Who we are:
The group was founded by Nina Freedman and Lori Brown who met at one of Lori’s roundtable book events at the Van Alen Institute in the spring of 2012. Nina Freedman is the Director of Projects for Shigeru Ban Architects, visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute and visiting critic at Cornell University. Lori Brown is an architect and associate professor of architecture at Syracuse University and the author of Feminist Practices: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Women in Architecture and the forthcoming book Contested Spaces: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters and Hospitals.
Our collective motivation:
How would the design of the built environment, the process and practice of architecture change if women were leading and equally represented?
Our impact and initiatives:
We are a group of women who seek to transform the profession of architecture.
We seek ways to expand the way people practice architecture and how architecture is publicly perceived.
We are an independent group, not affiliated with any architectural organization, firm or university.
We seek to redefine the ideas of success and compensation within our discipline.
We want to rethink how we teach and practice architecture, creating healthful trends both within the academy and profession with real life / work balance.
We want to diversify the discipline.
We want to create more women leaders within the discipline.
We want an approach appropriate to this century.
WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING. WE ARE TAKING ACTION.
How we are going to do this:
Cross-generational, individual and peer group mentorship
Co-learning initiatives and training
Creation and Integration of university student hubs with the support of our umbrella organization
Outreach to high schools to increase diversity in our profession
Advocacy with deans, chairs and alumni of architecture programs to increase numbers of women faculty and public speakers
Design actions
Negotiation and compensation training
Reading group
Creation of a website to access our programming, mentorship matchmaking and connection
Wellness integration and life balance workshops
Invited speakers and panels
Annual retreats
Syllabus and curricula exchanges
Jury presentation workshops for students
Statistics for the academy:
28% of all architecture faculty are women
21% of full professors are women
27% of associate professors are women
32% of assistant professors are women
30% of instructors are women
2012-2013 73 Architecture schools public lecture series surveyed, in the fall 62% had either no women or one woman invited as a public lecturer and in the spring over 1/3 had no women invited at all.
41% of students in accredited architecture programs are women|
Of 154 NAAB accredited professional programs in architecture, only 22 deans are women – a mere 7% of all top leadership is female. Additionally 16 directors and 15 chairs are women.
Statistics for practice:
The Prizker Prize has been awarded to 2 women since it began in 1979- one in solo practice; one as a partner with a man.
In 2012 the FAIA was awarded to 19 women out of 105 fellows. Only one Woman was African American.
25% Architectural Staff are Women
17% are Principals or Partners
21% are Licensed
What we need:
Our goal is to raise $7000.
This will pay for business registration, branding and website development and initial funding for initiatives.
The website will be launched with calendar programming by September 2013. So, this is a short campaign.
We would love to hear from you. Let us know if you have a comment or if you want to be on our email list. Until we have our website, you can reach us at: womenandarchitecture@gmail.com
Thank you so much…Please pass this on……
With gratitude:
THE BEVERLY WILLIS ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
“A Girl is a Fellow Here” A BWAF-produced film written and directed by Beverly Willis
VAN ALEN INSTITUTE
Feminist Practices: Pedagogy Vimeo March 21, 2012
RISD: Series Film on Graduates
Pier Alessio Rizzardi: Image from “The Condition of Chinese Architecture; Elaboration of a critical approach”
2011 National Architectural Accrediting Board Report
NAAB Student Statistics
2012 AIA Survey Report on Firm Characteristics
Indiegogo film:
Eno Freedman Brodmann and Zach Law. Contact: eno@yachtclubfilms.com and zach@yachtclubfilms.com
Violet Overn, actress and Joseph DePasquale, lighting for studio shots. Music, 'Your Hand in Mine" by Explosions in the Sky.
Many thanks to those who gave time and talent for voiceovers and acting and who contributed personal drawings and photos.
