The American Institute of Architects will work with US president-elect Donald Trump to improve the country's infrastructure, says the organisation's chief Robert Ivy.

Following Trump's shock victory in Tuesday's election, Ivy issued a statement assuring that architects across the USA will help the incoming Republican president and congress with matters relating to the construction industry.

"The AIA and its 89,000 members are committed to working with president-elect Trump to address the issues our country faces, particularly strengthening the nation's ageing infrastructure," said Ivy, the AIA's chief executive officer.

Although infrastructure spending was overshadowed in the run-up to the vote by topics like Trump's attitudes towards minorities and rival Hillary Clinton's email scandal, focus is now turning towards what the newly elected president and his government will do to improve the country once he enters the White House early next year.

"During the campaign, president-elect Trump called for committing at least $500 billion to infrastructure spending over five years," Ivy said.

"We stand ready to work with him and with the incoming 115th Congress to ensure that investments in schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure continue to be a major priority."

Dezeen columnist Aaron Betsky is more sceptical about Trump's infrastructure vision. In an Opinion piece published just after the election result, he warned that the former real estate mogul had failed to detail how he would deliver on his promises or where the funding would come from.

Ivy believes that investment in the right areas will help boost the economy and tackle unemployment.

"We urge both the incoming Trump Administration and the new Congress to work toward enhancing the design and construction sector's role as a major catalyst for job creation throughout the American economy," he said.

This year's US election was particularly divisive, and Trump's win over Democratic candidate Clinton was seen as surprising by many.

Architects and designers responded to controversial comments he made during the campaign with a variety of satirical projects, while illustrators reacted to the news of his victory in a similar way.

"This has been a hard-fought, contentious election process," said Ivy. "It is now time for all of us to work together to advance policies that help our country move forward."