METROPOLIS Celebrates the Arch30 Seattle Cohort

Under Seattle sunshine, the Arch30 Event on April 30 brought together 34 of Seattle’s most promising architectural talents, with leading firms in a city identifying their top talent under the age of 35 for a day of full of connection and inspiration. These emerging leaders from renowned firms showcased the innovative thinking and their interests that will shape our built environment. For our first from Arch30 program in 2025, METROPOLIS honored a cohort of young architects in Seattle, Washington.

These selected honorees were nominated by their respective firms, including DLR Group, Gensler, HDR, HOK, and Interior Architects (IA), JPC Architects, LMN Architects, Miller Hull, NBBJ, Olson Kundig, Perkins Eastman, Perkins&Will, Weber Thompson, WRNS Studio, and ZGF Architects.

The inspiring workshop was hosted at the beautiful WRNS Studio and was made possible with the support of AHF Products(Armstrong Flooring & Crossville Tile), Arktura, Cambio Wall System, Lutron, Turf Design, StruXture, and USG.

Aligning Passion with Purpose

METROPOLIS Editor-in-Chief Avi Rajagopal spearheaded a dynamic workshop designed to guide emerging professionals toward fulfilling career paths while equipping them with strategies to effectively navigate workplace challenges while staying true to their vision and goals.

The Arch30 honorees participated in a series of reflective and interactive activities. They began with Menti-meter questions to understand personal and workplace challenges. Next, they engaged in an Ikigai exercise—inspired by the Japanese concept of “reason for being.” This exercise encouraged participants to explore the question, “What is my purpose?” By reflecting on their personal values, interests, and unique strengths, the honorees discovered new ways to align their careers with their passions and motivations.

Adapting to the Changing Climate Language and Landscape

What made the Arch30 Seattle Cohort truly exceptional was the cross-disciplinary exploration of architecture’s expanding boundaries. Discussions flowed seamlessly between governmental policy implications, social responsibility, environmental imperatives, and human-centered design approaches.

The energy was palpable as attendees engaged in meaningful discussions on pressing industry challenges — from AI integration to strategies on changing the climate language. Participants exchanged insights and emphasized the need for greater collaboration across disciplines, highlighting a collective vision for a more connected and innovative industry. The informal setting fostered authentic conversations between product manufacturers and architects, creating valuable networking opportunities.

The workshop series concluded with a mini trade show set-up from program partners and an engaging networking session where honorees had the chance to connect, explore new products and share ideas and meet fellow local architects.

METROPOLIS Arch30 Event Honorees