Archinect - Features

Syracuse University School of Architecture Students Uncover the Forgotten Histories of Systemic Racism With “Hidden Histories” Exhibit

2021-04-08T08:19:00-04:00

The built environment isn’t static. Everyday, structures are created, destroyed, and repurposed. Some are preserved while others are left to slowly decay. As time passes and the world changes, new meanings can become attributed to these spaces. Their pasts and histories become vulnerable and new realities may take shape. For better or for worse, the functions spaces once had, the people they once served, and the circumstances that led to their erasure fade and become forgotten.

There are a myriad of forces that drive this ever-occurring phenomenon, ranging from natural to deliberate actions. And, this is where difficult questions arise. What is the history of this place? Why has it been forgotten? Was this nullification intentional? Who and what were the agents that drove these actions? While these are complex questions, in taking a step back and observing broader historical contexts, explanations for these occurrences can be revealed. And, Syracuse Architecture’s National Organiza...

Op-Ed: Paul R. Williams — The Complexity of being an Architectural Icon (and Black)

2021-02-23T10:42:00-05:00

When asked to reflect on the impact that Paul R. Williams has had on my career as an architect, I was initially hesitant. How do you quantify the importance of such an icon of the profession? I did not grow up in Los Angeles. I grew up in Seattle. I always wanted to be an architect. Architects and designers are in my family. Paul R Williams was not the first Black Architect that I was exposed to. I went to a majority architecture school in New York. PRW was not covered in our euro-centric architecture curriculum. I was only exposed to PRW through the National Organization of Minority Architects, while I was in college. Immediately upon learning about his works, I felt woefully behind. Since that time, including a move to Los Angeles, I have experienced some of his works in person, met some of his family members, and had conversations with colleagues who knew him directly. His icon status is undeniable, and should be amplified and celebrated exponentially, however, for me his legacy ...

Kimberly Dowdell and Jason Pugh Discuss NOMA's Core Values, Mentorship, and the Upcoming 2020 NOMA Conference

2020-10-10T09:00:00-04:00

National architecture organizations have expressed their efforts towards inclusivity, equity, and diversity. One organization, however, continues to embody those values by leading from example and creating moments for individuals to be involved and amongst people whose multifaceted backgrounds add to the strength of the future architectural academia and professional practice. The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has continued to push through and establish themselves as a group that reflects a different leadership type towards efforts of advocacy, diversity, and inclusivity within the profession.

"I think that everyone approaches the "doing" of architecture in their own way," explains current NOMA President Kimberly Dowdell. "NOMA celebrates the various ways in which our members contribute to our collective built environment. At the end of the day, architects are called upon to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Our members do this in nearly ev...

A Conversation with Curtis Moody, FAIA on What It Means to Help Shape a Future for Black Architects

2020-02-29T07:00:00-05:00

Within the realm of architectural practice, the need to write and re-frame the narratives and contributions of women in architecture, Black architects, and other minority-identifying designers has gained increasing urgency in recent years. And while architects like Paul Revere Williams, Phillip Freelon, Norma Merrick Sklarek, Zena Howard, Gabrielle Bullock, and Kimberly Dowdell are nearly household names in design, these architects constitute but a few of Black architects who have impacted the profession.

Curtis Moody, a renowned architect based in Columbus, Ohio who has been practicing for over 38 years, is another such architect. When he first started his practice back in 1982, his goal was not only to establish a thriving architecture practice but also build a firm that would be a representation of a group that is often overlooked and misrepresented. Since then, he has expanded Moody Nolan into a practice consisting of 230 employees with 12 offices across the U.S.

Archinect spen...

Archinect - Features

Syracuse University School of Architecture Students Uncover the Forgotten Histories of Systemic Racism With “Hidden Histories” Exhibit

Op-Ed: Paul R. Williams — The Complexity of being an Architectural Icon (and Black)

Kimberly Dowdell and Jason Pugh​​ Discuss NOMA's Core Values, Mentorship, and the Upcoming 2020 NOMA Conference

A Conversation with Curtis Moody, FAIA on What It Means to Help Shape a Future for Black Architects

Kimberly Dowdell and Jason Pugh Discuss NOMA's Core Values, Mentorship, and the Upcoming 2020 NOMA Conference