The Delano & Aldrich/Emerson Fellowship Grant

The Delano & Aldrich/Emerson Fellowship, established by the Architects Foundation, provides a unique opportunity for a young French architect to travel and study in the U.S. for three months. With a budget of $20,000, the fellowship emphasizes contemporary issues in architecture, including sustainability and inclusive design. Candidates aged 23 to 35, holding a degree in architecture, are eligible. This program aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and inspire future architects through immersive experiences.

The Architects Foundation is the official philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
From our home at The Octagon, we demonstrate the cultural and societal impact of architecture and architects’ potential to create a just society; we invest in the next generation of the profession through our seven national scholarship programs; and utilize design thinking to help communities solve critical challenges through our Communities by Design (CxD) program.
The Architects Foundation leads philanthropic efforts to inspire and empower the next generation of designers and the communities they serve.
Since 1930, the American Institute of Architects has awarded a French architect a fellowship for travel and study in the U.S. An important donation to the AIA was made before the last world war by the American alumni of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris, William Delano and Chester M. Aldrich, with a view to founding a travel grant allowing a young French architect to discover or better understand the United States under the most diverse aspects: including architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture and interior design.
The fellowship selects one candidate to travel to the United States for three months with a budget of 20,000 USD.
The subjects will be more relevant if there is a connection with current issues, such as sustainable architecture, net zero buildings, resiliency, a healthy built environment and inclusive design.
The funds can be provided to support one person or a pair team (2 individuals). In the case of a pair team, the duration of the stay in the United States may be reduced to two consecutive months.