For Black History Month, our office has made a conscious effort to learn about the rich history of Black pioneers within the built environment. This involved an exploration of the impactful journey of Benjamin McAdoo, the first licensed Black architect in Washington, showcased at an exhibit curated by architecture students from the University of Washington.
Captured in the opening reception for the Benjamin McAdoo Exhibit at the Gould Hall Gallery. The exhibit is open to the public until March 16th.
Additionally, we dedicated time to listen to the voices of emerging Black professionals in the field during a panel discussion. They openly shared their experiences, providing valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs faced as both students and professionals.
NOMAS UW hosted a panel discussion on February 13th featuring the perspectives of (left to right) Simba Mafundikwa, Cierra Higgins, Alyssa Mitchell, & Margaret Knight
A longstanding mentor and collaborator, Donald King, also contributed to the conversation by discussing Afrofuturism. Concrete examples and the history of this style were presented, highlighting its significance in representing the Black community across media, art, and architecture.
Through these engaging initiatives, our team gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the contributions of Black architects in shaping the built environment. Our commitment is to foster a more inclusive and diverse perspective within our profession, acknowledging this history and their ongoing contributions.