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The Practice Management Knowledge Community (PMKC) identifies and develops information on the business of architecture for use by the profession to maintain and improve the quality of the professional and business environment.  The PMKC initiates programs, provides content and serves as a resource to other knowledge communities, and acts as experts on AIA Institute programs and policies that pertain to a wide variety of business practices and trends.

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Mentorship Challenges

  • 1.  Mentorship Challenges

    Posted 5 days ago
    Does it seem like it is getting harder to enter and advance in the profession of architecture?  Given the work-at-home situation, students and recent graduates have more limited opportunities to collaborate and work alongside architects - and only the very best mentors are bridging that gap for them. Are there any specific steps you have taken - from either side of the equation - to help that situation?


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    Scott Knudson AIA
    Principal
    Knu Design, LLC
    Boyds MD
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  • 2.  RE: Mentorship Challenges

    Posted 3 days ago
    Scott,
    I can't say whether or not it's getting harder to enter the profession today compared to when I passed my exams in 1976. Then, in PA, it was only a 2 day affair (if you had a B Arch. you didn't have to sit for the 3rd day charrette) with mostly multiple "guess" questions. Being a very good test taker, I passed at my first sitting even though I hadn't completed a project from schematics thru construction with my then employer. I didn't feel that I was qualified to practice, but I had my licence!
    In recent conversations with many of my past students (I was a 3rd year instructor @ Marywood University SoA from 2011 thru 2017) many have quickly passed their exams without much hassle. 
    Currently I'm participating in a program organized by AIA PA, PALM (Promoting Advocacy & Licensure thru Mentorship). At our kick-off "meeting" over 80 people participated. We are broken down into groups of 5 including current students, recently registered & experienced architects. We "meet" once /month to discuss issues, portfolios, whatever come up. It is a form of mentorship that I believe is good for all of the participants.
    I'd check with AIA MD to see if they run a similar program.
    Carl

    Carl J. Handman, AIA
    A      R      C      H      I      T      E      C      T       
    98 East Walnut Street  Kingston, PA 18704      

    P: 570-287-1717                            F: 570-287-7368                            



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  • 3.  RE: Mentorship Challenges

    Posted 2 days ago
    Hi Scott,  One of our studios runs an open TEAMs meeting for the whole 8-person group pretty much all day.  This way any time anybody wants to ask a question or mention something, they can.  I'm not sure if they're keeping their cameras on or not, but they report that they feel more supported this way.  Of course folks need to leave this TEAMs meeting to join another, so the opportunity to learn from overhearing  is not really there.  Headphones had already cut substantially into that medium anyway though.

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    John Kohlhas AIA
    Director of Operations
    NORR
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 4.  RE: Mentorship Challenges

    Posted 53 minutes ago
    For nine years now, I have had no employees... After the Great Recession I formed Macrae ARCHitecture, a national virtual firm where all collaborators are independent contractors. The Virtual Architectural Practice Model has been called "An Incubator of Solopreneurs". In the probable, post COVID-19 recession...I now call it, "Resiliency for Architecture Firms".  So my contribution to emerging practitioners is to outline a path to self employment and firm ownership without having to incur fixed overhead costs and therefore also immediate profitability.  Also, I am able to utilize even graduates of Architecture school as collaborators, leveraging their skills in conceptual design, 3D imaging and presentations.

    However, I have to date not solved the problem of mentoring young talent through all aspects of the profession within the virtual practice model.

    This is a great question Scott...i'm anxious to hear responses from others on how this entre into the profession is being addressed by them during these trying times.

    Sincerely,



    Peter
     
    Macrae ARCHitecture, LLC
     
    Peter S. Macrae, AIA
    Principal
    "MARCHing with a different perspective"
     
    74 Orchard Drive
    Worthington, OH 43085
     
    614-205-6805 phone
    614-848-8113 fax
     



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