If you didn’t know better, to talk to some architects you might think that idealism had vanished from the architectural scene. After years of wide-eyed innocence, many of us have become savvy to the markets and worldly-wise. Perhaps too shrewd. Along the way, some design professionals have even dropped the mention of architecture from their names and marketing materials, recasting themselves as branding experts who happen to build. While diversification, even perceived financial necessity, might dictate such an identity shift, we must wonder if we have entered a tougher new architectural era.

Architect Richard Swett, FAIA, the former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and a former member of Congress, thinks otherwise. Swett has used his own skills, including the ability to program complex information, to synthesize diverse views, and to develop plans, as managerial tools for organizations like the U.S. State Department. He believes that other architects should use their talents to improve their communities. This spring, he participated in a revitalized Leadership Institute, formed by a partnership of the AIA and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. This small group of architect/leaders from across the country found that leadership traits can be learned and transmitted to others, shared inside and outside firms.