Photo: Tim Matthews
What?s on the minds of the next generation of architects" Last December, student  members of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) filled the halls of Toronto?s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, eager to converse about emerging possibilities and their future role in strengthening the profession. These excited and nervous students exchanged thoughts with peers, intern architects and established local professionals. The discourse was energetic, the topics engaging, and there was an overall sense of optimism in the air.
As a recent graduate and past AIAS chapter president, I was invited to attend the conference and present a keynote alongside design strategist Sharon Vanderkaay, Associate AIA, on the theme of ?Stay Sane, Save Time: Work with Human Nature.? Our conversation delved into some of the self-limiting norms of our industry and what new architects can do to enact change for the profession?and for their careers. As someone who just began working in the industry, I had many questions for Vanderkaay. We talked about the value of learning negotiation skills, what young architects can bring to the practice, and working with clients to create advocates, rather than simply selling or defending our ideas. Vanderkaay cited examples of leading architects whose interactive practices support the belief that we?re all in this together. These architects work with human nature?the ways that people naturally digest new ideas and make high stakes dec...