The National Organization of Minority Architects Southern California Chapter (SoCal NOMA) hosted its 2024 ‘Project Pipeline’ Architectural Summer Camp on August 3 at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park. The four-day camp is designed to expose historically under-represented youth ages 10 through 18 to the built environment and architectural profession.
“We want our architects to look as diverse as the communities we serve,” stated Matthew Trotter, incoming president of SoCal NOMA.
“We have a rich history. Even though we were founded by African American and Afro-Latino architects, the organization is not exclusive to Black architects. It’s open to everyone who believes in our spirit and mission of further diversifying the spirit of architecture.”
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In 2022, The National Council of Architecture Registration Board reported that of 122,000 licensed architects working in the US, only two percent were Black, four percent were minorities, and even fewer were women.
“The data on the underrepresented numbers of architects in this country is staggering,” stated Eletrice Harris, vice president of SoCal NOMA.
“For a profession that has existed since the beginning of time, not having people of color involved in grander numbers is surprising to us.
“Project Pipeline serves as a solution to increase the number of underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in architecture and move the numbers on those statistics,” she continued.
“Our main focus is middle school students who matriculate through our introductory program. Our Architectural Bootcamp is geared toward high school students, and provides a deeper dive into the tools, techniques, and technologies used by architects and prepares them for college.”
The camp took place on four consecutive Saturdays, and the students were guided in their projects by design professionals who provided mentorship throughout the camp, including design workshops and architectural field trips. By the program’s conclusion, students presented a fully essential project that addresses an issue in their city.
“And we recruit students from the community,” Trotter added. “We partner with school districts in underrepresented communities, churches, after-school programs, the [Parent-Teacher Association], Boys & Girls Club, YMCA—any organization that works with youth in their normal programming.”
SoCal NOMA teaches the basics of architectural design, including mapping, site investigation, sketching, scaled drawings, and presentation using free 3D modeling software like Rhino, SketchUp, and Adobe Dimension. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) component has been added this year.
“The built environment is not just for architects—we design buildings,” continued Harris. “They have to have air, electricity, light, and water. We have professional engineers as mentors for all that. This program is well-rounded and all-inclusive. There’s a place for pretty much everyone in every capacity that has anything to do with buildings.
“I’m proud of the process our students go through, from shy to lightbulb. We took them through the 5-step architectural design process, and they’re presenting their projects to their parents and sponsors. We’re fostering the next generation of designers, civic leaders, and change-makers. They’re ‘superheroes,’ and that’s what I’m most proud of today,” she concluded. Stantec Platinum Sponsor Jessica Cooper added, “The work SoCal NOMA and Project Pipeline is as important to architecture as a profession as the communities these future designers will serve. These students are some of the best and brightest minds in STEAM. No doubt, they will go on to become architects, planners, engineers, and more. It is an honor to be a part of this program again this year.”
For more information, visit https://socalnoma.org/project-pipeline/.
