2019 YOUNG ARCHITECT CONFERENCE

An Architecture Conference for the Community by the Community

PORTLAND, OR
August 23-25, 2019

REGISTER NOW

WHAT IS THE YOUNG ARCHITECT CONFERENCE?

Calling all young architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and architecture graduates.

Join future leaders in the profession of architecture and community to discuss and explore topics of Leadership, Connection, and Service within architecture. For three days, we will interact, engage, and inspire each other.

You are invited to join us at the Young Architect Conference, a 3-Day Conference with keynotes in the morning, workshops in the afternoon, and parties at night. This conference was created with you in mind.

WHY THE YOUNG ARCHITECT CONFERENCE?

Hi, I’m Michael Riscica. I’ve attended and spoken at dozens of architecture conferences.

Here’s what they have in common:

• They’re too one-sided. There’s way too much lecturing from-the-stage and not enough interaction amongst all the amazing and powerful people in the room.
• They don’t focus on the future.  So many conferences don’t seem to think at all about the next generation of our profession.

• They don’t focus on serving our community. The focus is always on the industry’s new shiny window, or worse, who among us can donate the most money, instead of harnessing the power of the minds of the audience to see how we can serve our profession and our communities.

This is our profession, we’re inheriting it. Things are moving at a faster pace than ever before, and more Young Architects are moving into positions of power. Are you equipped for long-term success? You can be.

That’s why I want you to join us in August, so we can talk about how to make the next generation of Architects the most successful.

THE FUTURE OF THE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION

The profession is changing faster than it ever has.

Everything from construction documents, licensure, technology, communication, marketing, professionalism, the workplace, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Baby boomers are retiring and millennials are starting their own firms and businesses. Everything about how we work and live is drastically different than it was 20 years ago.

“The way it’s always been done” is questioned and challenged more every single day.

It’s time to acknowledge these changes and look toward creating a more successful profession of architects for ourselves and future generations.

The mission for the Young Architect conference is to explore leadership, connection, and service within architecture.

All keynotes, workshops, parties, and everything related to this conference will connect back to these three themes in some shape or form.

TRAILBLAZING SPEAKERS YOU WON’T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE

MARIELA BRAVO

PROJECT ARCHITECT AT MANUEL BERMUDEZ ARQUITECTO, CSP

Mariela has been working diligently with interns at Manual Bermúdez Aquitectos to help restore Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma, and Maria hit in 2017. Together, they have been evaluating the damage, learning why buildings couldn’t withstand a Level 5 hurricane, and what they can now do to improve future building structures. 

WANDILE MTHIYANE

FOUNDER & CEO UBUNTU DESIGN GROUP

Wandile Mthiyane, 25, is an Obama Leader, TedxFellow, architectural designer, social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Ubuntu Design Group (UDG), an architectural organization that focuses on social impact design projects ranging from individual housing to urban design scale. Influenced by his childhood experiences growing up in post-apartheid South Africa, Wandile founded UDG on the premise that if apartheid architecture could segregate and oppress, then community-led design can liberate and enable opportunities for all. UDG developed the concept of Ubuntu Home, a dignified work-live home designed to enable the families to financially sustain themselves, as well as to empower local community.   

RACHEL GRESHAM, AIA

PROJECT ARCHITECT AT TMPARTNERS

Rachel Gresham, AIA, CDT, is a Project Architect at TMPartners in Nashville, TN and an advocate for diverse and progressive firm cultures in the profession. Volunteering as a mentor and Team Leader for the ACE Mentor Program of Nashville is Rachel’s favorite way to advance the profession and her community. 

DREW PAUL BELL

ARCHITECT AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL HOST

Registered Architect and YouTube Channel Host where he shares videos and posts are about both the knowledge of architecture and the soft skills needed to maneuver school, manage a balanced life, and transition into the profession

DR. ASHLEE KLEVEN HAYES

FOUNDER OF RX ASHLEE

Founder of RX Ashlee a career development company that focuses on business development, branding, marketing, and interview preparation for high-level professionals. University of Southern California School of Pharmacy Career Strategist. Business Coach. Motivational Speaker. Podcast Host. Mom.  

JASON BACHER

CO-FOUNDER OF GFDA, INDPENDENT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jason Bacher is the co-founder of Good Fucking Design Advice. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn as an independent creative director for brands and companies looking to embrace creativity and risk-taking. His first book, “Do the Fucking Work: Lowbrow Advice for High-level Creativity” written with his best friends and cohorts, Brian Buirge and Jason Richburg, will be published by HarperCollins in Fall 2019.

LEAH ALISSA BAYER, AIA

FOUNDER AND STUDIO DIRECTOR OF EVIA Leah is Founder + Studio Director of EVIA, a multi-faceted virtual firm with an award-winning business plan designed to create healthy, equitable, and sustainable housing. She’s an advocate for black sheep entrepreneurs and champions those who dare to do differently from many roles, most recently as an AIA Silicon Valley Board Director.

MICHAEL RISCICA, AIA

CONFERENCE HOST AND FOUNDER OF YOUNGARCHITECT.COM

Michael is the founder of YoungArchitect.com. He’s also a bicycle enthusiast, public speaker, author, motivational coach, and all around supporter of young architects everywhere.

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED

LEADERSHIP, CONNECTION, SERVICE.

That’s what the Young Architect Conference is all about. Check out the conference schedule, below…

Friday, August 23 Day One at Holocene 9:30 am Doors Open for Registration 10:30AM – 12:00PM

• History of Portland Walking Tour with Eric Wheeler (Student Track)
• Entrepreneurship for Young Architects with Mike Riscica (YA Track)
• ARE Study Session (Emerging Professional Track)

1:00PM – 2:30PM

• Up Front and Center: Public Speaking in Architecture with Cherise Lakeside (Emerging Professional Track)
• Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Build Your Personal Brand with Dr. Ashlee Kleven Hayes (YA Track)

At The Redd

• 7:00 pm Registration and Opening Reception

Saturday, August 24

Day Two at The Redd9:00AM Registration 9:30AM – 12:30PM Keynotes 12:30 – 2:00PM Lunch2:00PM – 3:30PM

• Introduction to Project Management with Anne Lebo (Student Track)
• Rendering Workflow – From Shot Composition to Post Production with Christian Fraser (Student Track)
• Bid Day: Where the Documents meet the Dollars with Alicia LaManna (YA Track)

4:00PM – 5:30PM

• Goal Setting that Actually Works with Drew Paul Bell (Student Track)
• Women in Architecture: Discover the GREAT leader within you! with Gloria Kloter (YA Track)
• Incorporating Fast VR in your Workflow with Steven Humphries (Emerging Professionals Track)

5:45PM – 6:45PM

• History of Portland Walking Tour with Eric Wheeler (Student Track)
• Child of Apartheid Short Film Screening and Q/A with Wandile Mthiyane (YA Track)
• ARE Study Session (Emerging Professional Track)

Sunday, August 25

Day Three at The Redd9:00AM Registration 9:30AM – 12:30PM Keynotes 12:30 – 2:00PM Lunch2:00PM – 3:30PM

• Sketching with Bill Tripp (Student Track)
• ARE Study Session (Emerging Professional Track)
• Build Your Professional Network. Build Your Success with Adam and Monica Denais (YA Track)

4:00PM – 5:30PM

• Building Community Resilience with ORLI + (Student Track)
• So you’re licensed, now what? with Rachel Gresham (YA Track)
• Becoming an Architecture Content Creator with Mike, Drew + 2 (Emerging Professionals Track)

WORKSHOPS

We have grouped the workshops in three different tracks to help attendees choose which workshops to take.

The THREE Workshop Tracks:

1. Architecture Student: Geared more towards Students
2. Emerging Professional: Not a student and not a Licensed Architect. (AKA the catch-all track)
3. Young Architect: Within the first 10 years of Licensure.

Conference Attendees may participate in any workshop they desire, regardless of where they are in their careers.

Introduction to Project Management: Get ahead of the game by learning the basic formula that makes for an easy transition from doing a project to managing a project – reflection.

Building Community Resilience: Engage in the design of an integrated, actionable community engagement process for resilient development through a series of group interactive exercises.

Sketching: Learn how to overcome the fear of drawing and use sketching as a means of exploration and discovery.

History of Portland Walking Tour: Explore the rich architectural history of Portland on this walking tour from architectural historian Eric Wheeler.

Rendering Workflow – From Shot Composition to Post Production: Learn the principles of composing a captivating rendering with an emphasis on streamlined and efficient post-production in Photoshop.

Goal Setting that Actually Works

Up Front and Center – Public Speaking in Architecture: Get yourself out there, set yourself apart and play on your strengths.

Are you ready to be a Project Manager?: A panel discussion with peers about responsibilities, leadership, and experiences of project managers.

Becoming an Architecture Content Creator: Join successful bloggers, podcasters, and vloggers to learn and discuss the social media side to Architecture.  

ARE Study Sessions: A group discussion of practice questions, ARE testing strategies and the big concepts. This form of group studying has ALWAYS proven to be MOST effective.

Incorporating Fast VR in your Workflow: Learn about the virtual reality (VR) market and its benefits to the A&D industry.

So you’re licensed, now what?: Using intentional self-reflection to determine possible paths post-licensure and curb the fear of mid-career purgatory

A foreign woman Architect, leading through the art of giving first: Learn from one’s journey how serving with a humble heart can open unexpected doors while lifting others up through empowerment and care.

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable – Build Your Personal Brand: this program will showcase to young architects what it takes to translate their education, skills, and ambition into lasting success and career satisfaction.

Bid Day – Where the Documents meet the Dollars: Experience the frenzied pace of Bid Day,  no experience necessary!

Entrepreneurship for Young Architects: think like an entrepreneur, and gain proven strategies, and examples of successful Entrepreneur Architects

Build Your Professional Network. Build Your Success: Identify your goals and learn how to network with purpose – successfully starting conversations, building and maintaining meaningful connections, and creating opportunities through your network to reach your goals.

If you have any questions about the workshops or the conference, please email [email protected]

WHY PORTLAND, OREGON?

Easy.

Summers in Portland are magical.

Portland has a thriving design community and the city has a rich and interesting architectural history.

Not to mention, the food (and beer) scene is incredible.

Portland’s the perfect place for a conference focused on leadership, connection, and service.

LOCATION & LODGING

The Young Architect Conference will be hosted at The Redd, 831 SE Salmon St., Portland OR 97214. The center of Portland’s bustling Eastside neighborhood, home to converted warehouses, mixed-use buildings, and some of the city’s best restaurants and hotspots. This is the “real” Portland. Where Portlanders live, work, and play. The conference will expand over several buildings, campus-style, with The Redd being the hub.

The Redd has trilingual signage in Spanish and Braille. The space is ADA accessible and has a dedicated mother’s room.

The Young Architect Conference has obtained discounts at two great local hotels. The Jupiter (which is the location of the closing party) and the Hotel Rose. Use code YAC2019 when booking at The Jupiter and CORP when booking at the Hotel Rose.

If you are looking to share a room while you are in Portland, we can help with that too.  After you purchase your ticket you can complete a form requesting help finding a roommate and we will work to match you up with someone.

Each location has been carefully selected with accessibility and the ability to accommodate everyone’s needs in mind.

THE YOUNG ARCHITECT CONFERENCE IS A WORKING CONFERENCE.

Are you ready to work?

Great! This conference isn’t for passive listening. It’s not for talking about taking action. You’ll participate, discuss, and engage with exploring the ideas of leadership, connection, and service within the architecture discipline.

REGISTER NOW

Join us in Portland, OR where you’ll connect with others in the community and contribute to the future of architecture.

REGISTER NOW

Payment Plans Available

A limited number of scholarship passes are available for those who demonstrate financial need, students, and members of underrepresented communities at architect conferences. Travel and accommodations are not included. Deadline to submit an application is May 31st.

By registering for this event, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.

SPONSORS

Thanks to the following sponsors for allowing us to keep ticket prices reasonable:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What does my ticket include?

  Your conference pass includes access to both days of main stage talks, your choice of afternoon workshops, and entry to the opening and closing parties. We’ll provide beverages and snacks both days, but meals will be on your own. Tickets to Friday academies and Monday tours are sold separately.

• How do I get there?

  Portland (PDX airport code) is very accessible from any major airline, and getting from the airport into town is a breeze (and only $2.50!) on the MAX light rail from the terminal right into the heart of Portland. Our “campus” of venues are all within a 1-mile radius or short Lyft/Uber ride from the main venue.

• Where do I stay?

  For information on hotels and discount codes, visit this document. We also encourage you to explore alternative lodging options, like Airbnb, international hostels, and Couchsurfing.com. The address of the Redd is 831 SE Salmon St so you can plan accordingly.

• What if I have special needs?

  We would love to know what those are and accommodate you as best we can because accessibility is one of our top priorities. When you register, you’ll see a field just for that so you can let us know if you’re vegan, hard of hearing, in a mobility device, or something else entirely.

• Who else will be there?

  Architecture Graduates, Emerging Professionals, Architecture Community Members, ARE Candidates, Industry Leaders, Industry Rebels, Students, AIA Members, CSI Members, Young Architects, Old Architects from ALL OVER America and pretty much anyone who is aligned with helping the NEXT Generation of Architects succeed.

• Can I collect AIA Continuing Education Units at the Young Architect Conference?

  No. Eliminating the requirements for CEU credits allows us more creativity and flexibility. Not offering CEU credits does not mean you will not be learning, however.  All of our workshops were designed with education in mind, just without the AIA’s restrictions. 

• Can I transfer my ticket or get a refund?

  Conference passes are non-refundable but can be transferred to another person up to July 25, 2019, for a fee of $100. While you are ultimately responsible for finding someone to take your place, let us know if you’re looking to transfer your ticket and we will try to help with that process as best we can.

• Will I be “sold to” at this conference?

  Don’t worry, there won’t be any suppliers or vendors trying to sell you on something at this conference.  All of our speakers and presenters are asked to avoid any kind of “pitch”, but some of them may offer products or services for sale should you like to learn more on your own.

• Will my registration information be published?

  We respect your privacy. Outside of the information visible on your badge to other attendees of the event, we will not publish, give away, or sell your information to third parties, including our sponsors.

• How do I register for workshops?

  Registration for workshops will occur once all details are finalized closer to the event. When you buy your conference ticket you’ll be put on an exclusive attendee mailing list that we’ll use to communicate workshop registrations and more.

• Can I buy a day pass to the conference if I can’t attend the whole thing?

  Full conference passes are currently the only tickets available for the event.

• What is a “Young Architect”?

  The young in Young Architect doesn’t have anything to do with age, but everything to do with time spent in the profession. The AIA defines as Young Architect as the first ten years after becoming licensed.Does choosing a workshop track lock me into only those workshops?Nope. They were meant to help categorize the workshops and offer guidance. You can choose any of the workshops to attend that you feel is most beneficial to you.

• How is this different from AIA Conference on Architecture?

  AIA National Conferences are really more about collecting Continuing Education Units (like they are Pokemon) and exhibiting the shiniest new products or Product Rep sales pitches. The Young Architect Conference will be 100% about strengthening the Architecture Community and helping the NEXT Generation of Architects succeed in their careers!

CONTACT US

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Young Architect Conference is a part of YoungArchitect.com