Robert L. Wesley Award 2025

The Robert L. Wesley Award 2025, established by the SOM Foundation in 2020, honors the legacy of Robert L. Wesley, the first Black partner at SOM. This award is a significant initiative designed to support BIPOC undergraduate students pursuing degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, or engineering across the United States. Each year, three outstanding students receive $10,000 along with a yearlong mentorship program that connects them to leading BIPOC practitioners and educators.

The award is unrestricted in its use, allowing students to allocate funds according to their personal and academic needs. Additionally, students benefit from support by Black Spectacles as they advance toward professional licensure. The combination of financial assistance and mentorship emphasizes not only individual achievement but also long-term career development and professional integration.

Beyond monetary recognition, the Robert L. Wesley Award fosters representation, equity, and opportunity in architectural education. It empowers BIPOC students to pursue their ambitions while building networks with influential mentors who provide guidance, insight, and practical knowledge. By recognizing and supporting these emerging professionals, the award contributes to shaping a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable architecture and design community in the United States.

Fellowship Overview

The Robert L. Wesley Award provides both financial and professional support to undergraduate students from BIPOC communities. Each recipient gains:

• A $10,000 unrestricted award to support academic and personal needs.
• Access to a yearlong mentorship program, connecting students with prominent BIPOC professionals and educators.
• Guidance from Black Spectacles in achieving licensure as architects.

The fellowship is designed to ensure students not only thrive academically but also navigate the early stages of their professional journeys with mentorship and resources that foster growth, visibility, and confidence.

Eligibility

• Open to BIPOC students enrolled in accredited undergraduate programs in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, or engineering in the United States.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a four- or five-year undergraduate program and may apply during any year of study.
• Previous recipients are eligible to reapply while still enrolled in their undergraduate program.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Written personal statement (1–2 pages) outlining their path, ambitions, challenges, and reasons for receiving the award.
• Video statement (2–3 minutes) to complement the written statement.
• Digital portfolio or visual samples (optional, encouraged).
• Letter of recommendation (max 2 pages) from a faculty member or department chair, highlighting the applicant’s strengths and potential growth. This letter must be submitted directly to info@somfoundation.com and cannot be authored by current SOM employees.

Application Format

• Single PDF file including written statement and portfolio.
• Size & orientation: 8.5ʺ x 11ʺ, portrait.
• Maximum: 10 pages, 10 MB.
• Video statement may be uploaded separately.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted no later than Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CST. Late submissions will not be considered. Applicants should receive confirmation via email. For any issues, contact info@somfoundation.com.

Tables

Entry Fees

Awards and Recognition

Timeline

Jury

The 2025 jury is chaired by Robert L. Wesley (Retired Partner, SOM, Chicago) and includes:

• Teri Canada – Principal and Cofounder, EVOKE Studio (Durham)
• Lisa C. Henry – Associate Professor and Associate Dean, College of Architecture + Planning, University of Utah (Salt Lake City)
• Camille Martin-Thomsen – Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs, School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago)
• Amber N. Wiley – Director, Institute for Quality Communities, University of Oklahoma (Norman)

Architectural Analysis

The award emphasizes design potential, creative thinking, and professional growth. Although focused on undergraduate students, it encourages emerging designers to demonstrate strong design reasoning, spatial thinking, and innovative approaches to architecture.

Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping students’ understanding of material use, spatial composition, and professional context. Through close guidance from leading BIPOC practitioners, students learn how design choices reflect social, cultural, and environmental contexts.

A critical point is the reliance on self-directed creativity within a structured mentorship program. While students have autonomy, the effectiveness of their work depends on their ability to absorb guidance and translate it into compelling design proposals. This balance of independence and mentorship mirrors real-world architectural practice and nurtures both technical skill and conceptual development.

Project Importance

The Robert L. Wesley Award contributes to diversity and equity in architecture by enabling BIPOC students to access resources, mentorship, and networks that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. It encourages students to explore innovative design ideas, build professional confidence, and engage with broader societal contexts.

By spotlighting emerging voices, the award shapes future architectural thinking, ensuring that the discipline becomes more inclusive and representative. The combination of financial support and mentorship allows recipients to experiment with typologies, materials, and conceptual frameworks, offering lessons in both creative expression and practical application.

In a broader context, supporting underrepresented groups is critical for equity, cultural enrichment, and innovation in architecture. The award nurtures leaders who will influence the profession, contribute to socially conscious design, and expand the architectural canon to include diverse perspectives.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Robert L. Wesley Award highlights the intersection of talent, mentorship, and social equity in architecture. Students are encouraged to explore spatial design while reflecting on cultural and environmental contexts. A critical reflection lies in the balance between autonomy and guidance: how effectively can undergraduate students translate mentorship into innovative work? Despite this challenge, the program’s strength is in creating meaningful opportunities that combine financial support, professional networks, and practical learning, laying a strong foundation for future architects.

Conclusion

The Robert L. Wesley Award 2025 is a transformative opportunity for BIPOC undergraduate students pursuing architecture and related disciplines. By providing $10,000, mentorship, and professional guidance, the award empowers students to explore creative ideas, overcome challenges, and connect with influential practitioners.

The fellowship’s structure encourages recipients to integrate design thinking, social awareness, and professional skill development, preparing them for successful careers in architecture. By highlighting underrepresented voices, the award strengthens diversity in the profession and promotes a more inclusive approach to design education and practice.

Ultimately, the Robert L. Wesley Award fosters a new generation of architects who combine creativity, technical skill, and social responsibility, shaping the future of architecture in ways that are equitable, innovative, and socially engaged.

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