Career StagesYoung Architects Forum

www.aia.org/yaf

Young Architects

Have you been licensed for ten years or less? 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) is a program of the American Institute of Architects and is organized to address issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects.

Contact your YAF Young Architect Regional Director for local networking and education opportunities. Click the map image below to view the AIA regional map and find contact info for your YAF YARD. You may also contact your local component for more information about volunteer opportunities.

YAF Summit20

The Young Architects Forum is celebrating its 20 year anniversary in 2012 and is developing a strategic plan for the next five years. YAF Summit20 was held in Washington, DC, on March 6-7, 2012, to discuss issues affecting young architects and guide the development of the YAF strategic plan. Learn more about Summit20 at www.aia.org/YAFSummit20.

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 the profession at the time. Together, the group re-examined what AIA members were facing in the profession and developed ways to provide support and programming for the future leaders. Learn more about the YAF 15 Summit: Outcomes.

YAF/COD Ideas Competition

Resources for Young Architects: Mentorship, Leadership, Fellowship

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.

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
  

Podcasts for Young Architects
YAF 150 at 150: As a legacy of the YAF’s 15th anniversary and the AIA’s 150th anniversary in 2007, the Young Architects Forum interviewed 150 architects who are members of the College of Fellows. Find YAF 150 at 150 Podcasts via AIA Podnet.

Architecture Knowledge Review: Young Architects Making a Difference podcast with Kevin de Freitas, AIA; David Grissino, AIA; and Tricia Stuth, AIA.

Scholarships, Grants, and Awards

Young Architects Award
An awards program of the AIA College of Fellows, 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. The Young Architects Award is administered by the AIA Honors and Awards Program. Visit the Honors and Awards webpage to find annual deadline information and learn more about the award.

The AIA announced the 2012 Young Architects Award recipients in January 2012. Print and digital copies of the 2012 and 2011 Young Architects Award Books are available via the below links.

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. 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. View the 2012 guidelines. Applications are due by Friday, July 6, 2012.

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

www.aia.org/yaf

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