The Value of Architecture: A Confident & Collective Future
by Jennifer Christiaansen, AIA, AIA Minnesota President
Hello AIA Minnesota members!
As we continue our focus on Connection, Advocacy, and Value, I’d like to share some thoughts on how we, as AIA Minnesota members, can reframe the vital value architecture provides.
I’m going to make a bold statement: as architects, we live in the grey area between altruism and egoism. On one hand, we are selfless—we care deeply about our communities and often sacrifice time and fair compensation to ensure that our designs thoughtfully shape physical spaces that impact those communities. On the other hand, we are proud of this, almost to a fault. Our profession historically celebrates individual “creative genius” and the ensuing fame and recognition—sometimes over the pursuit of balance and fair pay.
What I believe will serve our profession best is to boldly move away from the past and into a new, confident and collective way of thinking. We must be certain that architecture is not only about buildings; it is about creating safe and joyful environments that influence how we live, work, and interact. Our work is also critical in sustainability, reflecting cultural identity, and driving healthy urban development. We must be proud that what we provide is not optional—it is absolutely necessary to our communities, and it is difficult to do well. We must advocate for the time required to create meaningful ideas and bring them to life, and for the long-term value such thinking and building provide. We must simultaneously accept that our work is collective, not individual—requiring engagement and co-creation with various voices—and this, too, takes time.
I am confident that design studios that place this confident and collective mindset front and center will flourish.
First, clients understand how critical our services are—when we clearly explain the long-term value of what we provide with the compassion and selflessness that define our profession. Clients respect us and are typically willing to compensate us fairly when we boldly state our value and invite them to co-create. Understanding clients’ limits and aligning with our process in a collaborative manner allows us to be effective with dollars and time, and produce excellent work.
Secondly, when teams see that their creative efforts are valued and their time is protected, they flourish. When architects and designers are not expected to subscribe to the outdated ethos of working unfair hours for inadequate compensation, we all do better. I would argue that creativity increases when our teams are rested, supported, and valued.
Third, when we collectively agree that our value is important, we can participate more deeply and confidently in our communities—not as lone “creative geniuses,” but as collaborators and facilitators of the future. We can be visionaries in service to all, not simply seeking recognition from within our design circles.
This is the ultimate goal: fair fees for hard work so that architects can flourish financially. We must be a profession that values financial stability for one another. If we don’t, we will continue to lose some of the best and brightest talent—individuals who know that fair pay and a balanced life are not negotiable. In fact, fair pay and a balanced life allow for agency—and so the cycle continues. The more we realize we deserve it and receive it, the more we can give back.
I believe in this, and I will continue to advocate tirelessly for our value as architects—as AIA Minnesota President and as a firm leader.
It is an honor to represent AIA Minnesota in 2025—thank you.