In a globalized market, it is increasingly important for design firms to have the contacts, skills and cultural sensitivity to work across borders. There are global issues affecting everybody that intersect the world and the industry is needed of platforms that promote cross-pollination and encourage global dialogues, breaking down bureaucracy and immigration barriers.

Conceived as a liaison between rising global architectural talents and U.S.-based firms, Architect-US is a groundbreaking professional career training program, that sponsors highly qualified bi/multilingual international architects and engineers to work in the U.S., as part of the U.S. Government J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The program offers US firms a valuable resource to connect and deepen ties with designers in emerging and established markets, with young professionals -from Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East- eager to learn from American techniques and methodologies.

Enrolling in a graduate or post-graduate school is normally the most common way internationals make it to the States. However, not all internationals can afford the academia track. The aim of Architect-US outreach is to offer students and young professionals with exemplary academic background and outstanding talent, the chance to pursue an internship/professional training in the U.S. regardless their economic means, only prioritizing and awarding excellence. The program provides structured and guided on-site training for up to 18 months and sponsors candidates' J-1 visa, freeing up hosts from costs and paper work and facilitating a speedy bureaucratic process. Architect-US works closely with firms either facilitating the J-1 visa to those already selected by the host or matching the most promising international talents based on their needs.

In order to ensure successful match, candidates -ages 20 to 35-, are selected through an intensive process that evaluates portfolios, communication skills, academic backgrounds, and fundamental compatibility with participating host firms while promoting the value of cross-cultural exchange. Unlike many U.S. college interns, participants in Architect-US program can stay with hosts far beyond the length of a single academic semester and can start at any time. Interns are eligible to stay an entire year, while professional trainees can remain at host companies for up to 18 months.

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Beyond an educational training service, the Architect-US Program offers host companies the ability to promote diversity and expand business opportunities, testing potential workers without the long term commitment of a working visa. According to Kenneth Drucker -Design Principal at HOK NY Office- one of the Architect-US’s first U.S. based hosts, “In Europe, there are different issues of scale, urban design and architectural technologies. Trading that information is a great opportunity for HOK, as both sides of this process can learn from each other. Creating a culture of communication between different countries allows us to create global experiences and global opportunities. We’ve already had one successful trainee and are ready to open our doors to other talents.” See Kenneth Drucker full interview in here:

Another Architect-US supporter is English architectural icon, Sir Peter Cook Crab Studio Co-Founder, who says, “I find that in recent years, particularly speaking from London, we are dependent upon the cross-fertilization of our own cultural stream...we’ve become more global. I think any office in England with only English people A, it would be extremely boring and B, it would not be really reflective of the cultures we exist within.” See Peter Cook full interview in here:

Architect-US platform officially launched on June 25th at the AIA NY Center for Architecture with an exhibition and panel discussion on the benefits of hosting international talent, with industry leaders including: Claire Weisz (WXY Principal), Jorge Mastropietro (JMAPC Principal), Gustavo Rodriguez (FXFowle Design Principal), Carol Shappiro (BWAF Director) and Kenneth Drucker (HOK Design Principal).

Panel discussion on the benefits of hosting international talent with design leaders: Kenneth Drucker (HOK), Gustavo Rodriguez (FXFowle), Claire Weysz (WXY), Jorge Mastropietro (JMAPC) and Carol Shapiro (BWAF). AIA NY Center for Architecture.

Gustavo Rodriguez and Jorge Mastroprieto, who both embody talent migration themselves, highlighted the value of diversity. Gustavo Rodriguez stated "People from other cultures bring diversity, not only cultural diversity but also they bring diversity of education, points of views, insights,...", and Jorge Mastropietro underlined "They really enrich the practice product". Gustavo Rodriguez also explained the difficulty to find the right candidates in the profession adding "One interesting focus of Architect-US program is that helps firms to find the right people both students and professionals. In FXFowle for instance, there is a huge challenge for us to find architects with 6 to 8 years of experience, who know how to design but also put drawings together, that due to the 2008 recession left the profession with a big gap".

Architect-US launch at AIA NY Center for Architecture with support of AIA Emerging New York Architects Committee, the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce and the Consulate General of Spain New York.

Following up on the theme, Carol Weisz affirmed "We've had people working for us from all over the world and we really rely on them to bring their fresh ideas, perspective and bring their energy most importantly" and Kenneth Drucker set forth "There is so much talent out there and we recognize that it makes our work much better. You can't be a global practitioner without transfusion experiences between different cultures. This program is great because it simplifies the process".

Firms interested in participating in Architect-US program should register in here. More information about the outreach is also available at http://www.architect-us.com and at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and can contact training@architect-us.com.