As a junior in high school, James Hoppe realized he wanted to pursue architecture. While deciding which career path to follow, his architect father pointed out the correlation of his interests and architecture.
James, currently a graduate student at Lawrence Technological University’s College of Architecture and Design (CoAD), is the 2025 recipient of AIA Michigan President’s Scholarship. He is currently interested in the opportunity to participate in the CoAD thesis program, which provides experience of intensive research and project development.
Winning the scholarship has allowed James to worry less about the finances for tuition and focus more on scholastic efforts. He expressed, “more than that, winning this award brings me into the circle of the MAF and has afforded me the opportunity to see how architects give to those who are entering the industry.”
What does James love most about architecture? “I am in love with design. My passion is to introduce organization into the world and to bring to life designs that add beauty through their function and appearance.” Borromini’s Chiesa di San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome, Italy, is one of James’ favorite pieces of architecture.
As a future architect, James is interested in designing sports, entertainment, and hospitality architecture because these types of venues help create unique and powerful experiences for large masses of people.
As part of their MAF Scholarship application, students must include a personal statement describing their interest, experience, and plans related to architecture, and their leadership and extracurricular activities.
For James, it was important for him to articulate his passion and care for architecture. “I enjoy the many complex issues that architecture makes me grapple with daily and the innumerable learning opportunities that it provides,” he explained. The more he learns about the field, the greater his desire to promote design that achieves excellence through innovation and sustainable practices.
Currently, his priority is to gain experience and learn everything about the architecture profession. In the future, James hopes to start his own practice and cultivate a design team that champions excellence through user experience and environmental responsibility.
Michigan Architectural Foundation’s mission is to advance awareness of how architecture enriches life. How does James think architecture enriches life? “Humans spend most of their time inside a built environment, whether a house, an office, or a car. Architecture has an incredible opportunity to impact the way we live and interact.”