The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the University of Minnesota announced the signing of an agreement to develop “Guides for Equitable Practice.”
“The AIA and the University of Minnesota have been developing this partnership for some time because our profession, like others, is not immune from discrimination and harassment by some of our colleagues in a variety of positions of power," said Renée Cheng, FAIA, DPACSA. “This guide will help firms avoid some of those mistakes and bring their internal operations more in line with the diverse clients and communities they serve.”
Based on the recommendations from the AIA Equity in Architecture Commission Report, the guides will provide architects and firms with guidance on best practices in equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, and how those values can be a part of any architectural practice. They will address such issues as career progression, work culture, leadership development, pay equity, talent recruitment and more. Topics under work culture include attention to specific areas such as professional ethics and sexual harassment.
“Though these guides will serve as a vital resource for underrepresented and marginalized architects, it’s our hope they will be an asset to the entire profession will utilize,” said Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, 2018-2020 AIA At-large Director and Chair of the Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee. “We’re moving toward a more equitable profession and these guides will help us get there.”
The Guides for Equitable Practice will be developed and implemented in three phases, with each phase focusing on three to four chapters of the guidebook. The first phase is planned for completion in late 2018 with subsequent phases and their chapters released every six to eight months.
Development of the guidebook will be a collaborative effort. Cheng leads the University of Minnesota team, which includes Andrea Johnson and Nancy Alexander. AIA Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee will contribute to project leadership and become a critical part of the review process. Cheng, recently named dean of the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments, will continue to lead the guides project at the University of Minnesota through the end of 2018.
The AIA Equity in Architecture Commission, a panel of leading architects, educators, and diversity experts, was formed to address concerns about disproportionate demographics among those in the profession. The Commission's work ended after it identified the root causes for the lack of diversity and inclusion and offered recommendations on how to address those issues.
As part of other efforts to build a more inclusive profession, the AIA also issued a statement today on the Institute's values, specifically addressing the issue of sexual harassment.
Related Stories
Market Data | Nov 9, 2021
Continued increases in construction materials prices starting to drive up price of construction projects
Supply chain and labor woes continue.
Market Data | Nov 5, 2021
Construction firms add 44,000 jobs in October
Gain occurs even as firms struggle with supply chain challenges.
Market Data | Nov 3, 2021
One-fifth of metro areas lost construction jobs between September 2020 and 2021
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas and Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade Calif. top lists of gainers.
Market Data | Nov 2, 2021
Construction spending slumps in September
A drop in residential work projects adds to ongoing downturn in private and public nonresidential.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 28, 2021
Marriott leads with the largest U.S. hotel construction pipeline at Q3 2021 close
In the third quarter alone, Marriott opened 60 new hotels/7,882 rooms accounting for 30% of all new hotel rooms that opened in the U.S.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 28, 2021
At the end of Q3 2021, Dallas tops the U.S. hotel construction pipeline
The top 25 U.S. markets account for 33% of all pipeline projects and 37% of all rooms in the U.S. hotel construction pipeline.
Market Data | Oct 27, 2021
Only 14 states and D.C. added construction jobs since the pandemic began
Supply problems, lack of infrastructure bill undermine recovery.
Market Data | Oct 26, 2021
U.S. construction pipeline experiences highs and lows in the third quarter
Renovation and conversion pipeline activity remains steady at the end of Q3 ‘21, with conversion projects hitting a cyclical peak, and ending the quarter at 752 projects/79,024 rooms.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2021
Demand for design services continues to increase
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for September was 56.6.
Market Data | Oct 14, 2021
Climate-related risk could be a major headwind for real estate investment
A new trends report from PwC and ULI picks Nashville as the top metro for CRE prospects.