If not us, then who?

In Connecticut, two members of NOMAct have begun grassroots initiatives that achieve the organization’s stated goal of promoting, championing, and highlighting the work of architectural professionals throughout Connecticut, as well as promoting equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and belonging. I spoke with both members to discuss their efforts.

Dominique Moore is an architect and interior design professional with a demonstrated history of domestic and international design collaborations for residential, educational, commercial, and hospitality projects. She serves as a co-founder of My Architecture Workshops Inc., as treasurer, as a member of the board for NOMAct, and as chair for the NOMAct Budget & Finance Committee. Dominique is also a regional associate director for AIA New England, co-chair for the AIA CT EDI Committee, an advisory board member for the University of Hartford (UHart), and a co-founder of DCMS (Design Coalition of Minority Students) at Philadelphia University. Dominique graduated from Philadelphia University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Brian Baril (BB): Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Dominique Moore (DM): I’ve wanted to be an architect since I was six years old. I’m a Philadelphia University alumna; I received my Bachelor of Architecture degree and began my professional career working on high-end residential projects in New York.

Above: Architecture Workshops construction site tours. From there, I developed a passion for hospitality, and began working on luxury international hotels around the world. My love for architecture comes intertwined with my passion for people and how the two are interconnected.

I spent three months volunteering in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and focused my career on balancing the art of architecture with compassion for those who interact with it.

BB: How did Architecture Workshops come to be?

DM: It all started with a very simple question: “So what are you going to do about it?” These were the words of my co-founder Alex Hidalgo, who on Juneteenth 2020 challenged me to be proactive in creating change in our industry for other black and brown children who are otherwise not exposed to our field and profession in general.

Since then, with co-founders Alex and Rebecca Spangler, I’ve hosted a series of after-school and summer programs that consist of construction site tours to expose students to architecture, design, and construction. During the pandemic, we were also able to offer virtual classes to teach SketchUp, and discuss principles of architecture, interior design, and graphic design, in addition to our site tours.

In summer 2021, we also successfully partnered with J.M. Wright Technical School and launched a summer program teaching students how to use Revit.

BB: What has been the most successful aspect of the program thus far?

DM: There have been so many extraordinary moments, but our greatest success to date has been the creation of our 2022 six-week architecture summer camp, launched summer 2022,

which provided exposure to architecture, design, engineering, and much more to K-8th grade students. The camp ran a full eight-hour-a-day program, five days a week, and was led by our amazing camp director Angela Hunt. Angela was instrumental in bringing this camp to fruition.

BB: Was there anything that surprised you?

DM: Many things surprised me, including our payroll, operational logistics, the developing curriculum, and the socialemotional aspects of our students. We soon realized that what we had created was more than an architecture summer camp; it became a place for students to engage and feel safe, to learn how to team build and be leaders.

The camp became an outlet for parents, mentors, and staff. It was entirely staffed by undergraduate, graduate, or soonto-be college students with either an interest or a major in architecture or design. This was the surprise of a lifetime!

BB: Where are you looking to improve the program?

DM: The greatest need we are seeing with our students (especially our high-school students) is mentorship. We would like to improve

Above: Architecture Workshops Summer Camp Future Builders Above: Studio teams collaborating on their summer camp final project.

this portion of our programming to help fill this void.

BB: What is your vision for the future of the program?

DM: We envision expanding our summer camp program to reach more students in areas outside of Stamford, Connecticut, our flagship location.

We also plan to increase our design-build program, which runs during the school year, for our high-school and trade-school students, who receive hands-on design and construction experience.

BB: How do you think architecture workshops can promote EDI and belonging initiatives within the architecture profession?

DM: Architecture Workshops was founded on the mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. Within architecture, we see disparaging gaps between professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds and what others are able to attain. These disadvantages are connected to children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, and migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youths in foster care. These subgroups of students most often do not get exposed to the field as a possible profession; nor do they have the economic means to maintain a pursuit of the profession. Our program provides opportunities for these youths to explore architecture, offering guidance and support along the way.

BB: Do you have any recommendations for others that are considering starting similar programs?

DM: Yes: don’t think, just do! There is such a great need to create avenues for youths to explore and pursue this industry. As professionals, we have a responsibility to help foster that pipeline. We don’t have all the answers, but one thing that has helped us is to just “keep it moving.” When we come up to an obstacle, we don’t let that stop our progress; we keep it moving.

When one door closes, another opens. In other words, don’t bang your head against the closed door; just pivot and walk through the open one.

BB: How does your program tie in to Cassie’s efforts with the “I Am” series?

DM: Cassie is leading such an amazing production with the “I Am” series! Both programs share a common goal, which is to present architecture to a diverse group of youths by sharing our experiences and inspiring others to reach their goals. We’re both working to make architecture more tangible. BB: Tell me about the Design/Build program that you’re initiating. How did your initial efforts with Architecture Workshops lead into this effort?

DM: Our Design/Build program is a partnership with J.M. Wright Technical School, in Stamford, Connecticut, to design and build an e-house on the school campus. Originally, several of the students who had enrolled in the Design/Build program attended a construction site tour of the Barn Facility at Strawberry Hill School in 2020. From there, we built more specific programming for the technical school, including Revit training and student mentorships. Through those channels, we were invited to relaunch a Design/Build program that had been defunct for several years.

We loved the idea of bringing the program back and began building a team of design and construction professionals. We created workshops with the students to learn Passive House, sustainable design, Revit, and actual construction, in collaboration with the teachers. We are very excited and are looking forward to seeing this completed in the summer 2023.

Above: Open air classroom at Chester (CT) Elementary School

BB: Who are some of your aligned partners (sponsors and partner firms) in this effort?

DM: We have been very fortunate in getting the support of a variety of firms and organizations as we continue to build the program.

To name a few: Newman Architects, Crosskey Architects, Pickard Chilton, the Connecticut Architecture Foundation, NOMAct, CPG Architects, Huestis Tucker Architects, Marc G. Andre Architects, 1220 Art Salon, Puppy Loving Care, Sound Federal, Stamford Moms, the City of Stamford, and the Connecticut Department of Education. BB: What’s the biggest catalyst for the future success of the program?

DM: Our students!

We’re always asking ourselves how we can continue to engage students, and make our programs more applicable, purposeful, and obtainable. We consider our programming to be organic in nature as it is created based on students’ needs; we simply continue to build as they grow.

More information can be found at http://www. myarchitectureworkshops.com

Cassandra Archer received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston in 2012. After graduating, she moved to California to begin her career as a project designer for a San Jose firm specializing in education and commercial interior fit-outs. In 2016 she returned to the East Coast, working at New Haven’s Kenneth Boroson Architects before joining Centerbrook in 2018, where she’s been actively working on a variety of projects from educational to housing. In 2019, Cassandra completed her architectural licensing.

Cassandra’s passion for mentoring the next generation of architects is evident in her active involvement with NOMAct; as their Sponsorship Committee chair and K-12 Outreach co-chair, she is responsible for engaging with the architectural community to create internship, scholarship, and experiential learning opportunities for students. In addition to NOMAct, Cassandra is involved with several EDI initiatives dedicated to making the field of architecture accessible to all. Cassandra extends her volunteerism to her local community as an active member of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts’ Board of Trustees as well as the Connecticut Architecture Foundation.

Brian Baril (BB): Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Cassandra Archer(CA): Throughout my career, I’ve discovered a passion for community design and collaboration, specifically within K-12 education. It’s quite moving to be part of the process and watch teachers, principals, community leaders, and parents come together to create a better environment for the next generation. My favorite project I’ve worked on is a small outdoor classroom that I volunteered to design and help manage. It started during the height of COVID, when two retired educators in Chester, Connecticut saw the challenges that indoor learning presents to both students and teachers. They spearheaded a campaign to build a permanent sustainable outdoor learning space that is now used for both classes and community events. It was great to see the community come together to make this possible.

BB: How did the “I Am” series come to be?

CA: The series was born from a discussion with Sara Bruno, Sustainable Architecture Department Head at Platt Technical High School in Milford, Connecticut, who highlighted the need for students to be more aware of opportunities available in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. We wanted to create a space where all students can see that they, too, can one day be an architect, an electrical engineer, a structural engineer, a construction manager, a virtual design and construction (VDC) engineer, and so on! And so the “I Am” series was born. BB: What was your role in initiating the “I Am” series?

CA:You could say that I’m the co-founder of the series. After the discussion with Sara, Juan Pinto (co-chair of our NOMAct K-12 Outreach program) and I were left thinking of ways to make the AEC industry and its opportunities more accessible to students. Given our professional network, access to NOMAct, and the new age of Zoom, we thought, “Why not reach out to our network and see who would be willing to give 30 minutes of their day to talk to some kids?”

BB: Who are some of the people that have lectured?

CA:We kicked off with Juan, who also happens to be a graduate of Platt Tech. It was a great way for the kids to see their future selves through him. We have also been lucky to have Nette Compton (landscape architect and president/CEO of Mill River Park Collaborative), Rene Martinez, PE (electrical engineer and co-owner of DME Design), and Thaddeus Stewart, AIA (architect and principal of Integrated Design & Construction).

BB: What has been the most successful aspect of the program thus far?

CA: Being able to break the boundaries between the professional and educational worlds through communication has been very rewarding, as well as watching students be more at ease having in-depth conversations with professionals. It prepares them for future job interviews and has even led to opportunities including scholarships and paid internships.

BB: Was there anything that surprised you?

CA:The willingness of the kids to learn and ask questions. At first, they were a little reluctant to speak, but once we got the ball rolling, the kids opened right up!

BB: Where are you looking to improve the program?

CA:Visibility! We launched in collaboration with Platt Tech, which has expanded our reach to the Connecticut tech schools. Ideally, we’d like to reach more classes throughout the Connecticut public schools. Given that the series is on Zoom, it’s easily accessible for all to join.

BB: How do you think the “I Am” series can promote EDI and belonging within the architecture profession?

CA: The series highlights the different paths toward a career in the AEC industry and educates students on the various available career options. For example, what is the difference between an accredited five-year Bachelor of Architecture program and an unaccredited four-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture? Given the cost of higher education today, it’s important for students to fully understand the financial impacts of the different available paths.

We also show students the increasing diversity that exists within the AEC industry through our lecturers themselves. We want them to see not only that they can be part of the AEC industry but also that they can excel and take a leadership position.

BB: Do you have any recommendations for others that are considering starting similar programs?

CA: Just do it! Start by forming relationships with schools and educators and go from there. You’ll find that professionals are more than willing to talk about themselves and there’s never a lack of participants!

BB: Tell me about the University of Hartford summer program for high-school kids and the scholarship, and how it ties into the “I Am” series.

CA: Thanks to our sponsors, we’ve been able to sponsor a full scholarship for a student to attend the UHart Architecture Summer Institute. It’s a fully immersive program for highschool students and gives snippets of what pursuing an architecture degree could be like. A part of the series highlights different resources available to students that they may not be aware of, including NOMAct scholarships, ACE mentoring, and other internship opportunities.

The adjacent picture is the work of this year’s scholarship recipient, Mariangel Quiros. The work includes site visit perspective sketches, diagrammatic explorations, and physical models made during the duration of the program.

BB: How does your program tie in to Dominique’s efforts with Architecture Workshops?

CA: An important thing for organizations to recognize is that we can’t do it all. However, we can support, collaborate, and raise awareness of others working toward the same goal. Given the funds raised this year through sponsorships, we were able to contribute to Architecture Workshops. We also used our platform to make others aware of not only Dominique’s effort but the opportunities available within their program. The grant from NOMAct and other organizations drove down costs for kids to attend the summer camp.

BB: Tell me about the student who signed up for architecture school after hearing a presentation about VDC.

CA: I guess we didn’t fully realize the impact these conversations would have on students. You start off saying, “Let’s try this out and hope it helps in any small way.” In this case, after Juan’s presentation, a student from the audience committed to going to school for architecture. Ultimately, they were impressed with the versatility of an architectural degree and inspired by the different pathways available. We were all proud to help make that possible.

More information can be found at http://www.nomact. org/k-12-outreach

Brian Baril, AIA

Baril is a preconstruction manager with A/Z Corporation, a construction management/design build company in North Stonington, Connecticut. He serves on the Preconstruction Team with a focus on applying design principles to the estimating process. He is the young architect representative for Connecticut.