Race & Architecture: Design Education–Pipelines, Pathways, Pedagogies, Profession

Design education is an integral tool to help create a more equitable profession and society. Systemic racism dictates much of the trajectory of a designer’s education. The pipeline of aspiring architects lacks racial and gender diversity. Education is too expensive. Diverse students face a lack of representation among professors and within the curriculum. Even after completing all educational requirements, Black and Brown architects must enter an industry that has yet to prioritize the value of a diverse workforce.

Through an examination of the legacies of systemic racism, from pedagogy to practice, we will identify opportunities to reconsider architectural education.

Join us for a lively panel discussion as we cover important topics such as diversifying the pipeline, “decolonizing” pedagogies, accreditation, licensure, and much more.

Moderator:

Robert Alexander González AIA, Ph.D.
Professor of Architecture, Dean of the School of Architecture + Planning, University of New Mexico
President-Elect, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Board Member, The Architecture Lobby

Panelists:

Dr. Mahesh Daas, DPACSA
President, Boston Architectural College

Stephen Gray Assoc. AIA
Associate Professor of Urban Design, Harvard University, Graduate School of Design

Judith Kinnard FAIA
Professor and Harvey Wadsworth Chair, Tulane University School of Architecture

Mónica Ponce de León AIA
Founding Principal, MPdL Studio
Dean, Princeton University School of Architecture

Hosts:

Gregory O. Minott AIA
Managing Principal, DREAM Collaborative LLC
2020 Vice-President/President Elect, BSA

Natasha Espada AIA
founder and Principal, STUDIO ENÉE
2020 President, BSA

Race and Architecture Series
Architects, designers, and planners play an integral role in current systems of oppression and have a responsibility to use this influence of the designed world to design and build for equity. Join the BSA’s Race and Architecture series, focused on listening, learning, and engaging architects of color as we educate ourselves of the challenges at hand. The design of our communities and workplaces perpetuate racism in a series of obvious as well as inconspicuous ways; join us as we discover and discuss steps to create a just environment for all.

The moderated series will include a range of programs from stories about life as a Black architect to panels with public agencies, and more as we start to find not only answers, but the right questions.

Events will take place on the fourth Tuesday of every month.