August 2024 Chapter Leader of the Month: Jack Christie

As an AIAS Chapter President, much of the work I have guided in my Chapter falls into three buckets.

Learning from past architectural successes, as well as failures, can be seen as one of the keys to creating buildings fit for the next generation. This past year I led the Alfred State Chapter on its first-ever international trip to Montreal where my fellow students and I were able to learn from radical architectural ideas from the 1967 World’s Fair through buildings like Habitat 67 by Moshe Safdie. This trip was an incredible learning experience for the Chapter both in terms of organization and architectural design. Just as importantly, the trip created a fantastic group dynamic that brought together first through fifth-year students to forge professional relationships that will serve all of us in our education and future careers.

Future architects need to understand how the architecture profession is evolving and, in many cases, the practice of architecture changes faster than the education of architecture. During the past year, the Alfred State Chapter hosted the Economics of Architecture event. This panel-style event brought together the three key parties of an architectural project (architects, owners, and contractors) to discuss how to work together better to build a more efficient system to deliver buildings.

Thinking about your last day on your first day and how to transition your responsibility is a powerful way to guide career decision-making. Over the past year, the Alfred State AIAS Chapter has made incredible progress in growing our relationship with the AIA Rochester Chapter. I have worked closely with our professional counterparts to set up firm tours, career fair visits, and collaborative events with the goal of opening lines of communication for future employment and showing that as future architects we are ready to transition into our careers.

All of the events, mentorship, and travel that my Chapter has been able to accomplish over the past year are due to the countless hours my amazing board has dedicated to shaping what it means to be a future leader in architecture.