Spring 2015xNOMAmag by Devanne Pena

NAT I O N A L O R G AN IZ ATION OF M IN ORITY AR CHIT ECT S SP R I NG 2 0 1 5

2014 NOMA DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Co ntent s

President’s Message

Editor’s Message

Top NOMA News

AA Architects: 2014 Licenses

NOMA Conference Perspectives

2014 NOMA Design Excellence Awards

2014 NOMA Student Design Awards

Stand-Out Seminars 15

Have A Heart Designing With People And Wellness In Mind

Jack And Steve Show

Keynote Speaker Paola Moya “What Drives Us Forward Despite The Obstacles” Photo credit belongs to the Official 2014 Conference Photographer: Fernando Gaglianese Nando Photography www.nandopics.com

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Chapter and Member of the Year

Community Service

NOMA Officers

Cover: Pascale Saint-Louis’new School plan in Haiti for the rebuilding of that new school post earthquake

NOMA Magazine | No 12 | Spring 2015 | Edited by: Devanne Pena, Assoc. AIA, NOMA | Designed by: Lou Moriconi

P res i d ent’ s M es s a ge NOMA President Kevin M. Holland, AIA, NOMA

Dear NOMA Family, Friends and Supporters: Welcome to the first issue of the NOMA Magazine for 2015! Traditionally, this first issue has been the Annual Conference issue and, this is, also, the first issue completed since the “retirement” of former, Editor-in-Chief, Katherine Williams, NOMA, AIA. I want to thank Katherine for her years of dedication to the NOMA magazine, for her commitment to a quality publication and, to her on-going advice and consultation to our new editor. It was with Katherine’s recommendation that we discovered our new, Editor-in-Chief and journalistic rising star, Devanne Pena, NOMA, Assoc. AIA.

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In this issue, please note the inspiring, Annual Meeting Keynote address by, Paola Moya, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, of Marshal Moya Architects in Washington, DC—“What Drives Us Forward, Despite the Obstacles.” Paola’s story is certainly, unique to her and simultaneously, representative of the stories of many NOMA and NOMAS members. Given the various social media outlets that NOMA currently utilizes—Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter— including our newsletter and webpage, we have decided that the magazine would take on a different role in NOMA communications. As the other mentioned, outlets lend themselves as better news and event vehicles, the magazine will look to become the source of NOMA academic and scholarly discourse, as well as, representing the official, public position of the NOMA Board of Directors on various issues of interest to minority architects and underserved, underrepresented communities. We expect that this is a direction will be welcomed by our members, partner organizations, and sponsors. However, like everything else, it is only successful if you participate and contribute as a writer. So, if contributing to the future direction of the magazine is of interest to you please reach out to either our Editor-in-Chief, Devanne Pena, or myself. NOMA family and friends, thank you for reading. Devanne and magazine staff, thank you for a job well done! – Kevin M. Holland, NOMA, AIA 2015-16 President

Ed it o r ’ s M es s a ge

Editor-in-chief Devanne Pena, Assoc. AIA, NOMA magazine@noma.net devannepena.com

want to talk a little about my experience as the 2015 editor-in-chief of NOMAmag, and some of the changes we have implemented in this Spring 2015 issue.

This has been an especially important experience, being that I graduated from 5th year and became involved in NOMA only 3 years ago; it is fascinating where saying ‘yes’ will take you. By extreme brainstorming, and in-depth discussions with our president Kevin Holland, our marketing chair Lew Meyers, our past president Kathy Dixon, and our past editors Steven Lewis and Katherine Williams, an outline of the 2015 issues was designed. I would like to take this moment to give ‘mad props’ to Katherine Williams, who held this position before me for 5 years. I was an assistant editor along side her for those last 2 years, and have learned a great deal about leadership, organization and therefore my own capabilities. She even trusted me to co-create/cospeak in our seminar at the 2014 NOMA Conference. She is a force to be reckoned with (I refer to her, personally, as an architectural goddess, but I’m keeping it professional). From Day 1, I knew I had some big shoes to fill. Implemented changes I believe that structure, transparency, support and incentive are important in creating and continuing spirited participation in anyone. Once the volunteer team was selected, I organized their contacts for communication fluidity, shared the working structure of the magazine and gave an overview of expectations. There was a finalization of ideas and some trial-and-error, so I truly am grateful of the team’s flexibility and dedication. I would have not been able to pass my first ARE exam, if it had not been for these awesome people sharing the work load. The Content Volunteers created a consolidated Top NOMA News graphic article. Because we publish biannually, it was practical to leave the extended news updates to the digital outlets. In this issue, we found it important to give a glimpse into the 2014 NOMA

Final thoughts An issue of NOMAmag is something to save (and put at the top of the pile of architecture magazines in your living room); it is something to share among professionals to spread the word about our capable, comparable, and colorful organization. Along with retaining membership, sharing this magazine is a contribution to the success of minority architects, and students and designers on their paths to licensure. To request additional copies (with a modest publication fee), or advertising and subscription information, please email advertising@noma.net.

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My experience: Before fully taking on the role as editor-in-chief, much coordination was to be made to insure that my ideas aligned with the marketing goals of the organization, and to minimize overlap from our digitally published information. Let me just say, it is especially validating to be able to have influence on such a potentially effective marketing tool for our organization, and to be given full control and responsibility in which to work on the design of its overall structure, advertising model, and graphic representation.

Conference by newly incorporating Paola Moya’s powerful keynote address, and a few Stand-Out seminars. The Marketing Volunteers round-tabled to create a marketing message and supporting promotions catered to design competition organizers, universities, and product/material vendors. Although this issue did not secure advertisement, we now have a structured model and created the resources to obtain them strategically in the upcoming issue and beyond. Last, for transparency’s sake, here are a couple of lessoned learned: Doubling the amount of volunteer-power equals doubling the correspondence; be ready. Finally, write your editor’s message sooner. The start-up of this 2015 volunteer experience has been a large contribution on my part, but totally worth it, and I am confident that it will only continue to streamline and advance.

To p N O M A N e ws

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AA architects: 2014 Licenses Katherine Williams At the end of 2014, there were approximately 1,955 architects in the Directory of African American Architects.**

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

For the year, 23 African American architects reported as newly licensed. 37 men + 19 women 56 total 33 men + 11 women 44 total 22 men + 12 women 34 total 20 men + 13 women 33 total* 15 men + 8 women 23 total

The number continues the downward trend that has been characteristic of the last five years. The organization that creates the architect registration exam (ARE), NCARB, has also seen an up-anddown rate, since 2009, of people completing ARE sections. I asked some of my colleagues for their thoughts to get some other perspectives on the trend. There is optimism and celebration, and also some self-actualization. I have mixed feelings about the low numbers. We as a community can and should do more in supporting candidates of color. The fact that I have mentored three of the newly licensed architects on the 2014 list and at least two more in 2015 makes me feel like NOMA [National Organization of Minority Architects] is helping an upward trend. For that I’m proud but collectively it takes a village!!! – Bryan W. Hudson, R.A., NOMA, AIA Chicago, Illinois Congrats and kudos to Bryan for mentoring architects toward the licensure process. It’s is much easier to do with a cheerleader/accountability coach/nag pushing you to get it done. NCARB by the Numbers, trends of internship, exam, and licensure Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture data & resources **Note: listings in the directory are self-reported and continuously updated. Check the website for current totals. *Updated to reflect people that reported after March 2013.

I have this ambitious theory that there is going to be a surge of licensed AA members in the next 5 years. None of this thinking is substantiated, and is actually opposite of your numbers, but I can only hope that my absolute enthusiasm to become licensed is shared with my AA architectural peers. I think that it is. Also, the incorporation of the 5.0 exam may elicit this surging. –Devanne Pena, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Austin, TX According to the June 2014 NCARB by the Numbers report, 3,153 people completed their ARE in 2013. The report does not give a breakdown of gender for those completing, but it does say that about 35% of test takers were women. The report does not have any data on race or ethnicity. The recent press on Public Interest Design has changed the potential pathway for many recent graduates to pursue jobs outside of traditional architecture firms. The question will be, is the training at community design centers & Public Interest Design firms for these recent graduates the same, inferior or superior to traditional firms in preparing them to pass their licensing exams. –Prescott Reavis, NOMA , LEED AP, SEED Oakland, CA

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Interns can now earn credit for volunteer service with organizations on NCARB’s Community-Based Design Center Collaboration list. This will give interns another vehicle to complete this step toward licensure. Many of these centers have architects on staff or as consultants who can help ensure interns are getting a quality experience.

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I feel like I’m the reason why those numbers are so low. On the one hand, I encourage architectural professionals to get licensed, however, I’m unable to obtain licensure myself. The main reason is lack of motivation. My job doesn’t support me in the way I need supporting and the work/life balance hasn’t been mastered. –Melissa Daniel, Assoc AIA, NOMA Washington, DC I am sure so many people are in this boat. I was there. At some point, I just buckled ckled down and did it. I started a Yahoo group with others who were also taking their exams. It may sound ound cliche, but we do “have to be the change we want to see.” Those numbers are not going to increase ncrease if we are sittinnnnng on sideline. As I continue to mentor the next generation and cultivate their interest in architecture, hitecture, I emem mphasize the value of an architectural education as a solid foundation that can an support m many anyy an other career choices. The more people we can get into the pipeline, the greater eater the op oppo opportunity porrtunity po to increase our numbers. If we are to be included among those who wouldd createe the the legacy legacy of our time in the built environment, we must be present and accounted forr within inn the the profession. –R. Steven Lewis, NOMAC, AIA IA Altaden, CA This is why many of us continue to mentor, teach youth programs,, caj cajole who are takjol o e and d nag those th ing exams: we want to see more in the pipeline. What are your thoughts on the statistics of licensed architects and affect profession? nd itss af aff fect on the ep rofession? Email magazine@NOMA.net to continue the conversation, and your thoughts tho houghts could coul uld ul d be included d in the the response article in our next issue. Katherine Williams, AIA, NOMA the former ormer NOMA NOM MA magazine ma agaziine n e editor, dito or, is is the t e current th chair of the AIA Housing Knowledge Community advisory group. She e Communi nity ni ty adv vis isor oryy g or rou oup. p S he has worked in community development and was previousl previously an Enterprise Architectural ly a n Enter e pr pris i e Ro Rose eA rchi rc h tectural Fellow in San Francisco. She has presented at numerous conferences num nu merous us c onfe on ere renc nces nc es and and served on several non-profit boards. She contractor e currently workss ffor or a general gener erral c ontr on t ac tr ctorr in Northern Virginia. She writes at katherinerw.com.

NO M A Co n feren ce Persp ecti ves

PhilaNOMA 2014 was my second conference I’ve attended and definitely will not be my last. I look forward to the exciting themes and great connections of future conferences. The conferences are a great way to meet new people, make life-long connections and learn about what the world of architecture has to offer through various seminars.

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Last year’s conference gave me the opportunity to experience and enjoy the great city of Philadelphia and its unique and intriguing art that defines it. My two favorite seminars were “Healing the City” which discussed many ways on how to revitalize the different parts of Philadelphia and “Purpose, People, Pride and Progress” which discussed making comfortable living environments for those with mental illness. “For the Love of it” is by far my favorite and I’m excited to see what this year’s conference in New Orleans has to offer. –Janae Long janae_long09@yahoo.com Architectural Intern National Park Service Denver, Colorado

With the lack of diversity and minority representation in the design fields in Pittsburgh, both professionally and academically, the newly founded Carnegie Mellon chapter of NOMAS found it critical to bring home the social diversity and the national professional network of the NOMA conference. Even though I’m a native of Philadelphia, the PhilaNOMA conference made me feel welcomed to the city I call home. This conference was a moment of personal, professional, and cultural growth that has exposed me to a new community of strong, intelligent, and passionate individuals that have given me a lifetime of inspiration –Samuel G. Sanders IV NOMA, Assoc. AIA ssanders@andrew.cmu.edu

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For me, the NOMA conference has been a metaphorical respite and revival for a decade. I have walked the conference in search of knowledge, mentorship, friendship.....and a dance floor, all of which I have found in excess. The Philadelphia NOMA conference was particularly special to me for a few reasons. This was the first time in over a decade that the conference was held on the East Coast, which made it easy for my family to come join the NOMA experience. Beyond proximity, my NOMA chapter (NOMA Louisiana) and I were honored to receive co-chapter of the year and member of the year during the proceedings and I was pleasantly surprised to be asked to join the board. All of this culminating with an amazing brass band introduction for the 2015 NOMA conference to be held in New Orleans! It truly was a fantastic conference and a terrific way to celebrate 10 years in the organization. I’m looking forward to the next 10! –Bryan C. Lee Jr. New Orleans NOMA blee@nomala.org

My name is Edward Senatus I am a fourth year Architecture student at Hampton University. NOMA 2014 was the first time I had the opportunity to attend the national conference. In short, it was amazing it blew me away. I was able to attend multiple seminars and meet important people in the profession. I enjoyed the lecture series, “The Steve + Jack show” which discussed the black aesthetic and whether or not it existed in architecture. Afterwards I had the opportunity to meet both Jack Travis and Steven Lewis. NOMA gave me the opportunity to meet HU Alum, Network, and learn what goes on within and beyond the profession of Architecture. –Edward Senatus edward.senatus@yahoo.com

NO M A Co n feren ce Persp ecti ves

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My experience at NOMAPHILA conference was unbelievable, till this day I am always telling my colleagues at Hampton University that we need to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. The Philly conference was my first NOMA conference and it will not be my last. Despite it being my first conference it was not hard meeting new people. Everyone at the conference despite my age and experience was very welcoming and approachable. NOMA to me functions like a great big family and not once did I feel not a part of that community. For me, the conference is not simply networking but it offers an opportunity for sharing ideas and identifying potential collaborations. Being able to see other people’s work, understand their design theories, and learn from your peers and professionals is valuable for students. Since the conference, I have gained new friendships and a mentor. During the conference I attended an awesome seminar, African American Women in Architecture. The seminar was so inspiring, it is not too many African American women in the architectural profession and to know that they are having so much success, gives me hope for my future in architecture. –Domynique Garrett domynique.garrett@gmail.com 4th Year Student at Hampton University

I am Christian Hughes, a Design Associate at Michael Baker International, LLC.’s World Headquarters in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. I have been attending NOMA Conferences since NOMAtlanta in 2011. I attend faithfully to continue to build a network of accomplished minority architectural professionals who are advocates for and examples of minority excellence in the profession. This network is crucial to the work I do independently – exposing youth to professionals and the principles of architecture through design exercises in order to increase female and minority interest and participation in the profession. The fact that the culture of NOMA is one similar to a big family is an added bonus! –Christian J. Hughes, Associate AIA, M.Arch Architectural Designer cjhughes910@yahoo.com

The 2014 NOMA Conference in Philly was yet another great conference. Although there were many excellent seminars, the ones that I personally found very interesting we’re the Hip Hop in Architecture seminar and the always fascinating Jack and Steve Show. The Hip Hop in Architecture seminar exposed some very interesting facts that I had not heard before, such as Le Corbusier being the father of hip hop. I never really thought about that fact, but he was quite the revolutionary designer, and who knew that he really valued African American culture! It was thought provoking and actually showed some examples of hip hop inspired architecture such as a building that included graffiti designed in its exterior elevations.

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All in all, the Philinoma really out did themselves with that conference, which set the bar for what should be another fantastic conference in New Orleans in October 2015. –Erroll Oneil INOMA rktec84@gmail.com

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By contrast, the Jack and Steve show exhibited a wide variety of Afrocentric inspired architecture and design from Jack Travis combined with the insightful commentary and design examples by Steve Lewis. Always a big hit at every conference, Jack and Steve engaged the audience with great imagery and design principles that tend to push the envelope of traditional architecture. It was a standing room only crowd, and the students were particularly captivated. Some of my other favorite highlights were the Loews Hotel itself, the lecture at the Philadelphia University, the Bros Arts Ball, and of course the Awards Banquet. Sunday was great because a small group of us went on a guided tour led by Joel Avery through the courtyard of Philadelphia City Hall, and on the train to the University of Philadelphia’s Architectural Library. We were treated to some fantastic historic preservation, while getting to see some of the archived drawings of Louis Khan.

NO M A Co n feren ce Persp ecti ves

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It was amazing to welcome NOMA to Philadelphia last year, the city that has become my second home. The committee worked really hard to diversify programming this year, so it was great to see so many seminars and workshops that had began as crazy ideas come to fruition. One of my favorite seminars was Tips and Tricks on Passing the AREs. It was great to see so many of the young architects in a room talking about career goals. The presenters kept the content fun and dynamic, with trivia. An added bonus, the person who got the most questions right on a pop quiz walked away with a study guide. It was great to see the typical format remixed into something that really grabbed people. It is experiences like these that keep me coming back year after year. –Tya Wynn NOMA Philly tya.winn@gmail.com

NOMA Conference is the most important national event that I look forward to every year. It is the time when I get to see the people I met at past conferences, the friends I’ve made, and it is the time when I get to expand my connections list. As a student, it is extremely beneficial to attend professional lectures and seminars, which give me exposure to the real practice world, but the student-oriented seminars are probably the most constructive ones, because they relate to what we are currently exposed to. The Graduate School seminar was one of my favorite ones in Philly, where I got many insights of how to apply for a masters degree. The conference in Philly was a wonderful experience that makes me proud of joining the NOMA family! –Andreea Vaslie Student – Lawrence Tech University Detroit, Michigan avasile@ltu.edu

The NOMA Philadelphia Conference was great all around and I learned a lot. This was my return from a long hiatus to the national convention and it was worth every penny spent. I had the opportunity to reconnect with members that I had not seen in sometime and also get a boost in my professional development and inspiration for the year. Everyone at the conference was helpful and pleasant and I enjoyed the seminars and vendor information. I specifically went to the sustainability seminars on Design Education for a Sustainable Future & Sustainable Urban Planning for Culture and Climate in Saudi Arabia because I have a strong interest in learning about how other professional’s within our industry approach sustainability in their projects. I think the NOMA conventions are truly essential to be able to come together and discuss thoughts and opinions and the past and future of minorities in architecture –Stephanie Harris NOMA-ATL srpharris@gmail.com

C h a p ter o f the Yea r and M em ber o f the Yea r

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Professional Chapter of the Year

There was a tie this year for efforts well achieved from both NOMAtlanta and NOMA Louisiana. Congratulations!

Member of the Year

Bryan Lee, NOMA Louisiana Congratulations!

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Have a : Designing with people and wellness in mind Angela Mazzi, GBBN Architects | Kevin Holland, wg:Architecture

reat design isn’t the domain of the architect- it’s something every single one of us can deliver. What’s more, it not only looks great, but enhances the experience of everyone who uses it, resulting in a true return on investment for your client. But if that’s true, why are there so many mediocre buildings out there? When we do a post-mortem analysis of process for several recently completed projects, looking at everything from marketing, to proposals all the way through construction and occupancy, certain patterns begin to emerge that separate great architecture from the merely serviceable. What we learned is that great design isn’t happening just because some architect got lucky and landed a visionary client. It happens when architects help their client to feel at ease with taking risk and to imagine the possibility of transformation.

This starts with changing the way we look at architectural services. So much of our time is spent on the design and construction phases, when those represent only a small fraction of the life of a project. That life begins during a time called organizational readiness, when a client begins to realize that they need to reconfigure or construct new space. In those moments, they are defining the problem that they want to solve. However, rarely are they consulting with a design professional. Likewise, after the project is completed and

the photos are taken, the design team walks away and never discovers if the space is truly being used as intended, or if some of their design gestures had unintended consequences. This broken old design process risks the client trying to treat a symptom of their problem with the project and unsuccessfully impacting the culture of the space. When this happens – and it does far too often- the real loser is the people that have to live work or play in that space. To remedy this, we recommend adding more rigor to the design process in the form of an evidence-based approach. Simply understanding what a client is really trying to improve, what metrics they will use to measure success and how they will see your design solution as adding value sets up a framework that takes the mystery out of design and begins to make it a more transparent, and engaging process for your clients. This provides access to more complete information making it easier to work with them and helps your design to be more responsive to their needs, instead of designing around assumptions or bad habits they may not even realize they are bringing with them into the space. The value of this approach is that it helps shatter dysfunctional silos; introduces “what if” thinking; and provide a more agile design that is responsive to change over time.

Getting started First, make no assumptions. This means undertaking preliminary

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legwork to understand what your client values, what the issues are for their industry, and what kind of metrics are important to them. Use this information to help formulate questions about the project parameters. For example, why is the client assuming that they need a building addition on the west side of their property, or have they looked at employee absenteeism? As you build your knowledge base and get information from your clients, you are building the foundation for identifying strong project goals that relate to their mission and will identify the true problem to be solved by this design. These goals are extremely valuable, they will form the basis of the research conducted as well as be guideposts for keeping the project on track. As you conduct research, keep in mind that there should be a blend of both secondary research - data you collect from reading publications by others, and primary research - data you generate yourself specifically during this design process. Primary research includes observations, surveys, mock-ups, tours, and benchmarking against other facilities. Once you have collected this data, you can use it to validate program, budget and other project parameters as well as to identify opportunities for improvement (for best results, choose to look at things that are able to be measured by valued and trusted metrics that your client already uses like an annual published ranking report). Finally, generate some hypotheses related to how design will solve those problems. Keep a list of each hypothesis followed by the design decisions you are making and share it often with your clients as work progresses. Make sure that the builder is aware of these design elements and why they matter to both you and the client.

metrics from your owner and compare them to the old space. Understanding how well your hypotheses held up is invaluable information. Showing your client how they have improved due to the design decisions they made with you on this project helps them see the value of design, not in an abstract sense but in terms that affect their return on investment.

Deeper than Aesthetics When you apply these research techniques to inform design, it resonates. The design process itself becomes a tool that helps clients communicate better among themselves and with you, their architect, to develop strategies that act as a catalyst for innovative thinking, streamline decision making, and retain the value in your project even in an environment limited by schedules, budgets and most client’s low risk tolerance. With clear project goals, you can better balance multiple client priorities, which if unintegrated by a vision, can end up being distractions. By communicating with your clients using their language and value system, you open a valuable and effective feedback loop and get buy-in to decisions at all levels. Great design enhances the experience of all - a true return on investment for your clients. Best of all, you will be providing truly exceptional, responsive space that contributes to the wellness of your fellow citizens and the planet.

About the authors: Finishing strong Your work isn’t done when the new space is occupied. To help demonstrate the value of design to your client as well as collect important information that will aid in future projects, you need to understand how well the space is performing. This means going back after six months to a year after occupancy and collecting additional data. Post occupancy evaluations are an essential way to understand the impact of your work and what you learn from them allows you to speak with authority on future projects about how certain elements really work in the real world. So often, as architects, we think we have devised an ingenious design solution, but how do we know for sure unless we verify it post occupancy? For example, is the space being used as intended, or are people improvising and circumventing some of your design strategies as they revert back to the way they are used to (and comfortable with) working? Perhaps the client experienced a change in program requirements, and needed to repurpose or adapt certain parts of the space. Conduct additional observations and surveys as well as interviews of key staff so that you can learn for yourself about the impacts of your work. Equally important is to get a recent snapshot of those valued and trusted

Kevin Holland As the Managing Director of wg:Architecture, llc, Kevin is responsible for maintaining client relations, project management and business development. Kevin brings over 19 years of experience, to every project, which includes experience as a director of operations and skills in project management, design, production, detailing and project planning for many projects types, including, Healthcare, Higher Education + Worship Architecture. Angela Mazzi Angela is an Associate and medical planner at GBBN Architects where she focuses on enhancing quality of life through built environments- connecting great design with user needs. She speaks about impacting outcomes at venues including the 2013 AIA Ohio Valley Regional Conference, Design REALIZED’s 2014 webinar series, the 2014 AIA National Convention, the 2014 AIA Ohio Convention and the 2014 Healthcare Facilities Symposium. Angela Chairs the Advanced Education Networking Committee for the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA), serves on The Institute for Patient-Centered Design’s Advisory Committee, was an Advisory Board member for Arizona State University’s Healthcare Design Program during its initial years.

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NOMA’s “Jack and Steve Show”

R. Steven Lewis, NOMAC, AIA, LEED AP

I ECONOMY II SIMPLICITY III NSTRUCTION O C F O EASE IV ENANCE EASE OF MAINT V SPIRITUALITY VI HERITAGE

It should not be lost on the reader that Black architects are by no means a monolithic block that would subscribe to some universal set principles and/or values, but rather are as diverse a group as might be found among any defined cohort of architects. Consequently, this forum allows for the free exchange of ideas and attitudes about design and the role of the “minority” architect, as differentiated – if at all – from that of the majority culture. Because racism today is far more embedded in the structure of society than it is overtly displayed, to claim that Blacks and other minority practitioners no longer face discriminatory treatment would be symptomatic of one who suffers from the illusion of inclusion. One need look no further than the current statistics on the number of licensed Black architects. As of the date of this writing, there but 1,9562 – 324 female and 1632 male – out of more than 100,000 total licensed architects in North America.

With the plethora of rich subject matter that is presented annually at the NOMA Conference that is focused on professional awareness, technical development, and career advancement, YOU, the members, have made it clear that there remains a healthy appetite for not only exploring cultural heritage, but for inventing ways to exploit it for VII DUALITY OR IRO the good of the built environment of our NY OF THE CONDITION time, which should reflect the best of VIII all segments of our society.

EARTH CENTERE D / EARTH NURTURING IX STRONG INDOO R / OUTDOOR RELATIONS HIP X INTENSE USE OF COLOR, PATTERN + TEXTUR E

Call and response is a form of “spontaneous verbal and non-verbal interaction between speaker and listener in which all of the statements (‘calls’) are punctuated by expressions (‘responses’) from the listener.” - Foster, Michèle (2001), “Pay Leon, Pay Leon, Pay Leon, Paleontologist: Using call-and-response to facilitate language mastery and literacy acquisition among African American Students”, in Lanehart, Sonja, Sociocultural and Historical Contexts of African American English, Varieties of English Around the World, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company 2

The Directory of African American Architects, Dennis Mann and Bradford Grant, February, 2015

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egend has it that during a NOMA Conference some years ago when one of the schedule presenters failed to show up, Jack Travis and Steve Lewis were drafted into service to fill the void. With no formal preparation, the two did what came naturally and simply set up shop in front of those in attendance and embarked on a broad ranging exploration of design, practice, and the unique challenges and opportunities confronting architects of color in today’s world. At first the banter was confined to each other, but soon the audience became actively involved. At the conclusion of the session, people were either agitated or excited, but in all cases, they clamored for more. Since that inaugural year, the two have presented their seminar, which has come to be known as “The Jack and Steve Show,” every year at the NOMA Conference. The seminar follows a “call and response1” format during which Lewis plays the role of provocateur, challenging his colleague Travis to make a case for a so-called “Black Aesthetic.” Over the years, Travis has continued to evolve what he calls the “Ten Principles of Black Cultural Design, which consist of the following:

Keynote Sp e a ker Pa o l a Moya

Exploration of why we do the things we do, what drives us forward despite the obstacles Speech by Paola Moya Spring 2015

Retold by Megan Kent and Chrys Sbily, Marshall Moya Design NOMA

OMA’s keynote speaker for its annual conference in October 2014 was Paola Moya, CEO and Principal of Marshall Moya Design. She received a standing ovation for her inspiring speech, and attendees left motivated to better themselves, enhance the profession, and contribute their talents to better our world.

It was at this time, she recounts, that she began thinking seriously about how she could use her craft to do something meaningful. “I knew right away that I wanted to do something that would help others,” she said. The idea of using design as a tool led her to focus her thesis on designing housing for internally displaced people. Internally displaced people are among the most vulnerable of the world’s population. Essentially, they are victims within their own countries, displaced and homeless as a result of internal war, natural disasters, famine or human rights violations. Today, there are 40 million such people in the world.

…my goals are still focused on helping others through design.

With a “bag full of dreams,” she joined her parents and younger siblings migrating from Bogota to Miami. As soon as they arrived, she began working. “In my culture,” she explained, “the oldest sibling is expected to contribute to the livelihood of his or her family.” Over the next three years, she worked several jobs -- at a dog kennel (despite having a fear of dogs), delivering pizza while learning stick-shift, and at a day care center, language school for adults, and law firm as a legal assistant. She worked two jobs at a time, seven days a week.

It was during these years that she learned the importance of perseverance. Money was tight, and she contributed to her family’s finances before saving for college. But she was determined to go to school, working hard to keep her grades up and applying for scholarships wherever possible. Deciding to veer away from a law degree to pursue her passion for design, she began studying architecture at Montgomery County Community

She decided to focus her thesis on internally displaced people in her home country of Colombia, specifically Cartagena. She travelled to Cartagena and began her research, interviewing activists, developers, representatives from political and philanthropic organizations and members of displaced families. “The more I researched and understood the topic,” she recalls, “the more my passion grew.” It was at this precise point in her career that she really began to understand the power of design and its potential to change lives. Her urban design and mixed-use building for Internally Displaced People in Cartagena, Colombia was beyond the scope of her required thesis. Her plan includes the beneficial components of a contemporary, mixed-income housing intervention by establishing an appropriate development density and diverse income mix, as well as leveraging public/private partnerships. Her plan provides a means for social reintegration by design, estab-

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Paola began her speech by sharing a dream she had as a young child growing up in Colombia. For as long as she can remember, she thought about owning her own company after receiving an advanced degree. Throughout her youth, she was a very strong student and even began law school in her native country. But for many years, her dreams seemed unattainable. However, her journey to realize her full potential began with a plane trip to the U.S. in 1999.

College. In 2005, she transferred to Catholic University’s school of architecture, earned her Bachelor’s degree and began studies to earn her Master’s degree, also at Catholic.

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lishing a regionally and economically sustainable housing typology. She presented her thesis with both confidence and passion before graduating with her master’s degree, and she earned the esteem of her professors, peers, and guest critics. One of these guest critics was a veteran and highly respected architect, Michael Marshall, who was impressed by the level of in-depth research, detail, and workload Paola produced. He offered Paola a job and after working together on several successful projects-- including a high-end Italian restaurant, City Vista mixed-use complex, a 20,000 sq. ft. residence, and a commercial sales center NOMA for BMW-- they initiated their own practice in 2010 called Marshall Moya Design.

Today, Marshall Moya Design has proven itself as a multifaceted design studio, producing award-winning projects in the commercial, institutional, civic, cultural, educational and residential markets of the nation’s capital and beyond. The firm provides architectural design services for developers, institutional organizations, government agencies, non-profit groups, commercial ventures, and private residential clients, enhancing the spaces where people gather to work, learn, live, and share. She noted in her speech that Marshall Moya Design has been featured in international and national media for its work on iconic projects like The Howard Theatre and Chuck Brown Memorial. In addition, both Principals have been recognized with prestigious professional diversity awards like The Dandi Awards and The Minority Business Leader awards from the Washington Business Journal.

new company, inNuevo Digital, which brands both physical and digital environments and serves as a client’s all-in-one creative studio, leveraging strategy, design, and technology to bring people and brands together for greater engagement. Despite these many accomplishments, Paola noted in her speech that “it’s not these recognitions or accomplishments that define me or my firm, it’s the seeing the children’s faces on the first day of school in their renovated building, it’s seeing older generations cry as they step into the Howard Theatre and their memories of performances there come flooding back, it’s seeing a business owner light up when they see their new company branding and graphic identity, it’s seeing my employees grow as professionals and accomplish their dreams, like I did… it’s more than a master’s degree or owning my own firm now... my goals are still focused on helping others through design.” She recalled some ways she does this in her personal and professional life, including mentoring young people interested in STEM programs, critiquing student work like Michael did for her, and allocating company time for her employees to volunteer in the community for causes they care about.

…use one’s talents to better the world…

Paola shared with the NOMA audience her pride in attracting some of the best talent and most caring people to her team of over 15 employees. She also noted the latest highlights of her personal journey: initiating two other design-focused companies, inNuevo and inNuevo Digital. She brought an all-in-one tablet accessory called DOCKr to the consumer market, it is currently sold on many online outlets including Verizon and Sam’s Club. She has taken design to a higher level with her

Bringing her thesis and the theme of her presentation full-circle, she shared excitedly with the audience that she was invited to present her project that same month to an international panel in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to finding a solution for the international IDP crisis. The panel of organizations included The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and the Displacement Research and Action Network, who included her plan in a joint report on housing practices that promote solutions for the IDP crisis. Her dream of using architecture to help others is a reality, and her proposal is a viable solution and model to implement in cities across the world.

Paola’s keynote speech ended with a call for self-reflection and an invitation to act, to use one’s talents to better the world and solve a problem:

Paola Moya is the CEO and Principal of Marshall Moya Design. She manages the firm’s executive responsibilities and is actively involved in the design and development of all firm projects. In 2011, Moya and partner Michael Marshall initiated a product design firm called inNuevo, and in 2014, they joined with digital expert Trevor Nesbit to form a creative studio called inNuevo Digital, which leverages strategy, design and technology to bring people and brands together. Moya is the CEO of the three companies. Moya was named the 2014 “Mi- NOMA nority Business Leader” by the Washington Business Journal, 2013 “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by the D.C. Chamber of 21 Commerce, 2013 “Rising Star” by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and one of MEA Magazine’s “25 Influential Women in Business.” Her work has been recognized by the The American Institute of Architects, The National Organization of Minority Architects, the National Housing & Rehabilitation As sociation, Graphic Design USA, International Design Awards, and more. She has been featured on a variety of local, national, and international media including CNN, Español, Telemundo, Caracol Television and Radio (Colombian National Broadcast), NPR’s Tell Me More, FOX News Latino, Radio America, The Washington Post, Architect and others.

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“I encourage each of you today to reflect on what you are truly passionate about and define your long-term goals. What is your calling as a professional? What is the purpose of your actions? My advice to you is to celebrate your short term goals and stay committed to your long terms goals. Appreciate life to the fullest, and make something meaningful of your profession. As architects and designers, we can contribute to other people’s quality of life through the built and designed environment…and that is a gift. Giving back to your community develops you as a professional but also as an individual. Understand the needs and challenges of other people, and brainstorm how your talents can help others. NOMA attracts and cultivates talented architects and designers like you all, and we have the expertise to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges and needs in our society today.

About the keynote speaker:

What is the purpose of your actions?

So my invitation to you is: Dig down and find what is the fire that ignites your drive? What motivates you? Cultivate and grow your interests and talents. Create a plan to achieve your dreams. Be focused, and set high standards for yourselves. As minority architects we all have labels, but don’t let labels constrain your professionalism, use it as an opportunity to be more creative. Your work will speak louder than words. Be creative, think outside the norms. Society needs more of your creativity. And finally, be competitive. We are competing with designers around the globe to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Become the first one to solve an issue. Be an outlier, and challenge the way things are being done. Once you do so, we will all get closer to improve the world we live in.”

Moya earned a Finance certification from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Education program. She holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from The Catholic University of America. She was born in Bogota, Colombia and holds a Colombian architecture license. She shares her architectural expertise throughout her community, volunteering as a guest critic at local universities, and offering career advice to students. In particular, she enjoys sharing her personal success story to inspire young people to pursue education as the pathway to accomplishment.

2014 0 NOMA DESIGN E EXCELLE AWARDS 2 0 1 4 Des i gn Awa rdsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Pro fessi o na l Desi g n Co m p eti ti on

UNBUILT Category: AMHE Haiti School Campus Pascale Saint-Louis, Designer at FXFOWLE NOMA Member: Pascale Saint-Louis, RA, NOMA, LEED

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BUILT Category: National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel Self Tucker Architects Member: Jimmie Tucker, NOMA, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

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ENCE

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2014 0 T NOMA DESIGN G E EXCELLE AWARDS 2 0 1 4 B a r b a ra G . Lau rie NOMA Stu dent Desi g n Co mpet it ion

Sustainable initiatives, along with a focus on healthy living/eating, express themselves in the design as well. Reverend Divine had a passion for encouraging his followers to adopt lifestyles of improved health and economic independence and this project restores his passion by introducing urban farming and community gardening in an area that has, historically, lacked access to good/healthy food. Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for youth that can bring them closer to nature, and allow them to interact with each other in a socially meaningful and physically productive way. Community gardens offer unique opportunities to teach youth about: where food comes from, practical math skills, and basic business principles.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

REINTRODUCE HISTORIC POTTS AND WHEELOCK STREETS

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

REINTRODUCE HISTORIC ROWHOUSES

RECREATIONAL GREEN SPACE

COMMUNAL SPACES FAMILY UNITS

PUBLIC

Fairmount Ave

Divine Lorraine Hotel

Daycare/Clinic

20' X 20'

N 13th St

AUDITORIUM INDOOR/OUTDOOR FLEXIBILITY

Community Autidorium

Potts Way

EXPANDABLE SEATING FOR BASKETBALL COURT

Basketball Court

Urban Gardens

Townhomes

FARMER’S MARKET FOR URBAN GARDENING

Melon St

Rid

SITE PLAN SCALE: 1/32” = 1’-0”

ge e

Sustainable initiatives, along with a focus on healthy living/ eating, express themselves in the design as well. Reverend Divine had a passion for encouraging his followers to adopt lifestyles of improved health and economic independence and this project restores his passion by introducing urban farming and community gardening in an area that has, historically, lacked access to good/healthy food. Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for youth that can bring them closer to nature, and allow them to interact with each other in a socially meaningful and physically productive way. Community gardens offer unique opportunities to teach youth about: where food comes from, practical math skills, and basic business principles.

The underlying mission of the design proposal is to provide a new type of living and learning facility for the comprehensive care of Philadelphian children-at-risk – mind, body, and spirit – in an urban development that, not only stimulates the growth of this inner-city neighborhood, but also stimulates the growth of the youth who reside there. The project strives to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future that is informed by the framework of the past, utilizing Reverend Divine’s concepts of modesty, dignity, and social welfare to inform the programmatic framework and a series of historic elements for the site’s formal framework.

Wheelock Way

1st Place — Georgia Tech

N Broad St

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he underlying mission of the design proposal is to provide a new type of living and learning facility for the comprehensive care of Philadelphian children-atrisk — mind, body, and spirit — in an urban development that, not only stimulates the growth of this inner-city neighborhood, but also stimulates the growth of the youth who reside there. The project strives to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future that is informed by the framework of the past, utilizing Reverend Divine’s concepts of modesty, dignity, and social welfare to inform the programmatic framework and a series of historic elements for the site’s formal framework.

TRANSVERSE SITE SECTION SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”

COMMUNITY ANNEX SECTION SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”

A special thank you to all of the Student Chapters who participated this year: Auburn Tuskegee Hampton U of Oklahoma U FIU U of Florida Virginia Ball State Ga Tech Lawrence Tech U Penn State U of North Carolina Washington U Drexel in Charlotte

2nd Place — Washington University of St. Louis

3rd Place — Drexel University

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The design engages history at three telescoping scales: the scale of the larger city; the scale of the urban block; and the scale of the building. At the scale of the city, the original plan of Philadelphia, as drawn by William Penn, was used to develop plans within the project, as well as to inform the geometries of the park space in the interior of the site. At the scale of the urban block, the Sanborn fire insurance maps were used as the framework for the organization of the site elements. The site design not only reintroduces Potts Street and Wheelock Street (two streets that had since been overgrown), but uses these two streets as pedestrian elements that organize various programmatic elements. The design also reintroduces the multifamily row-houses on the eastern portion of the site; however this housing has been repurposed as transitional housing which complements the youth housing of the Divine Lorraine and creates a complete generational range of residents living in this urban block. At the scale of the building, original plans of the 1892 Divine Lorraine Hotel were used to inform the regulating geometries and structural grids of the new building proposals on the site. In an effort to strengthen community, social interaction, and self-reliance, the residences reject the traditional dormitory style arrangement and instead opt for a series of ‘family units’. This community-within a-community’ philosophy contributes to the project’s goal of fundamentally changing lives.

P h i l a N O M A Servi ce P roject

LOVE + LIGHT: NOMA Community Legacy Project 2014 Vivian N. Rowe

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he Love + Light NOMA Legacy Project goal was to link architecture, landscape and art by focusing on safe play and learning areas, beautification, urban gardening, healthy lifestyle initiatives and environmental awareness. We would share love with the community and shed light on some of the conditions that the people in the community face. Thus, the partnership was born and PhilaNOMA’s project was named, “Love + Light”. Our search for an organization with a vested interest in the maintenance and progression of our efforts led us to The Lighthouse, a community organization with two buildings, a 15 acre field, and an immense host of programs. In addition to several sports fields, The Lighthouse Field hosts “Teens 4 Good Urban Farm”, a youth-led entrepreneurial farm program that transforms vacant lots into urban farms and onsite farmers markets. This is extremely valuable in the neighborhood

in which the Legacy Project would take place, with its high rates of hunger and lack of nutritious food choices. The Project Goals: Install Art Garden at Stage & Perimeter Increase & Define Butterfly Garden Create Vegetable Signs Clear Overgrowth Emphasize Entry Clarify Circulation Build Perennial Garden Beds Define Orchard Beds PhilaNOMA coordinated with the art teacher at the Education Plus Charter School, housed in one of The Lighthouse’s buildings. The K-8 art project, “My relationship with nature”, was themed for

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the semester and was to be installed as an art garden on the day of service. Temple University architecture, landscape architecture and facilities management students, faculty and administration, along with PhilaNOMA, drove the process, facilitating summer and fall surveys, charrettes and pre-construction efforts. The Temple students worked across disciplines to design and pre-construct the framework and plantings for the children’s acrylic artwork, painted on 12”x 12” plywood panels. They created signage for vegetable identification and learning. The projects were “phased” or prioritized for the six-hour period and teams were designated. Truckloads of plants, soil and tools were scheduled for early morning delivery. On the day of the project, with gorgeous October weather, the energy was on fire! The work began with a massive clearing effort. It progressed as

projects ran concurrently, then began overlapping and intersecting. There was plenty of work for over 100 college students, architectural professionals, teachers and Lighthouse staff. The children had created over 60 art panels and arrived at the site midday, full of joy at seeing their work installed and eager to help with weeding and planting. There was something powerful and enriching about seeing the collective energy of such a diverse group and witnessing how much was achieved in such a short time. From the Lighthouse director and staff to the NOMA volunteers from around the country, everyone played a vital role in the success and fulfillment of the work. The experience reminded us as professionals that both love and light shine both ways if we take the time to share them.

2 0 1 5 - 2 0 16 N O M A Offi cers

Executive Board NOMA 2015 Officers

NOMA Council Representative Jack Travis, NOMAC, AIA

President Kevin M. Holland, AIA, NOMA (Cincinnati, OH)

Northeast Region University Liaison: Victoria Acevedo, NOMA (Pittsburgh, PA)

1st Vice President/ 2017 President-Elect Bryan Hudson, RA, NOMA (Chicago, IL)

South Region University Liaison Andrea Henderson, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (Atlanta, GA)

Northeast Region Vice President Andrew Thompson,AIA, NOMA (Brooklyn, NY) South Region Vice President Anzilla Gilmore,AIA, NOMA (Houston,TX)

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Midwest Region Vice President Jason Pugh,AIA, NOMA (Chicago, IL) West Region Vice President Rod Henmi, FAIA, NOMA (San Francisco, CA) Treasurer DeJeana Chappell, NOMA (Chicago, IL) Secretary Daya Irene Taylor, AIA, NOMA (Tuskegee, AL) Parliamentarian Najeeb Hameen, NOMA (New York, NY)

Midwest Region University Liaison Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (Detroit, MI) West Region University Liaison Gabrielle Riley, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (Portland, OR) NOMA Foundation President Harold Williams, NOMAC, AIA HBCU Liaison Bradford C. Grant, NOMAC, AIA GSA Liaison Mary Shearill-Thompson, NOMA, AICP Executive Committee Chair Kevin M. Holland, AIA, NOMA (Cincinnati, OH) Finance Committee Chair DeJeana Chappell, NOMA (Chicago, IL) Membership Committee Chair Anzilla Gilmore, AIA, NOMA (Houston,TX)

Past President Kathy Dixon, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, NCARB

Professional Development Committee Chair: William J. Stanley, III, FAIA, NOMA (Atlanta, GA)

Board of Directors 2015-2016 Board of Directors

Marketing Committee Chair Lew Myers, NOMA (Durham, NC)

Recording Secretary Gianna Pigford, NOMA, AIA recordingsecretary@noma.net Membership Chair Ken Casey, NOMA, AIA membership@noma.net Internet Committee Chair Vacant, webmaster@noma.net NOMA Magazine Editor Devanne Pena, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Assistant Editors: Kristian Bocage, Jeff Charles-Pierre, Michelle Crawford, Michael Ford, Sharlita Green, Ursula Johnson,Yu-Ngok Lo, Jimmie Tucker,Timothy Ung Student Representatives Melanie Ray, NOMAS (Pennsylvania State University) Travis Armbrister, NOMAS (Tuskegee University) Historian Jimeca Sims, NOMA historian@noma.net

National Committee Conference Chair Richey Madison, AIA, NOMA (Dallas,TX) Project Pipeline Committee Chair Bryan Lee, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (New Orleans, LA) Organizational Liaison Ken Casey, AIA, NOMA (Chicago, IL)

NOMA Professional Chapters Atlanta, Georgia NOMAtlanta Birmingham, Alabama BNOMA Boston, MA BOSNOMA Chicago, Illinois INOMA Dallas,Texas DANOMA Detroit, Michigan NOMAD Houston,Texas HNOMA Indianapolis, Indiana INDINOMA Los Angeles, California LANOMA Memphis,Tennessee New Orleans, Louisiana LouisianaNOMA New York, New York NYCOBA/NOMA North Carolina NCNOMA Cincinnati, Ohio Orlando, Florida NOMAOrlando Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PhilaNOMA PIttsburgh, Pennsylvania San Francisco, California SFNOMA Seattle, Washington NOMA NW South Florida St. Louis, Missouri STLNOMA Washington, D.C. DC NOMA NOMAS Student Chapters Auburn University Ball State University California College of the Arts Carnegie Mellon University Cornell University Florida A & M University Georgia Institute of Technology Hampton University Harvard University Howard University Illinois Institute of Technology Kansas State University Louisiana State University Morgan State University New Jersey Institute of Technology North Carolina State University Prairie View A&M Savannah College of Arts and Design Southern Polytechnic State University Southern University Syracuse University Tulane University Tuskegee University of Cinncinati University of Detroit Mercy University of Florida University of IL at Champaign University of IL at Chicago University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisiana-Lafayette University of Memphis University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of Oklahoma University of Pennsylvania University of Tennessee-Knoxville University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Virginia Tech Washington University in St. Louis

The National Organization of Minority Architects biannually publishes a print magazine, with the purpose of recognizing * &' (, " ( . # & ( ()& This is achieved by promoting the architectural works of our members, and all minority architects, to the & ( & ' " #!!)" (, By providing NOMA magazine at no cost to over 2,000 architects, design professionals and students, we are a premier periodical for this group to share their contributions in built and non-built projects, community development partnerships, professional perspectives, " !) !#& This magazine has been in print for 10 years, and we are now opening up our publication to include advertisements to further mobilize our non$&#.( #& " - ( #"

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