At the 2025 Conference on Architecture hosted by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), the Fees and Procurement Working Group convened a national discussion on one of the profession’s most persistent challenges: the misalignment between architectural fees, procurement practices, and the true value architects deliver.

Structured around six guiding questions, the session drew practitioners from across the country to reflect on systemic barriers, regional disparities, and practical reforms. What emerged was a shared call to reimagine how architectural services are defined, selected, and compensated, ensuring that they reflect architecture’s essential role in advancing sustainability, quality of life, and public interest.

Architecture as a Public-Interest Service

Delegates agreed that architecture remains widely misunderstood as a luxury or artistic service rather than a professional discipline that contributes to public health, safety, and economic resilience. They emphasized the need to reposition architects as strategic actors who serve the public good through evidence-based design and community impact.

Participants called for stronger communication tools to help architects demonstrate the long-term value of design decisions, particularly those made early in the project lifecycle. The RAIC’s continued leadership in providing advocacy resources and public education materials was viewed as vital to this effort.