The AIA NoVA Young Architect’s Forum (YAF) kicked off its first annual Mentor Bowling event this winter at Bowlero – Crystal City, and it was a huge success! Mentees and mentors from local firms—including Jacobs, KGD, MTFA, and Gensler—joined in for an evening of networking and fun. Building on the success of last summer’s Mentor Golf event, Mentor Bowling welcomed...

Becoming a licensed architect is a significant milestone in any architect’s career, but the path to licensure may appear to be daunting. One of the most challenging and critical steps is passing the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). The ARE® is designed to assess the skills and knowledge required for the practice of architecture, and with the rigorous nature of the...

With the new year just on the horizon, there’s no better time to start setting your 2025 goals. If your goal is to become a licensed architect, the ARE® Prep series is an amazing tool provided by AIA NoVA to help you do just that. We will kick off the series with our NCARB ARE Roundtable event, which provides an...

On July 18th, AIA Nova’s Young Architect’s Forum (YAF) held its second annual Mentor Golf event at TopGolf National Harbor. This much-anticipated evening brought together a diverse group of professionals for an experience that seamlessly blended networking, learning, and, naturally, golf. The event saw participation from prominent local firms including Jacobs, KGD, MTFA, and FGM Architects, alongside product representatives from...

In March, the Young Architects Forum (YAF) revived the Napkin Sketching Contest, to showcase the starting point of many architectural marvels — the humble napkin sketch. Designers of all levels, from professionals to beginners, eagerly submitted their napkin sketches for consideration. The entries ranged from playful doodles by aspiring elementary school students to precise drawings by seasoned firm leaders, each...

This March, YAF is reviving the AIA NoVA Napkin Sketching Contest. We all know the greatest architectural marvels often start as a humble napkin sketch! It’s the architect’s go-to canvas! Get ready because this March, YAF’s AIA NoVA Napkin Sketch Contest is back, offering you the chance to unleash your creativity and sketch your way to architectural fame. Whether it’s...

After sitting down to dinner and getting to know each other better, Kathie shared her origin story – because she really is a superhero. From architecture, engineering, management, business, education, mentorship – Kathie’s journey is a testament to her multifaceted talents. What sets her apart is her innate ability to identify gaps and ingeniously chart innovative paths to address them....

On Sept. 28, emerging architects and designers with the NoVA YAF (Young Architects Forum) gathered with mentors and sponsors from DBIA, Nira Architects, Cawood Architects, FGMA, HDR, and MTFA Architecture at the Loudon Top Golf for a fun night at the hitting range! Each young professional met with and learned from mentors, who shared their industry and golf knowledge, all...

From DC Urban Sketchers EventAlexandria, VA The second annual WIA Architecture Month walking & sketching historic tour event, in collaboration with Urban Sketchers Washington DC, and the first with Young Architects Forum, was a success! This judgement is measured by the number of people brought together across different fields and interests to learn more about both architecture and history, while...