Architects Foundation + AIA College of Fellows® · Investing in the next generation
Mentor the Next Generation into Practice
This one-time partnership between Architects Foundation and the AIA College of Fellows® connects the Foundation’s Next Generation Scholars with Fellows in mentorship. The partnership concludes December 31, 2026.
S. R. Crown Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology · Photo: Library of Congress
Architects Foundation and the AIA College of Fellows® have formed a one-time partnership to support the Foundation’s Next Generation Scholars as they transition from school into practice. The exhibition at The Octagon celebrates the many ways Fellows advance the profession and invites visitors to help shape its future.
Elevating Architects: 75 Years of the AIA College of Fellows®
Visitors will encounter influential figures in design, public service, education, literature, institutional leadership, and the science of construction. The exhibition follows the history of the AIA College of Fellows®, its members, and the continuing impact of Fellows today.
The path to Fellowship
Trace the College’s history through its milestones and the nomination papers of I. M. Pei, alongside the documents and objects that mark the journey to Fellowship.
Objects of Fellowship
Discover how Fellows have advanced the profession through design, practice management, service to the Institute, education, public service, and literature.
A living legacy
Enter a reading room and encounter the names of Fellows and Honorary Fellows—a record of architecture’s continuing contribution to public life.
Six Objects of Nomination
Across the six Objects of nomination, Fellows have expanded architectural knowledge, shaped institutions, and brought their expertise to public life.
- DesignDesign may include the design of a building or project.
- Science of ConstructionAdvance how architecture is made, from materials and building systems to construction methods.
- Service to the InstituteFellows lead the Institute and related professional organizations, strengthening the profession and its institutions.
- EducationTeaching, academic research, administration, and writing can make lasting contributions to architectural education.
- Public ServiceArchitectural leadership in public service, government, and industry can transform the built environment.
- LiteratureWritings inspire critical thinking, foster innovation, and contribute to dialogue about architecture’s role in the world.
of AIA members are Fellows
Opening doors for the next generation
Fellows bring experience in design, leadership, education, and public service to the challenges facing architecture. By sharing that knowledge with Next Generation Scholars, they can help emerging architects navigate the transition from school into practice and build the relationships that sustain a career.
About the curator
Craig Lee
Craig Lee is a writer and curator specializing in the history of modern architecture and design. Most recently, he served as assistant curator in Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he co-curated Bruce Goff: Material Worlds. His work has also examined Charles Moore, Helmut Jahn, Denise Scott Brown, Edgar Miller and the history of commercial signage.
Get involved
Volunteer to Mentor
The AIA College of Fellows® and Architects Foundation are developing a mentorship program that pairs Fellows with the Foundation’s Next Generation Scholars. Fellows can support a Scholar through the transition from school into practice, with mentorship tailored to region and practice when possible.
A one-time partnership
Mentor the Next Generation into Practice
This one-time partnership between Architects Foundation and the AIA College of Fellows® aims to raise $500,000 to establish a mentorship program connecting Fellows with the Foundation’s Next Generation Scholars. The partnership concludes December 31, 2026. Gifts provide unrestricted support to both organizations; the exhibition at The Octagon is the occasion to celebrate this work.
Suggested gifts
- $75
- $500
- $1,000
- $2,500
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $25,000
- Custom amount
Your gift provides unrestricted support to both organizations and helps establish and sustain the mentorship program. For Fellows, a gift made through this page or a Fellow’s Challenge page counts toward your annual contribution and your cumulative count for Legacy donor status in the AIA College of Fellows®. Gifts may be pledged by December 31, 2026 and paid over as many as three years.
Gifts of $75 or more include a limited-edition 75th-anniversary pin. To make a larger or custom gift, including stock, ACH, or a legacy gift, contact Architects Foundation so it can be credited to this joint effort.
For cryptocurrency or donor-advised fund gifts, The Giving Block accepts gifts for Architects Foundation. Please contact the Foundation first so the gift can be credited to this joint effort.
Fellows and friends can opt into the Fellows Challenge by creating a personal fundraising page and inviting their networks. To get help setting up a peer fundraising page, email Olivia at oliviahutto@aia.org. The challenge has a $75,000 goal and tracks collective progress.
Other ways to support
Volunteer to mentor →
Discuss a larger or custom gift →
Give cryptocurrency or from a DAF →
Join the Fellows Challenge →