Young Architects Forum at AIA New Hampshire

The Young Architects Forum (YAF), a program of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the College of Fellows (COF) addresses issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects (within 5 years of licensure). The YAF began at a 1989 AIA Grassroots program involving 36 young architects from around the nation assembled by then AIA President Ben Brewer Jr, FAIA. The issues raised and potential benefits visualized at the meeting led to the 1991 formation of the national YAF Advisory Committee to encourage the development of national and regional programs of interest to young architects and the creation of YAF groups in local chapters. For more information on the YAF at the national level, go to www.aia.org/yaf.

The main goal of the NH Young Architects Forum is to bring young design professionals and newly registered architects together, while also facilitating their progression through the Intern Development Program and their growth as talented architectural professionals. To promote this the YAF meets on most months at different locations. These meetings provide an opportunity for all architectural interns and newly licensed professionals to learn about and share issues that affect their career. YAF meeting locations and times are listsed on the AIANH events page.

Each year the AIANH YAF conducts a design competition that allows participants to strengthen design skills, demonstrate ability, gain recognition, and provide needed design input to a community. Now in its 6th year, the competition has featured a variety of project types and sizes. In each instance, entrants submitted design boards to be reviewed by an independent jury and also presented to the town.

Click here to learn more about the design competition.

The YAF also helps to facilitate the SkillsUSA state architectural drafting competition each year. SkillsUSA is a national non-profit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in the trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). The drafting competition is a one day event at which high school students from around the state come together and are given a design problem. The Young Architects Forum administer the design challenge first thing in the morning and the students then have a period of time to draw plans, elevations, and sections of a viable solution to the problem. Each design submissions is judged and three winners are chosen to participate at the national level.

To find out more about YAF contact Michael McKeown, Assoc. AIA at Lavallee Brensinger Architects, 6003-622-5450, or email him at Michael.McKeown@lbpa.com

You can find additional information of use to Emerging Professionals on our Emerging Professionals microsite.

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