Ohio architect John Patrick Rademacher, NCARB, AIA, NOMA, was inaugurated as NCARB’s 2026-2027 president at the 2026 Annual Business Meeting in June. With decades of experience in community-focused practice and service to the profession, John is dedicated to working alongside the 55 U.S. jurisdictional licensing boards to shape the future of the architecture profession. Learn more about John and his vision for the year ahead:
What do you love about architecture?
I’ve always been fascinated by how architects imagine possibilities and then turn those ideas into physical places for people and communities. Look at a building itself: Other art forms are there to be looked at or studied, but architecture is an art form to be inhabited. The moment someone is in that building, it becomes important that we protect them, that they remain safe, and that their life is enhanced by the building. That blend of creativity, responsibility, and impact on everyday life is what I love about architecture.
Tell us about your path to licensure.
I would say my path to licensure was very traditional. I went to the University of Cincinnati, and I was very fortunate because it was a co-op institution—the institution that invented co-op. That meant my path started right away in the office, seeing firsthand what architects do and how we can make lives better through our work. Along the way, my mentors pushed me to get involved in communities, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Ohio Architects Board, and eventually NCARB. Both my education and my service to the profession have made me a much better and more well-rounded architect.
How has your experience in Ohio influenced your perspective on architecture and design?
Cincinnati has an amazing fabric. The riverfront has been transformed into a series of beautiful parks, and our buildings represent many different eras of architecture and construction.
Architecture is fundamentally about creating places for people and supporting their aspirations.
Working on community-focused developments has shown me how design can respond to local needs and transform lives. Seeing communities grow and strive to make themselves better has reinforced my belief that architecture is fundamentally about creating places for people and supporting their aspirations.
What are you looking forward to in your role as NCARB president?
These are very exciting times for NCARB, and we have so much we’re looking to accomplish. The biggest initiative is Pathways to Practice, and I believe I’m in the right place at the right time to help push this forward. We have a tremendous Board of Directors and NCARB staff, both committed to making us all better, and I am thrilled and humbled to help guide the development of a future licensure process that supports our Member Boards Members and licensure candidates, while ensuring the protection of the public.
How does it feel to lead NCARB at a pivotal moment in the Pathway to Practice initiative?
Pathways to Practice is putting NCARB into a leadership position for regulation and licensure and creating opportunities for those who have not had them before. Leading NCARB now means helping elevate and connect the collective energy around evolving licensure pathways for the future, while supporting those who participate in creating the built environment we all share. I see this as both a responsibility and a privilege, and I’m excited by how much we have to do—and how much we can accomplish together.
