Growing Architecture Careers: Treanor Emerging Professional Development Days

At Treanor, we believe the best way to help grow great architects and designers is by supporting them from day one. The process starts long before licensure—from student intern, to graduate architect, to licensed professional.

Every summer, we bring together our student interns and recent graduates from across the country for a signature event: Emerging Professional Development Days. This two-day experience, usually hosted in our Kansas City office, is more than a meet-and-greet—it’s a deep dive into the real-world experiences, relationships, and perspectives that help turn architecture internships and early-career experiences into lasting architecture careers.

One of the most unique aspects of our internship and mentorship programs is how interconnected they are across our firm. Emerging Professional Development Days brings together students and early-career designers from every Treanor office—bridging disciplines, geographies, and levels of experience. The result is a sense of unity and momentum you can’t replicate through a screen.

Attendees get the opportunity to:

• Hear directly from firm and industry leaders
• Learn about the broader context of firm operations and architecture practice
• Tour recently completed projects with the designers who led them
• Connect with peers who are navigating similar professional milestones

For us, architecture internships aren’t about staring at a screen all day or sitting on the sidelines of project work. We immerse student interns in every part of what it takes to deliver meaningful, enduring design—collaborating with clients, planning with purpose, and working side-by-side with teams across studios.

Through Emerging Professional Development Days, participants get to see the whole picture. They gain clarity on how each professional role contributes to the built environment and how Treanor’s integrated structure gives them room to explore.

This immersive exposure reinforces what we believe to be true: the best architecture careers are grounded in curiosity, teamwork, and continual learning.

Throughout the day, our emerging professionals interact with industry leaders and project teams who’ve tackled tough challenges, seen designs through to construction, and worked closely with clients to shape communities. The conversations go beyond theory—they’re talking about what’s really happening in the profession and what emerging professionals can do to shape it.

For student interns just beginning their journey, it’s a window into what’s possible. For emerging professionals on the cusp of licensure or promotion, it’s an affirmation of their growth and potential. Beyond our annual development days, Treanor furthers the growth of employees at all levels through our comprehensive professional development program, which provides mentorship opportunities, design experience in a variety of market sectors, and funds for continuing education.

Architecture doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every project we touch is part of something bigger—healthcare access, campus life, community identity, historic preservation, and so much more. That’s why investing in the growth of future architects matters.

When we equip emerging professionals with context, confidence, and connection, they’re better prepared to serve clients, contribute ideas, and make responsible, visionary decisions. They become the kind of teammates who ask smart questions, adapt quickly, and advocate for spaces that work for everyone.

By fostering a firm culture where early-career professionals are empowered—not sidelined—we’re strengthening the future of the profession and the communities we serve.