Women in Architecture
Committee

1. Upcoming WIA 2019 Events and Programs | January & February

• Wednesday, January 30, 2019 | Speed Mentoring
  • Mentor volunteers
• Friday, February 8, 2019 | Leadership Breakfast
  • Frances Halsband, FAIA
  • Founding Partner at Kliment Halsband
  • AIANY first female president (1991)
  • Initiated the resolution to update the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Wednesday, 20 February 20, 2019 | February Committee Meeting
  • Post-Committee Meeting with RAMSA presentation on Residential Master Plan Projects

2. WIA Special Events and Programs Sub-Committee

• To assist plan, organize and coordinate future special events and programs with other organizations and groups
  • Manuelle Gautrand | work related to urbanistic topics
  • Ana Beha (Boston) and Brenda Levin (Los Angeles) on “Coast to Coast: The Gender of Preservation” | Mid-April 2019
  • Panel discussion on women working in top architecture firms proposed by Caroline James (Founder of Voices of Women Architects and Design for Equality)

3. Around Town & Related Events

• Town Meeting: Building Community | Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 6-8 pm @ the Center for Architecture
  • Speakers: Hayes Slade, AIA, 2019 AIANY President and Ben Prosky, AIANY Executive Director 
• 2019 Women’s March in NYC | Saturday, January 19, 2019, 11 am
  • Event to be coordinated with FXWomen at FXCollaborative (Catherine Joseph and Melanie Strieder)
• NYIT Lecture Series | Jenny Sabin on “Matter Design Computation: Biosynthesis and New Paradigms of Making”
  • Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 6 pm @ NYIT Auditorium on 1871 Broadway
• 2016 Architectural Record Women in Architecture Award: Innovator (sustainable initiatives)
  • RSVP to archevents@nyit.edu
• Person Place Thing with Randy Cohen Featuring Elizabeth Diller
  • Thursday, February 21, 2019, 6-8 pm @ the Center for Architecture ($20)
• Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation | BWAF 5th Annual Leadership Awards Gala
  • Tuesday, March 5, 2019

4. Topics & Good Reads

• The Architect’s Newspaper | “Stop asking where all the female architects are: we’re right here” by Julia Gamolina
• Equal Recognition for Doriana Fuksas – RebelArchitette and VOW Architects campaigning for equal recognition to Massimiliano of the Italian National Institute of Architects Lifetime Achievement Award
• Architect Magazine | “A Next Step in Architecture’s #MeToo Movement” by Eva Hagberg Fisher
• Architecture Lobby | “Solidarity Bloc” by A.L. Hu, External Communications Coordinator, organization devoted to advancing the rights of workers within the architecture industry

5. Workplace Harassment Initiatives | AIANY WIA Committee

• AIANY WIA Sexual Harassment Statement (April 11, 2018)
• BWAF Panel on 16 April 2018) with summary at the WIA Committee Meeting (April 18, 2018)
• AIANY WIA Workplace Harassment Roundtable (May 15, 2018)
• AIANY WIA Committee Co-Chairs attended A ’18 Conference on sexual harassment and equity related panels and talks (June 2018)
• Updated Code of Ethics discussion at the WIA Committee Meeting (September 20, 2018)
• Sexual Harassment Policies discussion at the WIA Committee Meeting (October 17, 2018)
• AIANY WIA webpage statement on the Committee’s continuing effort (October 28, 2018)
• EQxD Symposium on 2 November 2018 with summary at the WIA Committee Meeting (November 20, 2018)
• AIANY WIA webpage Related Links to share information and resources

6. Workplace Harassment Initiatives | AIA National

• AIA National | Where we stand update: Sexual harassment & the architectural profession
  • Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct | April 2018
  • Model Harassment Policy | June 2018
  • Sexual Harassment Compliance Training A’18 | June 2018
  • Guides for Equitable Practice | November 2018
  • Harassment Resources

• AIA Architect & Architect Magazine
  • “Meeting the #MeToo Moment” | by Kim O’Connell, March 2018
  • “Establishing a Sexual Harassment Policy” | by Murrye Bernard, June 2018

• How to combat harassment in the architecture profession | by Kathleen O’Donnell, June 2018
  • Human resources expert Shirley Davis discusses how architects can foster inclusive workplaces where employees can thrive personally and professionally
  • US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission

7. Workplace Harassment Initiatives | AIA New York Chapter Update

• AIANY Response to Harassment Allegations | March 22, 2018

• AIANY Women in Architecture Committee Issues Statement on Sexual Harassment | April 17, 2018

• Survey: Cultural Dimension of AIA Code of Ethics | June 2018

• Survey on Sexual Harassment in Architecture | August 2018

• AIANY Leads Charge to Amend AIA Code of Ethics | October 2018

8. AIANY and WIA Future Initiatives

• October 18, 2018 email from an AIA member to WIA@aiany.org and info@aiany.org
• AIANY and WIA Committee taking further actions

We are pleased to announce Samantha Josaphat as our AIANY WIA 9^th Annual Recognition Award recipient for 2018.

This award honors her accomplishment in getting licensed this year and for demonstrating strong leadership skills, with a commitment to the growth and advancement of our profession.  Samantha received a $1000 stipend towards travel and miscellaneous expenses at the AIA National Convention, which will be in Las Vegas, June 6-8, 2019.

The AIANY WIA congratulates Samantha Josaphat in becoming a licensed architect and all the other 58 women who have also received their licensure in New York City this year.

Here are snaps from the award and holiday party held at the Fisher & Paykel Experience Center on the 9th of January!

Earlier this month, the AIANY Women in Architecture Committee sent delegates to the AIA San Francisco Equity by Design (EQxD) Committee’s 5th Symposium, #EQxDV: Voices, Values, Vision. The symposium gathers committed champions and change agents from all over the U.S. and abroad to advance the movement for equitable practice and the future of architecture. More on the symposium here.

Upcoming WIA Fall | Winter Events & Announcements

• No events in December 2018
  
• 9th WIA Annual Recognition Award
  • Wednesday, 19 December submission deadline

• Wednesday, January 9, 2019 | 9th WIA Annual Recognition Award & Holiday Party
  • Fisher & Paykel | 150 E 58^th Street #361

• Tuesday, January 15, 2019 | January Committee Meeting
  • Workplace Harassment Update
  • Attendees: AIANY Board VPs

• Wednesday, January 30, 2019 | Speed Mentoring 
• Friday, February 8, 2019 | Leadership Breakfast
  • Frances Halsband, FAIA

• Wednesday, February 20, 2019 | February Committee Meeting
  • Post-Committee Meeting with Project Design Presentation
  • RAMSA on Residential Master Plan Projects

• Wednesday, March 6, 2019 | Architectural Practice Panel
  • Strategic Design Communications: Marketing in Architecture
  • Panel Speakers: Tami Hausman (Hausman), Yeng Wu (Ennead), Daria Pahotta (BIG), Carole Doscher (Graceworks) | Moderator: Molly Heintz (Oculus)

• Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | March Committee Meeting
  • Post-Committee Meeting topic TBD (Pecha Kucha Speed Presentation)

• Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | Women’s History Month Presentation
  • Women-Built NYC | Three Decades of Public Design
  • Presenter: Public Design Commission of the City of New York

• Saturday, 13 April 2019 | Girls Build! 
• Wednesday, 17 April 2019 | April Committee Meeting
  • Post-Committee Meeting with Dinner Roundtable

• Saturday, 27  April 2019 | Project Tour
  • City Tech, Brooklyn, Perkins Eastman

Around Town & Related Events

• NYIT Lecture | Monica Ponce de Leon

Wednesday, 28 November 2018 (6 pm – 8 pm)

• BWAF Industry Leaders Roundtable | Women Up: Successfully Navigating #MeToo and the New Business Environment

December 3-4, 2018 – Miami

• AIA New York 2019 Board Inaugural | Tuesday, 4 December 2018 (6 pm – 8 pm)

Hayes Slade, AIANY President

Topics & Good Reads

• ARCHITECT | Retaining Women in Architecture: Four Perspectives (1 November 2018)
• ARCHITECT | AIASF Equity by Design Releases 2018 Equity in Architecture Survey Findings (6 November 2018)
• iRelaunch

Career reentry conference and events for employers and individuals returning to work after a career break, and also work directly with blue chip companies to introduce, implement and expand career reentry programs to engage with and hire from the return-to-work talent pool.

iRelaunch Return to Work Conference | Tuesday, 7 May 2019 in Stanford, CA

• AIA & University of Minnesota | Guides for Equitable Practice (December 2018)

To provide architects and firms with guidance on best practices in equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, and how those values can be a part of any architectural practice.

To address issues such as career progression, work culture, leadership development, pay equity, talent recruitment and more.

Topics under work culture include attention to professional ethics and sexual harassment.

EQxDV Symposium Briefing | San Francisco 2-3 November 2018

• The theme on VOICES, VALUES, and VISION
• VOICES: A look at personal and professional milestones that can affect career progression and retention
• VALUES: Examines how the personal ideals leading one into the profession compare with industry expectations and how valued they feel in their current positions
• VISION: Distills what makes architecture a satisfying career and how designers and firms can create a culture of equity both within the workplace and in society

Storytellers

• Damaris Hollingsworth, AIA | Her education in Brazil as a female student in architecture
• A.L. Hu, Associate AIA | Her experience at Columbia GSAPP as a non-binary student
• Beau Frail, AIA | Advocacy for work-life balance
• Sandra Vivanco, RA | Ethic background and workplace expectations

Survey data briefing from 14,360 respondents (Refer to ARCHITECT article: 6 November 2018)

• Female and minority architects and designers earned lower salaries than their white male peers and were less likely to hold positions of leadership.
• Long workdays and uncertainty about employer values correlate with a lower likelihood of job satisfaction and firms are still lackluster in their effort to implement equitable practice.
• White women have made some moves to close the leadership and pay gaps.
• A graduate degree in architecture does little to elevate one’s salary, particularly in the first decade of work, and firms are not paying more for employees who can offer greater value and elevate the studio’s prestige.
• Women with master’s degree reported lower salaries than men with bachelor’s degrees across all levels.
• More likely to stay in a position if the work had an impact in the community, have friends in the firm, or the firm offered mentoring.
• Architects want to and do have a family and more single women practitioners report being mothers (7-8 years post-graduation) that women working in firms (12 to 15 years post-graduation).
• 44% women report to be the prime caregiver compared to only 5% male, with 1/3 report to split child-rearing responsibilities equally.
• Women prime caregivers make less than men secondary caregivers.
• Firms could improve efforts to communicate performance and growth expectations.
• More white male leaders (You can’t be what you can’t see…for a person of color as Principal).
• Popular values are: personal growth, happiness, curiosity, honesty, and social justice.
• Ambition, personal achievement, and success drive career decisions and not by wealth and  social power.
• Firm values identified as client satisfaction, profitability and company growth rather that individual growth and learning.

VOICES Panelists

• Tiffany D. Brown Associate AIA | The Smith Group

Leadership position to advocate change in policy in the firm

• A.L. Hu, Associate AIA | Solomonoff Architecture Studio
• Diane Jacobs, AIA | Holly Street Studio

Started her own firm due to the lack of childcare policy and recognizes that the system does not support women who decide to start a family.

Negotiates fees with clients to support financial cost for office benefits (healthcare and retirement)

• Kevin Holland, AIA | Perkins + Will

The importance to have mentors or sponsors who will give you an opportunity to “figure it out” by yourself

Do, Fail, Recover…

VOICES Breakout Session | The Power of Our Stories

• Patricia Alarcon, AIA | Ratcliff Associates
• Advocate for yourself
• Jessica Job Sea, AIA | Noll & Tam Architects
• Do what you can and always look out for that next opportunity
• Nancy Malone, AIA | Siegel & Strain Architects

What you can do to get the most out of your situation and always keep an eye out for that next opportunity

Group workshop: Identify how our stories differentiate us and can impact others

Simon Sinek: The importance of the story is the “why”

Start with Why, then How, and end with What

Elements of a good story

• Appeal to emotions
• Element of surprise
• Have a connective tissue to the story
• Beginning: Create empathy
• Middle: Identify challenges
• How do you resolve the “complication”?
• What is the “call for action” component?
• End: Resolution with a happy ending

VALUES Panelists

• Meg Brown | Perkins + Will
• Linna Jane Frederick, FAIA | 2020 AIA President
• Marilyn Moedinger, AIA | Runcible Studios
• Michael Thomas, Esq | Ogletree Deakins

Takeaways:

• Clients are now asking for diversity in project teams
• Creating and designing projects to give back to the community
• Advocating for pay equity
• AIA Guides for Equitable practice

VALUES Breakout Session | Aligning Workplace Values and Project Outcomes

• Shalini  Agrawal, Founder | Public Design for Equity
• Tiffany D. Brown, Associate AIA | The Smith Group
• Shawn Hesse, Community Engagement Manager | International Living Future Institute
• Karen Robichaud, Director of Creative Engagement | Payette

Learning Objectives:

• Define power, privilege, and bias, and understand how these terms relate to their own lived experience
• Describe the relationship between sustainability and equity
• Identify ways in which power, privilege and bias shape project outcomes
• Explore strategies to incorporate equitable practices into projects at varying scales of influence from firm policy to project processes and outcomes

Scenarios:

• To prepare an RFP for a sustainable dormitory building for a large university that has not punished a student accused of a high-profile sexual assault in the dorm
• To work for a developer on a luxury mixed-use residential project in a gentrifying neighborhood with a low-income  community of color and tax-incentives for building a “green district”
• To interview for a civic building in Kenya where local builders for another completed building could not get more jobs because they have been stigmatized as “working for the white man”.

Takeaways:

• Are there ways to address or acknowledge the issue through the design process or the project itself
• Can you affect change?
• What is your responsibility?
• Do you have the tools or resources to address the issue?
• How to raise concern with your firm/project team
• How are privilege, power, and bias come into play in each scenario
• Should the firm decline the opportunity

VISION Panelists

• Susan Chin, FAIA | Design Trust for Public Spaces
• Arezzo Riahi, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Business Partner | Autodesk
• Deanna Van Buren, RA | Designing Justice
• Bryan Lee, Associate AIA | Colloqate Design

Takeaways:

• Metrics of Success
• Culture & Relationship
• Engagement & Impact
• Work-Life Balance
• Success throughout life is not just about balance, or finding time to do everything, but about replenishing the energy to reinvigorate
• Work ethic + Design = Positive Contributions
• Saying “Yes” is harder than saying “No”
• Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions
• Find your champions and be a champion
• To be hired for your potential, not just for what has been accomplished
• Fail fast, fail often, but do not quit!

Architecture students from the participating institutions—City College of New York, Columbia GSAPP, and University of Pennsylvania, had a group or one-on-one mentoring session with the AIANY WIA members/practitioners for resume reviews, informal design crits and/or professional development guidance. The session was held at the New York office of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners.

To all our WIA Practitioner Mentors and student mentees, thank you so much for participating in the AIANY WIA Practitioner | Student Mentoring Warm-Up Fall Session and for contributing to a great event!