Exploring in Mecklenburg County Council

05/30/2026

“The Explorers made me love the job,” Munoz said. “They made me want to become a firefighter, but they made me want to join this department especially.”

Five recruits. Five different paths. One shared goal.

A Charlotte native inspired through the Explorers program. A college graduate moved by the impact of Hurricane Helene. A military veteran searching for a new way to serve. A fourth-generation firefighter continuing a family legacy. A recruit who chose Charlotte Fire after considering a career in law enforcement.

Their stories are different, but each found a future with Charlotte Fire.

Read their story and learn what it takes to become part of the next generation of Charlotte firefighters.

Read the story and apply today: bit.ly/Class135

05/29/2026

Our Interior Design Explorers with Little Architectural Diversified Consulting held their capstone presentations the other night, and we could not be more proud of this incredible group of students!

Throughout the program, explorers worked directly with a client to design a coffee house tailored to the client’s specific needs and lifestyle. Students thoughtfully considered material selections, space needs, and traffic flow while bringing their creative visions to life.

The level of professionalism, innovation, and creativity shared during these presentations was truly impressive. Every year, our explorers continue to amaze us with their talent and fresh ideas, and this year was no exception.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this program possible and invested in the next generation of designers and leaders. We had an incredible year and cannot wait to see what these students accomplish in the future!

05/20/2026

What an incredible way to wrap up our final session with our Architecture Explorers with the & Will Charlotte Office! 🎉

The Explorers absolutely rose to the challenge during their final critique and pavilion project. We were blown away by their creativity, dedication, willingness to explore new ideas, and the thoughtful feedback they gave one another throughout the program. 👏🏽✨

We are also thrilled to share that Perkins&Will has brought back the Pipeline Scholarship this year! Congratulations to Fernanda, who will be attending the UNCC Architecture Camp this summer on behalf of Perkins&Will! 🏛️🎓

The future of architecture is bright and we are so grateful to have such amazing partners!! 🌟