The Black Woman Architect Who Hopes to Change the Face of Design in America
The new president of the American Institute of Architects, Kimberly Dowdell, says that when it comes to improving cities, “architects can see the future.”
Kimberly Dowdell was inaugurated as the 100th president of the American Institute of Architects on Dec. 15.
Source: American Institute of Architects
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In the US, only 2% of licensed architects are Black. Less than a single percent are Black women. Architects tend to be older, White and men, as reflected by the leadership of both firms and professional groups. So when the American Institute of Architects inaugurated its 100th president, Kimberly Dowdell — the first Black woman to lead the association, and at 40 the youngest architect to ever hold the post — it suggested an optimistic change of course.