Board Member Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Reflects on the Impact of AF Scholarships
by: Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Architects Foundation Board Committee Chair
As a proud board member of the Architects Foundation, I’m honored to share my deep belief in the power of scholarships to transform lives—and in our responsibility as a foundation to build pathways for the next generation of architects.
I know this firsthand. Throughout my academic journey, I was fortunate to receive several transformative scholarships, including the Next Generation Scholarship—formerly the AIA/AF Diversity Scholarship—and the Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship. These opportunities enabled me to explore architecture across continents, revealing how the built environment both shapes and is shaped by the diverse cultures and communities it serves. These experiences expanded my worldview and deepened my commitment to design, equity, and service.
For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as chair of the Architects Foundation’s Scholar Selection and Support Committee. In this role, I’ve continued to witness the enduring spirit of service reflected in the Next Generation Scholarship—established in 1970 in response to Whitney M. Young Jr.’s urgent call for a more just and inclusive profession. To this day, it remains a powerful vehicle for supporting students from all backgrounds who are passionate about architecture and driven to make a difference.
Lewis addressing scholars and guests at an event during the 2023 Conference on Architecture in Design in San Francisco, CA.
This year, many organizations face challenges that threaten their ability to support students in pursuing their education. In this moment, our role as a foundation is more critical than ever. We have a duty to advocate for our scholars and to ensure they have the resources and community they need as they begin their architectural journeys.
Our goal remains clear: to cultivate a profession that reflects the full richness and diversity of the communities it serves—and to uplift the future designers and changemakers who will shape our built environment for generations to come.
Together, we are building a more inclusive, inspired, and impactful architectural landscape.
Fireclay Tile has partnered with the Architects Foundation for a 3rd year to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship for Black women pursuing architecture.
This year, Fireclay is aiming to raise $75,000. Fireclay has committed to donating $25,000, and we invite you to help us reach our goal to support the education of three future architects!
Rosenwald Schools full lecture now available on Youtube
In December 2022, the Octagon Alliance hosted the first of its continuing lecture series. “Revealing Parallel Histories Hidden in Plain Sight” is a premier lecture series to give visibility to BIPOC voices and stories underrepresented in the national architectural canon, aiming to educate and engage attendees in topics related to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
As the first installement in the series, photographer Andrew Feiler and Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, discussed Feiler’s book on The Rosenwald Schools.
Watch the full lecture below.
Octagon Alliance members receive exclusive benefits for Octagon visitation and events like the The Rosenwald Schools with Andrew Feiler and Brent Leggs.Become a member today.
2022 Architects Foundation Fireclay Tile Scholar Selected
The Architects Foundation has announced the recipients of its Diversity Advancement Scholarship, including the scholarship sponsored by Fireclay Tile. Oni Thornell of Brooklyn, NY will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for up to five years to attend Syracuse University.
“Fireclay Tile is thrilled to partner with the Architects Foundation to support talented, inquisitive, and compassionate future architects like Oni Thornell” said Lindsey Bourcier, Fireclay Tile Brand Manager.
“Oni’s dedication to making meaningful change, her desire to lean into sustainable practices, and most importantly, her advocacy for equal access to the rights inherent in architecture resonated strongly with our team at Fireclay and aligns with our ethos of continuous improvement in building an inclusive world.”
Embracing diverse viewpoints and cultures in architecture is an asset to the profession, and the Diversity Advancement Scholarship offers students with a passion for studying the discipline of architecture an opportunity to successfully complete their studies no matter their color or where they come from.
The Diversity Advancement Scholarship was created in 1970 with an initial grant from the Ford Foundation, after civil rights leader Whitney Young Jr. challenged architects in 1968 to create a more responsible and equitable field. The Architects Foundation has been managing the program since 2009 and has expanded the program size thanks to the support of sponsors like Fireclay Tile.
2022 Architects Foundation Scholars Selected
The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for four of its tuition scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, and sustainability.
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.
2022 Diversity Advancement Scholarship The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 7 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Jada Cannon. Cannon, a student at Cornell University, will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. They will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. This award honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design.
2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Jennifer Stieben (University of Kentucky) and Sabrina Lem (University of Illinois at Chicago). Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.
2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cheyenne Yamada. Yamada, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus of design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, who will also mentor Yamada.
On May 20, 2022, we celebrated our reopening of The Octagon to the public. Local guests were invited to tour the updated historic facility, enjoy food and beverages, and experience the new art installation “I Was Here”.
The Octagon originally closed to the public in 2020 due to COVID-19. During the closure, we hosted digital exhibits, conducted several preservation projects as well as emergency and urgent repairs.
We also conducted planning for the museum programming and interpretation. “I Was Here”, launched in December 2021, is the first component of a multi year research project to commemorate the enslaved people who built and worked at The Octagon, their descendants and the role of enslaved people in the national architectural canon. This initiative is called “Parallel Histories Hidden in Plain Sight”.
Attendees were asked to give us their reactions to the installation (See: word cloud below). This activity brought about excellent dialogue. Some participants needed quiet space for reflection, while others were eager to discuss with others.
Applications now open for 2022 tuition and ARE scholarships!
The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships awards for architecture students and emerging professionals.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).
Scholarship sponsors include The American Institute of Architects, Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, The Curry Stone Foundation, The Custom Residential Architects Network, Fireclay Tile, GGLO, HKS, Lord Aeck Sargent, The Meehan Foundation, RS&H, Safdie Architects, Semihandmade, The Sherwin-Williams Company, ZGF, and Anonymous.
Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, FAIA, for the scholarship year.
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Each student receives a $5,000 award toward tuition and fees.
The AIA Large Firm Roundtable Scholarship
The Architects Foundation’s Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues
The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 14, 2022. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online.
Scholar Feature: Zuleika Baldeo
If you were at a pool party with Zuleika Baldeo and her cousins Holly and Quinn in June, your relaxing day was likely interrupted by quite a scene.
“I read the email and burst out crying,” she recalls. “I was jumping up and down with my cousins. They were confused at first about what I was talking about until I showed them the email.”
Zuleika Baldeo, a sophomore student at Morgan State University, had just received news that she won the Curry Stone Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship. successfully.
Her journey to that memorable moment highlights what it means to be a Black woman in the architecture industry and what the industry is currently doing to provide more resources for students like her to enter the field.
When Zuleika started her college journey, she had one goal in mind. “Get a degree. No matter how long it takes, whether it was five or fifty years, I needed to graduate.”
The goal was clear, but the path forward would be more complicated. Unsure of what she wanted to study, Zuleika began at Ithaca College as a psychology major before transferring to community college in her hometown and changing her interest to criminology. She then studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where her path toward architecture truly began.
“I realized that I was interested in something tactical and hands-on. I enjoyed the classes I was taking at UMBC, but I wasn’t interested in the functional aspect. My heart was in the design of the buildings.” With a lifelong love for art, she understood that this was an opportunity to combine her passion for creativity with her talents in math and science.
Like many, architecture wasn’t a field that Zuleika would have considered before her experiences at UMBC. “Architecture is a pretty expensive pursuit,” says Kimberly Dowdell, former president of the National Organization of Minority Architects. “Aside from tuition costs for five to seven years, there are the books, the drafting and modeling materials, the needed software and more. It can quickly add up.”
Kimberly’s work helps foster collaboration between students and senior staff at architecture firms through mentorship programs and networking opportunities. But there’s a largescale visibility issue within the industry to even get Black people to consider architecture as an option for a career path. According to the Directory of African American Architects, there are less than 2,500 licensed Black architects in the United States. This number is just a fraction of the more than 100,000 total licensed architects in the country.
This fact, combined with growing unrest and social action against police brutality toward African Americans, pushed Kimberly to combine forces with more than 400 other architects and major firms to sign on to an announcement. On October 25, 2020, they took out a full-page ad in The New York Times’ Sunday edition with the important message: Black Lives Matter.
“It wasn’t so much a political statement,” Kimberly says, “but it certainly was recognition that the livelihood of Black people matters, and within the architecture industry there is a clear disparity and need to close the gap.”
The ad included a call to action to contribute to the Diversity Advancement Scholarship through an appeal of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) fund. As a direct result, Clifford Curry, FAIA and Dr. Delight Stone, RPA, funded the Curry Stone Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Zuleika was selected as the recipient of this transformational scholarship of $20,000 per year for five years.
“Today, there are many people who are interested in increasing representation in the architect industry, but more still needs to be done,” says Cliff. “This scholarship is a way to encourage more diversity in the industry. I hope that this award will enable Zuleika to worry a little less on paying her tuition costs and excel her forward as an architect.”
Zuleika almost missed out on the opportunity. “I only heard about it through a former coworker, who isn’t even an architect. She knew that this was my field and thought I’d be a good fit for it.” But there was one problem: “I only had a week to apply.”
The near-miss opportunity and scramble for materials such as recommendation letters and transcripts highlights some of the obstacles students encounter, especially those of color. “We may hear that there are scholarships and funds available, but if we don’t have the right connections or proper resources and time to apply to them – and believe me, they take a lot of work – then it doesn’t work in our favor.”
Zuleika hopes that opportunities like her scholarship can be made more readily available to Black people like her. “This scholarship allowed me to dream about things that I thought were out of grasp for me, like being a homeowner. It could open a doorway for so many others to realize their full potential by lifting the burden of tuition and make it just a little easier for people who look like me to enter the profession.”
As for what’s next, Zuleika hopes that this is just the start of her new path forward in the profession. Through the twists and turns that she has experienced, one thing has remained constant. “On my first day in the architecture school’s center, seeing all of the models and posters from student work, I knew in my heart that I was in the right place.”
The Diversity Advancement Scholarship program is one of several facilitated by the Architects Foundation. The Architects Foundation leads philanthropic efforts that lay the foundation of architecture’s future, by attracting, inspiring, and investing in new and diverse generations of architects who will create inclusive spaces and places. Last year, the Architects Foundation raised more than $500,000 to support 66 students. To donate or learn more, visit https://architectsfoundation.org/
WASHINGTON– The Sherwin-Williams Company has made a permanent endowment to the Architects Foundation to support a Diversity Advancement Scholarship.
Through their $150,000 gift, Sherwin-Williams will support a minority architecture student’s career path by funding their college experience with $20,000, to be distributed evenly over the course of up to five years.
“At Sherwin-Williams we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion and equity, where our differences are welcomed, celebrated and appreciated,” said Yentil Rawlinson, vice president of inclusion, diversity and equity at Sherwin-Williams. “This endowment reflects our pledge to support the advancement of underrepresented students in their educational journey and our continued focus and commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity in our workforce, workplace and communities we serve.”
“Sherwin-Williams’ commitment to advancing equity, diversity and philanthropy in the architecture profession is an inspiration, especially for building product manufacturers across the country,” said Architects Foundation 2021 President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA. “We are committed to advancing these critical and long overdue pathways in the profession. It’s leadership from manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams that can help make progress a reality.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. Sherwin-Williams manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Valspar®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson’s® Water Seal®, Cabot® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin- Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4,900 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company’s other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.
Curry Stone Foundation pledges $125K
WASHINGTON – The Curry Stone Foundation (CSF) has pledged $125,000 to the Architects Foundation’s 2021 Diversity Advancement Scholarship program, to support five scholars through 2025.
The multiyear scholarship will support students of an ethnically diverse background, with a preference for those attending one of the seven accredited architecture programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The CSF, whose mission is to empower the practice of community-driven social impact design, is co-founded by Clifford Curry, FAIA, and Dr. Delight Stone, RPA.
“We are extremely grateful to Cliff and Delight for their continued support of the Architects Foundation,” said Architects Foundation President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA. “The opportunity created by the CSF is a huge stride toward our goal of a more diverse and inclusive profession.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
ABOUT THE CURRY STONE FOUNDATION
CSF’s mission is to empower the practice of community-driven social impact design. The Foundation supports groups and individuals using design to build healthier, more vital communities. CSF actively advocates for the use of design as a tool for social change, especially in marginalized communities. In all cases, the Foundation encourages designers and communities to work in close collaboration.
Safdie Architects funds $20K scholarship
WASHINGTON – Safdie Architects today announced their commitment to support the Architects Foundation’s Diversity Advancement Scholarship by funding a five-year student scholar entering or transferring into an architecture program in fall 2021.
The recipient will be supported throughout their scholarship by a mentor from Safdie Architects, as well as a paid internship at the firm following their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of school. In addition to the $20,000 scholarship, Safdie Architects will select a current Diversity Advancement Scholar for a paid internship this summer.
“We are thrilled to join with the Architects Foundation in its mission to broaden diversity within the field of architecture. At a time when systemic racism persists and the rights of many are being violated, we recognize the need for our industry to be proactive and outward-focused,” said Christopher Mulvey, Assoc. AIA, Safdie Architects’ Managing Principal. “We are committed to creating more opportunities for Black, Indigenous and people of color, both within the firm and in the profession-at-large.”
Foundation President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, expressed gratitude for the firm’s generosity. “The Architects Foundation is so pleased to work with Safdie Architects to create a more diverse profession,” Lewis said. “As the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Foundation is working to create a culture of philanthropy within the AIA. Let’s hope other firms follow this example.”
The Architects Foundation annually runs an application process for Diversity Advancement scholars. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are under review and will be announced in late spring of 2021.
About Safdie Architects
Safdie Architects is an architecture and urban design studio imbued with a spirit of idealism and innovation. The practice is research oriented and forward thinking, drawing upon a depth of experience to solve contemporary building challenges in imaginative and unexpected ways. Headquartered in Somerville, MA, with offices in Toronto, Jerusalem, Singapore and Shanghai to support ongoing projects, Safdie Architects is constantly engaged in the design of a diverse range of projects in terms of building type, scale and geographic location.
David Adjaye, Forensic Architecture and Daniel Libeskind donate works to support black women in architecture school
David Adjaye‘s gold sketch of multifaith complex The Abrahamic Family House and Mark Foster Gage‘s satirical plan for a Trump presidential library are among works for sale in an auction fundraising to support black women in architecture school.
Organised by architectural initiative ARCH, the auction launches today and will run for one week to raise funds for a scholarship programme for black women.
“To tackle systemic racism in the field of architecture and design, we need to make studying these subjects more accessible to aspiring black, indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) architects, who have historically been underrepresented and under-supported,” said ARCH, which stands for Architecture for Change.
Despite some gains, ethnically diverse individuals are still significantly underrepresented in architecture. Expanding the profession’s outreach and support to the next generation is one of the most urgent and important steps we can take to provide underrepresented students and communities the opportunities they deserve to develop their talents.
Architects are stepping up to make a difference – including a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. A FAIA Emeritus, this benefactor worked with the Architects Foundation earlier this year to identify the best way to make an impact. Based on that research, he is now donating $15,000 to each of five university programs.
And his story is just as inspiring as his financial contribution.
Here is his message to AIA members, in his own words:
Early this year, when I was 91 years old, one of my best friends, also 91, died and left me a young fortune. Really! For the first time in my life I was in a position to do something that might make the world a better place. Maybe not the world, but at least make the profession of architecture a notch more accessible for high school architectural aspirants and freshman African American architectural students.
Architectural college graduates know that with their degree also comes a key to a better quality of life for their families and for themselves. And yet in the last 70 years, the percentage of African Americans entering architectural colleges has risen from less than 1% to only 5%. Because BLACK LIVES DO MATTER, I decided to find the individuals who are in the best position to reverse these percentages and take appropriate actions.
My first step was to request help from the national AIA office in locating an individual who was well-informed regarding current architectural colleges. AIA fortunately pointed me to the Architects Foundation. Together, we decided no one would be better informed on the needs of these incoming students than the deans of the architectural colleges. After some basic research, we arbitrarily selected five notable colleges from across the country. After speaking by phone to each dean individually they were asked these same three questions:
1. In the recent past, what has your college done to promote diversity for African Americans on campus?
2. Currently, what are you doing to advance African American diversity on campus?
3. If the college gave you, personally, a financial grant to advance diversity for high school architectural aspirants and freshman African American architectural students, how would you utilize the grant?
The deans’ answers to these questions provided a wealth of information on ways to assist African American students as they join the architectural profession.
Our greatest hope is that other professions will see the opportunities made available by our profession and follow our lead!
The Architects Foundation was grateful to facilitate this emeritus member’s kind contribution.
It’s exactly the kind of informed, targeted support AIA is working to expand as we enhance our efforts to help students overcome barriers to education and advancement.
“This emeritus member demonstrates the true meaning of the term ‘citizen architect,’ and I’d like to express AIA’s gratitude on behalf our members,” said AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick, FAIA. “His thoughtful involvement and generosity as a retired member show that, no matter where architects are in our careers, we can make a difference.”
“The Architects Foundation has been awarding the Diversity Advancement Scholarship since 1970, but there is still much work to do,” said Architects Foundation President James Walbridge, AIA. “We were happy to help this emeritus member put his personal plan into action. Our approach is just one of many tools needed to make a difference.”
Efforts this year include surveying deans at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to identify needs; distributing $12,000 each to seven NAAB-accredited programs housed at HBCUs; and launching a campaign through the Architects Foundation to support the Diversity Advancement Scholarship. A multiyear award that supports ethnically diverse undergraduates studying architecture with up to $20,000, the Diversity Advancement Scholarship is a critical tool.
AIA members have contributed $156,283 so far this year, and through our Giving Tuesday campaign, the Architects Foundation is inviting 20,000 AIA members to donate $20 or more in 2020.
Not all of us have the ability to match the anonymous supporter’s $75,000 donation. But by giving what we can, we can make a difference – for the next generation of deserving students, and for the future of the architecture profession.
Build a brighter future for architects by donating here.
Architects Declare “Black Lives Matter”
Over 400 architects and design professionals ran a stark full-page advertisement in the October 25 edition of the New York Times in “complete commitment to and support for the protection of Black lives and the advancement of Black livelihood.”
2020: For most us, the most transformational year of our lives. Everything has changed across all boundaries and all borders. Nothing will be the same; changes are occurring at a dizzying pace.
While the complete disruption of our lives has taken its toll, the Architects Foundation finds itself in a unique position – our purpose could not be more relevant than it is right now. The tragedy of George Floyd and many others after has cemented clearly upon us that 401 years of systemic racism and structural inequality cannot be “unseen” anymore. We are all on a new journey together, with compassion and empathy our shepherds, to make real societal change.
We are grateful for our relationship with The American Institute of Architects. While our voices are unique to our respective missions, together we are even more courageous to forge a path we know is right.
Our Architects Foundation board and staff are united, resolute and committed to being bold. We understand where we have been and where we need to be, and we have much to do. Our charge is clear, JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) is our watchword. Our actions will be precise and focused as we continue to broaden our scholarships and magnify our fundraising efforts. The Octagon has evolved in its delegation and will serve as both teacher and convener. Its history will be told with transparency and radical candor to learn from its past and support an expanded conversation for the future of the profession.
Our scholars are at the center of the Foundation’s narrative. Their collective voices are the engine placing us in the forefront of possibilities – they are the future. We aspire to be the social proof needed in this new discourse, leading by example and action, to bring about the change we cannot delay any longer.
We thank you for your continued support and invite you to join us as we create a culture of philanthropy for the future.
Society’s Cage Installation Opens on the National Mall
Washington, DC – Today the Society’s Cage interpretive installation opens to the public on the National Mall in Washington, DC. SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, is the lead sponsor for the project, initiated by a diverse team of designers in their Washington, DC office. The installation’s opening is timed to coincide with the March on Washington, organized by the National Action Network, happening today.
“We were inspired to create the installation following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor,” explains Dayton Schroeter, lead designer and a principal at SmithGroup. “The pavilion is a real and raw reflection of the conversations about racism happening now. It’s a physical manifestation of the institutional structures that have undermined the progress of Black Americans over the history of this country.”
The designers intend for the installation to place the recent victims killed by police in the context of the 400+ year continuum of racialized state violence in the United States. Weathered steel bars hanging from a steel plate ceiling form a perfect cube atop a raised 15-foot square platform, encircled with educational content around its base. Historical data for four primary institutional forces of racism are expressed on the cube’s perimeter and triangulated within the interior, carving a void into which visitors can enter. Within this void the visitor experiences clashing senses, feeling both the figurative weight of oppression from the bars around and above them, while also being enveloped in an open-air sanctuary for reflection.
“The name Society’s Cage refers to the societal constraints that limit the prosperity of the Black community,” says Julian Arrington, who led the design with Schroeter, and is an architectural designer at SmithGroup. “The pavilion creates an experience to help visitors understand and acknowledge these impacts of racism and be moved to create change.”
Visitors are encouraged to participate in a shared experience upon entering the pavilion. After holding their breath for as long as they can, evoking the common plea among victims of police killings, “I can’t breathe,” visitors then post a video reflection of their experience on social media using the hashtag #SocietysCage. This exercise is meant not only to build empathy but expand the installation’s impact online to allow anyone to participate in this shared exercise.
The pavilion was fabricated by Gronning Design + Manufacturing LLC in Washington, DC, and Mejia Ironworks in Hyattsville, Maryland. A soundscape was commissioned from a pair of composers, Raney Antoine, Jr. and Lovell “U-P” Cooper. Comprised of four pieces, each 8 minutes and 46 seconds in length in recognition of the time George Floyd suffered under the knee of police, they are themed to reflect each of the four institutional forces that sculpted the pavilion’s interior (mass incarceration, police terrorism, capital punishment and racist lynchings).
SmithGroup has partnered with the Architects Foundation to raise funds for their Diversity Advancement scholarship program through the installation.
“The tragedies of George Floyd and many others have cemented clearly upon us that centuries of systemic racism and structural inequality cannot be ‘unseen’ anymore,” said James Walbridge, AIA, Foundation President. “We are all on a new journey together, with compassion and empathy as our shepherds, to make real societal change. Society’s Cage is a timely partnership for us.”
The pavilion will remain on display until September 12, 2020, and then is intended to be exhibited in a new location in the Washington metro region, and eventually tour to other cities across the country.
The Architects Foundation (www.architectsfoundation.org) leads philanthropic efforts to attract, inspire, and invest in a next-generation design community through scholarships and exhibitions. The Architects Foundation owns the historic Octagon building in the nation’s capital, activating the space to demonstrate the value architects and architecture bring to culture.
SmithGroup (www.smithgroup.com) is one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 15 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,300 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design, and delivery. The scale of the firm’s thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces.
Architects Foundation Board statement on The Octagon
The staff and board of the Architects Foundation, owner of The Octagon, want to share the AIA Board statement on systemic racial injustice. As the philanthropic partner of AIA, we agree that systemic racial injustice in any form, whether it be police brutality, employment discrimination, or any other efforts to marginalize people of color, is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.
We recognize The Octagon symbolizes wealth generated at the expense of enslaved African Americans. We believe it is important to listen, learn and move forward, together. We acknowledge that as a cultural institution, The Octagon has an important role to play in challenging historic oppression through our collection, interpretative efforts, visiting exhibits, and our unique partnership with the AIA to convey the role architects can play in creating a more just and equal society.
The 2020 Architects Foundation Board of Directors James Walbridge, AIA, President
R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, Vice President
Carole Wedge, FAIA, Treasurer
Bill Roschen, FAIA, Secretary
Ken Higa, AIA
Dan Kirby, FAIA
Constance Lai, FAIA
Sharon Liebowitz
Thomas Luebke, FAIA
Katherine Malone-France
Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA
Architects Foundation Board statement on systemic racial injustice
We at the Architects Foundation echo the sentiments of the AIA Board regarding systemic racial injustice. We agree that systemic racial injustice in any form, whether it be police brutality, employment discrimination, or any other efforts to marginalize people of color is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue. Now more than ever, we are proud of our role in supporting a diverse next-generation of architects to use their problem-solving skills to advance justice and equality for all people.
The 2020 Architects Foundation Board of Directors James Walbridge, AIA, President
R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, Vice President
Carole Wedge, FAIA, Treasurer
Bill Roschen, FAIA, Secretary
Ken Higa, AIA
Dan Kirby, FAIA
Constance Lai, FAIA
Sharon Liebowitz
Thomas Luebke, FAIA
Katherine Malone-France
Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA
2020 Grad Series: Shannar O’Connor
Congratulations to our 2020 graduates! Read the the third installment of our series from our 2016 Diversity Advancement Scholar, Shannar O’Connor.
The past five years of architecture school have been the most transformative years of my life. I had many hardships, but also a plethora of rewarding experiences. From the beginning, the odds were never in my favor, being that I am a black woman from a single parent, immigrant family. However, my hard work, determination, and aid from scholarships, such as the Architects Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship, The Villagers Preservation Scholarship, and the Colin MacDonald Betsch Memorial Award, helped me to accomplish one of my major life goals—graduating Summa Cum Laude with a B.Arch degree from my dream university (the University of Miami). Furthermore, much of my success could also be attributed to the people who believed in me along the way: My high school counselor, who was and is there for me whenever my self-confidence wavers; my college advisor, whose persistence made it financially possible for me to attend the University of Miami (after I had already committed to another university); the professors that believed in me and my abilities; the principal at my 2018 Summer internship with Harrison Design (Naples, FL), who helped further my knowledge of residential architecture; my supervisor at my 2020 Spring internship with Stantec (Miami, FL), who saw potential in me as an interior designer and gave me the chance to shine by encouraging me and giving me great responsibilities; and most of all, my mom, who is my best friend and my rock.
Some of the college courses that have molded me into the designer that I am today, include my minor in art, the furniture design and design/build studio courses that I was able to take, and the upper-level studio courses that pushed me to think outside of the box. However, my most rewarding and eye-opening college experience was my semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy. I had never felt more at home in a foreign country. The people were so welcoming, the culture was fascinating, and the architecture was awe-inspiring. Also, because of the nature of the program, I got to travel all over the country, learn a great deal about Italy’s rich cultural history, try water coloring for the first time, and build life-long bonds with my peers and professors, who are now affectionately known as “mi piccola famiglia” or my small family. This experience taught me the importance of travel and inter-cultural exploration, as well as, helped me to discover my passion for interior architecture/ design.
Now that I have graduated, my goal is to gain more experience in the interior architecture/ design field and then in the future, start my own design firm, specializing in interiors, furniture design, and product design. Since being back home, due to the pandemic, I have had plenty of time to reflect on the past five years of architecture school and the biggest lesson that this education has taught me, is how to creatively problem solve. This lesson is not only going to aid me in my career as a designer, but also in life.
Congratulations to our 2020 graduates! Read the first part of our series from our 2015-2020 Diversity Advancement Scholar, Sophie Chien.
In my five years at Rhode Island School of Design, the most important thing I’ve learned is to care. I look at care in a broad sense: to care is to be thoughtful, to build up healthy communities, to apply what we learned, to be an active citizen, to respect yourself, to advocate for others, to pay attention. This is such a gift, that designers are sensitive and responsive to the world around us. I have the power to literally draw, sculpt, paint, weave, print, sew, design, and build new futures, futures that are more equitable, beautiful, and just. Futures that don’t exist yet, but should, futures that embrace our shared humanity.
At school, I have participated in opportunities that seem impossible when stacked up together. I have modeled a friend’s collection in New York Fashion Week, traveled the world learning from schoolmates and teachers, and been inspired by so many generous people who have taken the time to talk with and mentor me. I had the honor of serving as student body president, and have been asked to speak on several panels and a podcast during my time in school.
I am very proud of the ways I have developed my own design ethos and practice, learning from internships in Nome, Providence, Rome, Paris, and Los Angeles, working for both design firms and government agencies. During my five years, I have negotiated my studio projects and my associated interests with several fellowships both on and off campus, learning from my local Providence community as much as my architectural community. In every studio project, and culminating with my almost-done thesis, I have centered justice and care as the most important design components.
This scholarship gave me the self- and financial confidence necessary to thrive in the breakneck pace of architecture school and reminded me that my experience honors the people who have come before me and the people that come after me. As I leave architecture school, I will continue to shape my future as an organizer and designer.
As a child of an immigrant, my dad always told me education is the one thing nobody can take away from you. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that my architecture degree from RISD is the one thing that I will always have with me and am so honored to have been supported by the Architects Foundation during my entire experience.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) make up 3 percent of the country’s colleges and universities, enroll 10 percent of all African American students, and produce almost 20 percent of all African American graduates, making these institutions increasingly impactful and vital. While meeting admissions goals and improving retention rates are critical goals for any college, for HBCUs history, students’ backgrounds, cultural nuances, and other factors require different approaches to student success. Thoughtful campus planning and design can play an important role in creating environments that allow students to embark upon higher education as the cornerstone of the Dream.
On January 30, we convened a panel at The Octagon to discuss placemaking at HBCUs with:
Andrew B. Feiler, Photographer
Bradford C. Grant, Professor of Architecture, Howard University
Warren L. Williams, AIA, Principal, Lord Aeck Sargent
Renée Yancey, Managing Director of EDI Development & Workforce Strategy, The American Institute of Architects
Graduation reflections from Architects Foundation Scholars
Orli Hakanoglu 2018 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Scholar May 2019 Graduate, Yale University
It has been [a few months] since I graduated with my M-Arch degree from Yale, and have had a bit of time to relax and reflect on the past three incredible years. When I started school, I had no idea what world I was about to enter; all I knew was my own curiosity and eagerness to join a community that spoke my language. What I didn’t anticipate was the richness of this language, and that it had such a wealth of “dialects,” so to speak. I was introduced to countless angles of investigation that greatly expanded my understanding of the process of design. Anchoring me and my peers’ exploration was an understanding of history, context, and an essential reflexivity about the role of the profession itself. This multifaceted quality of inquiry was encouraged from all directions: students, faculty, visiting critics and jurors, members of the University, and the broader New Haven community.
The semester-long teaching fellowships I held were probably the highlight of my time at Yale, particularly those in which I was given a hands-on role as an instructor. I would have never imagined that my own knowledge of the subject could be so deepened through work with brilliant peers only a year or two my junior. The school’s encouragement of a richness of perspective and ways of seeing is likely its most powerful pedagogical tool, and I hope to cultivate the same open-mindedness within the communities I belong to in my post-graduate life. I am endlessly thankful to Payette and the Architects Foundation for their support in making this education possible for me. Having graduated, I am now ready to experience the aspects of the profession less dwelled-upon in the classroom, and am planning my next steps as an architect with optimism and excitement.
Vaughn Lewis 2014 Diversity Advancement Scholar, AF/McAslan Fellow May 2019 Graduate, The Cooper Union
My acceptance into The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union in 2014 was an incredible opportunity which was both exciting and challenging. It came at a difficult time, a complex year in the 155-year history of the institution when there was a change in Cooper’s tuition policy. Because of this, my first studio Architectonics, led by David Gersten with Wes Rozen and Rikke Jørgensen, was the most formative during my education. In that semester my professors worked to create situations within which the students could inhabit questions and create new works that would embody the current moment in the life of the institution. Together with my classmates, we measured, drew and built a six-foot-high scaled model of the Foundation Building’s exterior, filled with each student’s interpretation of salient interior spaces. Speaking metaphorically, our professors placed the weight of the school in our hands, to care for the school in the most profound sense of “building it.” We built a model of The Cooper Union while acknowledging that The Cooper Union is itself a model of education. This approach was unlike anything I thought studying architecture would be and as a result of this experience, each studio thereafter became a social poetic act, a collection of gestures of ethics and imagination.
Throughout my studies, I committed myself to seek out programs which would provide me the foundation I needed to become a valuable member of any design team. Aside from my design studios and classes, it was extremely important to me that I supplemented my education with teaching. I learned about the school of architecture while I was in high school and attending a Cooper Union pre-college program called The Saturday Program. The program offered free studio art courses to New York City Public High School students and gave students individual advisement on applying to colleges along with preparing their art and architecture portfolios. It was because of this program that I gained the necessary skills I needed to create a competitive application for acceptance to The Cooper Union. So in my sophomore year, I became an instructor and taught a class each semester thereafter until I graduated. It was important for me to help give to others what was given to me because I fully understand that service is the price we
pay for the space we occupy.
I also received several prominent scholarships/grants and fellowships including: a grant from The National Science Foundation, 2018 William Cooper Mack Thesis Fellowship, 2017 Palmer Hayden Travel Fellowship and the 2015 AIA /AF Diversity Scholarship. These fellowships and organizations have provided me with a tremendous amount of financial and moral support. As a result of these opportunities, I was fortunate enough to travel to places like Mexico, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, China, and Africa.
An integral aspect of architecture is its engagement with different cultures and communities around the world. Furthermore, I pursued architecture fully aware of the disparity between the total number of African American in the U.S. population and the percentage of licensed African-American architects.
However, I believe that without greater diversity in the architecture field, the profession threatens to limit its views, perspectives, and ideas. As we live in a multicultural society, it is my belief that the architecture profession should support professionals who reflect and represent the diverse communities they serve.
Jalen Price 2014 Diversity Advancement Scholar May 2019 Graduate, Drury University
My time in architecture school is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in my life. Going into this course of study, I had a base understanding of architecture. I was unaware of the depth at which architects and other design professions do impact society. Throughout my five years at Drury University, I grew as a person and largely as a designer. I was challenged to design in a variety of typologies and user groups. My designs ranged from a singular space to complexes, to a 25-year master plan. Outside of design, I solidified my commitment to using design to impact my community through the student organizations Art of Space and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). I was able to grow my leadership skills as a Residential Assistant for the university.
In addition to working part-time, keeping up with course requirements, and participating in various organizations, I am proud of receiving the following recognition during my time in architecture school: Three-time recipient of a scholarship from the AIA St. Louis Scholarship Fund; Community Award recipient from the Hammons School of Architecture; and Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal recipient from the Hammons School of Architecture. I completed two architecture internships. I was a Summer Intern with Grice Group Architects -St. Louis, MO in 2017. I completed a Spring internship with Agency Landscape and Planning – Cambridge, MA in 2019.
As I enter the professional world, I will begin with a position as an Architectural Designer with BRR Architecture in Kansas City, MO. I am excited to see where this opportunity takes me. I carry two pieces of advice as I begin this phase of my life. A professor once told me keep growing and refuse to become stagnant in my path as a designer and person. The second piece of advice came from a mentor who told to always seize opportunities from those who believe in me. The intersection of design and positive community impact I learned at Drury has sparked an interest in urban design; therefore, I plan to pursue an additional degree in the future.
AIA Knowledge Community becomes Foundation’s first donor providing support in perpetuity for the Foundation’s diversity initiative.
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation is receiving a permanent endowment from The American Institute of Architects’ Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) to fund additional Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients.
Through its $150,000 gift, CRAN will support a minority architecture student who shows interest in residential architecture as a career path by funding their college experience with $20,000 to be distributed evenly over the course of up to 5 years.
“CRAN is pleased to further the educational needs of future residential architects,” said 2019 CRAN Chair Mary S. Cerrone, AIA. “The positive experience from this first scholarship investment prompted CRAN to invest more fully in the education of future minority architects.”
This is not the first time CRAN has supported the Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Last year, the CRAN Legacy Committee—a volunteer group comprised of the knowledge community’s past chairs—previously gave $20,000 to support one scholar in 2018.
“This very generous gift from CRAN has set the stage for new foundation pillars of giving focused on scholarships in perpetuity” said Architects Foundation President James Walbridge, AIA. “Our board has created a fundraising campaign called ‘Pillars for the Future.’ Each pillar represents one Diversity Advancement Scholarship in perpetuity.
‘With this gift, CRAN has become the foundation pillar. We are so delighted to have CRAN as our partner in this effort to attract, inspire and invest in a diverse next-generation design community.”
The Architects Foundation has been working to expand the Diversity Advancement Scholarship. Last week, the Foundation awarded ten minority students entering or transferring to accredited architecture programs with scholarships.
Applications for the 2020-2021 Diversity Advancement Scholarship will open in fall 2019. Complete details are available on the Foundations website.
Individuals and organizations interested in creating a lasting impact to support and empower a diverse next-generation design community are encouraged to contact the Architects Foundation.
2019 Architects Foundation Scholars Selected
Newly expanded scholarships recognize and support diverse future leaders of the profession in equity, historic preservation, risk management and sustainability
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architect’s Foundation scholarship and grant program.
Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural 2019 Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship to Cooper Union student Vaughn Lewis and University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Shayla Dick. The scholarship supports travel experiences for two top graduating students to engage with McAslan+Partners and the World Monuments Fund.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 10 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
2019-2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2019-2020 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Yale University student Michelle Badr. Badr will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. She will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. Badr is the fourth recipient of the scholarship, which honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design. Learn more about this year’s Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship.
Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grants The Architects Foundation is recognizing and supporting women in architecture with the Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grant. Specifically, the grant provides registration and travel to the 2019 AIA Women’s Leadership Summit for women in architecture moving into leadership roles in the profession. This year, the grant will fund eleven women to attend the summit, which is being held from September 12-14 in Minneapolis. This year’s recipients are:
2019-2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2019-2020 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) student Vardhan Mehta and Texas A&M University student Hassan Anifowose. Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.
Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cornell University student Laura Stargala. Stargala will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus at design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty.
Call for Applications: Architects Foundation Now Accepting Submissions for Scholarships
WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for three scholarships that support the next generation of architects.
“The Architects Foundation is thrilled to welcome more scholars into our fold,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director. “In addition to financial support, we aim to empower them to succeed in the profession of architecture and have positive impact in an increasingly diverse world.”
Beginning today, architecture students—that meet the required criteria—can apply for either the Diversity Advancement Scholarship, the Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship or the Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship. Applications must be received by Jan. 16, 2019 for consideration.
This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited undergraduate architecture program. Scholarships may be renewed every year until the degree is completed, for up to five years ($20,000 total award).
This scholarship is an honor to the legacy of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, who helped shape the national discourse on women in architecture and design. The scholarship is open to third and fourth-year women architecture students in a NAAB-accredited undergraduate degree program, as well as women in any level of graduate study in a NAAB-accredited program. In addition to a financial award of $10,000, recipients are also paired with a senior mentor from Payette for their scholarship year.
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship was established in 2018 in honor of architect Yann Weymouth, AIA. Weymouth served as chief of design for I.M. Pei on the National Gallery of Art East Wing in Washington, DC and the Grand Louvre Project in Paris. He is now working as the Design Director for a science research laboratory at the University of Miami with Harvard Jolly Architecture. This scholarship is awarded each year to an architecture student with a focus on the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship as well as the opportunity to be mentored by Weymouth.
Architects Foundation Quadruples its Diversity Advancement Scholarships
Scholarship expansion provides financial support to 20 students enrolling in architecture studies.
Washington – The Architects Foundation is awarding 20 new multiyear scholarships to students attending NAAB-accredited schools of architecture, quadrupling the number of scholarships made in 2017.
The Foundation–the philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)—is also more than doubling the number of students currently assisted by its multiyear scholarship program with a $1 million investment from the AIA. As part of the Foundation’s program, scholars receive $4,000 per year for up to five years.
Two of the new 20 scholars are funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation and will receive an additional $1,000 per year. The AIA Custom Residential Architects Network also funded a scholar this year who has expressed interest in residential architecture. Recipients of the 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarships will be recognized at the AIA Conference on Architecture (A’18) in New York City.
“The Diversity Advancement Scholarship was established by the AIA and the Ford Foundation following a 1968 speech by Whitney M. Young Jr. calling upon architects to do more for the community. Young’s charge included scholarships for minority students, and in 1970, 20 awards were made,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. “Fifty years after Young’s challenge, we are pleased to be back at this impressive level of effort to create a diverse next generation of architects and community builders.”
Eight scholarship recipients, including new scholars Maly Sears and Caroline Senyszyn, will attend A’18 this week, which was made possible in part by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, Cooper Carry, and Lord Aeck Sargent.
The 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients are:
Esmeralda Aceituno of Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Allen of Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Amigon of Sunnyside, NY
Annabelle Asali of Los Angeles, CA
Shanelle Brown of Fairhope, AL
Nina Crosby Walton of Frederick, MD
Andrea De Haro of Doral, FL
Genesis Gadberry of San Angelo, TX
Isabella Greco of Chicago, IL
Joya Ma of Phoenix, AZ
Lauren McLean of Mount Vernon, NY
Hana Morrison of Honolulu, HI (scholar funded by AIA Custom Residential Architects Network)
Amy Rojas of San Antonio, TX
Sarah Saad of East Elmhurt, NY
Maly Sears of Adrian, MO (scholar funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation)
Caroline Senyszyn of Fort Worth, TX (scholar funded by Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation)
Luiza Vara of Phoenix, AZ
Ania Yee-Boguinskaia of Houston, TX
Nahom Zeleke of Columbia, AL
Carolina Zuniga of Doral, FL
Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation & Architects Foundation announce 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients
Paint company’s foundation gives $50,000 in scholarships to two aspiring architects
Washington, DC – May 8, 2018 – Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, in partnership with the Architects Foundation, is announcing recipients of its 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarship, which provides assistance to minority students who are pursuing a professional architecture degree recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
“We are proud to continue to support scholarship programs such as the Architects Foundation’s Diversity Advancement Scholarship and assist and encourage students who are pursuing careers in the architecture and interior design fields,” said Mike Searles, CEO of Benjamin Moore & Co. and Chairman of the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation. “We congratulate Caroline Senyszyn of Fort Worth, Texas and Maly Searsof Adrian, Missourion earning the 2018-2019 Diversity Advancement Scholarships and look forward to seeing how the next generation of architects shapes the industry.”
As part of the scholarship, Senyszyn and Sears will each receive $5,000 annually for five years and will have the opportunity to attend the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City this June.
“Thanks to Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, we are able to provide the top two Diversity Advancement Scholarship recipients with additional funding and opportunities to travel to AIA’s annual conference,” said Marci Reed, Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. “We are truly grateful to Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation for their support of minority students aspiring to become architects.”
Over the past three years, Benjamin Moore Foundation has been committed to supporting the architecture and design fields, which has included donating $150,000 to support aspiring architects through the Diversity Advancement Scholarship program.
Each year, the program selects two candidates, which must be either high school seniors and transfer students planning to attend architecture school , or first-year college students currently enrolled in a NAAB-accredited architecture program. In order to enroll, qualified candidates must submit two examples of their creative work, a high school transcript, a personal essay, and two letters of recommendation, among other requirements.
Complete details on the Diversity Advancement Scholarship program are available on the Architects Foundation website.
About Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore & Co., a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883. One of North America’s leading manufacturers of premium quality residential, commercial and industrial maintenance coatings, Benjamin Moore & Co. maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The Benjamin Moore premium portfolio spans the brand’s flagship paint lines including Aura®, Regal® Select, CENTURY®, Ultra Spec®, Natura® and ben®. The Benjamin Moore & Co. Family of Brands includes specialty and architectural paints from Coronado®, Lenmar® and Insl-x®. Benjamin Moore & Co. coatings are available primarily from its more than 5,000 locally owned and operated paint and decorating retailers.
Charitable Giving at Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore and the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation are committed to enhancing North American communities. Through in-kind and financial donations, Benjamin Moore & the Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation are able to support numerous national and regional nonprofits that embody their giving mission including AIA Architects Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Mission Continues and YouthBuild® USA, among others. Additionally, teams of Benjamin Moore employee volunteers give thousands of hours each year to charities across North America.
About The Architects Foundation The Architects Foundation was created to celebrate architecture’s value by advancing tomorrow’s design leaders and preserving architectural treasures of the past. Through its scholarship programs, the Foundation aims to attract and cultivate a diverse next generation of architects, and provide new opportunities to support the evolution of the profession. The Architects Foundation also preserves the historic Octagon building in the nation’s capital, seeking ways to best express the values of historic preservation work and keep the Octagon’s legacy alive with exhibits, educational programs and partnerships. For more information, visit the Architects Foundation website.
About The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state, and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business. In addition, the Institute engages civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world.
Orli Hakanoglu
Vaughn Lewis
Jalen Price