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LTU’s College of Architecture and Design wins 2026 ICFF WANTED ‘Best of Schools’ Award

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SOUTHFIELD, MI – Lawrence Technological University’s College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) has been awarded the prestigious ICFF WANTED “Best of Schools” Award at the 2026 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, surpassing 23 leading international design programs participating in the highly competitive Schools Showcase.

CoAD comprises both undergraduate and graduate programs in Architecture and Design. Design students in the Design Declassified-sponsored studio last semester worked with Erika Cross, CoAD adjunct professor of design and owner of Ann Arbor-based Erika Cross Studio, a multidisciplinary design practice, to create everyday products with a unique twist.

Unique Creativity with Sustainable Building Materials

Jared Siefert, founder and CEO of Designed Declassified, said, “It was an honor to provide materials and witness the students at LTU push new boundaries. As an industrial designer, I’m grateful for the chance to support the next generation of artists and designers. I was genuinely impressed by the creativity, dedication, and craft each student brought to their work, and I hope they carry this learning experience into their professional careers.”

CoAD Interim Dean Lilian Crum said industry-sponsored studios like this one with Design Declassified, a sustainable building materials company, are invaluable to CoAD students.

“They provide real-world constraints, professional expectations, and collaborative opportunities that prepare students for the complexities of contemporary design practice,” she said. “This partnership challenged our students to design products while addressing adaptability, resilience, and environmental impact. Working with 100-percent-recycled, recyclable HDPE sheets, students researched, sketched, prototyped, and tested innovative solutions that transform Design Declassified materials into meaningful, sustainable design outcomes. We’re grateful to Design Declassified for sponsoring this important studio.”

ICFF is an annual contemporary design fair that showcases trending furniture and industrial design. Founded in 1989, the ICFF has hosted hundreds of international exhibitors, both established brands and emerging designers.

Embracing The Challenge

Cross said, “The students didn’t just meet the challenge of this new material; they fully embraced its creative possibilities. By leaning into the course’s experimental and exploratory nature, they produced sophisticated work that reflects both their unique perspectives and the material’s incredible versatility.

“We’re proud that six of CoAD’s ‘emerging designers’ had the chance to represent the exciting work of all our design students. Congratulations to Ashgen Boyer, Dante Cerroni, Lourdes Davish, Sofia Eddy. Delanie Shorten, and Ryan Sukhraj.”

From left: Faculty member Erika Cross with students Delanie Shorten, Sophia Eddy, Lourdes Davish.

The winning collection emerged through a creative partnership with Design Declassified, supported by Centrepolis Accelerator. The project was led by designer and faculty member Erika Cross, who guided students through the development of a sophisticated collection of contemporary furnishings created from 100% recycled and recyclable HDPE sheets sourced from discarded products such as milk crates.

Transforming Industrial Waste into Usable, Sustainable Products

Through extensive research, iterative sketching, prototyping, and fabrication, the designers developed products that elevate industrial waste into refined, functional objects that balance environmental responsibility with high-end aesthetics.

The award-winning collection reflects LTU’s commitment to industry collaboration, sustainable innovation, and experiential learning that prepares students to address real-world challenges through design.

CoAD Interim Dean Lilian Crum said, “This award is a testament to what’s possible when students are challenged with real-world constraints, meaningful industry partnerships, and the opportunity to design with purpose. Erika Cross and these six designers demonstrated that sustainability and sophistication are powerful in combination. Winning ICFF WANTED’s Best of Schools distinction among 24 internationally recognized programs is an extraordinary achievement and a reflection of the ambitious, forward-thinking design education that defines LTU CoAD.”

Students’ Perspective

Student Delanie Shorten said, “My proudest moment was talking with visitors and designers about my project and getting to share my inspiration. It was rewarding to see people interested in my work, ask questions, and engage with the process behind it.

“The most exciting part was being surrounded by great design, meeting industry professionals, and seeing work from around the world. Winning the Best of Schools award made the experience even more memorable and was a proud and speechless moment for all of us, especially while representing LTU on such a large stage.”

Sharing that sentiment was fellow design student Lourdes Davish. She said, “Coming from a small school with a growing program in product design, it meant a great deal that we were able to showcase a different kind of design outside of purely automotive and technology.  Going to ICFF in New York, personally, meant the world to me to physically talk with many designers that I had only seen online through social media, and that they were blown away by my work as well.”

Students whose design work was featured in the 2026 ICFF WANTED “Best of Schools” Competition:

Ashgen Boyer from Detroit, MI: PollyTree, Coffee Table

This table represents the melding of the natural with the inorganic. The discovery of new materials reminds us that innovation is ever-expanding, vast; even entangled with itself, growing with humanity. This growth is built on learned failures and accidental successes. In producing this table, I embrace humanity’s innovation whilst staying rooted in the failures that help us all grow.

This piece is also a testament to Erika Cross, my teacher, who constantly works with me to foster my growth as a student in this innovative modern age. I hope this piece speaks to you. To have no fear in failing, but anticipation for the growth that comes with it. Thank you!

Dante Cerroni from Commerce Township, MI: Loop Lamp, Table Lamp

I was interested in how the material allowed for light transmission with minimal scattering when a light was shining at it. One of the materials adds a warming hue to the design. This gave me the idea of using LEDs to increase the surface area and create a gradient toward the center of the lamp.

My objective was to use the materials’ inherent properties to make something useful. I wanted to take material destined for the landfill and give it an entirely new life.

Lourdes Davish from Commerce Township, MI: Shoji, Screen

Repurposing the light-transmitting qualities of HDPE, this piece draws inspiration from Japanese shoji — translucent rice-paper screens. Testing the limits of the material’s rigidity, it is cut into thin flexible strips and woven into large panels. These woven panels are incorporated into self-supporting screens that gently conceal the mysteries that lie behind them. This project blends my passions for fine craftsmanship and imagination, transforming a humble material into an object that invites curiosity, softness, and light.

Sofia Eddy from Bloomfield Hills, MI: Connection, Coffee Table

This ornate coffee table highlights the natural contrast within recycled HDPE, pairing bold color variations with rich textural patterns. Its sculptural form transforms everyday plastic into an elegant, functional centerpiece.

Delanie Shorten from Crystal Lake, IL: Marbl, Table Lamp

Marbl began as an exploration of HDPE and its unique characteristics: translucency, with the ability to be milled and fabricated like wood. Turned on the lathe, Marbl’s simple form lets the material speak for itself, softly diffusing light to create a warm, calming, and inviting atmosphere that transforms both the material and the space it inhabits.

Ryan Sukhraj From Hernando Beach, FL: Cloud Puzzles

Cloud Puzzles are interactive sculptures created from recycled HDPE materials, designed to transform passive observers into active participants through the joy of solving, touching, and connecting, showcasing how the material can naturally fit together.

About Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is one of only 13 private, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best in the Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Editor’s Note: Photographs of the winning students, their winning design, and explanation of the work appear in the Addendum. For interviews with Interim Dean Lilian Crum and Adjunct Professor Erika Cross, contact Renée Ahee at 586-484-2390 or rahee@yellowflagproductions.com.

Master-Level Architecture Students Build Modular Shading Pavilion on Lawrence Technological University Campus

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SOUTHFIELD, MI — Master of Architecture students in Lawrence Technological University’s (LTU) College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) announce their 2026 Design Build Studio final project titled TRI-ARC.

A Moment of Solace on Campus

This year’s LTU Design-Build Studio centered on the design and construction of a shading pavilion located next to the south entrance of the University Technology and Learning Center (UTLC). Developed over a 10-week semester, with nine weeks of online collaboration followed by a one-week in-person Build Week, the project brought together 51 students, approximately 80% from Michigan, along with students from Canada, Hong Kong, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio. The pavilion is intended to provide students with a moment of respite on campus: a place to eat, wait for friends, gather between classes, or simply pause during the day.

“Building Collaboration”

Framed through the studio theme of “Building Collaboration,” the project explored design-build as both a simulation of architectural practice and a platform for speculative construction research. Working remotely for most of the semester required students to develop collaborative design methods, shared digital workflows, and coordinated fabrication strategies before assembling the project together on site. For the studio, the pavilion was never just the end goal. It was a way to test out bigger questions — about shared authorship, digital fabrication, and what gets lost or gained when a drawing becomes a building.

Movable As Needed

The pavilion is conceived as a modular architectural system rather than a singular object. Developed from hexagonal and triangular geometry patterns, the structure uses a set of fractal frames that can branch, repeat, and aggregate into larger shell-like canopy petals. Each frame operates as both an independent structural unit and a building block within a broader system, allowing the pavilion to adapt to different site conditions, scales, and patterns of occupation. On the UTLC site, these lightweight tree-like assemblies provide shade, weather protection, and thermal comfort while creating an inviting place for students to gather, eat, wait, and rest. The project advances a flexible design-build strategy in which modularity, equilibrium-based structural logic, and digital fabrication come together as a usable architectural toolkit.

New and Sustainable Materials

The pavilion combines lightweight cantilevered tree trusses made from dimensional lumber with custom CNC (computer numerical control)-plasma cut steel joint plates, CNC-fabricated wood connections, 3D-printed joint nodes, and off-the-shelf EMT pipe canopy framing. Its structural system integrates a post-tensioned steel cable network developed through computational modeling and 3D graphic statics (3DGS) analysis. The project also incorporates 3D-printed ceramic elements into furniture and seating, expanding the pavilion beyond shade structure into a larger investigation of material systems, fabrication processes, and collaborative construction.

M.Arch students attend their summer course remotely until the final week of class when they meet in person for the first time to build their final project.

Led by Associate Professor of Architecture Lee-Su Huang, Assistant Professor of Architecture Teng Teng, PhD, and Adjunct Professor Ryan Kahen, owner of Kahen Design of Detroit. “What’s remarkable about this experience is how quickly these students moved from remote collaboration to building a single cohesive structure together in one week. That kind of coordination reflects real growth in how they think and work as designers,” said CoAD Interim Dean Lilian Crum.

“For most of these students, this studio is the first step to receiving their master’s degree in architecture. It is a testament to their creativity and commitment to their profession. It is also a point of pride for their professors who encourage and witness the substantive growth in architectural talent and capability in a single semester,” she said.

About Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is one of only 13 private, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best in the Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Editor’s note: Images of the students’ year-end project in process appear below as well as at https://ltuacademics.smugmug.com/College-of-Architecture-and-Design/2026/COAD-Build-Week. Interviews with Interim Dean Lilian Crum and Professors Huang and Teng are available by contacting Renée Ahee at 586-484-2390 or rahee@yellowflagproductions.com.

What is Historic Preservation and Why Does It Matter?

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Hi there! My name is Haley Alvarez, and I am a rising senior at the College of Charleston studying Historic Preservation and Community Planning with a minor in Urban Studies. I am also a member of the Historic Preservation & Community Planning (HPCP) Club on campus and a member of the Committed to Charleston organization. Throughout my college career, one of the most common questions I’ve been asked is, “What exactly is historic preservation?” It’s a great question, and one that deserves more than a simple answer.

When most people hear the words historic preservation, they picture restoring an old house or protecting a well-known landmark. While that is certainly part of the profession, historic preservation is much broader. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves practices from architecture, sustainability, urban planning, and community engagement to protect the places that tell our stories. Preservation practices strive to thoughtfully manage change so that communities can grow while preserving the cultural, historical, and social character that makes them unique.


My sisters and I visiting Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. My childhood in Chicago really shaped my love for preservation and architecture.

What initially drew me to choose Historic Preservation as a career path was my childhood growing up in Chicago, Illinois. My mom would often take me on scenic drives through the city, and I was always fascinated by the architecture. Every building seemed to tell a story through its intricate details, craftsmanship, materials, and design. As I grew older, I began to appreciate that those buildings represented more than just beautiful architecture; they reflected the people, history, and culture that shaped the city. I distinctly remember the strong sense of community that existed within many of Chicago’s neighborhoods. Returning today, I’ve noticed that some of that character has changed, which has reinforced the concept that preservation isn’t just about saving old buildings; it’s about protecting the identity and sense of place that make communities meaningful while allowing them to grow and evolve.

Here’s a breakdown of how different disciplines come together in the practice of Historic Preservation:

Architecture


Architecture is one of the most recognizable aspects of historic preservation. Architecture and preservation intertwine to restore, rehabilitate, and adapt preexisting historical structures. Adaptive reuse concepts are most notable during this process to avoid demolition and find new uses for buildings, typically preserving their character and craftsmanship. Whether transforming a former city bank into a beautiful wedding venue or converting a former post office into a corporate building, preservation demonstrates how thoughtful design can connect the past with the needs of today’s communities.



An example of the architectural digital tools used in Historic Preservation.

Sustainability


Have you ever heard “the greenest building is the one that is already built”? Historic Preservation is one of the most sustainable approaches to building. Reusing existing structures reduces construction waste, conserves energy and materials already embedded into the structure, and minimizes the environmental impact from demolition and new construction. Preservation extends the life of structures that have stood for decades, maybe even centuries, while incorporating some of today’s most innovative technologies.

Urban Planning


Urban planning examines how land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, natural resources, and public spaces work together to shape how communities function and develop over time. Preservationists often collaborate with planners, local officials, and the community to guide zoning decisions, establish historic districts, and enforce strict guidelines that balance future growth with the protection of culturally and historically significant places. This collaboration is important in identifying what residents need and value in their community, along with responding to housing shortages, population growth, and pressures for new investments.

Why Does It Matter?

Historic Preservation isn’t about freezing a place in time, but rather about intentional decision-making that allows communities to evolve. Through the practice of architecture, sustainability, and urban planning, preservation demonstrates that the old and the new can coexist, ensuring we value what already exists as much as what’s next. As I’ve come to understand, Historic Preservation is a genuine, practical strategy for building better, more connected, and more resilient communities for the future.


The College of Charleston’s Historic Preservation and Community Planning (HPCP) Club attending the 71st Carolopolis Awards, presented by the Preservation Society of Charleston.

Career Paths in Historic Preservation

Because historic preservation is interdisciplinary, graduates can pursue careers in architecture, planning, government, museums, conservation, real estate, and community development. 

Possible career paths include:

  •     Architectural Historian
  •     Preservation Architect
  •     Preservation Planner
  •     Historic Site or Museum Coordinator
  •     Community Development Planner
  •     Historic Tax Credit Consultant
  •     Heritage Tourism Coordinator
  •     Historic Trades or Materials Conservation Specialist
  •     Blacksmith

For readers interested in learning more, the National Council for Preservation Education provides information about preservation education, professional qualifications, and career opportunities.

Life After Graduation: Becoming an Architect in Canada

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Written by Benjamin Bomben of Issued for Interns

Going through architecture school is a unique experience. Pulling all-nighters, pinning up drawings, making models with an X-Acto knife and no sleep, only to then defend your design concepts in front of panels of critics. All of this while preparing yourself for a profession of continuous learning and development.

However, when you graduate from your master’s degree in architecture and you are met with the realities of the profession, you realize you are really only halfway there.

In Canada, you can’t call yourself an architect the day you get your degree. There’s an entire second chapter, one that may take years to gain the required amount of experience and to truly learn what it means to become an architect.


The Path Nobody Explains in Studio

In Canada, the road from graduate to licensed architect runs through something called the Internship in Architecture Program, or IAP. It’s a structured process where you log thousands of hours of post-grad professional experience across specific categories.

The standard roadmap to becoming an architect in Canada is completing your undergraduate degree in architecture, then going on to complete a master’s degree from an accredited architecture school. It is important to note that in Canada, the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) is the sole organization that accredits professional degree programs in architecture. If your undergraduate degree is from an accredited pre-professional program, you can typically complete your M.Arch in two years. If it is not, you will likely need to complete a three-year M.Arch program instead. You can check which schools hold CACB accreditation at cacb.ca.

Once you graduate, you begin to focus on obtaining the required hours as part of the Intern Architect Program. You are required to have 2,800 hours to be eligible to write the exams.

While you are working, although your experiences prepare you to write the exams, it can be difficult to figure out the best way to study for them. The ExAC is comprised of four three-hour exams spanning two days, and they can only be written once a year. That means if you fail any of the exams, you have to wait a full year before you can retake the failed exam(s)! While preparing for your exams, it is extremely helpful to meet regularly with your mentor and to efficiently compile all of the recommended ExAC readings to figure out what topics you need to focus on.


The Real Shift: School vs. the Profession

The bigger adjustment out of school is realizing how different the learning curve is compared to anything you experienced in studio.

In school, you spend weeks refining a concept. You iterate on floor plans. You agonize over renderings, diagrams, and perspective sections that you see as works of art. This is extremely valuable in your development, especially the ability to communicate effectively through drawing. But once you are in a professional environment, you realize that every line drawn is a representation of money to be spent, something to be built, and something to coordinate.

What surprises most graduates is how much you continue to learn once you start working, as well as how much of your day involves coordinating through email alongside AutoCAD or Revit. Architecture school develops your way of thinking, how you approach problems, and how the elegance of your solution fits within a design intent. Once you are full time in the profession, you begin to learn how buildings truly come together. You understand how your drawings translate to real construction, what information builders look for in a set of drawings, how different consultants contribute to a project, and how decisions made on paper play out on a job site.

Terms like RFIs, site instructions, addenda, and supplemental details become part of your daily vocabulary. These are things that are rarely discussed in school, but they are how design actually reaches the real world. Most of us had a sense of the complexity involved in architecture while in school, almost as this magical black box. But when you begin to work in the profession, that black box opens up, and you realize the depth of knowledge that still lies ahead.

The good news is that every day on the job is a learning opportunity. The hours you log for the IAP aren’t just a requirement to check off. They’re an education in themselves.


What We Wish We’d Known Going In

If we could go back and tell ourselves a few things before starting the IAP, here’s what we’d say:

Ask questions constantly. In school, you’re expected to have a strong concept and defend it. At work, especially early on, the smartest thing you can do is ask why something is done a certain way. When starting out, because you don’t know what you don’t know, taking a moment to reflect and ask why gives you an opportunity to truly understand what you are doing rather than simply generating output to meet deadlines. Every site visit you attend, every coordination meeting you sit in — those are learning opportunities that add up fast.

The exam is its own challenge. When it is time for you to write your exams, the ExAC covers a massive range of topics: building science, structures, professional practice, project and construction management, programming, and more. Studying for it on top of a full-time job requires a real plan. When you then factor in commuting and other events outside of work, it becomes very important to have a set of organized resources you can easily access.


Is it Worth It?

Becoming a licensed architect in Canada is demanding, but it’s also deeply rewarding. Every hour logged, every shop drawing reviewed, every exam section studied for — it all adds up to a level of competence and confidence you can’t get any other way.

The profession needs people who understand both the big design ideas and the small construction details. The IAP and ExAC process, for all its challenges, is designed to make sure you develop both sides.

If you’re a student reading this and wondering what comes after graduation — it’s a lot, but it’s totally doable. The path can be long. The learning curve is steep. And the day you finally get those letters after your name, you’ll know you earned every single one of them.



Issued for Interns is a study platform built by candidates who passed the ExAC, covering all 13 exam themes with textbook notes, practice questions, mock exams, and key readings.

Tulane University Launches Sustainable Urbanism Major and Minor

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(Via the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture)

The Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment has launched a new Sustainable Urbanism undergraduate program. Offering both a major and a minor, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and address the environmental, social, and economic challenges shaping cities today. Rooted in the principles of urbanism and sustainability, the program trains students to study the built environment and its impact on human well-being and ecological systems.

As the global urban population rises — projected to reach 68% by 2050 — cities face mounting challenges, including housing affordability, climate resilience, environmental degradation, and social inequality. The Sustainable Urbanism Program takes an interdisciplinary approach to these issues, drawing from fields such as urban planning, environmental studies, architecture, sociology, political science, landscape architecture, and social innovation. Students will explore how cities develop, how they function, and how they can be improved—all while developing strategies to make urban environments more socially just, universally accessible, and environmentally responsible.

A key emphasis of the program is its alignment with global sustainability frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Urban Agendas for 2030 and 2050. Courses will examine sustainable city-making practices, climate action, green infrastructure, disaster resilience, and policies that support equity and inclusion in urban spaces. Through both theoretical study and applied research, students will learn to propose urban development pathways that promote environmental and social justice while ensuring cities remain vibrant, livable, and adaptable to change.

The major consists of 40 credit hours, while the minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours, allowing students to combine their studies with other disciplines or take advantage of study-abroad opportunities. The curriculum integrates practical research methodologies, including urban data analysis, GIS mapping, stakeholder engagement, and representational design tools. By combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, students will develop the skills necessary to evaluate urban challenges and design innovative, actionable solutions.

Beyond the classroom, the program prioritizes hands-on learning through collaborative research projects, internships, and partnerships with local and international organizations. By working alongside community stakeholders, students will engage with real-world urban issues such as disaster preparedness, housing accessibility, transportation infrastructure, and climate resilience.

Details on the program are posted online.

University of Kansas Grad Is America’s Youngest Licensed Architect

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(Emily Almloff, via LinkedIn)

(Via Archinect, Written by Alexander Walter)

The title of youngest licensed architect in the United States recently went to 22-year-old University of Kansas graduate Emily Almloff.

After graduating in 2024, she successfully completed all six parts of the Architect Registration Examination in January and February 2025. In an interview with AIA Architect, she shared that she took “one every week with a break in the middle.”

While still enrolled as a student in the Master of Architecture and Master of Construction Management programs, Almloff interned at Slaggie Architects in Kansas City, Engineering Ministries International USA in Colorado Springs, and HFG Architecture in Kansas City, where she was hired in September 2024 — initially as a design professional and, upon completing licensure, now employed as a healthcare architect.

Click here to read the full article on Archinect.

DesignPhiladelphia Announces 2nd Annual Justice Alliance in Design Education (JADE) Fellows!

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(Via DesignPhiladelphia)

DesignPhiladelphia proudly announces the 2nd annual Justice Alliance in Design Education (JADE) Fellowship. This initiative, in collaboration with local colleges and universities, aims to foster a diverse and inclusive culture within Philadelphia’s architecture and design education space. Inspired by the success of programs like the Posse Foundation, the JADE Fellowship is built on the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students can drive significant individual and community development.

The JADE Fellowship supports a cohort of six undergraduate students from underrepresented communities and is committed to creating a community and culture that not only nurtures personal career growth but promotes a more inclusive environment for all design students and emerging professionals. Rebecca Johnson, the Executive Director of DesignPhiladelphia, shared her enthusiasm: “Through the JADE Fellowship, we are not just supporting individual talents; we are actively shaping an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse design community right here in Philadelphia.”

We are honored to introduce our JADE Fellows for the year 2025:

Learn more about this groundbreaking initiative here.

Celebrate Architecture Week 2025 with AIA

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This week (April 13-19, 2025), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) celebrates Architecture Week, a nationwide campaign that aims to inspire the next generation of architects (including you!). Architecture Week invites architects and design professionals to share the wonders of architecture with their local communities–with a special focus on K-12 students. 

This year, AIA set a goal to reach over 15,000 K-12 students through outreach and activities. The organization plans to engage students through at least 60 chapters, 120 architecture firms, 350 AIA members, educators, parents, community members, and social media (via AIA). 

Here are three ways you can join the festivities:

1) Connect With Your Local AIA Chapter

AIA has over 200 chapters in the United States and abroad. Many chapters are planning exciting activations and events for K-12 students in their communities. 

20 AIA chapters received 2025 Architecture Week grants to support their community initiatives. AIA California’s Architecture by the Book program introduces children to the world of architecture through classroom visits, book readings, presentations from diverse architects, and other creative activities. AIA Blue Ridge is hosting their annual Kidstruction LEGO event at the Taubman Museum of Art. This free event invites students of all ages to create a city using over 40,000 LEGOs and 300 cardboard bricks. Over in Missouri, AIA St. Louis has various activities scheduled throughout the entire week, ranging from student educational workshops to coffee chats with architects. 

These are just a few examples of the amazing events happening during Architecture Week. Click here to find your local chapter and see what they have planned!

2) Join a Mentorship or Ambassador Program

AIA supports various mentorship programs, including the ACE Mentor Program and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)’s Project Pipeline. According to its website, ACE has a mission to “engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry.” The organization achieves its goal by providing scholarships, internships, and mentoring for students as they pursue career pathways in the industry.

Project Pipeline empowers students by providing hands-on experience through fun exercises where they draw, build models, do research, go on site visits, and more. The program exposes students to the cultural, social, and historical implications of architecture, along with the many ways architecture plays a role in their everyday lives. Through Project Pipeline, NOMA provides summer camps for 6th-12th graders of color across the country. Click here to find a Project Pipeline summer camp near you. 

AIA also supports the She Built Foundation, which offers an Ambassador Program for young girls interested in learning more about the building and construction industry. She Built provides student ambassadors with books and other resources that will allow them to introduce stories and activities to elementary school students. 

These programs can give students like you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. By pairing with a mentor or becoming an ambassador, you’ll be able to gain firsthand knowledge of the field and develop lifelong relationships. You never know—these connections may even help you as you apply for colleges, internships, and jobs.

3) Browse AIA’s K-12 Resources 

If you’re looking for fun, interactive architecture and design resources, AIA has just what you need! The organization’s K-12 Initiatives Page includes a treasure trove of activities, YouTube channels, online courses, and more. Having access to this resource library will allow you to build your skills and learn more about the field on your own time. The site also includes an interactive map where you can find opportunities near you.

Overall, Architecture Week is a great way to learn more about the field and participate in local events. Whether it’s a meet and greet with an architect in your area or signing up for a mentorship program, we hope this week encourages you on your architecture journey. Be sure to follow AIA on Instagram to stay tuned for updates!

Study Architecture Program Spotlight: Tulane University’s URBANbuild Program

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As an architecture student, you have the opportunity to access various programs that will expand your skills and provide you with hands-on experience. At Tulane University, URBANbuild is an award-winning design-build program that allows students to gain firsthand experience building homes in their local community in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The program was founded in 2005, with plans to launch that fall semester. However, the city of New Orleans was devastated when Hurricane Katrina made landfall later that August. Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. According to URBANbuild’s website, “the city was left 80 percent damaged with the population immediately reduced to one-third.”

(Image Credit: Tulane University)

“[Hurricane Katrina] really messed up our plans to start this new program, but more importantly and more rewardingly, it gave our program a new mission,” said Byron J. Mouton, Senior Professor of Practice at the Tulane University School of Architecture and Director of URBANbuild.

As New Orleans prioritized rebuilding, URBANBuild shifted its gears to not only assist in revitalizing the city but to also address New Orleans’ pre-Katrina problems including hesitancy to accept change. “When we first stepped into these communities, they were hesitant to buy into what we were doing,” said Mouton. “But then the second year came around and we returned and they were a little more receptive. And then it wasn’t really until we were there for three or four years that the community felt comfortable enough to engage with us.”

Community engagement and involvement is one of the most important qualities of URBANbuild. The program partners with local organizations including Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans (NHS), and Urban Fabric. “We had to build that trust,” explained Mouton. “We also worked with an organization called Neighborhood Housing Services, which had been around before Katrina, and they specialized in helping people find ways to get homes. They were really the great connection between what we were doing as researchers and what the community needed.”

The URBANbuild program spans the fall and spring semesters, offering students the opportunity to engage in the home-building process from concept to construction. The fall semester focuses on planning and research. Participating students are tasked to investigate housing strategies, permitting regulations, drafting construction documents, the cultural fabric of the community, and other key considerations.

“[During the fall semester,] we get together with the students and we have a little in-studio competition. We identify our topic of research. They each develop a strategy, and then one is chosen. They select one at midterm, and then they work on the construction documents between midterm and the end of the semester,” explains Mouton.

Students get hands-on building experience as they begin the construction process during the spring semester. “We break ground in January of the spring semester and build the house by May,” Mouton continues.

(Image Credit: URBANbuild)

(Image Credit: URBANbuild)

Over the span of 16 weeks, students learn construction techniques, communicate with tradespeople, and watch their project come to life. “[The students don’t come in with construction experience], but they do have the desire to learn and they work hard,” says Mouton. “And to be clear, they do everything except I have to hire an electrician, a plumber, and an air conditioning consultant installer. And then once in a while I’ll have a crew hang the sheetrock, but they do everything else.”

By the end of the semester, students are able to celebrate the product of their research, construction, and teamwork: a fully built home. Finished projects include tiny houses, single-family homes, duplexes, mixed-use facilities, and more.

(Image Credit: URBANbuild)

According to UrbanBuild’s website, it’s during the spring semester that students develop strong bonds with the community’s residents. “Getting to work with NHS, I got to know the family [we worked with] very well, and I’ve been able to visit them years after,” shared URBANbuild alumna Karla Valdivia. “It’s great to get to know the family because you are creating something that really affects them. It has a very personal feel.”

(Image Credit: CBS News)

Recently, URBANbuild garnered national attention when the program was featured on CBS News. Aired in October 2024, the segment highlighted 63-year-old Benjamin Henry moving into his new home, thanks to the work of Tulane students. In four months, the students transformed a vacant plot of land into Henry’s “forever home.” Formerly unhoused for over a decade, Henry shared his excitement for the new chapter and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the students. “Building someone’s forever home is crazy and so rewarding,” said Tulane graduate Elliot Slovis.

Graduates of the URBANbuild program have gone on to become licensed architects and designers. They credit the program for providing them with an in-depth understanding of the construction process and emphasizing the importance of community engagement. “[URBANbuild] gives you the real-life experience of what life is like after school,” shared Valdivia. 

Design-build programs like URBANBuild are a great way to expand your skillsets and gain real-world experience before graduation. Visit the URBANBuild website to learn more about the program, browse the curriculum, and view finished projects.

Interested in learning more about Tulane University’s School of Architecture? Click here!

Questions about the URBANbuild program? Please contact Byron Mouton (bmouton@tulane.edu).