10 NORTHERN MAGAZINE James P. Cramer graduated from Northern State College, now Northern State University, in 1969. Over the years, he’s built an extraordinary career rooted in creativity and leadership. His passion for design and education has come full circle with the creation of the Cramer Center for Design & Innovation, a space dedicated to empowering students and professionals alike. Cramer’s story began in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As a student at Northern, he studied secondary education while working as a program director at the Aberdeen Family YMCA. These experiences shaped his path, giving him the foundation for a career that would eventually take him to Washington, D.C., where he became CEO of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Reflecting on his time at Northern, Cramer shared, “The mentorship I found there was unlike anything else—it was a turning point in my life.” Cramer didn’t stop there. He founded the Design Futures Council and started DesignIntelligence, a journal that remains a cornerstone of the design industry. He’s also authored several books, including THE CRAMER CENTER at Northern State University “How Firms Succeed” and “The Next Architect”, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful leadership and strategy—principles that are now central to the Cramer Center. Among Cramer’s most notable contributions to Northern is his donation of Roland Fréart de Chambray’s “A Parallel of the Ancient Architecture with the Modern,” a rare book published in 1707. The book contrasts ancient and then-modern architecture, and it’s believed to have been part of Sir Christopher Wren’s personal library. This remarkable artifact even caught the attention of then Prince Charles, who met with Cramer in Washington, D.C., to discuss its history. Later, the Royal Academy in London borrowed the book for an exhibit, recognizing its historical importance. Cramer recounted how he came across Freart’s Parallels 1707 during a business trip to London. Whenever he traveled, he made time to visit local used bookstores, a personal tradition that reflected his love for discovery and learning.
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