Six months after the AIA voted in favor of the Equity in Architecture resolution, it looks like the organization is turning their words into actions. Most recently, they announced the establishment of the Equity in Architecture Commission, a 20-member panel of leading architects, educators, and specialized experts (whose names haven't been released) who will be in charge of investigating diversity and inclusion in the architecture profession, which — like in many other areas in American society — has long been dominated by people who identify as white and male.
The Commission's objectives include:
"Diversity and inclusion is a priority of the AIA. We have made progress, but not fast enough. The world around us is changing much faster and we can do better,' stated Elizabeth Chu Richter, the 2015 AIA President. '...This aligns with language in the resolution that prompted the formation of the Commission: Equity is everyone’s issue and achieving equitable practice has a direct impact on the relevance, economic health and future of the Institute and our profession.'
Throughout 2016, the group will conduct their research and report their findings to the AIA Board of Directors by the end of the year.
More in relation to equity on Archinect:
AIA moves one step forward in approval of Equity in Architecture resolution
National council member accuses RIBA of "institutional racism", prompting investigation
Nonscandinavia: an open-source, image collection for the rest of the world
Being an architect is sexy, according to modern society
Architects tell all in a global survey about the future of design competitions
4 Comments
Wonder the political backlash could be... Will firms really want to keep paying AIA dues so that the AIA can "investigate" a problem they did more than anybody to create with gratuitous regulations?
How about a program getting architecture schools to actively recruit applicants from minority communities in cities across the US? Getting a lot more racial and ethnic diversity in each year's admissions pool seems pretty fundamental to this goal.
Of course, years of blue-ribbon panels meeting and issuing reports is more fun.
Well said Citizen. The problem starts with the pool of applicants...
There were a lot of diversity scholarships and students at my school but it didn't help in the long run. There's just too far to go after for a career that doesn't pay doctor or Lawyer salaries, to use the two examples architecture is being compared to, too many AIA hurdles
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.