Young Architects Forum

Serving as AIA Delaware’s first-ever Young Architect Representative, I represent the voices of architects within their first ten years of practice in the State of Delaware. The AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF) is a powerhouse of architects in the profession seeking to elevate the voice of Young Architects, providing tools, resources, and advocating on issues of particular importance to those recently licensed.

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AIA Young Architects Forum Knowledge Focus Group

Jack Whalen, AIA

AIA DE Young Architect Representative, YAR

Christine Olshan, Assoc. AIA

AIA DE State Associate Representative, STAR

YAF Events

AIA24

Presenting an interactive course on business acumen, the YAF partnered with panelists from the Large Firm Round Table (LFRT), and Small Firm Exchange (SFx), to teach Young Architects about various business strategies and operations in their session titled “Taking Care of Business”.

NOMA National Conference

Bringing Taking Care of Business to the NOMA National Conference in Baltimore, MD, the YAF focused their session on moving up in the profession through entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, with speakers coming from major leadership settings in their places of practice at various scales and settings.

You’re Licensed, Now What?

After licensure, many young architects are left wondering “what’s next”. The Young Architect Forum regularly prioritizes answering this question. While the answers vary widely depending on interests, the YAF narrowed them down to five key areas: grow, connect, serve, promote, and pivot.

Covering the “Serve” category, I have found a deep passion for giving back to my community mentoring the next generation of architects and leaders.

Now YA Know Monthly Newsletter

Keeping Young Architects informed, the YAF Knowledge Group puts out a monthly newsletter highlighting the many events and opportunities happening within the AIA that YAs can take advantage of.

The Now YA Know also highlights the recent events of the YAF, as well as the achievements of Young Architects in the profession.