The Built Environment: Promoting a Diverse Industry

Although the built environment currently serves almost 330 million Americans, the people at the drawing table still fall into one predominant demographic: caucasian males. The people represented at the drawing table do not equitably reflect the demographics of today’s America. For example, only 2% of licensed architects are Black, while 12.5% of the US population is Black/African American. Only 2.04% of civil engineers are Hispanic/LatinX, although this group makes up 18% of the US population. Further, less than 1 in 5 new architects identify as a racial or ethnic minority. 

What does this inequity mean for the millions of Americans who utilize the built environment every day? It means that the built environment does not and cannot equally serve and support people of all backgrounds, and the implications of this inequity are vast. Historically, low-income communities, predominantly made up of people of color, have been victims of urban displacement, gentrification, and redlining. These policies and actions continue to isolate these groups of people further from pursuing careers in architecture, engineering, and urban planning and preserving the existing homogeneous makeup of the built environment. 

Any individual who is a part of the planning, design and construction of the built environment bears the vital responsibility of creating inclusive spaces and lessening the barriers of entry into this industry. You may be asking yourself, “where can I start?” or “How can I as an individual make a difference?” Below we will discuss how you can use your social capital and position within the AEC industry  to fight against these injustices:

Equity in Design 

To build-up these communities, we must find and support opportunities that allow people of diverse backgrounds to join the planning process. Firms in the A|E|C industry can focus more on community-minded development projects that don’t displace but rather lift communities of color. One project right here in Washington, D.C. that highlights this is Union Market. This project aims to “create jobs that pay living wages and inspire pride in the community; foster a sense of community at the street level; design for inclusion; and create housing options that are both attractive to the community and conveniently located.” You can also donate and develop strategic partnerships with organizations promoting equity in design, such as:

• Equity By Design (EqxD)
• ADPSR

Education Barriers to Entry

The price tag that comes along with joining our industry can be very high. With a lack of exposure at a young-age and high tuition costs, architecture proves to have a high barrier of entry. For example, future architects must commit early to their programs, as the easiest path to licensure is to attend a five-year NAAB accredited program. Not all schools are NAAB accredited, and obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in architecture comes with one extra year of tuition than average four-year programs. Various organizations around the country have missions dedicated to heightening exposure of this career path to students:

• Project Pipeline
• ACE Mentors 
• WAF (specifically in Washington, D.C.)
• Open Architecture Collaborative

Further, students from low-income areas have less access to these career paths, which puts them at a disadvantage. For example, academic institutions in low-income areas are less likely to offer CAD courses, which often set young candidates apart when applying for internships. Most large associations in our industry provide scholarship programs, including ACEC, ASCE, and the AIA. Highlighted below are additional scholarship programs: 

• The Asian American Architects/Engineers Association 
• SmithGroup’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship Program 
• Diversity in Design Fund + Scholarship – Partnership between IIDA and IA Interior Architects 

Beyond external partnerships, your firm can take the following strides internally to lower the barrier of entry and provide opportunities to those who are typically excluded from our industry: 

• Start a scholarship program through your alma mater or current organization targeting students from low-income areas or historically black universities and colleges 
• Provide internship opportunities to students who may not have had a chance to learn about the industry prior 

Organizational Inclusion & Diversity 

It is not enough to just diversify your workforce; your organization must intentionally foster a more inclusive atmosphere so that everyone feels as though their voice is heard and that they belong. Various organizations are doing great work across the built environment to promote a more diverse and equitable industry. Organizations to get involved With:

• • NOMA
  • Build Out Alliance
  • QSpace

• Architexx
• AIA WLS

The A|E|C industry serves almost 330 million Americans. It is vital that we do our part to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive industry in order for the built environment to equitably serve our country’s people.