zoe Yuan, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: Second Thursday of the month at 8:30 am

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: Gerhard Guth, AIA and Scott Anderson, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Second Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm

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: Adam Ariano, AIA, and Ligeia Cholensky, Allied Member, AIA Minnesota
Co-chair Elect: Rebecca Muchow, AIA
Staff liaison: Chris Hudson and Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: Second Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm at AIA Minnesota

The Committee on the Environment (COTE) 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: Marco Vincent, Assoc. AIA, and Simona Fischer, AIA
Chair-elect: Thea Rozenbergs, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN and Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: Second Friday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm

This committee focuses 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).

Chair: Jennifer Christiaansen, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: Third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am

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.

Chair: Jim Butler, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christianse, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: TBD

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: Daniel Kodet, AIA and Amy Williams, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIAMN
Meeting date: Second Monday of the month, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

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.

Chair: Anastasia Jacklitch, Assoc. AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: First Tuesday of the month at 8:00 am

The ENTER Committee meets monthly to assist the editor in identifying content for upcoming issues, planning publication-sponsored events, and brainstorming ways to promote ENTER and grow its digital and print circulation. The group is composed mostly of AIA members, but it also includes a few landscape architects and marketing specialists.

Co-chairs: Jeff Swiontkowski, AIA, and Amy Nash, Allied AIA
Co-chair elect: Amy Douma, AIA
Staff liaison: Chris Hudson
Meeting date: Third Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm 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:  Elizabeth Turner, AIA and Mark Kalar, AIA
 Co-chair elect: Laurie McGinley, AIA
Staff liaison: Mary-Margaret Zindren, CAE and Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: Third Tuesday of the month at 12:00 pm

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:  Rebecca Lewis, FAIA and Choy Leow, AIA
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: Jeremy Stock, AIA, and Chris Palkowitsch, AIA
Co-chair elect: Ryan Linne, AIA
Staff liaison: Sheri Hansen
Meeting date: First Wednesday of the month at 12:00 pm

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.

Chair: Cheryl Fosdick, Assoc. and Amber Sausen, AIA
Chair-elect: Steve Buetow, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen, Hon. AIA MN and Ann Mayhew
Meeting date: Third Monday of the month at 11:30 am

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: Amy Meller, AIA and Tim Guyette, AIA
Chair-elect: Puneet Vedi, 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.

Co-chairs: Stephan Roos, Allied AIA MN and Katie Kangas, AIA
Co-chair elect: Hans Muessig, Allied AIA MN
Staff liaison: Ann Mayhew
Meeting date: Third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 pm. 

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 and designers 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: Katie Leaf, AIA, Chris Christofferson, AIA and Peter Hagstrom, Allied AIAMN
Co-chair elect: Lance Premeau, Allied AIAMN
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: First Tuesday of the month at 12:00 pm

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: Adam Wilbrecht, AIA and  Brandon Pike, Assoc. AIA
Chair-elect: Rachel Riopel, AIA
Staff liaison: Deanna Christiansen
Meeting date: TBD

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: Jill Vowels, AIA and Mollie O’Connor, AIA
Co-chair elect: Katie Blaisdell, AIA
Staff liaison: Angie McKinley
Meeting date: Second Wednesday of the month at 8:00 am