ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) statement, “Where Architects Stand: A Statement of Our Values”—a response to the backlash it received from its CEO’s initial support to work with the newly elected Donald Trump—revealed its structural incapacity to take either an ethical or political stance. Examining how in various capacities—who does the AIA speak for? Who does it speak to?—the essay argues that the AIA’s emphasis on securing the most members at all cost leads it to avoid any controversial issues, be they bad labor practices internal to the profession or ethical questions regarding where architects should externally deploy their expertise. It ends by making suggestions for how a more engaged and effective professional organization might be constituted.
