Mitchell Woldt, AIA, is nearly halfway into his first year on the AIA South Dakota Board of Directors. He is a Project Architect at CO-OP Architecture who loves spending time outdoors in the Black Hills. Read on to learn how he survived a speed run of all six Architect Registration Exam (ARE) sections in the same week.
How did you decide to become an architect/design professional? Is there a specific moment you remember noticing design in the world around you?
Since I was a kid, I have always been interested in design and how things go together, or more often, how things come apart and my inability to put them back together! This led me to start college at SDSU majoring in mechanical engineering before switching to architecture my sophomore year. It was at that time that I really started paying attention to the design all around me and developed an appreciation for how I and others interacted with the built environment.
Tell us about your path to licensure and/or your work history. Who was the first person you told when you got your good news?
When I graduated with my M.Arch in 2021, I had a goal to be licensed within two years. I already had accumulated quite a few Architectural Experience Program (AXP) hours from internships and knew I wanted to get it out of the way before life got busy. At the start of 2023, I made a goal to have all ARE exams passed by the time summer came around. Last thing I wanted was to be stuck inside studying while the weather was nice. I put together a study plan with the help of the Amber Book and scheduled all six exams for the same week in March. To this day, I don’t know if I would or wouldn’t recommend this approach!
It was nice to get them out of the way quickly and remain in “test-taking” mode for the week, but it made for a stressful and mentally taxing five days. Once I found out I had passed the last test, I immediately called my wife to share the good news and to thank her for her support over the couple months of studying!
What’s something you wish the general public knew about your profession?
I think there is a lot of general misconception around what architects do on a daily basis with the only consensus being that they are expensive. I wish there was a better understanding of why we do what we do and the passion that most architects have for creating beautiful, functional spaces that impact everyone who use them. I think if more people saw that side of architecture, there would be more “I want to hire an architect” and less “I need to”.
How do you stay up to date with industry trends and developments?
Frequent lunch-and-learns, various conferences, educational events, and internal company education all help me stay up to date. It is one of the things I love most about our profession that you are constantly learning and adapting.
What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
One piece of advice I would’ve loved to have in college would be to explore more when it comes studio work. Focus less on specific project briefs and more on what interested me personally. I don’t think I took full advantage of the limitless possibilities studio projects presented to really dive deep into specific topics that would help influence my career. Grades are important, but figuring out what you’re really passionate about is what makes a career meaningful.
How has being a member of AIA South Dakota made a difference in your career or personal growth? What’s your favorite AIA SD program or membership feature/benefit?
AIA SD has been an invaluable part of my career development through continued connections with architects and designers around the state. It has allowed me to stay in contact with friends and classmates as well as learn from experienced professionals passionate about bettering the SD built environment. My favorite event hosted by AIA SD has to be Design in the Hills. It is a fun, laid-back way to check out different projects in my area and hear from the project team on process and challenges.
How do you spend your free time?
The majority of my free time is spent with my wife and our 1-year-old daughter, Vienna. We are usually outdoors: hiking, biking, camping, and enjoying everything the Black Hills have to offer.
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Congratulations on getting through the ARE in one week. Back in the day, it was a four day exam only available once a year. I passed in one try, saying I never wanted to do it again!