Contract - July/August 2014 - 16

photo: Meg Walton

editorial

Profiles in Courage at the AIA Convention
I had the rare honor to serve the profession and 2014 AIA National
President Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, as chairman of the American
Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention in Chicago in June.
A number of excellent speakers invigorated the convention experience,
including keynote speakers that we thoughtfully selected. But two of
the most memorable highlights were award-related speeches by
leading women in the profession: Ivenue Love-Stanley, FAIA, and
Beverly Willis, FAIA. Their powerful words are worth repeating here.
A pioneering African-American architect based in Atlanta,
Love-Stanley accepted the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for her career,
helping underserved communities through design. She has been
passionate about making education, in general, and design education,
specifically, inclusive and accessible. The Whitney M. Young Jr. Award,
named after the civil rights-era president of the Urban League who
urged the AIA to commit to socially progressive advocacy at the 1968
AIA National Convention, honors architects and organizations that
embody a proactive social mandate through their commitments.
Here is a portion of Love-Stanley's speech: "I, for one, will
continue to advocate for change. I want to simply ask you to search
your soul and honestly ask the question: Is this profession what you
really want it to be? There is such a scarcity of minorities and women
in key leadership positions at the major architectural firms in the
country-it is astounding.
"I would suggest that we start by aggressively increasing the
minority enrollment at major schools of architecture. Then aggressively
work to increase the representation of minority and female faculty
members. Then shore up the entrance level programs at junior colleges
and provide support to historically black colleges and universities,
which are the paths that so many choose to travel. These
improvements are long overdue.
"Although women make up an increasingly larger percentage
of the students in schools of architecture, the number of female
professionals who eventually enter the practice pales by comparison.
We still have a lot to do in our own profession and within the Institute
as well. We stand to lose an entire generation if we do not act fast."

16

In the closing general session, Willis, who is 86, spoke with great
conviction in honor of Julia Morgan, FAIA, who posthumously became
the first woman to receive the AIA Gold Medal, the institute's highest
honor. Willis, who was a practicing architect for decades, has
established the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, which is
working to change the culture of the industry so that women's work
is acknowledged, respected, and valued.
Here is a segment of Willis's speech: "It's a great honor and
a historic moment to be here speaking on behalf of Julia Morgan.
From my heart and as a woman, I thank you. Change does not come
easily-or quickly.
"Julia Morgan died in 1957. I opened my Atelier Art and Design
studio in 1955. More importantly, I had never heard about [Morgan].
She was not in the history books, or known past her death. We women,
who graduated in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, were denied a
phenomenal role model of an incredible designer and successful
practitioner. Would you believe that as recently as 1978, the president of
AIA declared to the press that he would never hire a woman architect?
"On behalf of these women practitioners, I express our collective,
and respectful, anger. Historically important women designers are still
not in the history books. But at this moment-on this day-in the
history of the AIA, I express our collective joy.
"With the award of this Gold Medal to Julia Morgan today, that her
family proudly accepts, the AIA has indeed reaffirmed its commitment,
as architects, to its democratic ideals. This is a proud moment for us all."
In their speeches, Love-Stanley and Willis-who both received
well-deserved standing ovations-shined a much-needed spotlight on
issues that the profession has often preferred not to address directly.
They deserve great credit for being bold and courageous in their
moments on stage.
Sincerely,
John Czarnecki, Assoc. AIA, Hon. IIDA
Editor in Chief
contractdesign.com

july | august 2014
http://www.contractdesign.com
Contract - July/August 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - July/August 2014
