How five AIA chapters are helping foster the growth of the next generation of architects

Architecture Week celebrates the profession of architecture and invites everyone—especially K-12 students—to explore architecture and design. In honor of Architecture Week, we’re highlighting the K-12 initiatives of a variety of AIA chapters around the country. Learn how you can get involved here. 

AIA Chattanooga

AIA Chattanooga is involved in multiple camps this year designed to teach students about architecture. The chapter is offering numerous annual scholarships for 9-12th grade students in Chattanooga, TN to attend a design summer camp offered by the University of Tennessee Knoxville. No previous experience in architecture or design is required to attend, just a curious mind and creative spirit. Application for entry can be found here in the coming weeks. 

From July 22-26, the Hip Hop Architecture Camp is coming to Chattanooga. The camp embraces the fusion of architecture and hip-hop culture and bring a dynamic initiative to the Tennessee vibrant community. This program aims to inspire creativity, inclusivity, and diversity in the world of architecture. The camp features 3D modeling and design workshops, music writing workshops and music video creation.

“Giving back to the community adds vitality to the professional pipeline, and gives members energy and inspiration,” said Tiffany Joy Vargo, Executive Director of AIA Chattanooga. “K-12 programming offers the value and experience of interacting with those not in our normal demographic group, and creates new community connections.”

AIA Dallas

The Dallas Architecture and Design Exchange (AD EX), in collaboration with the AIA Dallas Education Outreach Committee, offers a comprehensive K-12 outreach program where students not only learn about career paths in architecture, but also explore how to use design to become better stewards of their neighborhoods and champions for a more functional, beautiful, and equitable city.

The cornerstone of this outreach is the Designing My Future K-12 camp series, established in 2020, that has since expanded to multi-day spring, summer, and fall workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students. The series has hosted over 450 students to date, with the average camper in the 5th grade. 

The camps encourage students to develop innovative design concepts that solve social issues and to develop critical-thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills essential for future job security. Designing My Future serves a diverse population of students, including those who are underrepresented the architecture and design professions. Notably, the camps offer a self-qualifying scholarship option, making participation accessible to all who aspire to attend.

The Architecture & Design College Fair, a free annual event, hosts over 30 colleges and universities and regularly attracts a sold-out crowd of 350 students, parents, and teachers. Here, attendees can meet with university representatives and gain valuable insights into the journey of becoming an architect. In addition to providing one-on-one interactions, the fair has expanded to offer portfolio reviews and financial aid workshops and marks the annual opening of the call for applications for the AD EX's scholarship program, which offers around $65,000 in scholarships, fellowships, and grants. 

The Art of Architecture is a juried competition and exhibition that invites middle and high school students to unleash their creativity and explore the visual aspects of architecture. With a strong network of educators, presence at events like area ISD STEM expos, and other initiatives, the 2024 program garnered over 250 entries and an unprecedented number of participating schools. Starting in 2022, the competition winners were honored at the AD EX Scholarship & Awards Breakfast, creating greater awareness about future opportunities, and serving as a powerful source of inspiration for all the talented students involved.

Additionally, AIA Dallas and AD EX’s outreach offerings include interactive field trips, engaging pop-up programming, family days connected to exhibition themes, exciting LEGO build days, and much more. These diverse activities aim to foster a deeper connection with our community and provide unique opportunities for students to explore and engage with architecture in fun and accessible ways. Join us in our mission to inspire and educate through architecture by becoming a volunteer. Whether you choose to volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word, your contribution will make a significant impact on our community and the future of architecture education. 

"Inspiring the next generation of architects and designers by showcasing architecture as an attainable and attractive career choice is not just a responsibility—it's an investment in our future built environment. By fostering accessible pathways to architecture education and practice, we not only enrich the profession but also ensure that the spaces we inhabit reflect the vibrancy of our communities,” said AD EX Managing Director, Katie Hitt, Assoc. AIA. “Accessible architecture education is the cornerstone of a more equitable and innovative future, where the voices and visions of all aspiring designers can shape the world around us."

AIA DC 

AIA DC and the Washington Architectural Foundation (WAF) have been working together to educate the public about the relevance and importance of architecture. For the K-12 community, AIA DC is preparing them for a changing world and exposing them to the wonders of architecture, creating and planting seeds

The youth programs that the larger organization AIA DC and WAF implement are as varied as the DC community that it serves. The signature program, Architecture in the Schools (AIS), has been serving more than 20,000 students since 1992 in K-12 DC public schools in all eight wards. This spring AIS is in six schools from second to twelfth grade. As it continues to evolve, it is exciting to meet the diverse and changing needs of the students of the District of Columbia.

Design Like a Girl Mentor program has just wrapped up its ninth year, serving middle school students at the District Architecture Center, which houses AIA DC and WAF programs. Young people learn first-hand about careers from professional women in architecture, construction, and engineering fields. This year we had a total of eighteen volunteers serving thirteen junior high girls, in four workshops with themes such as set design in theatre, designing spaces for space and sustainability in architecture. 

AIA Kansas City 

AIA Kansas City recognized a need for more education and awareness of design professions in K-12 schools. In 2014, the chapter formed the Education Outreach committee, and it has now grown into a multifaceted initiative aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of architecture careers among students. What began as classroom curriculum for educators and professionals to use to get students excited about design, has evolved into Explore Architecture!, a two-volume career guide and video series.

Explore Architecture! Volume 1 serves as a roadmap for aspiring architects. It offers insights into the journey towards this profession, as well as provides a firsthand glimpse into the daily activities and responsibilities of architects. Explore Architecture! Volume 2: Discover Kansas City Buildings, acts as a companion book, featuring a selection of iconic buildings that capture the city’s rich history and diversity, and it encourages readers to explore Kansas City’s architectural heritage. These two guides are accompanied by a five-video series educating students through the design process and the path to becoming an architect.

In addition to the career guides and videos, AIA Kansas City remains actively engaged in educational outreach efforts. This includes K-8 classroom visits throughout the year and facilitating shadowing opportunities for high school students. In conjunction with Kansas City’s Center for Architecture & Design, our chapter also hosts Design Careers Day. This annual career + college fair informs students on different design career paths, takes them on tours of local design firms, and gives them access to these professions and regional universities during a career fair. It is AIA Kansas City’s hope that by providing access to these invaluable resources and experiences, they can empower students to pursue a career in architecture.

“The simple answer is, we love what we do, and we want to share it with students to inspire the next generation of architects. Often, students don't know what an architect's day-to-day can look like, so we strive to help them understand what it is we do and what the path looks like to become an architect,” said Education Outreach Committee Chair Erin Flaherty, AIA. “Most importantly, we want them to know that this is an attainable career path. Our outreach program helps to put a face to the profession. We want students to know that we're here, we're accessible, and we want to support them.”

 AIA Nebraska 

AIA Nebraska recently created member committees, including an architecture in schools committee to engage members in K-12 initiatives. Passionate AIA Nebraska members have come together on a variety of objectives including the creation of an online resource to educate elementary and middle school aged students about what an architect is and how to become one. A presentation mirroring this resource was developed for architects to provide in-class presentations in the classroom and at club venues. 

The Big B.A.D. Birdhouse Project was a collaborative effort between members of AIA Nebraska and the Nebraska and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. Members worked with elementary students in designing and building 400 birdhouses. Students learned about the fundamentals of design and building a birdhouse. Many of the bird houses were auctioned off as a fundraiser for the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.