As the architecture industry reviews another year filled with a range of ups and downs, it's an important time to reflect on what progress has been made when it comes to important topics such as social justice, activism, equity, and diversity initiatives within architecture. While we've already highlighted this year's controversies, it's important to ask: Has the architecture industry made advances toward social justice, diversity, and inclusion in 2022?

Effective change takes time. Continuing with our 2022 year in review, let's look back at the challenges, obstacles, and successes that the industry faced surrounding inclusive design, diverse leadership, social justice, and representation.

Architecture organizations aiming to make change

AIA issues a supplementary guide addressing issues in architectural education

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) worked together with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to establish a set of guidelines to help implement equitable design practices across universities and institutions. "The supplement, titled Equity in Architectural Education, is intended to provide teachers and administrators with scenarios, actions, and prompts that 'inspire discussions about creating welcoming environments to attract and retain those currently underrepresented in academia and in the profession.'"

AIA releases new Guides for Equitable Practice supplement, outlining ways to advance equity and justice through architectural practice

While the AIA has received much criticism in the past for their attempts to respond and implement improved practices regarding DEI initiatives, the organization released a supplemental guide with a "framework for understanding and building equity in the architecture profession." Titled "Justice in the Built Environment," this latest edition serves as a guide for architecture and design professionals looking to do more to advance justice through their design work. The guide was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota.

UK's ARB bans architect after making antisemitic comments towards colleagues

Racism and discriminatory remarks have no place in academia and professional practice, ever. This was the case for the UK's Architects Registration Board (ARB) after they found a British architect guilty of unacceptable professional conduct following the architect making "a series of offensive and antisemitic comments and gestures."

Voices from the community

Op-eds offer valuable insight into the voices and perspectives of those who wish to share, discuss, and present thoughts and opinions that may run outside of everyday media discourse and expand the discourse on much-needed topics. This year proved to be no different.

Incorporating Culture Into Design: How Lessons Learned From Tribal Clients Shaped the Architecture of the Choctaw Nation Headquarters

New Fire Native Design Group's Jason Holuby offered an insightful take on the experiences and importance of designers working with Native and Indigenous communities. "As architects, we are charged with creating spaces that not only meet our clients' functional needs but also present an aesthetic that embodies who the client is and what matters to them. When determining that aesthetic, a client's culture often becomes a key consideration. And while it may be tempting these days to rely on Google searches about the history of a certain heritage to save time, the most successful designers that incorporate culture respectfully and artfully take the time to listen and learn directly from their clients as they begin each new project."

The Revival of Human-Centered Architecture

An engineer by trade, Saad Rajan is a designer and entrepreneur whose passion for democratizing design led him to co-found NAYA Studio. "Naya aims to create more inclusive, delightful, and sustainable products through our adaptive platform that embodies co:creation and trust while providing an incredible user experience." Back in November, Rajan shared an insightful op-ed that discussed the realities of how Western-centric design ideas and "starchitect fandom" have led to the dehumanization of architecture. He uses the Aga Khan Award for Architecture as a catalyst to discuss these thoughts and spark discussion.

It’s Time To Consider the Refugee Camp as a City — And Here’s Why

Design justice is an essential topic that more designers and architects are paying closer attention to with the rise of socioeconomic awareness and human rights design. Architectural designer Daniel Vella wrote an important op-ed discussing "the questions surrounding refugee camp design and camp dwellers’ rights," as he questioned how they "inherently become architectural and urban matters." He concludes: "By considering the camp as a city, refugee rights are guaranteed through urban dwelling, political action, social relations, and living out the everyday routines of the city. In doing so, refugee camps gain meaning as a place."

Changes and appointments in design leadership

The terms diversity, equity, and inclusion have become more frequently used these past few years as schools, firms, and organizations aim to change, and hopefully reform, old and outdated methods in academia and professional practice. While many new appointments have been made this year, it still raises the question of how effective these appointments can be, how much support these leaders are provided with, and if these announcements are but another attempt of the industry grappling with changes through performative allyship. While these leadership changes continue, it helps to lay a road map to what works and needs improvement as changes within the industry occur.

RIBA's diversity & inclusion chief is stepping down after only a year

While Ramroop's appointment appeared to be a promising move by RIBA back in 2021, her decision to step down brought further attention to the organization's much-needed focus on creating progressive changes. "The former BBC journalist’s year-plus tenure has seen the development of initiatives like RIBA communities, its new Inclusion Charter, the institution of official guidance for employees on a host of sensitive issues like pronoun usage, and the creation of a live radio channel that broadcast EDI-related content as part of RIBA’s second annual festival last November. Ramroop was brought in to the organization in the wake of several controversies, including a notable 2020 episode in which her predecessor wrote the racially-charged 'All Lives Matter' slogan in response to a LinkedIn post vocalizing support for the Black Lives Matter movement."

*After the announcement of Ramroop's departure in March, nine months later, RIBA announced the appointment of Robbie Turner as its new Diversity & Inclusion Chief.

University of Virginia's School of Architecture names C.L. Bohannon as its first Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Academia continues to "wake up" from its own battle with improving its faculty leadership. However, several schools, like the University of Virginia have sought out individuals to help create change. "Bohannon is currently an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and the Associate Director in the School of Architecture + Design at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is also the Director of the Community Engagement Lab and Faculty Principal at the Leadership and Social Change Residential College at Virginia Tech. Bohannon’s research focuses on the relationship between community engagement and design education. His pedagogy, through the lens of landscape architecture, examines the asymmetrical power relationships and systems that produce social and environmental inequities in marginalized communities...."

Cambridge's Ingrid Schroder is named the next director of the Architectural Association

Academic turnover was a recurring news topic covered in 2022. While the news of departures and appointments shocked some, others were met with relief and hopeful anticipation. This was the case for the Architectural Association's appointment of Dr. Ingrid Schroder, who would replace its former director Eva Franch i Gilabert. Schroder's tenure comes with 20 years of experience after teaching at Cambridge University and holding several leadership positions. "Schroder called the AA 'a nimble place of debate' and said it 'is a unique environment in which to wrestle with the implications of what lies ahead. Architecture and architectural education produce the extraordinary places, spaces and settings that frame our every day — both real and speculative'"

Early-career architect Muyiwa Oki elected as RIBA President

The search for RIBA's new president made headlines this year as prospective candidates presented their case to be voted into power. After what seemed like a bumpy election, hopeful Muyiwa Oki was named RIBA President-elect. "Oki will take up the office as President-elect from September 1, 2022, for one year before serving as RIBA President for a two-year term at the beginning of September 2023, succeeding current RIBA President Simon Allford."

Historian Amber Wiley to lead UPenn's Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites

Effective change starts with people who are in positions of power that can help initiate new thoughts and perspectives. This is the case for UPenn Weitzman School of Design's inaugural Matt and Erika Nord Director of the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites (CPCRS) position, which award-winning architectural and urban historian Amber Wiley has been appointed to. "The CPCRS shares that its mission is to 'raise visibility and build capacity where historic preservation and civil rights histories intersect.'"

'Fight for justice publicly and politically': Forensic Architecture receives 2022 RIBA Charles Jencks Award

Fighting for human rights and design activism has made Forensic Architecture an important force within the industry. The Goldsmiths, University of London-based agency made headlines this year with news about impactful research as well as opposition from other entities. However, earlier this month, they were recognized for their hard work and dedication in fighting for human rights through design and data journalism. Not only did they win the 2022 Peabody Award for their "groundbreaking contributions to online media," but they also received the 2022 Charles Jencks Award.

Design projects focusing on reform, preservation, and representation

Gensler’s Jackie Robinson Museum project finally debuts after a 14-year saga

The Gensler-designed museum dedicated to baseball and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson opened in Lower Manhattan. "The collection includes 4,500 artifacts from Robinson’s baseball career as well as personal items loaned by the family and a 40,000-photograph archive. In a New York Times preview of the museum [...], Robinson’s son David said: 'Some of the things we grew up with now have huge historical significance, and the museum is a place for everyone to see it, and much, much more. It will be a marvel of modern information delivery.'"

Former KKK auditorium to be reborn as a cultural arts center in Forth Worth

With several cities continuing to explore ways to preserve and highlight the lives and communities persecuted and tragically erased from history, a Texas-based non-profit named Transform 1012 N. Main Street (Transform 1012) shared their latest project in Forth Worth. By purchasing a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium, their plans are to transform it into the "Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing, a new cultural hub and space for reconciliation and reclamation for the community."

Maya Lin discusses her new Museum of Chinese in America design in PBS special

Acclaimed artist and designer Maya Lin has announced several updates for projects slated for 2023 and the coming years. One, in particular, is the new Museum of Chinese in America. Lin shared: "I don’t think you can be an Asian-American in 2022 and not be acutely aware of the anti-Asian sentiment," taking note of the unspeakable rise of hate crimes around the globe. "'You want to share all those stories, teach those stories, but also celebrate how much we’ve helped contribute to and build our country. Because I’m an American,' she said, reflecting on a bias that she has fought against very publicly since first stepping into the national spotlight as a 21-year-old Yale undergraduate in the fall of 1982."

DEI and scholarship in academia

Besides changes in leadership and academic faculty, increased diversity and representation must start with accessibility to students from all communities. This year, a number of scholarships and initiatives were announced to help historically underrepresented students explore and pursue careers in architecture and design.

Pratt and Clemson both launch fellowships for underrepresented architecture students

In February, Pratt and Clemson University announced new fellowships for students from underserved or underrepresented communities. "The Pratt Institute’s initiative, titled the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellowship program, will focus on students from underserved communities whose work concentrates on issues related to climate change." The Clemson University School of Architecture announced the creation of the Thomas Phifer Fellowship, which will "support tuition for two graduate students for two years from underserved and underrepresented communities in an 'effort to increase access and broaden a more diverse pathway within the profession of architecture in South Carolina.'"

Donation by Zaha Hadid Foundation creates scholarships for students from low-income households

More scholarship initiatives emerged this year from firms aiming to provide more access to marginalized students looking to pursue a career in architecture and design. The London School of Architecture announced a scholarship program for students from low-income households. "The initiative will see three recipients each awarded £36,000 (approximately $47,000), covering the full fees and associated costs of the LSA’s two-year MArch program. The funding for the scholarship was made viable due to a donation from the Zaha Hadid Foundation."

$1 million donated to UT Austin School of Architecture honoring John S. Chase, their first Black graduate

Earlier this year, the University of Texas at Austin announced a new fellowship named after the school's first Black graduate at the School of Architecture, who later also became the first Black licensed architect in Texas. "The John S. Chase Family Endowed Graduate Fellowship will be used primarily to increase diversity and representation in the profession by recruiting graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. [...] The donation has been provided by Tony Chase and his wife, Dr. Dina Alsowayel. An entrepreneur, law professor, and civic leader based in Houston, Tony Chase is also the son of John S. Chase."

Gensler and Amazon among $4.7 million donors to California College of the Arts supporting diversity and innovation

The California College of the Arts (CCA) is another design institution that received a sizable donation to support diversity, equity, and innovation within the arts and design. "Gensler and Amazon are among the donors who have gifted $4.7 million" to the school. "The donation will extend over ten years, with the first cohort of Gensler Center scholarship recipients set to receive awards this year."