Message from the CoEDI Chair

Mohamed Fakhry, Associate AIA
Chair, Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Co-Chair, Emerging Professionals Committee

NOMA Conference Recap

A few weeks ago, I attended the Annual NOMA Conference in Portland - Towards Just and Joyful Futures (October 11-15), along close to 1,200 others NOMA members and non-members from all across the country and the world!

I am grateful to my firm ZGF for offering me the opportunity to join the conference and join all the beautiful souls that came to Portland, to celebrate BIPOC and POC contribution to architecture through the lenses of advancing and advocating for more Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in the profession of Architecture.

Some of my most inspiring moments at the conference happened when I meet a few of the NOMA founders and pioneers, and I listened, as they shared countless memories of their journey, advices, and words of encouragements. Indeed, pushing and advocating for more sustainable and equitable bridges in the profession of architecture is hard work and challenging work, and it it requires a lot of efforts, commitment, and dedication, not just from a few of us, but from all of us. The NOMA founders and pioneers along the many emerging professionals who attended the conference in Portland, they all reminded me of one thing, it is not about perfection, it is about keeping up and carrying on.

As a Deaf designer, I am most thankful to NOMAPDX for making this conference one to remember and of the most accessible ones I have attended since my early journey in architecture. There are still doors standing very tall and heavy all across the world when it comes to accessibility, but NOMAPDX broke some of those doors open and uplifted me and thousands others by providing closed captions and sign language accommodations for all, and that is beautiful and impactful progress. I hope that will set as a precedent for future conferences on architecture nationwide and worldwide to push for accessibility and breaking the barriers towards people with disabilities.

« Building Bridges towards Just and Joyful Futures » is indeed a slogan that is palpable and we can get there if we dare to believe in change. Again, we all need to ask ourselves, isn’t now the time to come together and build those bridges? I believe it is!

« And through architecture, I find sanctuaries and bridges in the world!
And through humans, I find laughter and joy!
And through Peace and freedom, I find 
A life worth of love and dreams! »

Mohamed Fakhry

Message from the AFO Executive Director

Erica Rife
Executive Director, Architecture Foundation of Oregon

On Tuesday, October 10th, community members from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry gathered at the Oregon Convention Center for the annual Honored Citizen celebration. This year’s event was particularly meaningful as it celebrated the 30th anniversary of the award and honored a highly impactful member of our community, Hermann Colas, Jr. The evening was deeply moving, featuring tributes of many friends and family members of Mr. Colas that described how his determination and grit led to a display of representation and leadership in the industry.

As AFO’s new Executive Director, I worked with our team and board to ensure the success of the event over the course of the year. Since joining AFO and learning that it would be our 30th anniversary, the words that kept coming to mind were collective impact. Over 30 years, individuals and organizations have been identified by AFO as making an impact on the state of Oregon’s designed and built community. What, then, was the collective impact of these honorees over the course of the 30 years?

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023

Early on, it was relayed to me that the Honored Citizens selected were not necessarily architects, engineers, and contractors, but those who have been pivotal in the advancement of the AEC industry in the state. Audience members received a booklet that highlighted the 30 years of Honored Citizens, with each honoree categorized in their field of impact. From philanthropists to advocacy workers to community organizations, it is clear that the designed and built ecosystem in Oregon does not exist in isolation. The collection of these honorees allows us to view the deep value that our expansive community gives to the growth and excellence of our state. Several past honorees and their families were in the audience, including Artist Lillian Pitt (2022 Honoree), Architect Don Stastny (2017 Honoree), Urban Naturalist Mike Houck (2005 Honoree), Jonathan Nicholas representing Cycle Oregon (2010 Honoree), and the families of Developer and Philanthropist Bob Gerding (2006 Honoree), Architect Pietro Bellusci (1996 Honoree), and Architect Robert Frasca (2004 Honoree).

We knew that the 30th anniversary of our event deserved a special honoree. Hermann Colas, Jr. was AFO’s first contractor honoree, and his impact is known throughout the city of Portland and state of Oregon. We were so pleased to have the opportunity to honor that legacy through our most prestigious annual award. Over the course of the evening, we heard from Hermann’s family members Aneshka Colas, Andrew Colas, Alex Colas, and Marc-Daniel Domond, along with leaders in the community Karis Stoudamire-Phillips (MODA Health), Stephen Percy (PSU), Kimberly Branam (Prosper Portland), Chandra Robinson (LEVER Architecture), and Michael Alexander (Albina Vision Trust), who made powerful tributes illustrating Hermann’s dedication to his family, work in building housing and community spaces for North and Northeast Portland residents, and his love for his Haitian home and heritage.

View the Video Tribute to Hermann Colas, Jr

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023

The evening highlighted the importance of representation in and access to the AEC industry. Sharon Alitema, Project Engineer at Colas Construction and 2022 AFO Hatfield Scholar, delivered a powerful address that described her journey from Uganda to Portland by way of her studies at the University of Oregon. Through many occurrences of institutions “taking a chance” on her, Sharon has landed on the COLAS team and is able to bring her talents, passion for community, and authentic self to work.

Nate McCoy, AFO Board Member and Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Oregon, presented the Hermann Colas, Jr. Legacy Scholarship, a joint scholarship with NAMC and AFO that will fund construction and engineering students in the state of Oregon. Nate, who is also a former AFO Hatfield Scholar, recounted the importance of scholarships as an investment in emerging professionals and an opportunity for access to the industry in order to diversify and expand excellence.

The evening showed me the power that community holds in advancing our industry forward, and how AFO has risen to meet community needs. Like our scholarships, each program that AFO runs had pivotal individuals at the helm, identifying the needs of the community and working with AFO to design responsive and equitable programming that serve the architect, engineer, contractor, or design enthusiast throughout their academic, professional, and personal lifespan. 

Importantly, the needs of the community are changing, and AFO is changing with it. These changes were made by creating space to listen to folks whose voices have most often been silenced, overlooked, or underserved. Inclusive programming, including our inaugural distribution of the Tsagaglalal Scholarship to Native American art and architecture students at PSU and the statewide expansion of Architects in Schools to serve more rural and Title I schools, are ensuring that our industry continues to thrive with more voices at the design table. The resulting, contemporary AFO, is a reflection of the combined effort towards mission fulfillment by way of the community, and that community was radiating with energy at the 30th anniversary Honored Citizen celebration. I am pleased and humbled to be welcomed so warmly to this position and this work and look forward to many Honored Citizens to come!

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023

Message from a COTE member

Corey Squire, AIA
Sustainability Director, Bora architect and Interiors

Message from Oregon Committee on the Environment

It’s that time of the year again - Sustainable Building Week is about to kick off with a full array of exciting talks, tours, and other sustainability education and networking opportunities. With the stated goal of keeping Portland green, the 6th installation of this annual event offers a week of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events that will break down siloed thinking and improve cross-disciplinary education, connectivity and future collaboration to promote sustainable design practices across the city of Portland and beyond. Check out the full schedule of events. As part of this year’s event, AIA Oregon COTE will be hosting Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, who will keynote the Green Champion Summit on Monday, October 9th. Blackwell, an innovative designer who, along with his wife, Meryati Johari Blackwell, leads Marlon Blackwell Architects in Fayetteville, Arkansas will discuss the idea of elegant design as a civil right. His lecture will focus on case studies that illustrate how a process of inclusion will lead to community resilience. My personal favorite Marlon Blackwell project is St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church, an AIA honors award-winning project which, at 3,600 sf and costing $400,000 shows that creating a community with great design does not need to carry a hefty price tag. We’re incredibly fortunate to have Blackwell visit Portland and look forward to a great event.

Another exciting event in the design world is the newly published update of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. Originally adopted by the AIA Board of Directors following a convention floor vote in 2019, the AIA Framework for Design Excellence redefines the institute’s definition of good design to focus on quadruple goals of zero carbon, social equity, resilience, and human health. Based on ten measures of design that include ecology, resources, and discovery, to name a few, The Framework documents simple, accessible, and effective design strategies that empower practitioners to achieve design excellence across their portfolios. The content is updated bi-annually to remain on the leading edge and the recent update, partially around equitable communities and embodied carbon, are particularly useful. If you have not leveraged this resource in the past, I highly encourage checking it out.

Finally, I’d like to announce my new book, People, Planet, Design: A Practical Guide to Realizing Architecture's Potential (Island Press, publication November 14). The book, which grew out of both my work on the AIA Framework and my sustainable design consulting practice, attempts to define a holistic approach to sustainable architecture. “Where do I start?”, is the question I hear most frequently when speaking with firms and practitioners about transforming their practice to produce sustainable and equitable outcomes, and I'm hoping this book will serve as an empowering answer. Deep technical expertise is essential, and ten major building systems are covered in detail, but this alone is not enough. In addition, a practice needs both a clear idea on the outcomes to be designing towards and the culture milieu that will allow better design processes to thrive. Beginning with an exploration of the purpose of design and the meaning of sustainability, the book offers guidance on both technical high-performance design strategies and methods for centering sustainability and equity within practice. I’m excited to celebrate the book’s publication with the Oregon architecture community and details on a book launch event will be forthcoming.