Why Don’t Architects Enter Politics?

By F. Eric Goshow, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C Founding Partner, Goshow Architects.

Goshow, F. Eric. (2026, July). Why Don’t Architects Enter Politics? Architecture New York State Magazine, (July 2026 Issue), 70-73.

Question: do you know of any architect who has been elected to public office, federal, state, or local?

Another way to ask this question: who enters politics and why? Well, now there are women military veterans, a physician who hosts TV shows, billionaires looking for someone to influence, disillusioned moms, a Kennedy scion, true believers, so many others. And all of them think they can make the world a better place.

Who enters politics in America? Beyond those mentioned above, there seem to be three loose categories of people who enter the political sphere with some regularity:

Lawyers: The most obvious professional category of individual that seems most likely to seat themselves in local, state, and federal legislative bodies, are lawyers. And why not? Lawyers are in the business of interpreting laws for the benefit of their clients. They are used to debating the nuances of the written word, often looking for the loophole that will advantage a client, and it can be heady stuff! It’s only logical that many cross that threshold to the public sphere of work as judges (of course), government high level bureaucrats, and elected officials. They believe they’ve earned that right. I cannot dispute that.

The Wealthy: And then there’s the rich guys. Since money is king, those who have done very well financially often think of themselves as being smarter than others. But isn’t it true that so often people who have done well in one sphere of life cannot make a transition to other spheres, where they are not in control and where life is so often hectic and chaotic? Public service requires a different set of skills and perspectives. That said, how do architects compare to rich guys for political influence? Not good! Enough said!

Graduates of Prestigious Colleges: What about graduates from the most prestigious universities? Often these individuals, regardless of their post-graduation occupations, are predisposed to want to tell others how to live, and so they gravitate toward politics. In fact, many of our own professional colleagues do graduate from the most prestigious universities, yet none of us gravitate toward politics. Thus, my original question: why?

But never architects! Why? Is there something—unwritten, subconscious, unrecognized—that precludes us from entering the political sphere? Are we not smart? Well educated? Well rounded? Pragmatic? Interested/curious? Do we not have the abilities to explain/proclaim? To lead others? To understand the world? People? Money? Are we not moral? Interested in improving the lives of others? Or do we lack confidence? Commitment? Energy?

Architects see life differently. Some of us see ourselves as Master Builders! We are remaking the world! What’s more important than that? Politics?

Because we see life differently, we prevent ourselves from taking an important role in the decision making political process in America. It’s an inherent challenge for us.

Architects, in my opinion, have a mystical, almost religious belief that what we do is more important. We are making the physical world a better place for people! And this, I think, can be a heady ego trip. Seeing that the building/space/plan that we and our team designed has been realized and is there for all to see, and to see our name in the magazine that features it, even if our role was miniscule, is great for the ego (even if it was a money loser and we worked round-the-clock for free). What other profession can offer the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with announcing to our friends and family that “I was a part of that”? (Stated with all due modesty.)

Ours is a world of artistic creativity. Architects are not living alone in this world: novelists and poets, artists, actors, musicians, and all those who support the arts, live in this world and typically do not gravitate toward seeking political office. Our egos are oriented differently, toward artistic creativity.

Ours is also a world of professional responsibility. Architects are not living alone in this world either: doctors, scientists, educators, and all those who support the professions, live in this world and typically do not gravitate toward seeking political office. Our egos are also oriented differently, toward professional responsibility.