ERA is a group of young and old design professionals interested in the camaraderie, inspiration and opportunity that develops when people of like minded interests gather to better themselves professionally and socially. Basically-we are architects and designers trying to find an outlet outside of the workplace where we can either engage socially or improve professionally. Started a few years ago w
ith similar intensions ERA is taking on new steam and gaining momentum within the architectural and design community. Recently we’ve organized study groups for LEED, Mentored RIT interior design and architecture students, engaged in a charrette competition and had many social happy hours in between! ERA exists because if its ability to be many different things for different people. Are your intentions to find study groups, materials or skill building opportunities? ERA realizes the vast amount of educational requirements (LEED, ARE, BIM, CAD, ADOBE) that it takes to be a designer today. With strength in numbers we hope to utilize and share in order to make these processes less daunting and more of a community effort. Teaming with RRCDC we are also attending lectures and exhibits in the area. Are your intentions to network, socialize and experience Rochester’s’ cultural amenities? ERA organizes a strictly social happy hour at new locations in the city every month to release stress and share in the fraternal character of our profession. We’ve organized at Tap and Mallet, Abilene, Good Luck and Murphy’s Law-with growing numbers at each event. We are also joining with the RYP at their events throughout the city as well as First Friday’s—highlighting the local art scene and our tremendous amount of art galleries (featuring some of our colleagues). ERA’s intentions are to be whatever kind of organization that you want it to be. We are not only trying to strengthen ourselves in the profession- we also want to strengthen the design community as well. We are your colleagues, associates and fellow designers.
