RIDING THE VORTEX has today been announced as the 2022 recipient of the AIA’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award honoring the group’s commitment to challenging social issues.

The 50th edition of the award went to the 14-year-old breakout group that was formed after the 2007 AIA conference in San Antonio. Since then, VORTEX has gone on to establish itself as a torchbearer for the inclusion of Black women in all aspects of the industry, taking Mr. Young’s observations on the profession from the 1968 AIA conference as their charge.

“Everyone involved in VORTEX’s programming, whether they are a collaborator, panelist, or audience member, has emerged from the experience with a unique blend of intellect, creativity, and aspiration that empowers them to move confidently through the profession,” the AIA citation read. “Many often find support through the connections they make, allowing them to better respond to all aspects of practicing architecture and better balance their professional, personal, and service lives.”

The group includes notable members like Kathy Denise Dixon and Kathryn Tyler Progmor, both FAIA. The group has been behind a sharp increase in the number of Nlack women registered to practice architecture, which has risen to over 500 from a figure of 175 at the group’s inception, according to the AIA.

“VORTEX’s core program format allows for both creativity and a collaborative process in developing discrete but cohesive sessions,” the citation concluded. “It features presentations by five women, ranging from emerging architects to design professionals at the apex of their careers, who discuss their entrance and progression through the profession.”