AIA’s HBCU Internship program: Future architects help design AIA’s future

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/articles\/6417251-aia-headquarters-renewal-aims-to-model-sus","target","_new"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/articles\/6401781-brutalism-and-the-aias-headquarters","target","_new"]],["em"],["a",["href","mailto:Dahlin-Brown,%20Nissa%20%3cnissadahlinbrown@aia.org%3e","target","_new"]],["strong"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"AIA summer interns share their hopes for the profession and\nthe future of design"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"AIA is undertaking a "],[0,[0],1,"renewal of its national headquarters "],[0,[],0,"to\ndesign a workspace of the future, for the workforce of the future. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Who better to advise the landmark project than the members\nand shapers of that future workforce: future architects?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"To help develop a sustainable, equitable, inclusive design\nplan, AIA welcomed six students from Historically Black Colleges and\nUniversities (HBCUs) to serve as interns for the project. Virtually embedded\nwith the design team from April through August 2021, these students are gaining\nreal-world experience while offering invaluable insights into designing a\npost-COVID workplace of the future."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Collaborating closely with San Francisco-based architecture\nfirm EHDD, which is leading the project, interns are engaged in every aspect of\nthe design process \u2013 from stakeholder engagement to contract document\npreparation, decarbonization plans to construction management."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cAIA\u2019s HBCU Internship program provides the experiences\nneeded by young professionals previously underrepresented by our profession to\nkeep them engaged with our practice, including: support from mentors; insight\ninto professional practice; personal introductions to industry leaders;\nmeaningful networking opportunities; and usable AXP hours,\u201d said EHDD Designer\nKevin Moultrie Daye, who serves as the internship coordinator. \u201cFor these\nreasons, the execution and expansion of this program has the potential to craft\nmore positive change in the industry.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In weekly virtual sessions, interns meet with a variety of\nmentors in a variety of formats, including workshops, charettes, and informal\n\u201cfireside chats.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Morgan State University student Rahmah Davis says the\ninteractions have sparked a productive dialogue that\u2019s inspired the future\narchitects to share their design ideas. \u201cI\u2019m not going to lie \u2013 it can be\nintimidating to be in a room with all different types of people,\u201d she\ncommented. \u201cBut everyone\u2019s been really warm, and they welcome our opinions.\nSomething I contributed was encouraging community engagement and using the\nplaza between the Octagon and the headquarters as a way to welcome people into\nthe space and also use it as a workplace.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Kimberly Villagomez, of Florida A\u0026M, agreed that AIA\u2019s\noutdoor space offers potential: \u201cDoing research on the history and culture of\nthe local area \u2013 in this case, Washington, D.C. \u2013 has been helpful. We know\nthat design can be used to smooth out conflict and use spaces to bring\ncommunities together. We talk a lot about how greenery and vegetation is an\nimportant key to that.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For AIA\u2019s interior, the interns agree it\u2019s all about\nadaptable, collaborative spaces. \u201cOne of the things I think is important for\nthe space is incorporating natural light evenly throughout the building, plus\nflexible space,\u201d noted Simi Stanford, a University of DC student. \u201cThere are definitely\nsome floors where things are kind of fixed, and some places get more natural\nlight than others. The "],[0,[1],1,"design is still iconic"],[0,[],0,", but there are ways to improve\nthe experience inside the building.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Architects leading the project are taking the students\u2019\ninsights to heart. \u201cCollaborating with these students in the Visioning process\nhas been invigorating,\u201d said Conor Dunn, AIA, EHDD associate. \u201cAs active\nparticipants in the design dialogue and initial workshops, their candor and\nperspective has challenged both the Design Team and the AIA in assessing and\ndeveloping our project goals.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Key to those goals is a focus on demonstrating the power of\ndesign to address society\u2019s most pressing challenges. \u201cThe goal is for this\nonce-in-a-generation project to serve as a model of stewardship and\nsustainability for the public and the profession,\u201d explained AIA EVP\/Chief\nExecutive Officer Robert Ivy, FAIA. \u201cWe intend to create a flexible, equitable,\ninclusive, and collaborative work environment that embodies the AIA\u2019s mission\nand values.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Chief among those values is a commitment to expanding\nequity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession. Focused action is required\nto open doors to future architects who may struggle to see themselves reflected\nin the profession as it stands today. \u201cIn the broader context of the\narchitectural profession, there is a crisis of performative action masquerading\nas real change,\u201d Moultrie Daye stated. \u201cThe problems of the field\u2019s lack of\ndiversity \u2013 in gender, race, and thought leadership \u2013 cannot and will not be\nsolved with a statement of solidarity or a nicely worded paragraph.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Through increased engagement, broader network support, and\naccess to employment opportunities, the internship program is designed to\nprovide a pathway into the profession \u2013 and serve as an example firms can\nemulate in their own internship programs. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For their part, the interns say expanding diversity requires\na multi-faceted, purposeful approach. \u201cWe have to have a plan to support\ndiverse students and future architects in the profession,\u201d said Davis. \u201cWhether\nit\u2019s education, sponsoring a student, or scholarships \u2013 that will help future\narchitects be successful.\u201d Other tactics these future architects cited include\noutreach explaining what architecture is about, and design strategies to create\nwelcoming spaces. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The interns all agree that the connections they\u2019re making\nthrough the program are appreciated \u2013 and, in some ways, more accessible in a\nvirtual setting. \u201cIt\u2019s more flexible when you\u2019re on your computer and able to\nhave those conversations with everybody,\u201d Villagomez observed. \u201cMeeting so many\ndifferent people is a big plus.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Davis concurred. \u201cThe information we\u2019re learning, the people\nwe\u2019re meeting \u2013 it\u2019s not something we can take for granted,\u201d she commented. \u201cIt\u2019s\nvery much a learning experience every single day and being able to sit at a\nvirtual table with the president of AIA and others, that\u2019s something we\u2019re all\ngrateful for.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For Tuskegee University\u2019s Tyler Littles, the experience has\nprovided insights into \u201cthe value of processing design.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cI knew that it was important before, but now I\u2019m beginning\nto grasp a deeper understanding,\u201d Littles said. \u201cBeing able to sit in on\ndifferent meetings and witness how experienced architects interact with their\nclients, I can see the different moving parts that contribute to effective\narchitecture.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The virtual internship experience also has the interns\nconsidering new horizons. \u201cI never thought I could work or intern in a firm\nthat\u2019s across the state,\u201d Davis shared. \u201cIt\u2019s opened my eyes to perhaps living\nin San Francisco or elsewhere. The way the world is heading, you don\u2019t have to\nbe in a place to work there. It definitely opened my mind.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"As so much of the workforce has learned during the pandemic,\nremote interaction can also have its drawbacks. \u201cThe only thing that\u2019s\nchallenging for me is that I\u2019m a hands-on person, so I like to be in an\nenvironment where I can connect,\u201d said Hampton University\u2019s Tasheena Lawrence."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"One thing is certain: These future architects will bring a\nsense of optimism, and a healthy appreciation for the power of design, to the\nprofession. \u201cWe can help people through building design,\u201d Stanford commented.\n\u201cIt has an impact physically and psychologically, more than most people think.\nWhat drew me to architecture is you can use design to change the environment.\nArchitecture is all around us.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"What do these future architects most hope to see when they\nreturn to a renovated AIA building in the years to come? After a year of\npandemic isolation, Villagomez spoke for the group with a simple answer: "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cPeople.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],0,"AIA is making this virtual internship program an example for\nother firms to emulate. AIA\u2019s goal is to improve the diversity of the\nprofession through increased engagement, broader network support, and access to\nemployment opportunities for future architecture graduates. To learn more about\nimplementing a similar internship program at your firm, please contact AIA\u2019s\n"],[0,[3],1,"Nissa Dahlin Brown"],[0,[],1,"."]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"Image above"],[0,[],0,": Interns tour AIA headquarters. From left: Erin Mignano (SPD\/interiors manager; Turner Construction Company), Intern Adia Joseph (Howard University), Dean Bailey (student, Howard University), Stephen Ayers (AIA staff), Marci Reed (AIA staff), Intern Simi Stanford (The University of The District of Columbia), Intern Rahmah Davis (Morgan State University), Nea Maloo (professor, Howard University)."]]]]}