On Architecture

Historically, women and people of color have been underrepresented in the field of architecture. According to a 2019 NCARB by the Numbers report, nearly 2 in 5 new architects are women and less than 1 in 5 new architects identify as a racial or ethnic minority. While the profession slowly progresses, the call to action remains strong for every practice to make equity, diversity, and inclusion a core value in an increasingly multicultural and just society.

Featured Architects
Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA; Chloethiel Woodard Smith, FAIA; Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, LSSYB, LEED AP, WELL AP

Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA

African-American

“I am asking everyone to dig deep and help us battle the circumstances that not only result in racially motivated violence against people of color, but also prevent people of color from entering into and thriving in the profession of architecture.”



Kimberly Dowdell is Director of Business Development at HOK in Chicago. She is the 2019-2020 National President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and, most recently, is a 2020 AIA Young Architects Award recipient for her leadership and contributions to the profession of architecture. In 2005, she co-founded SEED (Social Economic Environmental Design), a “network of individuals and organizations dedicated to building and supporting a culture of civic responsibility and engagement in the built environment and the public realm.” A native of Detroit, Dowdell’s overarching professional mission is to improve the quality of life for people living in cities.

Chloethiel Woodard Smith, FAIA

American, 1910–92

“I’m an architect with a capital A. Being a woman has nothing to do with it.”


Chloethiel Woodard Smith contributed extensively to the architecture and planning of the nation’s capital. After establishing her practice in the early 1960s, many architects trained within her office, including Arthur Cotton Moore, Colden “Coke” Florance, and Hugh Newell Jacobson—each of whom developed successful careers of their own. Inspired by the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, one of Smith’s most unique, yet unrealized proposals involved a mixed-use development called the Washington Channel Bridge that would connect the Southwest Waterfront with East Potomac Park. Most notably, her mid-1960s study of the Pension Building led to the creation of the National Building Museum.

Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, LSSYB, LEED AP, WELL AP

Puerto Rican, 1979–                  

“We must understand that not everyone arrives at the Architect’s table with equal access to resources in their lives—as such, we must not expect everyone to perform the same, particularly at the start of their journeys. As leaders, we need to be responsible for providing development opportunities that create an equitable and inclusive workplace.”


Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, is a medical planner and Firmwide Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion at HKS, Inc. She serves as the AIA National Board Associate Representative, AIA|DC Chapter Board Secretary, and DC NOMA Board Advisor. She is a member of the AIA|DC Equity and the Future of Architecture Board Committee and the New Urban Agenda Taskforce. She is co-founder of the Latin American Interior Designers, Engineers, and Architects (LA.IDEA) AIA|DC Committee, and founder of “Women Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design” (WIELD) event, recipient of the 2019 AIA Diversity Program Recognition Award. Yiselle is an author, storyteller, and recipient of the 2018 AIA Associate Award.


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