Outgoing AIA NJ President Andrew Thompson, AIA, Shares His Closing Remarks After An Excellent Year!

December 15, 2025

There is a saying that time flies when you are having fun, but time was truly supersonic working on behalf of you, the members of AIA New Jersey. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as your 2025 President of AIA New Jersey. It has also been a privilege to be your President during the 125th anniversary of the founding of AIA -NJ.

I began crisscrossing the state at the beginning of the year, installing the board of trustees of our various sections.

I met with AIA New York to bring ideas back to the AIA-NJ Fellowship committee so we can work on having more of our members get elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.

I was very happy to establish a new Memorandum of Understanding between our six sections. AIA NJ cannot exist without the sections and the MOU will continue to support the connection between the state and sections.

AIA-NJ, APAC, and our LG&A committee started our Advocacy Day in Trenton. This was a culmination of our members meeting and speaking with our legislators to ensure legislation that affects the built community will always support architects and their practice.

I continued the trend of trying to meet as many students and emerging professionals in the state, whether attending the AIA Conference in Boston or the NOMA Conference in Kansas City, as this is important to nurture the next generation of architects.

I enjoyed driving up and down our beautiful state, representing our members at various events. I will continue the Mayors’ Exchange and ask each one of you if you know your mayor or have the opportunity to talk to your mayor, let them know what architects can do and the value we represent to our community.

In the coming months, AIA-NJ and some of our members’ work will be featured in America ByDesign on CBS. This will showcase the work in New Jersey and the value that architects bring to the built environment.