Belonging in Architecture
Farah Ahmad
Born and raised in New York City, I have been fortunate to have had access to uniquely challenging opportunities that have advanced my academic and professional growth. I am an Asian American, a Pakistani Muslim woman, who found her way into the Architecture industry in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Today, I realize the rarity of this statistic. In a world where the voices of diversity, equity, and inclusion need to continue to make an impression, I’m looking retrospectively at my own journey to get to this point- to recognize and share the barriers and boosters of my own path and increase the statistics of minorities in my industry.
My gateway into Architecture was through my father, who worked in the engineering/construction project management areas. When I think back to my childhood growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, there wasn't much buzz about the building industry for youth. I don’t recall explicit media about the architecture/construction fields. In fact, if I hadn't had a personal connection to the field, I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable enough to take a leap of faith in this industry. Familiarity eliminates the fear of the unknown. It makes me wonder how we can make the profession much more accessible and whether demystifying the career will help eliminate some of the hurdles. Diversity, equity and inclusion can eliminate the barriers of the ‘unknowns’ of selecting a career early on due to the sense of familiarity.
Later on, I attended a high school specializing in the fields of STEM. I was concurrently part of the ACE Mentor Program, which introduced high school students like me to careers in the architecture, engineering and construction world. I was nurtured, shaped by educators and mentors alike and picking up soft skills that would discipline me for academia and the years beyond. In fact, the years leading up to my education highlight an organic propensity for Architecture. I never faced any solid barriers in my adolescence in pursuing my goal. Perhaps it was my naivety, but I never once thought about deterrents and divisions in becoming an Architect. The resources available to me- pedagogy and programming- were instrumental to my perception of Architecture and I felt a strong sense of inclusion.
When college arrived, I found myself in a much more racially diverse setting. Having been secluded and sheltered in my community of Staten Island, living in Manhattan and immersing myself full time into a dynamic urban environment was an eye-opening experience for me. However, I soon discovered a lack of diversity in the School of Architecture’s faculty. Ironically, my first design studio professor, who also identified as a South Asian woman and whom I thought I would share some common ground with, wasn’t exactly welcoming. She would often discourage, not define, the world of Architecture. I often felt uncomfortable, yet was too intimidated to speak out. I simply did not feel like I belonged in this field of study. I also found it somewhat difficult as a student to make a personal connection with Architecture for several years. Many Professors spoke in "archi-speak"- a playful term coined to describe the obscure and overly-inflated language often used by Architects to describe their work. I couldn’t always relate to their perspective on the profession and this is likely why I struggled to find my place in Architecture during those early years of the program. A tie to my roots or community may have made my education much more personable. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to also have professors who foresaw my particular skill-set and used it to ground me into the profession.
In hindsight, I recognize the resolution to these educational roadblocks. Schools of Architecture need to actively educate students on career opportunities from day one, so that they can make an informed decision about where their interests and skills align with various specialties that a degree in Architecture can pull one in. My engagement in the Solar Decathlon, a college design-build competition for a solar-powered home, was where I found my calling in sustainable design and communications. Additionally, really understanding extents of the profession breeds a sense of place in Architecture. School curriculums need to integrate the concepts and theories of Architecture with real world application much earlier on. Students also need to learn about the professional resources available to them. For instance, I wish I was educated on the licensure process as a student- I may not have been as intimidated by the process had someone walked me through the steps. Comprehension breeds confidence. Equity through education, in order to level the playing field for all aspiring Architects, is key to overcoming obstacles.
While attending Architecture School and working in New York City has increased my access to diversity in the profession, I still believe there is a notable absence of minorities in the industry. In particular, South Asian Architects here in the U.S. seem to be far and few in between. I can count on one hand the number of licensed Pakistani women Architects I have met. Within the first couple of years as a working professional, I made some key observations:
I have found that in industry events and in industry organization meetings, both leadership and attendance have yet to be racially diverse. I have frequently been the only young female attendee of color in the room. While it sets me apart, it is also equally intimidating. I don’t want to be judged by how young I may look and I don’t want my voice to go unheard. I believe I have a unique perspective on the profession because of my public sector work, engagement on countless projects and interaction with many clients.
I don’t often feel included in the Asian American category. I have not seen any support groups, resources or reports/statistics tailored to Southeast Asian Architects, specifically those that include Architects from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India. I am also a practicing Muslim in the profession. I have observed an overwhelming lack of representation in both of these demographic categories. I believe establishing a database or professional support group for these Architects will encourage a multitude of voices into a profession that is centered around the design of diverse communities.
The few web-based resources I have come across centering on Southeast Asian Architects from Pakistan/Bangladesh/India tend to elevate the work by male Architects. There is a lack of acknowledgement of women’s contributions to the profession. Providing research/project grants and awards can augment the voices of these individuals.
Next year will mark a decade in the workforce for me, and as I grow older, I have come to realize that age and work experience play a huge factor in career advancement as well. Unfortunately, there are also implicit barriers. I have often found that there is a lack of workplace transparency on promotions. Mapping the path for employees to work towards more potentially fulfilling and rewarding positions will increase workforce retainage. Is there a pre-existing employer bias? Does age constitute seniority? In order to eliminate these subtle nuances, there needs to be more communication by senior management. Additionally, younger aspiring Architects may face an additional barrier in that they not be given opportunities to pursue varied work settings within one firm due to a potential lack of experience. Equity in the workplace in circumstances like these will strengthen an employee’s resolve to perform.
Licensure provides its own set of barriers in regards to age and experience. Personally speaking, I found advantages to beginning this milestone at the age of 25. For instance, I found the routines and rhythms of studying and test-taking were normalized as a fairly recent graduate. I also found that because my knowledge in the workforce was still somewhat limited, I didn’t possess a large number of varying perspectives that might contradict exam content. I’m also a firm believer that taking the exams at an earlier phase of my life (pre-marriage) expedited the process because I could wholeheartedly commit my life after work to it. That being said, I believe firms could create programs to ensure exam focus areas are integrated in daily job tasks and that time is set aside in the workday to align skill-sets with the tested content. Such a scenario of enhancing competence is a win-win for the employer and the employee. It is important to recognize that all candidates, regardless of age and experience, should have fair access and ability to take on the commitment of licensure.
How did I overcome some of these barriers in my profession? To flourish in my work setting, I learned from a young age that my success is attributed several ways. I actively seek out mentors who will provide guidance in the right direction. I’m also observant and vocal in my office in order to draw upon the experience of others and contribute as part of a team. I have also made an effort to be proactive when pursuing work opportunities by expressing my professional goals. I find that there is too often a culture of routine, being ‘stuck’ with the same responsibilities day in and day out. Discussions with your supervisor to clarify how your role can be expanded to capture different scopes of work is key. While my progression in Architecture has thrown some surprises my way and taken me into branches of work I did not imagine, I believe it is possible and important to create a roadmap that can at least loosely set out your aspirations.
I also believe Architects need to be more communicative with their employer. When I made my first transition out of an old position and into a new one, I was able to build my technical toolkit further and expand my skills. It started with asking the right questions during my interview process. Keep in mind the following- will you have a licensed supervisor who can sign off on your work experience for licensure? Will you have the opportunity to engage in diverse work settings outlined as x,y, and z by the licensure criteria? Consequently, I found that my work experiences have been equally positive and productive. Just as my employers set expectations for me, I set my expectations indicating what I would like to extract from my work. Open communication is instrumental. In these conversations, I always felt respected by my supervisors and, as a result, I was granted opportunities to be challenged and grow as a professional.
Upfront research and development on company culture can shed some industry insight as well. My interest in working for the public sector was advantageous because I found myself in large agencies with various departments that cross-collaborated. I attribute the diversity of work experiences available to me as a result of my firm size due to regular interactions with various professional backgrounds. Additionally, the employers I have worked for have maintained leadership positions held widely by both males and females of all races. This sense of inclusion has further attracted me to these particular companies because I know I will be given the opportunities to prosper.
While I can only speak from my own personal experiences and recognize that others may face different barriers, I can offer some advice on how to navigate the profession and overcome these roadblocks. I also want to encourage others that may identify with me, by professing that there is a place for you in this profession. I know because I have been given one and blessed with many wonderful opportunities. While I have outlined some hindrances, there have been far more positive and encouraging professors, mentors and work settings. In short, the following steps worked for me:
Increase Your Access: Seek out firms that will support you professionally. For me, firm support included supporting my licensure by providing study materials, funding licensing exams/fees, granting promotion, and offering continuing education opportunities.
Commit to Preliminary Experience Planning: Ask your employer the tough questions whether it is for an interview or a performance evaluation. Find mentors at your firm who have already navigated similar waters! They may also be able to see qualities in you that you do not see in yourself and predict where your future could lead through their own trials and tribulations. The proper up-front research will save you time and get you on the right track in Architecture.
Challenge Yourself: Diversify your work settings, whether it is for licensure or to grow your competence. When you get too comfortable, ask if you can shadow or take on different capacities. Set standards for yourself, do not undervalue your contributions and ability to expand your work role.
Diversify Your Network: If diversity and inclusion are limitations in your city, strengthen ties to professional organizations in other cities. Make an effort to attend conferences where you can share your professional perspectives on a public platform or reach the masses through journalism and make friends with those you can achieve a sense of belonging with.