Mortar Group opens second Architect-as-Developer Lab cohort

Mortar Group has finished the first cohort of Anthony Morena’s Architect-as-Developer Lab and is now accepting applications for a second round starting this winter. The free, practice-based program is aimed at architects already moving into development and ownership, with applications due Dec. 15, 2026.

Why it matters: - The Lab is aimed at architects trying to move beyond client work and build development practices that can own, finance and deliver projects. - The program focuses on real projects, not theory, which gives participants direct exposure to the business side of design-led development. - Mortar Group is positioning architect-led development as a repeatable practice that can survive beyond a single project.

What happened: - Mortar Group completed the inaugural cohort of its Architect-as-Developer Lab, a practice-based program created by Anthony Morena. - Eight architects from six states finished the first cohort. - Applications are now open for a second cohort that begins this winter. - The new cohort will run as a four-session program through January and February 2027. - Submissions are open through Dec. 15, 2026, at info@mortargroup.com.

The details: - The first cohort included sole practitioners, principals of established firms and architects who had already completed one or two projects of their own. - Sessions covered the architect-as-developer model, real estate finance, pro forma modeling, site identification, risk management, capital, construction and small-scale urban development case studies. - Participants worked on their own sites, business models and financing structures instead of hypothetical examples. - The Lab is limited in size to preserve the working-session format and to allow detailed discussion of active projects. - The program is intended for practicing architects who have already made some move toward development and ownership, or who are close to doing so. - The Lab is not meant for students or people seeking a credential. - Applications should include a short professional background and a note explaining why the applicant wants to join. - The Architect-as-Developer Lab is free and non-commercial. - The Lab is not affiliated with any Mortar Group investment offering.

Between the lines: - Morena framed the Lab as a way to build a durable sub-culture around architect-led development, not just a one-off course. - Morena said the goal is to ground the conversation in practical experience, including making decisions, making mistakes and living with the consequences. - The program reflects Morena’s career path under Joseph Pell Lombardi, where he first saw an architect serve as both designer and developer. - Morena also points to Jonathan Segal as a model for architect-led development as a sustained practice rather than a single experiment. - The first cohort suggests there is demand among mid-career architects for hands-on guidance on capital, risk and ownership.

What's next: - Mortar Group will review applications for the winter 2026–27 cohort. - Selected participants will work on their own current or emerging development efforts during the four sessions. - The broader aim is to continue expanding the network of architects pursuing ownership-based practices.

The bottom line: - Mortar Group is turning architect-led development into a structured, practice-based learning model, and the next cohort is open now.