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Roberta Washington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roberta Washington
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHoward University
Columbia University
OccupationArchitect
PracticeRoberta Washington Architects

Roberta Washington FAIA, NOMA, is an American architect. She founded the firm Roberta Washington Architects in 1983,[1] which, at the time, was one of very few architecture firms in the United States led by an African-American woman.[2] She was a Commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission from 2007 to 2015.[3][4] She is a past President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (1997)[5] and is a Director and Treasurer of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Foundation.[6] She has been a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 2006.[7]

Early life and education

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Washington received her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1970 from Howard University.[8][9][10][11] She completed a Master of Architecture degree at Columbia University in 1971.[12] She received a full scholarship from Columbia University along with 25 other African-American students as a response to its campus riots in 1968.[13] After earning her master's degree, she spent four years working on hospital and housing projects in Mozambique.[14]

During her education, she was active in organizations including the Women's Caucus at the American Institute of Architects and Alliance of Women in Architecture.[15] Forming bonds with fellow architects helped inspire Washington to work to ensure legacies of Blacks and women aren't lost. She has been researching and writing about architects Beverly Loraine Green[16] and Georgia Louise Harris Brown since 1997.[17]

Washington was elected to the board of directors of the Society of Architectural Historians in 2021.[18] She is a member of the Board of Directors of Save Harlem Now.[19] She served on Community Board 10 in Central Harlem where she was chair of the Housing Committee and co-chair of the Land Use Committee.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "APDesign, NOMAS present architect Roberta Washington". www.k-state.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  2. ^ Syrkett, Asad (2017-02-22). "16 architects on why race matters in the profession". Curbed. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  3. ^ "APDesign, NOMAS present architect Roberta Washington". www.k-state.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  4. ^ "LPC - About the LPC - Meet the Commissioners - Roberta Washington". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  5. ^ Rogers, Mr (2007-05-02). "NOMA Counsel Online: NOMAC Profile: Roberta Washington". NOMA Counsel Online. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  6. ^ "the NOMA Foundation – Official online presence of the NOMA Foundation". Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  7. ^ "Architecture Graduates Elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects | Howard University - College of Engineering and Architecture". www.cea.howard.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  8. ^ Who's Who Among African Americans. Detroit: Gale. 2011.
  9. ^ "Roberta Washington | The Network Journal". www.tnj.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  10. ^ "AIA New York Chapter : Calendar". cfa.aiany.org. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  11. ^ "Architecture Graduates Elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects | Howard University - College of Engineering and Architecture". www.cea.howard.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  12. ^ "Meet Two Pioneering Black Women Architects". Columbia News. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  13. ^ "Roberta Washington | BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT". BeyondtheBuilt.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  14. ^ Anthony, Kathryn H. (2001-01-01). Designing for Diversity: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the Architectural Profession. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252026416.
  15. ^ "Roberta Washington | BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT". BeyondtheBuilt.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  16. ^ "Meet Two Pioneering Black Women Architects". Columbia News. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  17. ^ "Feature: Roberta Washington, FAIA, Makes A Place - Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation". Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  18. ^ "SAH Announces Incoming Board Members for 2021". www.sah.org. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  19. ^ "About Us | Save Harlem Now!". Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  20. ^ "Roberta Washington | BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT". BeyondtheBuilt.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
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