Blogs

Current YAF Advisory Committee

By Jason K. Takeuchi AIA posted 03-12-2024
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Name Role Jason Takeuchi, AIA Chair Sarah Nelson-Woynicz, AIA Vice Chair Matt Toddy, AIA Past Chair Gabriella Bermea, AIA Director, Communications Kiara Gilmore, AIA Director, Knowledge Anastasia Markiw, AIA Director, Advocacy Seth Duke, AIA Director, Community Carrie Parker, AIA Director, Strategic Vision Steven Spurlock, FAIA College of Fellows Liaison Patty Boyle, AIA Strategic Council Liaison
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Current YAF State Representatives (YARs)

By Jason K. Takeuchi AIA posted 03-12-2024
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State Representative Alabama Elliot Brown, AIA Alaska Zane Jones, AIA Arizona Andrea Hardy, AIA Arkansas Katherine Lashley, AIA California Vasilies Beseau, AIA Colorado Kaylyn Kirby, AIA Connecticut Andrew Gorzkowski, AIA DC Kumi Wickramanayaka, AIA Delaware Jack Whalen, AIA Florida Arlenne Gil, AIA Georgia Laura Sherman, AIA Hawaii Kevin Loo-Chan, AIA Idaho Jorge Basulto, AIA Illinois Raquel Guzman Geara, AIA Indiana Matt Jennings, AIA International Li Ren, AIA Iowa Kevin Wagner, AIA Kansas Garric Baker, AIA ...
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Contributing Voice: "Occupying Spaces" by Sharika Tasnim

By Amaya C. Labrador AIA posted 11-17-2021
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Echoing the content and context of Connection Q3: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (J.E.D.I), Sharika Tasnim provides additional perspective in her piece, "Occupying Spaces". Occupying Spaces by Sharika Tasnim, Assoc.AIA Sharika is currently a student at MIT. She is also serving as Managing Director of Eco Architect and Technology Limited. The evolution of architecture and aesthetics in U.S. city-planning did not take into account the native experience and lifestyle, or draw on a connection to other non- white communities, such as the East Asian immigrant workers or Black Americans who made up the majority of the expanding ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Editors note: Own your story

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-05-2021
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Editors note By John J. Clark, AIA, NCARB Own your story Over the past year, I made a focused effort to rediscover my original passion for architecture, design, and problem solving. The stress put on our country and communities demonstrated the need for action, and the pandemic lockdowns early in the year provided the time and opportunity. In this journey, the best piece of advice I received was to channel my story. Instead of continuing to make excuses for my inaction or continuing to ask “how can I help,” reflecting on my background brought the clarity needed to set new goals for my career and impact through design. I had considered a career for social ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Vice-chair’s message: Disrupt for enduring change

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-05-2021
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Vice-chair’s message By Abigail Brown, AIA Disrupt for enduring change Disruption. The very founding of the Young Architects Forum was based around change and interruption of our profession. It’s most often in the context of practice models, project delivery, emerging technologies to name but a few. Occasionally, a disruption comes along that demands the attention of all of us. Rarely does disruption occur as the sum of the factors we are witnessing today. A global pandemic, the reckoning with inequality, and catastrophic events brought about by climate change, have coalesced to make this year a call to action into every corner of our society. As I am ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - A brighter future: NOMA Detroit leads by example through Project Pipeline

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-04-2021
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A brighter future By Jonathon Jackson NOMA Detroit leads by example through Project Pipeline DETROIT. AKA Motown, Detroit Rock City, Hockey Town, The Motor City. Whatever you call it, Detroit has a rich history and a bright future. It’s where Motown was born, where the first Model T was produced, where Martin Luther King Jr. marched for equality, and where the National Organization of Minority Architects began nearly 50 years ago. NOMA has come a long way since its inception in 1971. But as in many other cities, the mistreatment of underserved communities has led to a severe wealth gap and a lack of diversity in the world of business, including our own ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - I-NOMA president’s perspective

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-04-2021
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I-NOMA president’s perspective By Smitha C. Vasan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA I am about to come to the close of my term as President of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (I-NOMA), and it’s been incredible. The past 18 months have felt more like 10 years of meeting people, sharing experiences, and expanding my horizons. The most memorable experiences I’ve had are rooted in the stories I have been told and in the one-on-one interactions I’ve had. In creating a mission statement focused on community and legacy, the intention was to highlight and elevate the incredible depth we have with so many long-standing members local to ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Pipelines are relationships: A case for committed relationship building

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-03-2021
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Pipelines are relationships: A case for committed relationship building By Beresford Pratt, AIA, NOMA Vasquez began reflecting on the impact that educating students had on her: “Coming from a small-town community, I have seen the effects of limited education opportunities, and I now see the genuine excitement when new ideas and material are presented by real-world practitioners. The students are always engaged and full of questions. I love seeing the students’ creativity shine, and it is a constant reminder that we are accomplishing something worthwhile for the next generation.” McAllister says, “At the end of the day, these efforts boil down to a group ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Designing space — for growth

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-02-2021
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Designing space — for growth By Monica Blasko, AIA Advocating for change by first understanding where we stand today A global pandemic. Work-from-home challenges. Self-isolation. Financial uncertainty. Mental health struggles. A looming presidential election. And now another (filmed) instance of police violence against a Black American. As one of our Women+ in Design Pittsburgh community members came to realize, “My response of ‘I don’t have time for this’ comes from a place of privilege.” Grappling In the wake of George Floyd’s killing by police and the resounding demands for racial justice, the women of W+iD PGH were rattled like so many others and ...
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AIA Honolulu’s commitment to racial justice

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-02-2021
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AIA Honolulu’s commitment to racial justice By Aki Yoshida, AIA, LEED AP Throughout Hawaii’s stay-at-home order in March and April, our inboxes were flooded with actions taken by companies and organizations during this global pandemic. Shortly after the police killing of George Floyd, the emails focused on the national response to the Black Lives Matter movement, including AIA National’s message making its role and responsibility clear in dismantling systemic racism. I noticed that not many local Hawaii businesses or organizations had taken the time to publish a message on their stance or address the conversation at all. Hawaii is typically considered a ...
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Architecture: the missing link between equitable communities and diverse professions

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-01-2021
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Architecture: the missing link between equitable communities and diverse professions By Kelsey Jordan, Assoc AIA, WELL AP The demographic makeup of the architectural profession is traditionally dominated by graying, white men. For years, diverse project teams have been sought, but if the architectural recruitment pool is inundated with white men, then how is the profession to have a truly holistic outlook when creating culturally inclusive built environments? Better yet, why is the built profession and other traditionally white-male-dominated fields still saturated with one aesthetic? The lack of diversity is more historically systematic in politics and ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Reflecting on equity and moving forward

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 05-01-2021
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Reflecting on equity and moving forward By Karen Lu, AIA, NOMA It has been three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and almost six months since the pandemic has affected our lives nationwide. More than 1,500 properties in Minneapolis and St. Paul were heavily damaged during the civil unrest. Many of these businesses and organizations — particularly those owned by Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) — were already suffering disproportionately as a result of the pandemic. How is AIA Minnesota responding, and what does this mean to our future work as an organization? Groundwork AIA Minnesota has been focused on ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - We see you, emerging professionals

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 04-30-2021
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We see you, emerging professionals By Michelle Montgomery, AIA, NCARB AIA Continental Europe brings opportunities to young architects One of the AIA Continental Europe chapter’s goals is to share knowledge and promote an open exchange between international architects and students, crossing generational and cultural boundaries. As one of seven chapters making up the AIA International Region, it provides emerging professionals truly diverse networking opportunities through a wide range of committees and programs. Attending up close and personal events that investigate a city,its planning, and its architecture provides the ability to connect with more seasoned ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Architecture of inclusion: How the built environment can facilitate inclusion; a case study of the Rijeka mosque

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 04-29-2021
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Architecture of inclusion By Hirbod Norouzianpour, Assoc. AIA How the built environment can facilitate inclusion: a case study of the Rijeka mosque Art and architecture are powerful media for creating a welcome space for those who might be considered “others.” Architecture particularly has this potential to provide context for interaction, engagement, dialogue, exchange of values, and mutual understanding. This interaction between diverse people can lead to the discovery of solutions to problems shared by the majority and minorities in a society. In addition, architecture and art can contribute significantly to creating a sense of belonging among minorities. ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - The emerging professional friendly firm program

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 04-29-2021
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The emerging professional friendly firm program By Katelyn Chapin, AIA What makes a firm a great place to work for emerging professionals? Is it access to professional development opportunities, clear policies for advancement, support through the Architecture Registration Exam, or diversity among staff? For emerging professionals, who are defined by the AIA as “a student, recent graduate, candidate on the path to licensure, and architect licensed 10 years or less,” preferences vary, depending on career stage and professional goals. A balance between how a firm communicates with its staff, how leaders lead, how employees are supported, and how a firm cultivates ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Young architect spotlight: Empowering others through inclusion and design

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 04-28-2021
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Young architect spotlight By Jessica O’Donnell, AIA, NCARB Empowering others through inclusion and design Samantha McCloud, AIA, NCARB McCloud is an architect and Director of Community Involvement, Diversity and Inclusion at GastingerWalker in Chicago. Presenting to audiences across the nation, Samantha serves to develop advocacy leadership in others to advance the relevancy of architecture. Sharing architecture’s role in fostering belonging, well-being and safety elevates the relevancy of design and champions appreciation for design value. Samantha has taught principles of inclusion in architecture at national events for the American Institute of ...
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Q3 2020 Connection - Innovation spotlight: Utilizing real-time gaming engines in architecture

By Matthew T. Pultorak AIA posted 04-28-2021
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Innovation spotlight By Tay Otham, AIA Utilizing real-time gaming engines in architecture Ayman Tawfeeq Ayman Tawfeeq is an architectural designer at Kohn Pederson Fox Associates focused on developing complex master plans in Southeast Asia and China. Tawfeeq designs with a sensible, contextual, and socially driven approach. He communicates ideas and architectural strategies through animation, illustration, and virtual reality experiences. Outside of his practice, he is collaborating with the Digital Museum of Digital Art to create a VR museum that invests in the social issues involved in immigration and dislocation while reflecting his own displacement ...
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Q3 2020 Part I - Editors note: Change through action

By Amaya C. Labrador AIA posted 04-27-2021
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Editors note: Change through action By: John J. Clark, AIA, NCARB At face value, EDI presents a complex, wicked design problem. Where are we to start, and most importantly, how are we to measure success? Representative of the generation demanding change, this issue argues that solutions and change are best driven by action. Fundamentally, architects are working to build equitable communities and grow a diverse profession that is representative of the people we serve. Yet a network of underlying symptoms, causes, and effects - including bias, representation in firm and AIA leadership, visibility to underserved communities, and more - all complicate the ...
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Q3 2020 Part I - President’s message: What more can we do?

By Amaya C. Labrador AIA posted 04-27-2021
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President’s message: What more can we do? Whether it’s new challenges brought by a global pandemic or age-old injustices exposed anew, architects have solutions to contribute. The more diverse and inclusive our profession, the better those solutions will be. “Healthy, safe, and equitable.” They’re principles our profession has long been committed to. But they’ve taken on added weight as communities across the nation have taken a stand in new ways for racial justice. The architecture profession is taking a stand in new ways, too. Following the decision by the AIA Board of Directors to prioritize racial justice solutions as an organization-wide focus ...
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Q3 2020 Part I - Chair’s message: The 3 4 E’s

By Amaya C. Labrador AIA posted 04-26-2021
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Chair’s message: The 3 4 E’s Ryan McEnroe, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP As a white man in a predominantly white, male profession, it’s often difficult to fully understand the obstacles that so many people have in the A/E/C field. That perspective changed as I attended the 47th annual National Organization of Minority Architects Conference in Brooklyn, N.Y., in October 2019. I went on behalf of the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). As the 2020 chair of the YAF, one of my responsibilities is to meet with collateral leaders to understand what other initiatives are taking place and how we can all best use our membership, staff, and volunteers to meet our missions and ...
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