Building Futures: Mentoring Through the ACE Program

We believe that knowledge is most powerful when shared. A member of our design team, Steve Carbin, exemplified this by recently volunteering his time and expertise with the Madison chapter of the ACE Mentor Program of America. The program’s mission is to expose high school students to potential careers in architecture, construction, and engineering.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Steve spent his time mentoring students from Memorial High School, leading them through the process of architectural and interior design. Partnering with architectural mentors from Madison firms, he helped students see how architectural decisions impact other disciplines and the challenges and rewards of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Working at Iconica, a design-build firm where architects, engineers, and construction professionals collaborate under one roof, gave him unique insights to share. This perspective allowed students to understand better how integrated teamwork shapes successful projects. The hands-on learning experience mirrored how we operate at Iconica, giving students a glimpse into the collaborative process that brings a building to life.

 The Final Presentation

The culmination of the students’ hard work was showcased in a final presentation, offering them an opportunity to present their designs, share their problem-solving approaches, and celebrate their accomplishments.

This year, the national brief for all chapters was to design a multimodal transportation hub in their city. The students selected Blair Street, east of Monona Terrace, as their project site. They developed thoughtful design solutions from their mentorship experience and the collaborative lessons learned. Below are a few design renderings that highlight their creative and practical approaches to this real-world challenge.

About the ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor Program of America is a platform to introduce high school students to architecture, construction, and engineering. Through mentorship, students gain hands-on experience and insight into career pathways they might not have otherwise considered. At Iconica, we are committed to empowering the next generation of industry professionals. Sharing our knowledge and supporting educational initiatives like the ACE Mentor Program ensures that the future of our industry remains bright.