RDG Named a 2025 Emerging Professional-Friendly Firm

The Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Iowa) has recognized RDG Planning & Design as a firm that offers exceptional support and creates opportunities for its emerging professional staff. AIA Iowa’s Emerging Professionals Friendly-Firm Program celebrates architecture firms that provide fair compensation and benefits, support architectural licensure, invest in professional growth and development and demonstrate a commitment to mentoring and coaching with a focus on emerging professionals.

At RDG, mentorship is a cornerstone for fostering collaboration and growth across a multigenerational workplace. The firm offers ample opportunities for mentorship and professional growth, including RDG University, the firm’s internal learning platform where experienced professionals can cast a wide net to share essential knowledge, and the Advocate Program, which pairs team members with mentors outside their immediate teams to create cross-disciplinary connections.

This commitment to mentorship is designed to create a culture where team members, especially younger and less experienced individuals, can feel supported, valued and empowered to contribute. 

AIA Iowa’s Emerging Professionals Friendly-Firm Program hopes to foster dialogue within firms and communities to create new and innovative policies to support and develop future architects. Firms were judged by responding to a 50-question survey and needed to meet or exceed the point threshold established by the EP Committee based on firm size.