Taking Care of Business

Summary: Our readers share their opinions of last week’s articles on diversity, building a fence along the Mexican-U.S. border, hiring new talent, and preparing for a flu epidemic. To share your opinion about any of this week’s stories, click on the “tell the editor” button in the story’s right-hand column, or send an e-mail to Managing Editor Stephanie Stubbs.

Re: Diversity: What the Numbers Tell Us

As an African-American Architect who is also a current member of the AIA Diversity Committee (as a representative for NOMA, the National Organization of Minority Architects), I am quite surprised but very pleased to see the issue of Diversity continuing to be addressed to the greater AIA community. As you analyze and discuss the role of African-American Architects, however, I would urge you to have some serious discussions with the leadership of NOMA. NOMA represents a significant percentage of African-American architects, educators, students and interns and will be an invaluable resource for the AIA as we continue to strive for greater diversity in the profession. Thank you for keeping up the conversation. The next step is to begin publishing more work by African-American Architects.
—Leopold Ray-Lynch, AIA, NOMA, Senior Architect, WLC Architects
Emeryville, Calif.

In my experience, members of the AIA rightly rank and reward ability, accomplishment and contribution above racial diversity. What minority wants to let in the game just because of their ethnicity?... In my lifelong experience as a member of the model minority, the greatest impediment to financial prosperity, freedom and happiness is not having the opportunity because someone is not comfortable with the prospect of working with a minority. I do not mean equal opportunity because the selection process for assignments is invariably subjective. …The bottom line question I ask is this: Is being a minority an advantage? I would say that on the rare occasion being a minority is an advantage, but more often it provides no advantage or is a disadvantage. However, there are many characteristics that are a disadvantage in this world. Some of these factors can be remedied and some cannot. I strive to work on those which I can control and not dwelling on those which I cannot. The AIA has no real power to change a racist's mind about other races. What the AIA can do is encourage color blindness and emphatically discourage and denounce racial prejudice. Establishing notions of Right and Wrong is one way to help members understand and overcome their character flaws.

Live Strong,
—Patrick Y. Wong, Assoc. AIA, Atelier Wong Photography
Austin

It's great to see the diversity issue explored in-depth. I look forward to the future articles, especially on the topic of black women architects.
—Katherine Williams
San Francisco

I worked for an architect, Mel Streeter, who happened to be of black African American ancestry. I worked for Mel for several years, and Mel was the best boss I ever had and we remained friends until his death this year. I am aware of the difficulties that he had to overcome to establish his successful practice. I think that having the profession reach out to the African-American community is a good thing. Having said all of that I also think that the constant emphasis on race is not helpful. Looking at statistics and complaining that there should be x number of African- American architects because there are x percentage of African Americans in the country, is at best patronizing. One might as well complain that there are too many basketball players who are of African-American ancestry or too many engineers who are of Asian ancestry. Reaching out is one thing, expecting everyone to conform to someone's idea of an ideal world is quite another thing. I for one look forward to the day when no one keeps statistics on race, gender, or any other such factor.
—Gary Stadlman, AIA

Re: Can You Really Build a 700-Mile-Long Fence?

Yes, we can build it; we better build it! This is one of the top three issues facing the U.S. right now.
—Robert Lawson, Associate AIA
La Canada Design Group, Pasadena, Calif.

Once an intruder is ID by the virtual fence, what is the government’s plan to turn the intruder back to his or her country? If the answer is you don't know, then spending one penny on this technology is a waste of time, taxpayers’ money, and will not solve the problem.
—Bob Stowell

Re: How Do you Hire New Talent?

If you think it is tough to get employees at large firms, take a look at how difficult it is to attract employees to small firms. Having worked at Gensler, Hiller, NBBJ and other large firms, we did not have a major problem recruiting help. Now that I own and operate my own firm, I find it almost impossible to recruit the people necessary to grow my practice.
—Greg Burke, AIA, Gregory John Burke | ARCHITECT, Pa
Vero Beach, Fla.

Re: Preparing for All Possibilities, Including Flu Pandemic

The most important thing firms can do is encourage employees to "wash their hands often."
—Janet Suzuki

Re: Best Practices: Who Are You?

Are you kidding? An architect, dressed in a suit, set up at a job-site table. Get real. No computer in site [sic]! A set of “blueprints” on a drafting table; please join this century. When was the last time anyone used a diazotype print or a “drafting” table? This article looks like “stepford” architecture from 30 or 40 years ago. This article goes nowhere is explaining “Who an architect is.” I find it very embarrassing in today’s world to represent such an unrealistic, static, and mundane picture of our profession. Where are: Computers, AutoCAD, Photoshop, 3DViz, laser cutters, large format plotting and printing, regionalism, cross-market ideas, architect as master problem solver, global markets, instant communications = instant expectations, and how an architect must educate their client that thinking does not happen instantly, etc., etc., etc…….
—Richard Parks, AIA , Built Form Architecture
Chicago