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.