Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2026-29

Mission

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Louis is the voice of the architectural profession, dedicated to serving its members, advancing their value, and improving the quality of the built environment. AIA St. Louis provides services and fellowship to the architectural profession and eastern Missouri. 

Objective 1.1: Evaluate and align the benefits of membership to ensure that they offer value to our members and evaluate member retention and satisfaction.

Objective 1.2: Identify key messages to communicate to AIA members and other architects; allied professions; and others that could benefit from the chapter’s offerings about the value of AIA membership.

Objective 1.3: Develop strategies to communicate the value of membership at programs/events and through social media, as well as promoting AIA as a leader in design and architecture.

Objective 1.4: Develop a program to target prospective members, orient, and welcome them when they join.

Objective 1.5: Position AIA St. Louis and its members as a valuable resource for the general public.

Objective 2.1: In consultation with chapter members, leaders, and partners, develop and implement outreach and programming that would appeal to a wider group of participants.

Objective 2.2: Develop strategies that support women architects to stay engaged, seek leadership opportunities in their careers and remain in the profession.

Objective 2.3: Increase membership of BIPOC architects in AIA St. Louis.

Objective 2.4: Create opportunities to engage young architects and emerging leaders through programming, targeted development efforts and outreach.

Objective 2.5: Increase diversity in the profession through outreach to K-12 students. Help them see pathways to architecture as a career utilizing current committee and program efforts to reach students in the urban core.

Objective 3.1: Continue to support training and programs that address the Chapter’s diversity and inclusion objectives. 

Objective 3.2: Adjust AIA’s programming to respond to members’ interests and needs, including advancement within the profession and opportunities for networking with colleagues.

Objective 3.3: Continue to support leadership development program (CKLDP) and explore additional programs to support emerging leaders.

Objective 3.4: Maximize the use of technology to deliver programming, including more effective communications with members and assets such as the website.

Objective 3.5: Identify ways to collaborate on professional development and programming with member firms and other organizations and including public awareness activities.

Objective 3.6: Analyze utility of The Resource Center (TRC) and Bookstore in the future of AIA St. Louis.

Objective 3.7: Evaluate program and membership costs to ensure this is not a barrier for attendance and explore strategies for addressing costs if necessary.

Objective 3.8: Consider ways to influence state and local/municipal policy.

Objective 4.1: Develop a financial model and plan to generate non-dues revenue for the Chapter.

Objective 4.2: Reconsider use and function of existing space assets of the Chapter and consider opportunities that alternate Chapter office locations could hold.

Objective 5.1: Assess the role of the board and all committees to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, to avoid duplication of efforts, and to encourage collaboration among volunteer leaders.

Objective 5.2: Determine staffing and volunteer needs to implement the plan, including Involvement of member firms, committee members, and others who have expertise that can benefit our AIA members.

Objective 5.3: Develop a strategy for succession planning throughout the organization, particularly to prepare for the transition of the Executive Director and other volunteer leadership roles.

Objective 5.4: Consider expanding role of nominations committee to recruit committee leaders and codify the committee’s role in Chapter Policies.

Objective 5.5: Prioritize staff training to maximize effectiveness as professional resource to members and the public.

Objective 6.1: Integrate and operationalize climate action across all committees and programming:

• Develop a climate action plan. Embed measurable climate goals into committee missions and events.

Objective 6.2: Encourage and support member firms to become signatories to AIA’s Climate Action strategy: the AIA Materials Pledge and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Objective 6.3:  Advance Competency in Carbon Literacy and the Framework for Design Excellence:

• Require that at least 50% of annual continuing education directly strengthens members’ fluency in carbon, energy, materials, health and wellness, and resilience metrics, with annual tracking.
•  Integrate AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence as a standard professional lens across all programming by labeling sessions according to the Framework’s measures and providing guidance to program organizers to ensure alignment and consistency.

Objective 6.4: Fully integrate climate action and design excellence requirements into the Design Awards program.

Objective 6.5bFoster engagement and knowledge sharing for members and member firms to share their policies, work, and expertise that exemplify climate action and resilience.