From Dan Pitera, FAIA | Dean, Detroit Mercy School of Architecture:

NOMA Detroit and the Detroit Mercy School of Architecture have worked together to sponsor a studio that focuses on the annual NOMA National competition that will be judged at NOMA’s annual convention in October 2021. This year marks the 50th anniversary of NOMA, which makes this studio even more interesting because the site and the convention are in Detroit. The NOMA Studio is more than a class. It is in its second year and becoming a tradition at the School of Architecture. In many ways, it intentionally broadens the faculty that have a commitment and passion to the education of our students. We are truly excited to have Imani Day and Pierre Roberson teach the studio. They bring a wonderful energy and insight to the course content and the School at large. Thank you to NOMA’s leadership for having the vision to collaborate to make this studio come to life.

“Truly looking forward to engaging UDM students in the development of the 2021 NOMA Student Competition submission. I feel that it is important for underrepresented students to encounter significant and meaningful contact with professors of the same background throughout their education.  It is my goal to help to jumpstart some careers and spark some long-term mentorship relationships, and also help to give these students early access into their professional network.”

~ Pierre Roberson

By Katherine Guimapang | Archinect Dec 21, 2020

The push for increasing the number of Black licensed architects has been an ongoing effort. Organizations like NOMA and individuals like Norma Merrick Sklarek, Paul Williams, Zena Howard, Phillip Freelon, Gabrielle Bullock, Curtis Moody, and many others have paved the way for a new generation of Black architects and architects of color to continue to make a difference within the industry.

However, when it comes to licensed female architects, specifically Black female architects, the disparity in numbers is quite evident. Katherine Williams and the Black Women in Architecture Network and individuals such as the late Barbara Laurie, Tiffany Brown, Kimberly Dowdell, Pascale Sablan, and young emerging designers like Morgan Medley of blackgirlsDraw has made it their mission to increase the number of Black female architects. They continue to raise the awareness of diversity and representation within the profession and make conscious efforts to connect other Black women and young girls as they dive into architecture.

During an interview in February 2019, Tiffany Brown of 400 Forward spoke to Essence Magazine. Together they discussed that Brown was “on track to becoming one of 452 licensed Black women architects in the United States.” A little over a year later during the 2020 NOMA conference in October, it was announced that the number of licensed Black female architects (currently living) reaching its 500th mark.

Thanks to NOMA’s collaborative efforts and the Directory of African American Architects, their mission has been to be a “public service to promote an awareness of who African American architects are and where they are located. The sole qualification for listing is licensure in one of the fifty US jurisdictions and their territories.”

“Reaching this milestone is one of the most significant in the history of American architecture,” said Kathryn T. Prigmore, FAIA, NOMAC, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, CDT, founding collaborator of Riding the Vortex: African American Women in Architecture and Related Professions. “African American architects practice in all aspects of the profession, including at the pinnacle of some of the world’s most well-known and respected firms.”

While the story and contributions of Black female architects continue to grow and be celebrated, the industry’s future will continue to improve as long as there dedicated individuals willing to persevere and push through the adversity to create an opportunity for all. 

To read the full article click here.

The Detroit Area BIM User Group is hosting a panel discussion on working remotely in a design firm. Collectively we are nearly a year into the COVID pandemic and many office-dwellers are still working remotely. We were all forced to adapt quickly, but who has re-evaluated their solutions since the pandemic’s early days of March 2020? The stop-gap measures that your company put in place – are they appropriate, workable, long-term solutions? Now is the time to discuss strategic use of technology to empower a location agnostic workforce. We are seeking panelists from companies of all sizes, and from all backgrounds (IT, architect, business leader). 

Think you’d be a good fit? Email us at staff@aiadetroit.com.