We are proud to announce that the Minnesota and Wisconsin Architecture teams of Mead & Hunt have been awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Award for 2023-2024! Mead & Hunt was awarded for demonstrating a commitment to emerging professionals and for our mentorship and support of professional development. As an Emerging Professional at Mead & Hunt myself, I have personally benefitted from the programs and initiatives that earned Mead & Hunt this recognition. I am grateful and excited to work at a firm dedicated to mentoring and supporting the next generation of architects.
From interns to professional architects
In recent years, the Minneapolis and Middleton offices have welcomed architecture students as summer interns. Interns are a part of projects of all scales and phases. They are given various tasks including creating graphics and diagrams, assisting in drafting construction documents, and participating in meetings with clients and consultants. Interns are also encouraged to share their software skills, techniques, and ideas with the team. They often share their school project work with their team members to get feedback and celebrate their accomplishments.
As architectural student interns and emerging professionals enter the industry, the path to obtaining a professional architectural license can be daunting. License candidates must obtain an accredited degree, complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and the Architectural Registrations Exams (AREs). At Mead & Hunt, we assist students and emerging professionals in many ways, including:
- Providing senior staff to act as AXP supervisors and volunteers, overseeing and approving hours.
- Encouraging our team to establish a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Record to begin receiving experience hour credits for their work.
- Offering reimbursement to full-time employees for the initial cost and annual fees associated with maintaining their NCARB records and for the cost of AREs and associated study materials.
- Granting paid time off to study and take the exams.
- Giving access to the ARE preparation program “Black Spectacles” for study materials and practice exams.
Groups for Emerging Professionals
In 2022, our team formed an Architecture Emerging Professionals Group (AEPG), which complements Mead & Hunt’s established Young Professionals Group (YPG). In conjunction with the company-wide level volunteering, networking, and development opportunities that the YPG offers, the AEPG provides support to emerging professionals on architecture-specific topics. The AEPG holds sessions relating to licensure and professional development, and the group invites senior-level staff members to present on various topics, including construction administration, project management, sustainability certifications, and professional organizations. The overarching goal of both groups is to offer a supportive space to learn and create connections. A few months ago, I began studying for the Architectural Registration Exams. As I started the process, I encouraged my fellow AEPG members to do the same. Recent group meetings have centered around sharing studying techniques, exam experiences, lessons learned, and congratulations for exam passes. The path to architectural license was intimidating on my own, but having the AEPG community to ask for help, motivation, and celebration has made all the difference.
Earning the AIA EP Friendly designation is another example of the Mead & Hunt team putting people first and doing what makes sense. Properly supporting emerging professionals is a company-wide effort, requiring participation from peers, mentors, and leadership. A huge congratulations to our team for creating a space that provides emerging professionals with well-rounded and sincere support on their professional development journey!
