Bridge Mentorship Program

Bridge is the highly successful mentoring program sponsored by AIA Chicago, the AIA College of Fellows, and the Young Architects Forum. It provides Emerging Professionals with access to local AIA Fellows (FAIA), leaders and designers from the architectural community.

This training and leadership program requires active participation in a mentorship setting. Emerging Professionals interested in participating should have proven leadership and a willingness to learn and share.

Overview of Program

This program intends to Bridge the gap between the need for mentorship in our profession and the ability of experienced architects to pass on what they have learned to the future generation of architects.

Each selected Bridge participant will be paired with a local AIA Fellow acting as their mentor. The program will incorporate informal social events and organized mentorship discussions focusing the conversation on past experiences, career development, and the future of the architectural profession. Throughout the program, the mentors and their mentees will also meet in a one-on-one setting to informally discuss specific professional goals while further developing and strengthening their relationship.

The program benefits include an opportunity to be mentored by experienced professionals and FAIA members. Participants will develop communication and relationship skills, advance professional skills, expand professional and personal networks, experience team performance, and develop community leadership.

Ideal Applicants

The ideal applicant is an architectural designer with a minimum of 3 years of post-grad work experience, who is licensed or pursuing licensure. AIA membership is not necessary to apply, but all selected participants must be or become AIA Chicago members.

Bridge 13.0 Schedule:

2022

September 21: Mentee Orientation
October 12: Bridge Kick-Off
October 19: Speed Pairing
November 16: Bridge Session 1
December 14: Bridge Session 2

2023

January 18: Bridge Session 3 - Guest Speaker
February 8: Bridge Session 4
March 1: Bridge Session 5 - PechaKucha
March 22: Bridge Session 6
April: Closing Reception (date TBA)

All sessions begin at 6:30pm.

Application