2026 Emerging Black Architects Scholarship

ZGF's Emerging Black Architects and Designers Scholarship

ZGF Architects LLP in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation

ZGF proudly presents the sixth year of our Emerging Black Architects and Designers scholarship to support Black students currently enrolled in Architecture and Design programs in the US.

Award:

Two (2) students will be selected to each receive a $5,000 scholarship to go toward their final year of schooling, plus a paid internship at one of the following ZGF locations: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; New York, NY.

Eligible Applicants Must:

• Identify as Black or African American
• Be currently enrolled in an accredited Architecture (NAAB), Interior Design (CIDA), Urban Planning & Design (PAB), or Landscape Architecture (LAAB) program in the United States
• Be entering their final year in an accredited program in the Fall of 2026

Submission Requirements:

• Online Application
• Resume
• Essay - How will you impact your community through your unique lived experience and as a design professional?
  • 500 words maximum
• One Advanced Level Design Project
  • One project up to five (5) pages with a written description of the project (250 words)
  • Individual work is highly preferred
  • Work done with a single partner may be submitted, and it must include a description of the applicant’s specific contribution and a letter of support from the applicant’s collaborative partner
  • Preferred layout is 11x17 landscape
  • Acceptable formats: Upload (1) file in a single PDF (max 9MB file size), or a link to online portfolio in format stated above.
• Letter of Recommendation
  • Written by a faculty member of your current institution with direct knowledge of your work, addressing your talent and passion for the field of architecture and design

Finalists will be invited to submit a digital video that introduces themselves to the scholarship committee and present their project.

About the Internship:

The winner of the scholarship is eligible for a paid internship for the duration of ten (10) weeks in one of the following ZGF locations: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; New York, NY. *

*The internship is optional and not a requirement of the scholarship. The internship is dependent on work authorization in the US. Individuals with work authorization in Canada may request an internship in our Vancouver, BC office.

DEADLINE                 

January 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PST

*Online submission is preferred. However, if submission online is not feasible and/or an additional hard copy of your submission/letter of recommendation are to be sent by mail, please email scholarship@zgf.com for instructions. All submissions must be received on or before the deadline.

If you have questions regarding the Emerging Black Architects and Designers Scholarship, please email scholarship@zgf.com.

*Current employees, former employees, and interns of ZGF, as well as their immediate families and those ZGF deems to present conflicts of interest, are ineligible to participate.