(re)Introducing YDC

What is YDC?

The Young Designers Core (YDC) at PAYETTE is a firm-wide, staff-led initiative dedicated to nurturing the professional and intellectual development of emerging architectural professionals.

Established in 2000 by two early-career architects within the firm, YDC was conceived as a platform to support colleagues pursuing architectural licensure and to cultivate a culture of leadership from within the foundational tiers of practice.

YDC’s core values include:

– Providing a platform for emerging design leadership

– Exploring diverse pathways to design excellence

– Encouraging firm-wide mentorship and knowledge sharing

– Promoting an inclusive and collaborative office culture

The organization consists of four arms:

• Knowledge Sharing & Mentorship
• Office Culture
• Industry Outreach
• Design Cultivation

YDC events are open to everyone at PAYETTE, reflecting the firm’s commitment to inclusivity, mentorship and the long-term enrichment of the architectural discipline through internal collaboration and collective growth.

Who is YDC?

YDC is led by Alexandra Barnes and Meredith Hutto, the two newest co-chairs. With the support of the YDC subcommittees, the organization is able to have a far-reaching effect within PAYETTE’s practice, foster networking and connections with other design firms in Boston and maintain awareness for outreach opportunities within the AEC industry at large.

Alexandra and Meredith are both passionate about supporting emerging professionals, creating meaningful and detailed events ranging from professional development to design-oriented programming and fostering environments where all voices are heard.

YDC’s Subcommittees

YDC is made up of 8 subcommittees, all of which contribute to the richness of the overall organization.

Construction Tours – Schedules and coordinates site visits to ongoing PAYETTE projects in the construction phase.

Sports – Coordinates and plans all YDC sporting events.

Industry Outreach – Finds opportunities to connect PAYETTE with the larger design and construction industries through collaborative events and workshops.

Graphics – Designs and upholds YDC’s brand, creating graphics and marketing materials for all events and published content.

Event Planning – Spearheads event support and coordination efforts.

Milestones – Provides a platform for the recognition of work anniversaries and major career milestones for all PAYETTE staff.

Detail Dives – Focuses on sharing knowledge in construction detailing and technical drawing methods.

Design Cultivation – Amplifies the voices of young designers and promotes design-focused events within PAYETTE.

Through the work and collaboration of the subcommittees, YDC is able to take on many different types of events and programming, give leadership opportunities to emerging designers, and provide creative outlets for individuals looking to get involved within PAYETTE.

We are always looking for new ideas and would love to hear from you about potential events or getting involved with YDC. Please reach out to Alexandra or Meredith if you have any questions.