More than 1,500 attendees set records, including the pinning of 40 newly licensed architects onsite, while honoring individual, chapter and design award-winners and witnessing a peaceful transition between NOMA President Pascale Sablan and incoming President Bryan C. Lee Jr.   

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 4, 2024 -- The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) reached new heights at its national conference October 22-27, 2024, in Baltimore, bringing together more than 1,500 professional designers, students, and partners from across the globe. 2024 NOMA Conference: The eXchange elevated the impact of people of color architects, designers and allied professionals through conversation, educational seminars, community exploration, and networking events to share perspectives that influence the future of the built environment. The event opened ceremoniously on Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a special invitation White House tour. The exchange of ideas continued through keynote addresses by groundbreaking West African female practitioners, Farida Abu-Bakare, Tosin Oshinowo and Nmadili Okwumabua, who are redefining architecture across borders, and Derrick Adams, Baltimore-based nonprofit Charm City Cultural Cultivation founder. The conference also celebrated the pinning of 40 newly licensed architects. 

In addition to being NOMA’s biggest conference, the largest class of newly licensed architects were recognized and pinned by President Pascale Sablan, NOMAC, FAIA, LEED AP, and the NOMA Board of Directors, with representatives from the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) and The American Institute of Architects present. The conference witnessed the peaceful transfer of leadership between President Sablan and incoming NOMA President Bryan C. Lee Jr., NOMA, AIA, while announcing newly elected-board leadership, elevated NOMA Counsel members, and honors, including design award winners.

“We are achieving greatness and making history, advancing the mission of diversity in architecture and the design field by growing our number of architects, members, allied professionals, and ways to access the pipeline into the design industry,” said NOMA President Sablan. “As society’s attention wavers, NOMA’s conference is a moment to celebrate our resolution together, as we continue to focus on our communities, build our chapters, and show the world the power of unity and the strength of our commitment.

NOMA Awards Ceremony Celebrates Leadership, Honors, Elections and Awards 

Leadership Transitions and Elected Officers

Hosted at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott, the conference witnessed ceremonial passing of leadership and the historic NOMA wooden staff between 2023-2024 NOMA President Pascale Sablan and 2025-2026 NOMA President Bryan C. Lee Jr. at the Friday, Oct, 25, NOMA Awards Ceremony. Lee, whose term begins Jan. 1, 2025, served with Sablan as NOMA’s president elect for the past two years, designed to help prepare the incoming president for the position. 

“I asked #NOMAStandUp and we did, but with the new leadership of Bryan C Lee Jr., we will mobilize and march,” said Sablan. “‘Dèyè mòn, gen mòn’ in Haitian Creole translates to, ‘Beyond every mountain, there's another mountain.’ This is our mantra. We have reached new peaks and are prepared for the challenges ahead. I am proud to hand over to Bryan a stronger and bigger organization and am humbly ready to follow his leadership and support him on the NOMA board as we move our organization ever forward. May your journey be empowered by the strength of our unity and enriched with the wisdom of our collective experiences.”

With the elevation of Lee to NOMA President, NOMA elected and announced at conference the 2025-2026 Vice President and 2027-2028 President as Saundra Little, NOMA, FAIA, LEED AP, Quinn Evans Architects Principal and Noir Design Parti Co-Founder. Little, a member of NOMA Detroit (Detroit, MI), has been a NOMA Board of Directors member and NOMA Detroit chapter President. 

NOMA also elected and announced the following positions: 

• Midwest Regional Vice President: Ashlen V. Williams, NOMA, AIA, I-NOMA (Chicago, IL)   

• Northeast Regional Vice President: Oswaldo Ortega, NOMA, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, PhilaNOMA (Philadelphia, PA)

• West Regional Vice President: Craig Atkinson, NOMA, DBIA, LEED AP, SoCalNOMA (Los Angeles, CA)  

• Treasurer: Teonna N. Cooksey, NOMA, NYCOBA (New York, NY)

• NOMA University Liaisons: NorthEast Region, Joshua Sswebuwufu, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (BosNOMA, Boston, Mass.); Midwest Region, Tianna St. James, NOMA, Assoc. (NOMACOlumbus, Columbus, Oh.); South Region, Colby Mitchell, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (NOMA Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.)

• Student Representative: Patricia Negrón Meléndez, The Savannah College of Art and Design NOMAS chapter (Savannah, GA)

“Over the next two years, together, we will continue the growth of this organization,” said Lee, the 2025-2026 NOMA President. “We will continue to lift the work and stories of our members, our communities, and our cultures, ensuring that your voices reach rooms. We will strengthen the capacity to support students, parents, and teachers through the project pipeline, and we will ensure that our HBCUs can assert a value proposition defined by our spatial and cultural knowledge in our neighborhood communities. I am immensely grateful for the trust you have placed in me to lead. I am proud to step into the role as the next president of the National Organization of Minority Architects.”

Sablan will remain on the board as the 2025-2026 NOMA Immediate Past President.

NOMA Member and Chapter Honors 

NOMA honored the exceptional contributions of professional and student members and chapters, essential to the organization's growth and impact. 

• NOMA Member of the Year: Tami Chen, NOMA PDX (Portland, Oregon)

• NOMA President’s Award: Jonathan Moody, NOMA, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Fitwel, NOMAColumbus (Columbus, Ohio)

• NOMA Five Star Chapters for consistent performance: NOMA ATLANTA (Atlanta, Georgia); BosNOMA (Boston, MA); NOMAColumbus (Columbus, Ohio); DC NOMA (Washington, D.C.); I-NOMA (Chicago, Illinois); NOMA PDX (Portland, Oregon); SoFlo NOMA (Miami, FL)

• NOMA Large Chapter of the Year (More than 51 members): NC NOMA (Raleigh, NC) 

• NOMA Small Chapter of the Year (Less than 50 members): NOMA Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah) 

• NOMA Student (NOMAS) Member of the Year: Jennifer White, Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)

• NOMA Student (NOMAS) Chapter of the Year: Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) 

• Special Recognition - Baltimore Mayoral Honor: Founding NOMA and Baltimore chapter member, Leon Bridges, for his contribution the profession and his community  

Legacy: NOMA Counsel Induction (NOMAC) 

A lifetime achievement honor is the induction of a NOMA member who has made a significant contribution to NOMA and is aligned with its mission and purpose. The formation of this distinction was rooted in African traditions involving essential knowledge passed to generations by elders who have wisdom, experience, and skills. Those honored would therefore be bestowed the designation of “Counselors” and collectively be called NOMAC. Elevated to NOMA Counsel (NOMAC) in 2024: 

• Dina A. Griffin, NOMAC, FAIA, IIDA, Interactive Design Architects, President - I-NOMA (Chicago, IL) 

• Rainy Hamilton Jr., NOMAC, FAIA, Hamilton Anderson Associates Co-Founder and Principal - NOMA Detroit (Detroit, MI) 

• Donald I. King, NOMAC, FAIA, Nehemiah Initiative Seattle CEO; former DKA Architecture Inc., President/CEO - Former NOMA West VP - NOMA NW (Seattle, WA)

• Pascale Sablan, NOMAC, FAIA, LEED AP, Adjaye Associates New York Chief Executive Officer, New York Studio, 2023-2024 NOMA President - NYCOBA (New York, NY)

• Katherine Williams, NOMAC, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, Black Women in Architecture Founder, Riding the Vortex Co-Founder - DCNOMA (Washington, D.C)

Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards

The Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards recognizes the influential built and unbuilt work of NOMA members. Over 85 submissions were received for the prestigious design awards in the categories of Built Work; Unbuilt Work; Vision; Historic Preservation, Restoration and Renovation; and Small Projects. To view the project submissions and honor awards, visit the awards gallery. 

Awarded projects by category winner and firm (honor/citations included): 

• Built Work: Sycamore & Oak - Washington, D.C. (2023)

• Firm: Adjaye Associates, Pascale Sablan, NOMA, FAIA, LEED AP, CEO 

• Citation: Louis Armstrong Center - Queens, NY (2023). Firm: Caples Jefferson Architects, Everardo Jefferson, NOMA, AIA and Sara Caples, NOMA, AIA, Architect of Record & Principal Design Architect

• Citation: Arrupe Hall at St. Joseph’s University (2021), Lower Merion Township, PA. Firm: Moto Designshop, Eric Oskey, NOMA, FAIA, Principal Design Architect

• Historic Preservation: Mary Church Terrell House, Washington, D.C. (2024); 

• Firm: R. McGhee & Associates, Ronnie McGhee, NOMA, FAIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Architect of Record, Principal in Charge

• Small Projects: Wellington Courtyard - San Carlos, CA (2021) 

• Firm: Moment X, Feifei Feng, NOMA, AIA, Architect of Record; Qiangru Hua - Collaborator, Architect

• Unbuilt Work: T. Rowe Price Headquarters - Baltimore, MD 

• Firm: Kohn Pedersen Fox, Jeff Kenoff, FAIA, NCARB, Principal Design Architect, Gregory Mell, NOMA, AIA, Director, Georgina Lalli, NOMA, AIA, Senior Associate Principal

• Citation: The Shockoe Project, Richmond, VA. Firm: Baskervill, Burt Pinnock, NOMA, FAIA, Principal Design Architect

• Vision Category- Citation: Mobile Housing Network, Macau and Hong Kong, China

• Firm: YNL Architects, Yu-Ngok Lo, NOMA, FAIA, Principal Design Architect

Jurors: Deep Chaniara, NOMA, AIA, NCARB, Pickard Chilton Associate; Nicole Hollant-Denis, NOMA, FAIA, NCARB, Aaris Design Architects President; Admo Ogun, NOMA, AIA, RIBA, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Building Operations Architect and Project Manager; Dayton Schroeter, NOMA, AIA, SEGD, SmithGroup Vice President and Design Director; Eman Siddiqui, NOMA, AIA, NCARB, GSBS Architects Architect 

2024 NOMA Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition

The NOMA Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition brought together a diverse group of students, from more than 40 NOMAS chapters, to collaborate, innovate, and reimagine the built environment with a live jury experience for the students Oct. 25–26, 2024. This year’s project, Highway to Healing: The Transformation of the West Baltimore I-40 Corridor, was a design proposal for a multi-modal transit center to address the systemic injustices endured by the West Baltimore community from the expansion of the U.S. highway system. The competition’s restorative justice project took place at a pivotal moment when repair and reparations could become a reality for West Baltimore, with a $2 million grant for Baltimore through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot and the vision for the Red Line from Governor Wes Moore that would help to foster reconnection between Baltimore’s communities. To view the project submissions and awards, visit the awards gallery. 

Awards were presented to the following student chapters and their projects: 

• First Place: Tulane University (New Orleans, LA) - Restoring Common Ground 

• Second Place: Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA) - The Backyard

• Third Place: Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) - Mending the Divide 

• Honorable Mention: New York Institute of Technological (New York, NY) 

• Special recognition: Santa Monica College (Santa Monica, CA), the first community college chapter to participate in the student design competition. 

Jurors: Kate Diamond, FAIA, HDR Design Director; Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, NOMA, Perkins&Will Assoc. Principal; Alan Gombera, Gensler Studio Director; Aeron Hodge, Stantec Architecture Inc. Principal; Kuo Pao Lian, PI.KL Studio Co-Founder & Principal; Carrie Moore, AIA, Leed GA, SOM Technical Design Partner; Dr. Meleny Thomas, South Baltimore Community Land Trust Executive Director

Increased Milestones and 2025 NOMA Conference - Kansas City, Missouri 

NOMA is coming into the end of the year with 46 professional chapters, including two international chapters, and 128 student chapters. More than 60 sponsors supported the conference and over 70 architecture firms, organizations and universities exhibited at the graduate and firm fair. 

“This year’s conference exceeded expectations with the most professional and student member participation ever, celebrating industry milestones and leadership transitions and elevations,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Executive Director. “It is with this same anticipation that we look forward to gathering in Kansas City, next year, to celebrate even more milestones. We can’t wait to share and reflect back on another year of growth. The best is yet to come." 

NOMA’s 2025 annual conference will be held in Kansas City Oct. 8-12. 

Images available in media kit

About the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA):  

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) was formed over 50 years ago to represent the needs of African American architects. Founded in 1971, the purpose of NOMA was to bolster and provide support for the handful of Black licensed architects around the country. Today, NOMA is a haven for architects of all origins who seek inclusion in the design industry. We continue to advocate for the licensure of African American architects (who account for only two percent of all licensed architects today), as well as those from other underrepresented backgrounds. 

NOMA has 46 professional chapters and 128 student chapters, National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) — mentored by regional NOMA chapters. NOMA and NOMAS membership is predominantly African-American, with other minority members including Native American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, East Indian, and Asian, as well as an increasing segment of non-minority members who support NOMA’s mission. NOMA supports its student members by providing mentorship, scholarships, and job opportunities to ensure their successful transition into the profession. www.noma.net

####

Image credit: VSDavis Photography