When architects, designers, engineers and industry partners gathered Sept. 10-12 for the Celebration of Architecture awards and recognition ceremony in Sioux Falls, an Aberdeen native stood among the honorees.

The AIA South Dakota design awards event honored people who plan, design and develop the landscape across South Dakota and beyond. One of the four winners for 2025, Aberdeen native James Cramer, has a distinguished career worth recapping.

Since graduating from Northern State University decades ago with a degree in Education, he served in prominent roles, including CEO of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Executive Director of AIA Minnesota, President of the AIA Service Corporation and publisher of Architecture Magazine. He founded the company "Design Intelligence" and wro

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