Trailblazing Women in Architecture: Pioneers, Advocates, and Visionaries

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we celebrate not only those who have broken  barriers in the field but also those dedicated to advocating for inclusivity and equality.

The following women exemplify this commitment, each trailblazers in their own right, paving the way for future female architects.

Kimberly Dowdell

Kimberly Dowdell is an award-winning architect who has devoted her entire professional career to laying the foundations for architects to create positive social change on a local, national and global scale.  Dowdell is a Detroit-born architect and a principal at HOK, who  makes history in 2024 as the first Black woman to lead the AIA. Her presidency emphasizes climate change and adapting to architectural technology. Previously, she was president of the National Organization of Minority Architects.  A visionary leader, Dowdell drives innovation and inclusivity in the field.

Katie McCamant

Katie McCamant, co-creator of ‘cohousing’, advocates for community-centered living. In the 1980s, she authored Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves with Charles Durrett.

McCamant promotes cohousing nationwide, facilitating its development and educating communities. She emphasizes its benefits: fostering close-knit communities and enabling sustainable living through collective action.

Recently, she sat down with Neal Collins, host of The Regenerative Real Estate Podcast,  discussing how she coined the term ‘cohousing’ after her first exposure to it as a student studying abroad in Denmark, and how she brought the cohousing concept to the U.S.

To listen to the discussion, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-cohousing-with-katie-mccamant/id1500361677?i=1000600494597

Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang, founder of Studio Gang, gained fame for designing Chicago's Aqua Tower, which ranks as the tallest building in the world designed by a woman. She also completed the St. Regis Chicago in 2020. Honored with Le Prix Charlotte Perriand in 2023. Featured in Time's 100 most influential people in 2019, she advocates for gender equality in architecture. Gang notably closed the gender pay gap at her firm in 2018, urging others to follow suit. She’s currently finishing up the MIRA Tower in the Bay area.

Laurie Allison Wilson

Laurie Allison Wilson is a licensed architect who has practiced in Seattle and San Francisco.
She is one of just over 500 Black women architects nationwide and has thrived in the profession. Notably, she founded her own firm in Seattle, practicing there until 2010. She has served as an associate and project manager at Weber Thompson, specializing in affordable housing. Her culturally responsive approach shines in projects like Africatown Plaza, reflecting her dedication to inclusive design.

Mona Johnston

Mona Johnston, a partner at Johnston Architects (JA), champions initiatives to bolster the pipeline of licensed women architects. Inspired by her mother, Mary Johnston, FAIA, who founded the firm in 1991, Mona advocates for work-life balance and gender equality. With JA's exceptional 73% female leadership and ownership, they prioritize mentorship programs, continuing education, and flexible work arrangements to empower women in architecture and increase their licensure rates.

Pascal Sablan

Pascal Sablan is an associate principal at Adjaye Associates New York studio, defies naysayers. Her leadership extends beyond the architectural field , as president of NOMA and the youngest African American inductee of the AIA College of Fellows. Sablan's journey illuminates her dedication to advancing women in architecture, advocating for inclusivity, and inspiring future generations to break barriers in the industry.

In a recent NPR article, Sablan discusses how the challenges she’s faced in her time as student ultimately fuel her passion to achieve what she’s been able to accomplish in the field. Click here to read the full article.

Mason Street Neighborhood: A Vision for a Living Community in Port Hadlock

On January 18th, Schemata Workshop presented a site plan concept for the Mason Street Neighborhood in Port Hadlock, WA at a well-attended public meeting held at the Jefferson County Library. Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County recently acquired the Olympic Peninsula property and will be providing 150 units of permanently affordable housing on this 17-acre former airfield. The project will serve the local workforce in an area currently experiencing a severe housing shortage.

The design process included intensive site analysis and community outreach “listening sessions” with neighborhood groups and local businesses. At the public meeting, SW partner Mike Mariano shared a vision that integrates guiding principles from Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County, through a comprehensive approach to healing the ecology of the site and watershed. This living environment includes exchanges across critical systems: natural, social, and economic. The resulting site plan emphasizes community connectivity and prioritizes people over cars, featuring clustered homes for sociability, walking paths, open space, and preserved woodlands for residents to enjoy. Homes will be designed for resident comfort and health through energy and water efficiency, healthy & durable materials and finishes, and will explore off-site and local construction methods.

The project is currently in the site permitting phase with construction scheduled to start in 2025 with homes being occupied by 2027.

Schemata Celebrates Black History Month

For Black History Month, our office has made a conscious effort to learn about the rich history of Black pioneers within the built environment. This involved an exploration of the impactful journey of Benjamin McAdoo, the first licensed Black architect in Washington, showcased at an exhibit curated by architecture students from the University of Washington.

Captured in the opening reception for the Benjamin McAdoo Exhibit at the Gould Hall Gallery. The exhibit is open to the public until March 16th.

Additionally, we dedicated time to listen to the voices of emerging Black professionals in the field during a panel discussion. They openly shared their experiences, providing valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs faced as both students and professionals.

NOMAS UW hosted a panel discussion on February 13th featuring the perspectives of (left to right) Simba Mafundikwa, Cierra Higgins, Alyssa Mitchell, & Margaret Knight

A longstanding mentor and collaborator, Donald King, also contributed to the conversation by discussing Afrofuturism. Concrete examples and the history of this style were presented, highlighting its significance in representing the Black community across media, art, and architecture.

Through these engaging initiatives, our team gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the contributions of Black architects in shaping the built environment. Our commitment is to foster a more inclusive and diverse perspective within our profession, acknowledging this history and their ongoing contributions.

Welcome to the Team George and Ye!

The Schemata team is expanding, and we are thrilled to introduce two talented individuals: George Tarrant and Ye Sun.

We asked them a few questions from our New Hire Questionnaire to help you get to know them better. Below are the responses:

George, the Executive Assistant at Schemata Workshop, brings diverse experience and a passion for connection, collaboration, and creativity, rooted in his background in Radio, TV & Film, and service in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Based in Seattle since 2011, George joined Schemata Workshop in December 2023, contributing his administrative skills and enthusiasm for exploring ideas through reading and writing.

If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit?
Even with the allure of finding answers to mysteries of the past, or getting a look at the wonders of the future, if I had a time machine, I don’t think I would be able to resist going back within my own lifetime to spend time with family and friends who are no longer here.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would visit ancient sites, both natural and manmade – Vinicuna, the Rainbow Mountain of Peru, the Abu Simbel Temple of Egypt, the Tikal ruins of Guatemala to name a few…

If your home was burning down, after family members and pets, what three things would you try to save?
Practically, I would try to save my laptop computer, because that would be a big help in getting.
Sentimentally, I would to try save old family pictures and photo albums that don’t exist in a digital form.

If you could talk to any one person now living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would very much like to talk to the person from the first question who made the time machine -- about how they made the time machine!

If you had to give up one of your senses (taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing) which would it be and why?
Given the choice? I’d like to give up my occasional sense of cynicism, paranoia, and dread.
I unwittingly gave up an innate sense of rhythm a long time ago. It’s something I have to work at, so nope, not giving up any more senses!

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
I’d be a rock star. They’re animals, right? But if I were an animal, animal? I’d probably go with a dolphin. They seem chipper, carefree, and like they have a lot of fun.
But not as much fun as rock stars.

Do you have any pets? if not, what sort of pet would you like?
The last family pet we had was Vera. She was very literally, a cool cat.
Before Vera, I never thought of myself as a cat person. I taught her to respond to the sound of her name (thanks, YouTube). She taught me so much more. Thank you, Vera. Rest in peace.

Name a gift you will never forget.
A birthday trip to my hometown. It was a big surprise, and I love surprise gifts!

What is one of your favorite family traditions?
We have developed a largely unspoken impulse to do something different each year for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Eve dinners. It has made for a fun mix of traditional and nontraditional food and activities over the years.

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
Going to the movies with my family.

Ye Sun, our new architectural designer from China, is dedicated to creating spaces that harmonize with the environment. She blends architectural and landscape design skills to craft inspiring and culturally resonant built environments. Outside of her design endeavors, Ye enjoys activities such as baking, cooking, exploring parks, and spending time with her family and cats.

If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit?
Not sure, maybe save it for later use (or don’t use it at all?)

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Antarctica. I would love to visit there before it melts down to see penguins.

If your home was burning down, after family members and pets, what three things would you try to save?
My passport, clothes to wear at that moment, and my wedding ring or the jewelry given to me by my parents

If you could talk to any one person now living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would talk to my grandma who passed away in 2007,  I miss her and feel sorry that I never said ‘I love you’ to her.

If you had to give up one of your senses (taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing) which would it be and why?
If I have to pick one, it would be ‘touch’, as I may be able to guess it with observation and imagination. However, I don’t want to lose any of them, as I rely on these to build up my impression and memory.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Cat. I desire their independency, mysteriousness, ability to relax at will and be aggressive when necessary.

Do you have any pets? if not, what sort of pet would you like?
Yes, I have two cats, Mimo and Seth, both lovingly adopted from local shelters. Nothing brings me more joy than cuddling with them on the couch. My only wish for them is to maintain a healthy weight and stay happy.

Name a gift you will never forget.
Physical one: A necklace that disappeared three months after the purchase TAT

Virtual/Spiritual: a kind heart with empathy

What is one of your favorite family traditions?
We used to gather at my grandma's home for lunch on Chinese New Year's Eve. The table would be filled with dishes, and we would set off fireworks before the meal. Following our delightful feast, we would play poker or mahjong games. Unfortunately, this cherished tradition has faded away as my grandma passed away.

However, I am excited and prepared to establish a new tradition with my husband, Willy.

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
Go out around golden hour, enjoy a walk, a ride, or ice-cream.

Geoff and Breanne Advocate for the Rolling Clock at Capitol Connections!

Geoff Anderson and Breanne Taylor went to Olympia to along with 33 architects from around the state to meet with our representatives and advocate on behalf of AIA Washington. They specifically went to advocate for the Rolling Clock bill to help young architects with the licensure process. At Schemata, we feel this will be an equitable change for our diversity of young architect trying to get licensed. They also advocated for a Navigator Bill, which is geared towards establishing a resource for people to learn about how to take advantage of various sustainability incentives.

To learn more about Capitol Connections, https://aiawa.org/2024-capitol-connections/