Archinect - News

NOMA summer programs saw 43 young professionals connected with architecture firms, fellowships, and grants

2024-09-10T08:00:00-04:00

National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has concluded the sixth edition of its NOMA Future Faces initiative, which sees young professionals connected with industry summer internships. The 2024 edition saw 25 students and recent graduates take part in a two-month summer fellowship, undertaking design research, project work, and firm mentorship.

The fellowship was open to all members of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) with the purpose to “develop and propel forward the next generation of Black and minority architects who will be designing for the future.” Alongside the practice placement, each fellow also received a $2,450 relocation reimbursement and is eligible to receive a $1,000 licensure stipend once they become a licensed architect.

Meanwhile, the organization also recently oversaw the latest edition of the Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Professional Development Program (PDP), which seeks to support architecture stu...

Kimberly Dowdell is inaugurated as the AIA's first Black woman president

2023-12-18T14:20:00-05:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) celebrated a significant organizational milestone with the inauguration of Kimberly Dowdell as its AIA National President for 2024.

The AIA's 100th president overall is also the first-ever Black woman to head the post, following in the wake of 2023 President Emily Grandstaff-Rice.

At an inauguration ceremony last Friday, December 15th, the Cornell University and Harvard Kennedy School alumna who formerly headed the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) from 2019 to 2020, said: "Being elected as the 100th president of AIA is both an honor and responsibility that I embrace wholeheartedly.”

“My journey in architecture, from my roots in Detroit to this influential role, has deepened my conviction that design has the power to transform communities and elevate the human experience,” she continued. “This opportunity to serve my profession beautifully aligns with my overarching mission to improve people's lives through design, foster...

Chicago Architecture Biennial announces extended dates and added partners for CAB 5

2023-08-14T17:36:00-04:00

The Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) has just announced newly-extended dates and an additional slate of 50 contributors, bringing the total number of cultural participants to over 100 for the exhibition, which runs from September 21st to February 11th of next year.

Under the direction of the curatorial collective Floating Museum, CAB 5 will open in two phases: One, beginning next month, will hone in on select openings at sites across the city, which align with the previous Biennial’s decentralized ambition. The second, which is meant to encourage public participation, will see the activation of CAB’s other sites in coordination with exhibition programming hosted by the Graham Foundation and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Additional partners for CAB 5 include the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, Goethe-Institut Chicago, MAS Context, the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture, and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). This year’s...

NOMA announces its 2023 summer fellowship cohort by welcoming 13 architecture students and graduates

2023-07-21T14:15:00-04:00

Continuing to not only champion but provide pathways to academic and professional advancement, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) celebrates another fellowship cohort of young designers.

The NOMA Future Faces (NFF), formerly known as the NOMA Foundation Fellowship, recognizes 13 architecture students and graduates for this 2023 cohort as they engage in a two-month-long summer fellowship.

These fellowships are "hosted at leading architecture firms across the country where fellows engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship," explains NOMA. "In an industry where only two percent of licensed architects in the United States identify as Black, the NFF plays a crucial role in providing valuable professional experience to underrepresented students."

The team at NOMA shared insight as to the fellowship's rebranding in 2023, explaining that the new name better highlights the program's mission and purpose to "develop and propel forward the next generation...

AIA New York awards $7,500 in student loan support to six aspiring BIPOC architects

2023-05-18T10:00:00-04:00

AIA New York has awarded $7,500 to help six aspiring BIPOC architects pay off their student loans. The money is to be drawn from the organization's 2030 Fund, which seeks to “help build a more diverse and representative profession.”

The 2030 Fund was developed by AIANY in collaboration with the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. The fund is also used to support NOMA’s 2030 Challenge, which aims to double the number of licensed Black architects by the end of the decade.

The six future architects to receive the latest funding are Wilfrido Adames (Pratt Institute), Hamees Gabr (City College of New York and Harvard Graduate School of Design), Chae Park (Cornell University and the Art Institute of Chicago), Reuben Posada (Texas A&M University and Cornell University), Jahaan Scipio (Syracuse University and Yale University), and Stephen Sewar (University of South Florida).

Almost one-third of architecture employees have faced or witnessed discrimination, says NCARB/NOMA survey

2022-10-18T10:59:00-04:00

An NCARB/NOMA investigation has found that people of color, especially African Americans, are more likely to report issues with their architecture firm’s culture. The Firm Culture & Career Development Report is the latest analysis articulating the results of the joint NCARB/NOMA Baseline on Belonging survey investigating biases and impediments in the profession. The survey received over 5000 complete responses following its release in early 2020.

Archinect Feature: Architecture Gave Me a Black Eye: A Note to Architectural Educators

The latest report, which focused almost exclusively on candidates currently on the path to licensure, found that 24% of African American respondents had considered leaving the profession due to their firm’s culture, 14% more than their white peers. Compared to white respondents, African American respondents were also 12% less likely to say they felt as though they belonged at their firm, and 10% less likely to feel valued.

In particular, African American w...

Tell us your experience: Challenges on the path to architectural licensure

2022-08-11T09:20:00-04:00

In June 2020, we conducted an interview with Princeton University School of Architecture Dean Mónica Ponce de León on the future of architectural licensure. Ponce de León’s perspective, which generated 90 comments from our readers, centered on disparities in licensure success along racial and gender groups.

“We need to be honest,” Ponce de León told us. “The profession is predominantly white and male. Only 2% of all architects are Black American. In 2008, that number was 1.5%. Let’s do the math, at that rate, it will take 240 years for the profession to look like the rest of America. I, for one, cannot wait that long.”

Media interest in the path to architectural licensure peaked once again last week with the news of two architecture graduates from Auburn University in Alabama who had become licensed architects at the age of 23. For perspective, NCARB data shows that the average age of those beginnin...

Students from NOMA's 2022 Foundation Fellowship cohort gain mentorship and work experience from 18 architecture firms

2022-08-04T14:10:00-04:00

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) celebrates its fourth class of architecture students chosen as this year's 2022 NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF) cohort. An initiative that provides mentorship and design research experience for young emerging professionals, the NFF has become an impactful program offered to underrepresented architecture students across the nation.

This year 20 architecture students were selected to be a part of the 2022 summer cohort. During the two-month summer fellowship, each student is hosted at a leading architecture firm nationwide. During the summer, student fellows "engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship." NOMA shares, "NFF provides professional experience to underrepresented students to connect them to the profession and provide a pipeline to eventual employment, supporting the 2030 Diversity Challenge, which aims to increase the number of licensed Black architects."

Tiffany Brown, NOMA Executive Director shared,...

Kimberly Dowdell elected as AIA's 2024 president, the first Black woman in the position

2022-06-17T17:40:00-04:00

Architect, real estate developer, educator, and former NOMA national president Kimberly Dowdell has been elected as AIA’s 2023 First VP/2024 President-elect. She will be the 100th President of AIA and the first Black woman to sit in the role. Dowdell is joined by Britt Lindberg who was elected as the 2023-2024 AIA Secretary, and Illya Azaroff as the 2023-2025 At-large Director.

Dowdell has been an AIA member since 2007. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University in 2006, which was followed by a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University in 2015. A Detroit native, Dowdell’s career has been driven by her mission to revitalize cities using design.

Previously on Archinect: Architect Kimberly Dowdell uses her hometown of Detroit as a catalyst for teaching equitable urban design practices

She currently works as the marketing principal in HOK’s Chicago office. Dowdell’s work with AIA includes participating on the Equity and the Future of Architecture Com...

African American women significantly less supported in architecture schools, says NCARB and NOMA report

2022-04-19T12:55:00-04:00

A new report by NCARB and NOMA has found that women, particularly Black or African American women, face heavier challenges in architectural education than their male counterparts. As a result, more than half of Black or African American women surveyed state that they have considered a different career path.

The report is the latest output of the “Baseline on Belonging” study conducted by NCARB and NOMA, which seeks to identify areas where underrepresented groups are disproportionately impacted throughout their early architectural career, including education and licensing. Previous reports within the study have focused on the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), which found that white and male candidates were more likely to pass the ARE.

Excerpt from the Baseline on Belonging: Education Report by NOMA and NCARB

The latest report, whose findings are derived from 5,300 survey respondents, found that women feel less supported by pro...

Remembering Prescott Reavis: A champion of Black excellence and mentorship within architecture

2022-02-10T17:57:00-05:00

Within the architecture industry, there are individuals who work tirelessly to not only design impactful buildings but who aim to represent the people, places, and community that their work serves. Prescott Reavis was more than just a Black architect. He was an advocate, a mentor, and a formidable force for equitable design practices. On February 8, 2022, Reavis sadly passed away.

The Oakland-based practitioner was a man of many talents and specialties. For over 20 years, his works as a spatial activist, architect, planner, and educator could be seen throughout his involvement with organizations across the nation, specifically in the Oakland/San Francisco area.

Image of Prescott Reavis as a student at Howard University. Image courtesy of Prescott Reavis' Facebook page.

Reavis was a graduate of Howard University where he received a Bachelor's degree in Architecture with a minor in Education. He also attended San Jose State University where he completed Master's Certificates in Appli...

ARE scholarships for aspiring Black architects launched by the Architects Foundation

2021-11-15T13:53:00-05:00

The Architects Foundation has announced the launch of the Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship, providing support for aspiring Black architects within the licensing process. Through the scholarship, the organization is aiming to double the number of licensed Black architects in the United States by 2030.

The scholarship will cover the cost of the ARE, a one-year subscription to the AIA’s exam prep course ArchiPrep, one year of dues to either the AIA or NOMA, one year NCARB record fees, and $500 in study materials. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must identify as Black or African American, be eligible for the ARE, hold an NCARB Record, and be either an Associate AIA or a member of NOMA.

Findings from NOMA/NCARB report on disparities in architectural licensing

To apply for the more than 30 awards available under LFRT, applicants must submit a brief 500-word personal statement, a professional biography and/or résumé, and a maximum of three optional letters of ...

NOMA/NCARB report exposes exam disparities for people of color and older candidates

2021-09-13T13:28:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) have released a report focused on disparities in architectural licensing examination. Titled Baseline on Belonging: Examination Report, the study seeks to explore factors that impact equity, diversity, and inclusion for candidates taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

Infographic via NOMA/NCARB

The 100-page report is centered on survey data from the experiences of people preparing for or taking the ARE, including obstacles in the areas of financial support, mentoring, and overall cost. More than 5,000 people submitted responses to the survey, including over 2,800 people of color and almost 2,500 women. The report also features an analysis of a multi-year collection of NCARB data, which as we previously reported, indicates that people of color have significantly lower pass rates in the ARE than their white peers.

Infographic via NOMA/NCARB

Among th...

SoCal NOMA looks to inspire future designers with a summer camp focused on LA's changing Exposition Park

2021-07-29T15:07:00-04:00

A diverse group of middle and high school age students is getting a sneak preview of the blockbuster changes coming to Los Angeles’ Exposition Park this summer thanks to the Southern California chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), a group dedicated to the advancement and development of future professionals.

Students at SoCal NOMA’s Project Pipeline summer camp will get a closer look at the forthcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in addition to future projects planned for ZGF's revitalized, park-like Oschin Air and Space Center and Natural History Museum extension underway from Fredrick Fisher and Partners.

The camp lasts four days and includes lots of hands-on sessions with professionals meant to expose school-aged children to the built environment and architectural profession. Students of all skill and interest levels rotate through a series of workshops that explain the design process through an eight-step program that builds their knowledge base ...

White and male candidates more likely to pass the ARE, says NCARB study

2021-07-22T12:23:00-04:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has, for the first time, published data on Architect Registration Examination (ARE) pass rates that are broken down by demographics. The statistics show that white candidates are more likely to pass the ARE than candidates of color, that men are more likely to pass than women, and that younger candidates have higher pass rates than older candidates. The findings will also be included in an upcoming joint report between NCARB and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).

The ARE, which is developed and administered by NCARB, is a key step on the path to professional licensing and is required by all state licensing boards in the United States. To generate the latest statistics, NCARB analyzed the pass rates from more than 32,700 ARE exam participants, studying information on race, ethnicity, gender, and age. NCARB says that releasing the findings is an effort to “help inform essential discussions about eq...

NOMA's Foundation Fellowship nurtures the next generation of architects and designers through mentorship and professional development at 19 architecture firms

2021-07-08T14:15:00-04:00

Mentorship opportunities for young architects and design professionals have been an ongoing mission for The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Now in its third iteration, NOMA announces 24 architecture students who will be part of the 2021 summer cohort for the NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF).

This two-month research fellowship will take place in person and virtually at 19 leading U.S.-based architecture firms. NOMA shares: "The NFF 2021 cohort will engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship." In addition, NOMA has worked hard in building partnerships with various architecture firms that have collaborated with the NFF to provide professional experience to underrepresented students. This fellowship allows students to connect with the profession by establishing a pipeline for eventual employment once the fellowship ends.

In February 2021, NOMA announced its list of Winter Fellows consisting of ten students who were placed at ten design firms. Includ...

Sarah Akigbogun is uncovering the forgotten stories of female architects of color with XXAOC

2021-05-14T18:18:00-04:00

London-based architect, filmmaker, and educator Sarah Akigbogun is bringing to light the stories of female architects of color, a demographic that has lacked adequate representation and acknowledgment.

Akigbogun is the founding director at transdisciplinary practice Studio Aki, Vice Chair of Women In Architecture, and a newly elected London member of RIBA Council. In 2017, she directed the film She Draws: She Builds, a film that amplifies the voices and experiences of 15 female architects.

Sarah Akigbogun. Photo: Twitter

Her current project, the XXAOC Project, is an online, crowd-sourced initiative that serves as a platform to document female architects of color both currently and throughout history. The project started in early 2019 with a tweet by Akigbogun calling out to the internet in search of these women and their stories.

So, new project for 2019 ...I’m starting a project to collect the stories of female #ArchitectsofColour, past and present. Who should I be talking to? Abo...

NOMA leadership echos the need to 'fight all systems of bias, oppression, and prejudice' following the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial

2021-04-26T17:37:00-04:00

On Wednesday, April 20th, the guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd brought a ripple effect of response and emotion across the nation. While this verdict is a step, it is not a "static pivot," explained by NOMA's current President Jason Pugh and former NOMA President Kimberly Dowdell. As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to spark awareness and action, architecture schools, firms, and organizations across the nation responded with support to stand with the Black community and to demand racial justice within the industry.

After hearing the trial results, it led me to reflect on the statements and plans from the architecture community shared in 2020. Since last year, what tangible results have occurred since architects, firms, and institutions addressed the need to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy? While steps towards anti-racism are a daily affair, how deep can these statements and reform plans go before we see a change?

Prev...

Ten architecture students from five HBCU's have recently been appointed to NOMA's 2021 Foundation Fellowship cohort

2021-02-13T11:45:00-05:00

Ten architecture students from five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are selected to be a part of NOMA's 2021 Foundation Fellowship (NFF). In 2020 NOMA announced the fellowship's inaugural cohort that consisted of 30 students from over 20 architecture schools across the United States.

The fellowship's mission was to provide professional experiences to underrepresented students through mentorship and direct collaboration with architecture firms. With the number of licensed Black architects slowly but steadily increasing, the fellowship allows students to stay engaged within the profession and provide a direct pipeline towards future employment opportunities.

Jason Pugh, newly appointed 2021-2022 NOMA President, shared his response to the recently announced student fellows and the schools participating. Pugh, proud HBCU alum who graduated from Howard University, shared in a statement, "HBCUs continue to provide opportunities to expand an educated Black middle clas...

NOMA celebrates Jason Pugh, Pascale Sablan, and Tiffany Brown as they embrace leadership and 50 years of empowering and educating minority architects

2021-01-19T18:45:00-05:00

NOMA's commitment to supporting and mentoring architects continues as new leadership transitions for 2021. Jason Pugh will begin his new position in the organization as he follows former President Kimberly Dowdell's work and energy. Pugh will be supported by Pascale Sablan, who was voted President-Elect for the 2023-2024 term. Like the presidents and leaders before them, each newly appointed president has helped shape NOMA into the organization it has become today.

Pugh shares, "One of the main goals for the next two years is to build upon the great work and progress NOMA has accomplished during the last impactful administration, led by NOMA past-President Kimberly Dowdell." In response to her appointment, Sablan wrote to the community sharing her matched enthusiasm in her new role. "I'm extremely proud to share that during the NOMA 48th National Conference, I was voted to be President-Elect to support Jason E. Pugh during his presidency. In this role, I will have the honor of gett...

Number of licensed Black female architects increases to 500

2020-12-21T17:55:00-05:00

The push for increasing the number of Black licensed architects has been an ongoing effort. Organizations like NOMA and individuals like Norma Merrick Sklarek, Paul Williams, Zena Howard, Phillip Freelon, Gabrielle Bullock, Curtis Moody, and many others have paved the way for a new generation of Black architects and architects of color to continue to make a difference within the industry.

(L) Norma Merrick Sklarek was among the first Black women to become a licensed architect in both New York state and California. She was also the first Black woman elected to the AIA College of Fellows. Image courtesy of AIA|LA (R) Georgia Louise Harris Brown was the first African American woman to graduate with an architecture degree and the second professionally licensed African American female architect in the nation. Image courtesy of Sarah Brown.

However, when it comes to licensed female architects, specifically Black female architects, the disparity in numbers is quite evident. Katherine Willia...

Architect and activist Pascale Sablan named 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award recipient

2020-12-09T17:13:00-05:00

Dedicated professionals and leaders within the industry have been hard at work, pushing to raise awareness for underrepresented architects while making progressive changes within the industry. Pascale Sablan is no exception. As a senior associate for the New York-based firm S9 Architecture, her years of experience as a practicing architect are matched by her commitment to creating platforms where women and architects of color can be recognized and celebrated. Today the AIA announced Sablan as the recipient of the 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award.

Established in 1972, the award is named in honor of civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr. The AIA explains the award is presented to an individual or organization that "embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access."

ARIEL VIEW MILOT, HAITI VOCATIONAL SCHOOL CAMPUS. Image courtesy of Pascal Sablan/Courtesy of AIA

During a year filled with challenges i...

NOMA's 2020 Virtual Conference highlights winners of the Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards

2020-10-27T23:25:00-04:00

During this year's NOMA Conference, an unforgettable virtual experience was created to honor the organization's progress and celebrate its members. Despite the conference shifting to a virtual format, this didn't slow down conference registration. The event welcomed over 1,600 participants.

In addition to honoring the organization's leaders and incoming president, Jason Pugh, firms and students were recognized for their designs. "NOMA's awards ceremony is an annual highlight for NOMA members, when we step back, reflect and take stock of accomplishments, from those beginning their architecture journey as students, to those completing licensure, and so many who are changing their communities through built work," shared NOMA President Kimberly Dowdell during the conference.

"With this being my last ceremony as president, the awards meant even more, acknowledging leadership, allied partners, and the NOMA family that has made the success of this unprecedented year possible. NOMA has ach...

2020 NOMA Conference opens virtually to the largest conference audience yet, gathering socially motivated architects, designers, and allied professionals

2020-10-15T14:51:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)

In a year challenged with COVID-19, a recession, and social awakening, NOMA experienced record membership, partnership and sponsorship support.

The 48th Annual National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Conference opened on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, with an online audience of more than 1,500 registrants, making it the largest NOMA conference gathering ever. The virtual conference surpasses the record-breaking attendance of over 1,200 at last year’s NOMA Brooklyn conference. In an unprecedented year due to COVID-19, a resulting recession and social unrest, the conference will bring together architects, designers, academics, urban planners, community developers, artists, and students to champion and discuss how to shift the issues of our current structures to more equitable systems through architecture during the online conference, Oct. 14-17, 2020.

“When faced with the difficult question ...

Winners of the 2020 NOMA, NAACP, and SEED Awards highlight design justice and equity within architecture and land development

2020-10-06T13:47:00-04:00

Since 2011, the SEED Awards highlight public interest design projects that address critical community issues at a social, economic, and environmental scale. This year's award winners represent projects that reflect justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the realms of design, architecture, and land development in collaboration with NOMA and NAACP.

Winners were selected thanks to a star-studded jury consisting of design leaders in the industry such as Carl Anthony, Kimberly Dowdell, Maya Henderson, and Tiffany Mayhew, among others. This year, seven winning projects were chosen.

View the winners below and selected project images.

2020 Project Winners

Memorial to Enslaved Laborers - Design Team: Design Team: Höweler + Yoon Architecture, Meejin Yoon, Eric Höweler, Namjoo Kim, Caroline Shannon, Anna Kaertner, Alex Yueyan Li, Caleb Hawkins, Boris Angelov, Julia Robert, Dr. Mabel O. Wilson, Studio &, Marlisa Wise, Dr. Frank Dukes, Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect, Eto Otitigbe, a...

Join NOMA as they present their 2020 Virtual Conference - Spatial Shifts: Reclaiming our Cities

2020-09-29T15:57:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)

Together on October 14-18, 2020, we will explore ways in which can break down barriers to creating meaningful projects, share ways to remix the role of the designer, and unpack new approaches to the design processes of our built environment. Each one of us will find our ikusasa, Yoruba for future or progress, to forge our path towards progression.

Now we’re just days away and the agenda has been published at https://conference2020.noma.net/ making today the PERFECT time for you to join the hundreds that have already registered! Early registration ends October 2nd!

Courtesy of NOMA

Cities are changing. Populations and economies in Oakland, Dakar, and beyond. Globally, our cities are changing from population to economies near and far. We, as designers, community members, leaders, and environmental stewards, need to be prepared to champion and shift the issues of our current structures to more equitab...

Inaugural NOMA Foundation Fellowship cohort selected for employment and mentorship opportunities

2020-07-17T19:33:00-04:00

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has announced the inaugural 30-student cohort of the NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF), an initiative that seeks to increase diversity within professional practice as well as provide firm mentorship and design research experience for young emerging professionals.

With the recent events of COVID-19 and a growing civil rights movement sweeping the nation, the importance of actionable measures that increase representation within firms and foster better opportunities for Black and minority students is paramount. With these initiatives in place, NOMA has announced the placement of 30 students to engage in a two-month virtual summer research fellowship.

According to NOMA, "Amidst COVID-19 and record unemployment, NFF provides professional experience to underrepresented students with the goal of keeping them engaged in the profession and providing a pipeline to eventual employment. In all recessions, including the current one, minorit...

SoCal NOMA launches Diversity Equity and Inclusivity Challenge

2020-07-15T11:22:00-04:00

In a joint statement from the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter (AIALA) and the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA), a new tool to expand inclusion has been announced: the SoCal NOMA Diversity Equity and Inclusivity Challenge. In describing the new initiative, the statement reads:

The SoCal NOMA DEI Challenge is a ten-point plan that delivers a pathway to diversity for Los Angeles firms through touchpoints including: mentorship, recruitment and promotion, and pro bono services to underserved communities. The results of its clear implementable actions will be tracked, in the same way as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Challenge, to determine areas where improvement continues to be needed and to identify successes in reaching these critical goals.

The 10 "actions" that firms can undertake as a part of this challenge each have a scoring threshold with a maximum of 100 potential points to be achi...

NOMA, HASTINGS, and U of Tennessee announce plans for new diversity scholarship

2020-06-26T18:42:00-04:00

The National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA), Hastings Architecture, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have announced a new scholarship initiative aimed at bolstering the pipeline of students from diverse backgrounds entering architectural education.

The new Keystone Scholarship will "cover all academic costs" for an incoming student from Tennessee in the college’s School of Architecture or School of Interior Architecture each year of their education, while also providing financial support and guaranteeing a summer internship opportunity for the selected student. A statement announcing the launch of fundraising for the scholarship explains that "the full scholarship should enable the student to graduate with no academic debt."

Valarie Franklin, President of the Nashville Chapter of NOMA, explains: “One of NOMA’s missions is to encourage students into the profession and to continue in an active role in their education through licensure. This scholarship will not...

AIA, NOMA, and other organizations issue statements of solidarity with Black community

2020-06-01T15:02:00-04:00

Over the weekend as courthouses, monuments, business districts, and public spaces around the country became backdrops to fierce protests seeking justice for the killings of Minneapolis resident George Floyd and other Black Americans at the hands of police, a collection of architecture, design, and built environment groups issued memos commenting on the volatile situation.

American Institute of Architects

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) published a statement from AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick calling for "universal respect and human dignity" in the face of racial injustice.

Frederick wrote:

"As Americans, we are mindful of this nation’s dark history of racial inequality. We are appalled by any actions that further threaten the universal respect and human dignity that everyone deserves. As architects, we remain committed to advancing civil rights protections, fair housing policies, and accessibility in the built world to help achieve the more perfect union we all see...