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Dear Student, I suspect you’ve already encountered most of the conventional advice—the familiar platitudes repeated endlessly in classrooms, critiques, and career talks. Work hard. Stay disciplined. Develop your craft. Each phrase is earnest, and each contains some truth, but none of them alone can fully illuminate what it actually means to become a professional. That word carries with it a whole slew of expectations—some external, some internal, some inherited without question. Rather than offer prescriptive wisdom, I prefer to share some reflections from my own often uncertain path—observations that didn’t arrive all at once, but over time, and usually the hard way.
Earlier this month, we covered the launch of the AIA Pasadena & Foothill Chapter’s 'Ask an Architect' program aimed at helping homeowners impacted by the devastating Los Angeles Fires. The free program under the AIA in California umbrella, which will begin with Eaton Fire victims and later expand to include those who lost homes or businesses in the Palisades Fire, is entirely volunteer-run and works on behalf of the professional community to meet the questions of neighbors looking to rebuild their lives and property after the January 2025 catastrophe destroyed more than 16,000 structures. To gain a better understanding of the scope and challenges latent in the rebuilding effort, Archinect spoke with Jessica Orlando, the chapter's Vice President and Associate Principal of Higher Education in Perkins&Will's Los Angeles office. She answered questions pertaining to the program's adaptation — which has drawn 120 matches thus far — and the collaboration of other chapters across LA County...
"I fear that I have integrated my people into a burning house" — MLK National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), I was asked to weigh in on an issue that has consumed much of my professional life and intellectual energy. Some of my thoughts on this are more well-documented than others, but all stem from a deep understanding of how architecture shapes our social reality.
Archinect’s 2025 roundup of summer architecture programs continues with Part 2, focusing on opportunities for high school graduates, college students, and adults of all experience levels. Whether you're exploring architecture for the first time or seeking to deepen your knowledge in a specialized area, these courses and workshops — hosted by top academic institutions and organizations across the U.S. — offer a valuable introduction to architectural education. From foundational design skills to advanced topics, there’s something for everyone. Apply early, as spots fill up fast! If you're interested in summer programs for kids and high school students, check out our recently published Part 1.
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I’m a backpack person. Whether for everyday carry or for travel, I’ve always preferred backpacks to sling, messenger, duffel, and, above all, roller bags. But after I severely injured my right arm, I was forced to cycle through alternatives, particularly for day-to-day purposes. I found smaller, single-shoulder bags uncomfortable to wear for long periods; most
Jan Žaloudek Architekt has recently completed a home that was built by the architect for himself and his family. Together with his wife, art historian and writer Jolanta Trojak, they long dreamed of a place where one could connect with the landscape or retreat inward.
The rise of artificial intelligence will challenge architects to rediscover their unique value.
You may know John Green as a Youtuber, a podcaster, or the mega best-selling author of Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, and The Anthropocene Reviewed. His latest book is called Everything Is Tuberculosis. It’s a deep-dive into one of the oldest and deadliest threats to humankind. “If
Dear Student, I suspect you’ve already encountered most of the conventional advice—the familiar platitudes repeated endlessly in classrooms, critiques, and career talks. Work hard. Stay disciplined. Develop your craft. Each phrase is earnest, and each contains some truth, but none of them alone can fully illuminate what it actually means to become a professional. That word carries with it a whole slew of expectations—some external, some internal, some inherited without question. Rather than offer prescriptive wisdom, I prefer to share some reflections from my own often uncertain path—observations that didn’t arrive all at once, but over time, and usually the hard way.
