Young Architects of ALA
YALA: the next generation of architects.
YALA is ALA's community for students, new graduates, and early-career architects. Whether you are studying for the ARE, starting your first job, or building your network, YALA connects you with peers at the same stage and architects a few steps ahead.
What YALA Does
Bringing together the future of the profession.
Every YALA program has the same purpose: relationships. Between the people entering this profession and the people who have already built careers in it. The mentor you meet over coffee, the firm you tour in October, the rep who remembers your name: these are the connections that shape a career, and they start in a room, not an inbox.
Quarterly
ALA Open Studio
A firm tour and an honest conversation on one practice topic: fees, first hires, contracts, succession. Hosted at a different member firm each quarter, open to every member.
No Agenda
Coffee with Architects
Industry professionals, future professionals, and advocates around one table. No agenda, no program, no slides. Just coffee and the conversations that turn into mentors, collaborators, and first jobs.
Out in the Field
Showroom Crawls & Outings
Walk material showrooms, get hands on products, and meet the reps behind them, alongside architects at every career stage. You leave knowing more people than you arrived with.
Eight Weeks
ARE Study Cohorts
One division, one exam date, eight to twelve people taking the same test, led by a YALA member who passed it recently. Every pass goes on the I Passed wall; every new license is pinned on stage at the Gala.
More on the calendar all year: career workshops, portfolio nights, and whatever a member proposes next. Watch upcoming events and your member email.
The Flagship
ALA Open Studio
A quarterly session hosted at a member firm. Each one pairs a tour of the host firm's office with an open discussion on one topic that affects how architects practice. Organized by YALA. Open to all ALA members at any career stage. The value comes from having experienced practitioners and newer architects in the same room.
A different firm each quarter
Sessions rotate across member firms in Illinois and Wisconsin. Architects want to see how other firms work; the tour is the draw.
Tour first, discussion after
The host firm opens its office, then the room takes on one practice topic in an honest, off-the-slides conversation.
One topic per session
Fees, first hires, contracts, succession. Topics rotate so the program stays useful year after year.
Free for ALA members
No cohort, no signup cycle. Attend the sessions that are relevant to you.
Next Session
Next session details coming soon. Watch this page and your member email.
Session Topics
Hosting puts your office and your work in front of architects from across the region. The firm provides the space and the tour; YALA organizes the session and brings the room. To host an upcoming quarter, contact ALA@licensedarchitect.org.
Why Join YALA
Open Studio
A quarterly firm tour and an honest conversation on one practice topic, organized by YALA and open to every ALA member.
Networking
Coffee with Architects meetups, showroom crawls, and the ALA conferences put peers, mentors, and industry leaders in the same room, and keep them there long enough to matter.
The path to licensure
ARE study cohorts for all six divisions, the I Passed wall, and pinning at the Design Awards Gala the year you are licensed. Free for Associate, New Graduate and Student members.
Scholarships and awards
Apply to the Student Merit Awards for recognition, scholarship funding, and a jury of practicing architects seeing your work.
Community support
A supportive network of young architects across forums, meetups, and events, where questions get answered and connections last.
Three Ways In
In School
Student Member
For currently enrolled students in architecture or related programs. Membership is free.
First Year Out
New Graduate Member
For new graduates in their first year out of school, at a rate built for a first paycheck.
Working, Not Yet Licensed
Associate Member
For early-career professionals working in an architecture firm while completing the path to licensure. Study cohorts are included.
Get Involved
Your career gets easier with people behind it.
Join ALA to access every YALA benefit, or reach the committee through the office at ALA@licensedarchitect.org or 847.382.0630.