PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The foundation of our firm is an attitude of stewarding the firm on to the next generation. The most important aspect of this is a leadership team that’s active in the development of the next generation and an ongoing culture of mentorship and coaching. We truly believe that our current staff represent the next generation of firm and project leadership and if by investing our personal time and effort with them, amazing things will happen.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD)

The continued development of our staff, management and leadership is vital. Every member of the firm is encouraged to approach their careers with an attitude of continued improvement and a philosophy to always strive for the next level. Our philosophy of learning is built around providing the resources and atmosphere to encourage lifelong learning, developing emerging professionals and building a culture of coaching and mentoring. One of the key areas that facilitates this is our in-house professional development program which offers AIA-approved courses, sustainability and accessibility seminars, and the allocation of professional development time. Professional development hours can also be allocated to take place outside of the firm at industry related events and conferences. We are committed to the continued growth and development of our employees, and by monitoring progress in this area every year we ensure we are keeping that commitment to our amazing team.

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS (EP)

In conjunction with a commitment to provide ongoing training and development for all employees, the Emerging Professionals Program (EP) at Lionakis provides staff with the necessary knowledge, tools and support to become well-rounded architects, structural engineers and interior designers. The program provides junior staff the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the profession in addition to their day-to-day responsibilities through site visits, mentorship and other activities. Monthly classes target the education of emerging professionals. Becoming a licensed professional is an important step for all designers to take and we realize each individual’s path to licensure is different. Our EP program works to support the various needs of our staff: We provide paid time to take exams; financial reimbursement for exam fees; study material libraries; the tools to track AXP hours and an in-house and online community to connect with other employees seeking licensure. Design professionals in architecture must acquire 3,740 hours of experience in multiple areas of work, so we work with our employees to provide them the hours they need in each category and pair them with a mentor at Lionakis to help guide them through the process. Most importantly, we strive to create connections among our Emerging Professionals.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY (DT)

Lionakis has a Design Technology studio that is committed to training, updating and supporting our team. The Design Technology Boot Camp is a unique in-house training program that offers several weeks of focused, intensive mentorship and technology training to select individuals across the firm. These individuals become DTSS (Design Technology Support Specialists) and are designated by their market leadership to participate in this training. A DTSS serves as a connection between the Design Technology Studio and their respective market and/or office and are the first line of support for their studios – users supporting users!
During Boot Camp, DTSS learn advanced techniques for supporting and troubleshooting various design technology software and BIM tools. They also contribute to an ongoing, living document that serves as a graphical depiction of standards that is used across the firm. Yearly, each market may designate a new DTSS to go through the DTSS Boot Camp. These trainings have allowed us to work towards our goal of having several DTSS-level users in each studio or office to ensure a steady stream of support and improved market-specific workflows.