AIA understands how valuable Emerging Professionals and their engagement are for profession and to members’ careers.
Emerging Professionals are architecture students, recent graduates, and professionals working towards licensure, and architects licensed ten years or less. Joining the AIA as a young professional offers a variety of networking opportunities, resources for growth and valuable career connections.
Reach out to our EP Liaison Danielle Granger (Danielle@dgparchitects.com) to check out study materials or to join our monthly tours of local creative businesses, firms, and fabricators!
Join the EPs for their monthly Happy Hour, first Thursday of the month! Keep up with EP events on our calendar here.
Upcoming Events:
Check our calendar for full details and RSVP.
RAQC Talk (Rescheduled for Spring) — Meet up with the Central VA Emerging Professionals in Charlottesville at the Rivanna Area Queer Community Center! Topic: Designing for the Queer Community + Pro bono Leadership Experience.
access free STUDY MATERIALS for:
ARE 5.0
LEED AP and LEED BD+C
And, we still have ARE 4.0 guides, just in case
learn & connect
Lunch and Learns provide continuing education or IDP hours through job site visits, workshops, and lectures.
Join our monthly tours of local creative businesses, firms, and fabricators.
Collaborate with other EPs on community design projects
Membership in the AIA Central Virginia chapter allows you to connect more deeply with our community, form new relationships in the area, and serve the community using your talents and skills. A degree from a NAAB accredited school is not a requirement for Membership in the AIA. Get started!
Recent Meetings:
10.23.25
studio tour + Happy hour: Grimm + Parker
Big thank you to Grimm + Parker Architects for welcoming the AIA Central Virginia Emerging Professionals for an office tour and discussions with project architects on work in progress!
Getting an inside perspective on how your team approaches design challenges, fosters collaboration, and builds a thoughtful office culture was incredibly valuable. Highlights included learning how their expansive master plans translate community input into clear, phased strategies for long-term growth.
We’re grateful to be part of such a supportive and collaborative chapter — thank you for sharing your process and inspiration with us!
10.2.25
Virginia NOMA + AIA CV Emerging Professionals Trivia Night!
Thank you to our affiliates, VANOMA and Pella Windows & Doors for hosting an awesome trivia night! Let’s do it again 🚀
9.9.25
Monthly Happy Hour + ELA Alumni INSIGHT
Our latest Central Virginia EP happy hour was a great success! 😄 This month, we were joined by ELA Alumni who provided wonderful insight on the AIA Virginia ELA program.
Applications are now open for AIA Virginia Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) Class of 2026! Complete details on applying for ELA can be found on our website here.
Want to learn more about local opportunities for professional development? Reach out to us with any questions or join our local EP email list: aiacentralva@gmail.com
⭐️ Central VA Emerging Professionals meet monthly for happy hour, first Thursday of the month.
6.6.25
Monthly Happy Hour
Our Emerging Professionals group had a stellar happy hour this month. Thanks everyone for a good turnout!
We were excited to focus conversations on ARE prep and the steps to licensure, we are here to help each other!
⭐️ Central VA Emerging Professionals meet monthly for happy hour, first Thursday of the month. Keep up with EP events on our calendar here.
4.14.25
Emerging Professionals + ELA Alumni Happy Hour
We had a fantastic kick off of Architecture Week 2025 with our Emerging Professionals for Happy Hour, joined by Emerging Leaders in Architecture Alumni 🥂
Thank you to the ELA Class of 2025 and alumni for joining us in Charlottesville last Friday! We’re continually inspired by the passion and perspective this program cultivates—and grateful for the connections and conversations that grow through gathering as a community.
2.7.25
Albemarle Courts Building Hard Hat Tour
Last Friday, our community came together for an insightful tour of the Albemarle Courts building, a central landmark in the heart of Charlottesville. Led by Eric Amtmann, with Dalgliesh Gilpin Paxton Architects, attendees delved into the building’s fascinating renovation history, its master plan, and the intricate design considerations behind the new courtroom layouts.
Looking for more construction administration exposure? Or curious about what's happening in your neighborhood? Contact your local chapter here: aiacentralva@gmail.com
11.15.24
Fairfax Hall Tour
Emerging professionals toured the historic Fairfax Hall property last Friday. Completed in 1890, this building has served Waynesboro in various capacities, including as a hotel, finishing school, and training facility. Today, architect Carter Greene is leading efforts to transform the building into 54 affordable apartments and an event facility, utilizing VHDA and Historic Tax Credits. Notable architectural features—such as the Queen Anne shingles, cupola, viewing porches, and original hardwood floors—will be preserved and refinished, ensuring that the community will continue to cherish this landmark for years to come.
9.18.24
Better Living Millshop Tour
Our Emerging Professionals had a wonderful tour of The Better Living Millshop in Zions Crossroads.
The Better Living Millshop was the first LEED certified Industrial Building in Central Virginia. Designed by the Gains Group, this project features a rainwater collection system and a transpired solar collector. EP's got a first hand look at how this building is used to fabricate doors and stairs for regional projects!
9.4.24
Pella Showroom Tour
This week, our Emerging Professionals group had an exciting opportunity to explore the latest in window technology at the Pella Showroom in Charlottesville. From sleek aesthetics to unmatched durability, fiberglass windows are becoming a game-changer in architectural design!
Architectural Consultant Rachel Shelton guided us through the details, answering critical specification questions and sharing insights on the unique advantages of this innovative product line. It’s all about combining style with performance—an essential blend for today’s designs.
Missed out? Don’t worry! Stay tuned for our next event and get the chance to connect with local Architectural Consultants who are redefining the industry.
Mark your calendars, and let’s keep pushing the boundaries of architecture together!
8.30.24
Virginia Metalcrafters Marketplace Tour
Big thank you to Greg Hitchins for organizing a tour of the Metalcrafter's Marketplace in Waynesboro! The Emerging Professionals gathered in the valley for a tour to discuss historical tax credits, the art of rehabilitating, and incentive programs for commercial mix use buildings. Basic City Brewery sat at the end of the tour train, providing refreshing beer and conversation. Join us next time!
8.1.24
EP Happy Hour @ Kardinal Hall
Another wonderful happy hour with our Emerging Professionals! 😊🥳
5.2.24
EP Happy Hour @ Kardinal Hall
Our Emerging Professionals group meet for happy hour, first Thursday of every month. We had a great group this May!
4.19.24
Tour of HeartPine Showroom
Our EPs met up for lunch and a tour of the HeartPine Showroom, last Friday, April 19th. Thank you HeartPine! We look forward to more tours with local businesses and practices within Central VA.
4.12.24
ep + ela happy hour @ Uva hotel a
We had a wonderful Happy Hour joining forces with ELA Virginia Alumni and our Central VA Emerging Professionals at UVA Hotel A on April 12th! Always fun to connect our EPs with ELA.
2.1.24
EP Happy Hour with new EP liaison, Danielle Granger!
4.20.23
Springpoint Structural / Line and Grade
Outstanding conversation today! AIA CV Emerging Professionals talked with Springpoint Structural and Line and Grade civil engineers, about their work, career paths, starting new firms, and why they built the firm culture they have.
Thanks to Dan Heyer (Line and Grade) and Craig Swift (Springpoint) for covering a wide range of topics, from how to respond to adversity, being comfortable saying “I don’t know”, how to win work (hint: it’s all about relationships), and how they deal with uncertainty and fear. Special thanks to the incredible team of Emerging Professionals they brought from their office to discuss their work and career experience!
3.22.23
Rocktown High School Building Tour
Thank you so much to Grimm + Parker and Scott Eschbach for an enriching tour of Rocktown High School! Scott led our Emerging Professionals through the site and infrastructure, communicating the variety of scales at which both the site and building function in service to the students and broader community of Harrisonburg.
2.21.23
UVA Building Panel
We had a wonderful Emerging Professionals Panel yesterday hosted by UVA Facilities Management Geospatial Engineering Services. Thank you to UVA and our attendees for a rich discussion!
