cultivating relationships
Thankful for the Impact of Mentorship in Architecture
As Thanksgiving approaches, we have been reflecting on the mentors that meant the most to us. Thankful for their energy, enthusiasm, and pure love of architecture and planning – these are the people that have instilled real values in our industry. And as we bring interns into the BOUDREAUX studios we are reminded of how these early professional experiences can impact careers and lives for years to come.
This past summer we welcomed Lauren Eckmair, an architecture student entering her senior year at NC State University, to our Charlotte studio. Under the guidance of George Schafer, PhD., AIA, LEED AP – Lauren took the opportunity to be a part of our ongoing projects, gaining firsthand experience in a collaborative design environment.
“Working with Lauren was extraordinarily joyful.” George says. “She is enthusiastic and advances her work independently, while knowing when to ask questions for guidance.”
To truly understand the significance of Lauren’s internship this summer, we take you back to the late 90s. The first Jurassic Park movie debuted, Bill Clinton sat in the oval office, and dial-up internet with screeching modems became widely accessible. Fresh from Clemson and then Harvard University, George had recently begun his architectural career and met his first “true designer”, Tim Eckmair, AIA. Tim who had landed in Charlotte due in part by wanting to move closer to family, as well as a merger acquisition – became George’s mentor. He is also Lauren’s father.
“I wasn’t sure how prepared I was to mentor someone,” he says. Though despite any doubts he had, George credits Tim for igniting his passion for real world design, client visioning, and the industry.
“Tim demystified design for me. He had been more seasoned and seeing him draw and sketch taught me so much,” George explains.
The two reconnected when a BOUDREAUX project for a church master plan brought them together. Tim shared this with Lauren as she was taking a budding interest in both architecture and fine art. Tim immediately connected the dots. The mentorship cycle came full circle when Lauren met with George for a portfolio review.
“I was so nervous but once I started talking with George I felt at ease and comfortable – it was like being with an old family friend,” said Lauren, “I was honored to come to BOUDREAUX for my summer internship.”
Lauren worked on diagramming, strategic plans, learning new programs, and making renderings for a design award submission. Through all her projects one thing stood out about her process: her hand sketching. With a strong background in fine art, Lauren naturally starts with drawings. But for George, there was something more than just technique in her process.
“She inherited and extended her father’s hand with sketching,” he explained, “It takes me back to that 22nd floor office building, seeing Tim draw and hand-sketch in his office.”
Mentorship has long been a cornerstone of professional growth. These intergenerational relationships are especially powerful. They remind us that great design is not only taught, but passed down through shared time and the generosity of knowledge. The impact of a mentorship is one that is invaluable for a student or young professional and a foundational experience for many.
“Architecture is diverse – there are so many aspects to it. Education touches on some of those aspects but experience brings new levels of professionalism. Mentorship fills in the gaps left by education. A great mentor can really propel a career,” Tim reflects.
As we celebrate our interns, we also give thanks to our mentors who helped shape our trajectories. The story of Lauren, George, and Tim is a reflection of how mentorship weaves together generations of talent, and how those threads can lead to stronger teams, deeper understandings, and a more inspired future for the profession. When one generation gives back, the entire industry moves forward, and we are honored to take up that mantel.
Read Tim Eckmair’s Reflection on the Value of Mentorship: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.aiacharlotte.org/files/15842429-3995-4e8c-9576-a549ca628dc9–19949063-38bc-4c75-b8e9-ca3c1ccb7fc3/the-value-of-mentoring-in-architecture.pdf
