This year’s AIA Conference on Architecture just got an unexpected celebrity guest.
Tennis legend Venus Williams will be the keynote speaker at this year’s edition of the conference, where she will deliver a lecture titled ‘The Need for Change.’
Williams, who has long been seen as a champion of gender and racial equity, has made a name for herself in architectural circles lately after starting her own interior design firm V Starr in 2002. The Florida-based firm made waves earlier this year for its reworking of sister Serena’s 14,500 square foot Spanish-style mansion in Miami that included an infinity pool, 620 square foot closet, Gaggenau appliances, wine cellar, and white-walled gallery space meant to showcase the superlative collection the younger Williams has amassed over her three decade career.
The 40-year-old former grand slam champion has also partnered with Airbnb affiliate Niido on the design for the interior of their eponymous apartment complexes, which began operation in 2018. A lounge and hotel suite at the renovated Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago was also completed by the firm in October of 2017.
“The barriers I’ve faced have been more silent, which can make it even more difficult to fight because you’re unaware the obstacle exists in the first place,” she told the Council of Fashion Designers of America in a 2018 interview. “It’s my belief the best way to conquer those invisible obstacles is to be great. Know your business and have a point of view that no one can ignore. It’s imperative we have more meaningful conversations about race and the importance of embracing diversity within the industry. Yes, those conversations may get uncomfortable, but in order to achieve greatness, sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone.”
Williams will speak to close out the four-day conference in Philadelphia on August 19th. Tickets to all events can be purchased here.
11 Comments
3, 2, 1...cue the slight from the white commentariat.
I'm more baffled why the AIA picked a celebrity athlete to do the keynote but since she seems to have a long standing interest in design, why not. Though it'd be like picking an architect who plays tennis after work to be the keynote at a tennis conference.
Smart move, tackling both gender and racial equity in one speaker, well played AIA. The rest of the roster can stay male, old and white now as the boxes have been ticked!
yay celebrities. yawn.
There is no irony in selecting someone designing a family member's 14,500 sf luxury mansion and partnering with voracious global corporations to give a speech about equality.
Irony is dead, bro.
Long live Hypocrisy!
In other news, a member of the local YMCA's Tennis for Beginners group is giving the keynote speech at Wimbledon.
“It’s my belief the best way to conquer those invisible obstacles is to be great. Know your business and have a point of view that no one can ignore. It’s imperative we have more meaningful conversations about race and the importance of embracing diversity within the industry. Yes, those conversations may get uncomfortable, but in order to achieve greatness, sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone.”
I agree with her 100%. The best way to conquer obstacles is to be the best that you can be. The only think we can really control is ourselves. Obsessing over invisible outside forces is unhealthy and counterproductive. I think this rings to something I’ve said for years. The Revolution will be internalized! Strengthen and enlighten the individual mindset, multiply that x 350 million, and we will be on a good path forward. Politics does not serve the masses. It never will regardless of what ism it claims to be. Empowerment must be internal and decentralized.
this what we've been telling old white doods for years! Just perform and you'll be fine!
It’s more like, do the best that you can, and you’ll be far better off than if you don’t. The only reason this message is controversial at all is because the grifter industrial complex benefits from continuing the suffering.
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