Image courtesy of Design Core Detroit
In 1983, Lynda Haith walked the halls of Lawrence Technological University as a trailblazer, though few would have recognized it at the time. Determined and driven, she became the first Black woman to graduate from the university’s architecture program, overcoming the weight of expectations and breaking barriers that have stood for generations. But Haith didn’t stop there; soon after, she became Michigan’s first Black woman to be licensed as an architect. Her pioneering spirit paved the way for future generations and redefined what was possible for Black women in architecture.
In the world of architecture, where vision meets form, Black women architects stand at the intersection of creativity, culture, and resilience. Their contributions to the built environment are monumental and necessary for fostering diversity, inclusion, and community in spaces that tell stories of the past while designing for the future.
Karen A.D. Burton of NOMA Noir Design Parti, Principal of A/E Collaborative, and CEO of SpaceLab Detroit is one of those women who are breaking barriers and designing the future. Burton cohosts the podcast ‘Hidden in Plain Site’ with Saundra Little, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP, Noir Design Parti & Principal, and Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Quinn Evans, which features and highlights the world of architecture through the Black lens.
“We did get an opportunity a couple years ago to see her (Lynda Haith) get the gold medal at AIA in Grand Rapids. That was fantastic,” Burton said.
“And that was 50 years after Donald White, who was the first black man to be licensed. So there was a big gap before the first Black woman. And then that year there were there was another woman in 1983 Byron McGee.”
The field of architecture has historically been exclusive, with Black women facing dual marginalization because of their race and gender. For many decades, Black architects in the U.S. were few and far between, and the first African-American woman licensed to practice architecture, Norma Merrick Sklarek didn’t achieve that milestone until 1954.
Sklarek’s groundbreaking career paved the way for other women of color and shed light on the pervasive lack of representation in a field that shapes every aspect of the built environment.
Today, Black women architects are still underrepresented, but their presence is growing. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, in 2020, less than 0.5% of licensed architects in the U.S. were Black women. This staggering statistic reveals the uphill battle those seeking to enter and excel in the profession face. However, these numbers do not diminish Black women architects’ impact, both historically and in contemporary practice.
Imman Suleiman, AA, AIA, emphasized how challenging it was to discover her identity in this industry, especially during her licensing process.
“Showing up as yourself and being accepted, but then there’s a lot of
mental math that we (women of color) do in terms of disarming those who are around us, and when we are a minority, a lot of times, you do take on that responsibility, whether you like it or not, and that’s something that I’ve always struggled with,” Suleiman said.
Leslie Tom, NOMA and Chief Sustainability Officer at The Wright Museum of African American History, walked us through her experience and the challenges of simply being “invited to the table” to do the work necessary to push women in the industry forward.
“Often, I don’t get invited to the table for a lot of technical discussions or design discussions, and I am constantly running around trying to figure out who was putting on the meetings and what the agenda is to see if I need to advocate for myself to be placed at the table,” Tom said.
Black women architects often bring a unique, culturally responsive perspective to the design process. Their work reflects an understanding of how history, race, and socioeconomic factors influence the way communities use and engage with spaces.
Take Zena Howard’s work, for example; she was one of the principal architects behind the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Her designs embody the African-American experience, from symbolic architecture to the curation of spaces that facilitate storytelling and reflection. By drawing on the collective memory of African American history, Black women architects like Howard use their talents to create spaces that are more than just buildings; they are vessels of cultural significance.
NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) and groups like Black Women in Architecture are spearheading initiatives that aim to increase diversity in the field and provide support for Black architects to thrive. For instance, they are working to dismantle institutional biases in the education and licensing processes, where students and professionals of color frequently encounter discrimination and lack access to mentorship and professional networks.
Little emphasized the importance of getting into doors that women usually don’t have access to and gaining that knowledge base in traditional architectural education.
“The best way to advocate for yourself is to learn about the profession’s business, like the Business of Architecture, the business of how projects come together. ” Little said.
“I didn’t have an entrepreneurship class in Lawrence Tech when I went to school; I had a professional practice class. I learned about contracts. I learned all the different parts of that contract.”
Black women architects often work at the forefront of social and environmental justice movements. They advocate for sustainable design practices that minimize new developments’ environmental footprint and address the needs of underserved communities. These architects are uniquely positioned to challenge traditional architectural paradigms that prioritize aesthetics or profitability over the well-being of people and the planet.
“As women and women of color, we know what it is to be marginalized, and I think our work would reflect that in the future if there were more women of color in architecture,” Tom said.
Nicolle Taylor, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, and Associate & Lab Planner at SmithGroup, discusses the importance of taking advantage of training and/or joining a committee that employers offer to gain more experience in the industry.
“Maybe it’s something like you have a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion program, or maybe there’s some other affinity group that you have at your firm, or that you have access to that where you can join people who will build you up, or maybe you have a chance to present them at a smaller scale,” Taylor said.
“Maybe there’s an opportunity on a committee where you can get some experience so that when it is time for you to present to clients, at a conference, or whatever, you have that experience.”
Mentorship is crucial for breaking down barriers in architecture, and Black women architects play an integral role in inspiring the next generation of designers and builders. They serve as role models for young Black women who aspire to enter the field, showing that overcoming adversity and making meaningful contributions is possible.
Asia Williams, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, Hip Hop Architecture Fellow & Adjunct Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy emphasized the importance of mentorship, even in high school, before knowing the exact path to take.
“As a high school student, Kimberly Dowdell was actually one of my critiquers, and she gave me her number when I was in high school and now seeing how she became the president of AIA was impacting, and this shows me how strong mentorship really is,” Williams said.
Initiatives like the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program and the Hip Hop Architecture Camp provide young students of color with hands-on opportunities to explore architecture and design. Through these programs, aspiring architects are given the tools, guidance, and encouragement they need to pursue careers they may not have otherwise considered due to systemic barriers.
“I felt very inspired by and empowered by the speakers and attendees at the Black Women in Architecture Brunch. This unique gathering was an opportunity to hear from Detroit-based Black women who are working in design industries,” said Kiana Wenzell, Co-Executive Director of Design Core Detroit.
“The event amplified the contributions of BIPOC’s creative talent in Michigan and beyond. It’s so important to make space to celebrate Black women and their accomplishments in this field.”