SS&L Academy: Partnerships to Sustain Learning

Taking the initiative to develop new and innovative ways to support and supplement the academy, experience, examination process:

Mentoring Students:

At every opportunity, SS&L serves as a resource to students regarding the process of becoming a licensed architect. Most recently, SS&L is available to AIAS chapters to inform students about the changes in AXP 5.0 and the new opportunities available to students to gain AXP experience prior to graduation. Supplementing the presentation, SS&L developed a quick and easy one-page brochure (opposite page) which was circulated around the school of architecture and outlines steps to registration and key components of AXP 5.0.

Providing Opportunities:

As stated by Ernest Boyer and Lee Mitgang in “Building Community: A New Future for Architecture Education and Practice,” SS&L firmly believes that “Internships, before and after graduation, are the most essential link connecting students to the world of practice.” Rooted in that belief, SS&L strives to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to acquire internships. Each year SS&L hires students for paid, full-time, employment over summer break, fall break, spring break, and Christmas break. By carefully monitoring the AXP process individually, SS&L systematically coordinates project assignments to facilitate experience (AXP) completion.

Developing New Typologies - A Connected Curriculum:

SS&L is engaged in partnerships to sustain learning. The intent of the program is to remove practical hurdles such as financial burdens, delaying completion of AXP, and delaying completion of the ARE from a student’s path towards a master’s degree. By providing paid employment, facilitating the accrual of AXP credit, and allowing the opportunity to begin the ARE process under Alabama’s 6-month rule, SS&L hopes to be a partner with academia to lessen the potential burdens and encourage students to continue their education. Although in its early stages, we are very excited about the prospects and the hopeful goal of graduating students with master’s degrees who have also completed all portions of the ARE!

Junior Project Managers

We ensure that young employees get first-hand experience, learning the ins and outs of managing a project under a senior architect.

ARE Seminars and Support

SS&L is committed to seeing our intern architects become licensed and complete their ARE with as much support as possible through provision of study materials, seminars, and group study.

In-House Mentoring Structure

Our firm structure is designed to give new staff one-on-one mentorship of every aspect of professional development by recently registered candidates.

State and Auxiliary Architectural Licensing Advisor

SS&L’s staff includes the state Architectural Licensing Advisor and the firm’s Auxiliary Architectural Licensing Advisor, David Donovan. Prior to the new AXP Program, Jimmy Seay, Jr. served as the IDP Coordinator for 30 years. Both are invaluable resources to an intern.

Project Management Bootcamp

PSMJ Resources PM Bootcamp gives SS&L employees tools for project management at every stage in their career.

In-House Training Seminars

Training Seminars we offer to our employees:

• Project Management

• Construction Administration

• Material/Product Review

• Marketing

• Financial Management

• Programming

• Desing

• Building Information Modeling