AIA members who know Ben Kasdan, AIA were probably happily surprised to see this in their cyber mail boxes this morning. Kadan is headed to Convention this year. And here are some of the places one can find the young architect.
Ben Kasdan, AIA, is a Senior Project Designer at KTGY Group, Inc. in California and a Regional Director for the AIA’s Young Architects Forum. Here’s his short list of can’t-miss convention picks.
It’s my first time traveling to AIA Convention. I’m excited about the location, and I’m really looking forward to connecting with other young architects. It’s energizing to learn what your peers from different parts of the country are working on and how their experiences are similar to and different from yours.
Here are some places you’re likely to find me:
- Mini MBA for Emerging Professionals. It’s definitely worth getting to Atlanta early to be part of this half-day workshop on May 13th. The focus is how to build and manage a profitable practice. For those of us looking ahead and thinking about how to bring value to our firms, this is the perfect way to earn those continuing education credits (program code WE307).
- The 9/11 Memorial Museum: Memory, Authenticity, Scale and Emotion. I like attending educational sessions that aren’t directly related to my everyday work. I think it helps me grow as an architect. This one on the 9/11 Memorial Museum intrigues me (program code TH201).
- Keynote speeches. I missed an opportunity to hear our nation’s 42nd President speak a few years ago, so I’m excited to get a second chance. It’s always inspirational to hear people outside the profession talk about architecture and its impact on their lives.
- The Marriott Marquis. John Portman had a big influence on Atlanta’s skyline. I’m planning to check out his famous atrium at the Marriot Marquis. A fun fact: Some of the scenes from The Hunger Games movies were filmed at this hotel.
- Shackstaurants. I love Southern food, which can be hard to find where I live. I’m excited to try Atlanta’s quirky “shackstaurants,” like Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, and get a Chick-fil-A sandwich in the city where it all started.
There’s a lot to take in at convention. If you’ve never been, my advice is to take it one step at a time. You’ll run into people you know—even though there are thousands of architects—and then you can team up and have fun together. See you in Atlanta!
