Have you been licensed for 10 years or fewer? Discover the many resources available for recently licensed architects in the areas of leadership, mentorship, and fellowship. Join the Young Architects Forum by updating your AIA member profile (listed under “Your Knowledge Communities”).

Young Architects Forum

The Young Architects Forum (YAF), a program of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the College of Fellows (COF), is organized to address issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects. Learn more about the Young Architects Forum national goals and history. Start your own local Young Architects Forum.

Get Involved: Contact the national YAF Advisory Committee , your Young Architect Regional Liaison or your local component to learn more about local networking and education opportunities. Start your own local Young Architects Forum.

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Resources for Young Architects: Mentorship, Leadership, Fellowship

YAF 15 Summit: Outcomes
The YAF 15 Summit brought together leaders of the architecture profession from all levels to celebrate 15 years of achievements of the YAF. The summit provided a forum for attendees to engage in dialogue about issues facing the unique demographic of young architects in today’s profession. Together, the group re-examined what AIA members are facing in the profession and developed ways to provide support and programming for the future leaders. Learn more about the summit outcomes.

Leadership Development
Leadership Development supports the concept of leadership as a core value of the American Institute of Architects and the architectural profession through training, outreach, advocacy and education.

YAF Mentor Guidelines
Mentoring is one of the three main goals of the Young Architects Forum. It is a vital part of career and leadership development and is perhaps the best method of transferring knowledge that has been gained through experience. Read the YAF Mentor Guidelines.

YAF Connection
The YAF Connection is the official newsletter for young architects produced by the Young Architects Forum includes articles on leadership, mentorship, and fellowship.  Each edition also includes book reviews for young architects by young architects. Contact the Editor.

AIA Best Practices
AIA Best Practices represent the collective wisdom of AIA members and related professionals. Some best practices of particular interest to young architects are:

• Controlling the Cost of a Photographic Assignment
• Essential Elements of Ownership Transition
• Legal Structure of Architecture Firms
• Seven Tips for Emerging Firms
• Financial Management: 10 Key Performance Indicators

YAF 150 to 150: Podcasts for Young Architects
As a legacy of the YAF’s 15th anniversary and the AIA’s 150th anniversary in 2007, the Young Architects Forum is interviewing 150 architects who are members of the College of Fellows. Learn more about the YAF 150 to 150 podcast series.

Scholarships, Grants, and Awards

Young Architects Award
The Young Architects Award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in an early stage of their architectural career.

Emerging Professionals Component Grant
The College of Fellows has established a small grants fund to assist AIA components in the development of programs which foster the mission of Young Architects and Associates known as the Emerging Professionals Component Grant. These funds may be used to enhance the activities of an existing Emerging Professionals group or as seed money to help start a new one. Because one of the goals of the component grants program is to make Emerging Professionals groups a vital component activity, an explanation or demonstration of component commitment and support is essential.

Intern Development Program Outstanding Firm Awards Program
Since 1991, the IDP Advisory Committee has recognized firms from across the country who actively embrace the Intern Development Program and demonstrate their commitment by making the path to licensure an integral part of the firm’s culture through the IDP Outstanding Firm Awards Program.

Do you have comments or questions? Send an email to yaf@aia.org.