Race & Architecture—Housing and the Role of the Designer

For generations, housing policies have directly created racial inequality in communities across this country. These inequities affect not only access to homeownership and economic advancement, but also seep into educational opportunities, environmental justice, proximity to work, family displacement, and so much more.

Who holds the power for change? And, what is the role of the architect to help repair these harms?

While design alone will not solve housing affordability, wealth disparities and gentrification issues, we also cannot sit back and wait for others to act. Architects must consider not only who they are designing for, but who they are designing with.

Join us for a conversation with architects who have shifted their practice to be more intentional in their design and values. Our panelists will discuss how to identify the role of the architect in perpetuating housing inequalities or resisting in them.

Moderator:

Dr. Taylor Cain
Director of Mayor’s Housing Innovation Lab City of Boston

Panelists:

Rodger Brown
Managing Director, Real Estate Development, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)

Andre Brumfield, Assoc. AIA
Cities & Urban Design Leader, Design Director, Principal, Gensler

Siboney Díaz-Sánchez AIA
Project Manager and Enterprise Rose Fellow, Opportunity Communities

Katie Swenson Assoc. AIA
Senior Principal, MASS Design Group

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.