Mumbai, June 6, 2025 — In a landmark initiative composed to reshape the architectural profession in India, WOArchitect announced the inaugural WOArchitect Career Conclave (WCC) 2025 during a press conference held today at INS Tower, Bandra Kurla Complex. The event, set to take place on June 14 at NESCO, Goregaon, Mumbai, aims to bridge the gap between architectural education and industry practice, offering a comprehensive platform for career development in architecture and the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry.
WOArchitect, a professional platform dedicated to assisting architects in discovering career paths, educational opportunities, and business networks, is spearheading this initiative. Co-founders Ar. Milind Surve and Ar. Snehal Jagdale Surve, both Directors at Alternate Angle and Alternate Angle Academy, emphasised the need for such a conclave to address the long-standing gap in the architecture ecosystem. While design excellence remains central to architectural education, few platforms focus on career pathways, cross-disciplinary opportunities, and strategic professional growth.
Keval Valambhia, COO, CREDAI-MCHI, remarked, “The WOArchitect Career Conclave is a much-needed intervention for the architectural ecosystem in India. At CREDAI-MCHI, we believe that empowering architects with career clarity, industry insights, and growth pathways is vital to building a resilient, innovative built environment. This is not just an event—it’s a turning point for how we align education, employment, and entrepreneurship in architecture.”
Ar. Amol Shimpi highlighted the fundamental role of architects in India’s economic growth, stating, “India’s journey from a USD 5 trillion to a USD 30 trillion economy will hinge significantly on how we empower architects and architecture. The built environment isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a catalyst for economic and social transformation.”
Addressing the challenges posed by technological advancements, Ar. Hrishikesh Phadke remarked, “Our profession faces both challenges and opportunities from emerging technologies. AI tools like IBM’s OLGA, which streamlines legal case processing through smart data extraction, are a wake-up call. Architecture must embrace innovation or risk becoming outdated.” He cited IBM’s AI assistant OLGA, which aids in legal case categorisation and metadata extraction, as an example of how AI can streamline complex tasks, emphasising the need for architects to adapt to such innovations.
As India undergoes rapid urbanisation and infrastructural transformation, the role of architects is becoming increasingly dynamic—not just in shaping skylines, but in crafting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. In an age where design intersects with technology, economics, and policy, empowering architects with the right tools, insights, and platforms is essential to building a future that reflects both cultural legacy and contemporary innovation.