The Women in Architecture Committee celebrated Women’s History Month in March with several events, including the International Women’s Day presentation by Madame Architect Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Julia Gamolina, Assoc. AIA on March 8, and the Building Tour of Moynihan Train Hall and the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge on March 11, led by the women designers and architects who helped realize one of the most important transportation and infrastructure projects in New York. Additionally, we invited Margot Kleinman, AIA, Associate at Gensler, to our monthly Committee Meeting to share her research on equitable educational spaces. She presented the results from a series of BIPOC student engagement programs which informed the development of an educational vision framework. The compelling results from Maggie’s research underlined the importance of how architects and designers should strive to design schools that afford a sense of safety and belonging for all.

WIA co-chairs Vivian Lee, FAIA, and Rosalind Tsang, AIA, highlighted upcoming WIA programs and events through June 2023 and the special events around town during the month of March.

For WIA TOPICS, Sarika Bajoria, talked about their Contemplative Designer framework, and spoke about her research developing an approach toward design frameworks that make the practice of design “contemplative”.

As part of MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS, Suzanne Mecs, the AIANY Managing Director, explained the function of the AIA Political Action Committee (ArchPAC) and provided information on how the financial contribution to political candidates works at a local and national level, in support of policy alignment, efficacy, and impact, in the areas of the future economy, climate action, and healthy and equitable communities. Members with any questions about ArchPAC and its contributions can reach out to Suzanne Mecs at smecs@aiany.org.

You can view the complete WIA March Committee Meeting Agenda, with an extended list of UPCOMING WIA PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, AROUND TOWN & RELATED EVENTS, TOPICS, GOOD READS, PODCASTS, FILMS, AND RESOURCES, MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS here.

Thank you all for your steady support!