We see you, emerging professionals
By Michelle Montgomery, AIA, NCARB
AIA Continental Europe brings opportunities to young architects
One of the AIA Continental Europe chapter’s goals is to share knowledge and promote an open exchange between international architects and students, crossing generational and cultural boundaries. As one of seven chapters making up the AIA International Region, it provides emerging professionals truly diverse networking opportunities through a wide range of committees and programs. Attending up close and personal events that investigate a city,its planning, and its architecture provides the ability to connect with more seasoned members, establish mentoring relationships and learn about internships — with the added benefit of being exposed to new cultures with a local architect as your guide. With 30 nationalities represented, the group includes international members, those working abroad and stateside, U.S. members, American students studying in Europe, and international students. These significantly diverse backgrounds add to the richness the chapter experience brings.
The Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC) focuses on showcasing young members’ work. The EPC curates a collection of its peers’ work with the goal of publishing it to generate conversation and networking. The sustained energy for this effort has raised questions about how we can create a steady stream of opportunities to keep young, talented architects actively engaged as they build their careers.
Behind the EPC is a dynamic pair of Barcelona-based co-chairs, Adrià Sanchez-Llorens and Jaume Pla Liñan, who were introduced to the chapter as students. Sanchez Llorens is a Spanish architect working on his PhD while teaching and organizing conferences, workshops, film sessions, and exhibitions for his university. Pla Liñan is a Spanish architect and professor, who is also studying for his PhD. He is secretary of the Association of Young Architects of Catalonia and coordinator of the 48H Open House Barcelona Festival, where he emphasizes the importance of architecture and highlights Barcelona’s heritage.
AIA Continental Europe’s conference series provides an in-depth look at the most important projects developing across Europe today. Focusing on a European city, the twice-yearly events explore the leading ways architects work collaboratively to build better urban environments. Through a combination of site visits, lectures and tours, local architects, planners, and government officials come together to present their city’s latest projects and goals.
“AIACE is probably one of the most diverse AIA chapters in the world,” said AIA Continental Europe President, Bard Rama, International Associate AIA. “Its unique position within continental Europe with membership stretching over 30 countries within Europe, as well as many other countries outside the continent as far away as Hawaii, has given all of us the opportunity and the pleasure to meet and socialize with people from different countries, with cultures and backgrounds. I always enjoy the high-quality educational and professional events, cities, venues, and most importantly meeting people and experiencing cultures wherever we go!”
It is through a collaborative spirit, built on a history of partnerships with universities and architectural organizations throughout Europe, that seasoned professionals and students alike can experience cross-cultural exchanges, including at the recent conferences in Girne, Cyprus, and Pristina, Kosovo.
“The Girne, Cyprus, conference was one that Laufen Bathrooms was most privileged to support as a corporate partner,” said Ilker Hussein, Roca Group’s Global Projects Corporate Director. Access was a challenge, given that Cyprus is the last divided country in the European Union, so the chapter worked with members to allow international students to attend the event. “We organized the students into groups, equal parts local and international students, each led by a local architecture professor and an AIA member. By the end of the conference, what really struck me was how the event inspired the students, professors, and attendees. We did not have the most sophisticated setup, but that wasn’t important. The result was an incredible sense of pride for the connections made with the students in the charrette.”
The charrette’s focus was to reimagine and modernize a run-down municipal building, and the winning team presented to the mayor of Girne/Kyrenia and community members. The project was eventually realized, with the building composed of different aspects of each team’s design — a fitting response to a unifying event. “The spirit of the students working together was incredible,” Hussein said.
Since this YAF article was written in 2017, AIA Continental Europe has continued inviting more young professionals to be active members, help with conferences, work on committees, and join the board of directors.
“It was very exciting to be the youngest member of the AIACE Board of Directors, at the time, and to have the opportunity to represent emerging professionals in a way that would influence the direction of AIACE. My involvement in AIACE gave me the chance to actively share my ideas about the profession and experience them being heard, which has since translated well to working in the field,” said Ryan Wakat, Associate AIA.
Bringing an EP perspective to conference planning, board member Wakat was a key planner of the recent Copenhagen conference. “Planning wise, it was important for me as an EP and on behalf of the board to help lead engagement with the EPs in attendance and create opportunities for them to express the things they need,” Wakat said. “I enjoyed finding ways to engage with the EPs in creative ways that allowed them to see more of and really experience the city. A morning bike ride to see a part of the city that we weren’t touring and our EP discussion at Copenhagen Street Food on the harborfront around a crackling fire made some great memories. I also think that our Women in Architecture panel was a huge hit, especially for the EPs to see and hear the stories of women in positions of leadership and how they got there.”
Former AIA president, chapter founder, and the first president of AIA Continental Europe Tomas Vonier said, “All of the people who became active in the chapter — it grew fast, from a few people to many — learned about the power of association: Together, we can do more than we can alone.” It is with this initiative and support that the AIA International Region has successfully established its first ever Emerging Professionals Committee, led by Elaine Wong, Associate AIA, and Michelle Montgomery, AIA. This committee offers a platform for exchange and a means for members abroad to collaborate with their stateside counterparts by connecting with AIA National. One of the cornerstones of the program is a mentorship program that all seven international chapters of the AIA International Region can lean on to support young AIA professionals around the world.
Adviser Sam Oboh, FAIA, said, “Having had the opportunity of working with several emerging professionals that are energetic, eager, and passionate about their work, the aspect I thoroughly enjoy is the healthy exchange of information and experience. Fellows of the institute are role models and are consistently excited about the future of the profession. I look forward to working with the IR EPs in achieving a functional mentorship program.”
AIA Continental Europe is an open door to emerging professionals around the world. Follow us on Facebook, sign up for the chapter’s monthly newsletters, or review the news feed to see the latest information.
Author Bio:
Michelle Montgomery, AIA, NCARB
Montgomery is a project architect at ZGF Architects with experience in health care, sports, and commercial projects. She serves as co-chair of the AIA International Region Emerging Professionals Committee