Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

After 18 months on the market, the U.S. Bank Tower at 633 W. Fifth Street, Downtown, has been sold.

Five months after announcing the project, developer Mitsui Fudosan America, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Mitsui Fudosan, has initiated the construction of a high-rise apartment tower at 8th & Figueroa in the heart of Downtowns resurgent Financial District. Mitsui Fudosan America has owned the property at 8th and Figueroa since the 1980s.

Earthmovers and heavy equipment recently began clearing the asphalt site, where the city of Los Angeles has approved the construction of the tower, a 530-foot and 42-story building containing 438 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, above a parking podium, lined with 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. This tower will be Mitsui Fudosan Americas second residential building in the Greater Los Angeles Area and fifth in California, as it continues to expand its West Coast presence.

The tower is designed by the award-winning Scott Johnson, AIA of Johnson Fain Architects.

It fills in a parking lot, with a modern design that will provide a pedestrian promenade down Figueroa Street, lined with sidewalk cafes and shade trees, reinforcing the goals of the citys recently completed MyFigueroa improvements.

The towers design references some of Downtowns architecture by relating to the larger scale with prominent banding up the facade, and culminating in a dramatic, illuminated cornice at the top of the building.

Furthermore, the design includes a glass facade inlaid with LED lights, leading to an illuminated crown. The glass encloses the towers parking podium.

The construction is expected to be completed in 2023.

We are pleased to commence the next phase of this project and make our contribution to the renewed vitality and dynamism of Figueroa Street and the Financial District. The beginning of construction marks Mitsui Fudosan Americas continued commitment to the revitalization of Downtown and the next phase of our investment that began more than 30 years ago, said Stuart Morkun, The Mitsui Fudosan Americas vice president.

Lendlease Construction has been retained to build the project.

Lendlease is honored to have been selected as the general contractor for the Eighth and Figueroa project for Mitsui Fudosan America, said Caleigh Raymer, operations director and vice president of construction, Lendlease.

The Eighth and Figueroa residential tower will be a notable architectural gem added to the Los Angeles skyline, right in the heart of bustling Figueroa Street. Lendlease has been working with Mitsui Fudosan and their consultant team over the past three years and we are very excited to see this project break ground. We are committed to delivering a successful project, safely and sustainably.

Lendlease has operations in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Its vision is to create the best places that inspire and enrich the lives of people around the world. As listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Lendlease has approximately 13,000 employees internationally.

Its core capabilities are reflected in its operating segments of development, construction and investments. The combination of these three segments provides Lendlease with a sustainable competitive advantage, which allows it to provide innovative integrated solutions for customers.

In the United States, Lendlease has more than 100 years of experience in the construction industry. In the past decade, Lendlease has provided construction services on over 2,500 projects for 1,100 clients nationwide. Lendlease provides a full range of construction services including construction management, general contracting, program management, project management, design/build and consulting services.

Along with the tower, Mitsui Fudosan America intends to install a new midblock crosswalk, which will connect the tower site to the Figat7th Shopping Mall across the street. The Figat7th Shopping Mall landlord Brookfield is constructing its own residential high-rise on a property located immediately west of the sunken shopping center.

Mitsui Fudosan America also owns a separate property two blocks east at 8th and Hope streets, which is slated for the construction of a similar residential high rise.

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Site preparation begins for 8th and Figueroa Tower - LA Downtown News Online

ABOVE IS a rendering for a proposed development of the former Makray Manufacturing site at the northwest corner of Harlem and Montrose avenues in the Village of Norridge. The Norridge Zoning Board of Appeals recently recommended the project to the village board. Plans call for a grocery store, a 7-Eleven gas station, a Starbucks, a dental office and a restaurant with a drive-through lane.(Rendering provided by the Village of Norridge)

by JASON MEREL

A well-known local grocery store, a 7-Eleven gas station, a Starbucks coffee shop and an Aspen Dental office are among the potential tenants for a proposed development on the former Makray Manufacturing site at 4400 N. Harlem Ave. in Norridge.

The Norridge Zoning Board of Appeals at its Aug. 3 meeting unanimously approved the project and recommended several variations and special uses to the Norridge Board of Trustees for possible approval. The village board is expected to vote on the matter at its Aug. 26 meeting.

GW Properties principal developer Mitch Goltz said the 4.3 acre site would be subdivided into four parcels and that the development would feature retail stores, restaurants with drive-through lanes and a medical office. He added that there would be approximately 260 parking spaces available.

GW Properties is developing several other projects on the Northwest Side including the former Peoples Gas site at Irving Park Road and Kilpatrick Avenue and the former Maywood Racetrack at 8600 W. North Ave. in Melrose Park.

Were excited to bring a new project to the market, bring new business to Norridge and work collaboratively with the village, Goltz said.

He said plans include a 30,000 square-foot grocery store at the northwest corner of the development but negotiations are still pending and he expects that the grocery store would announce its opening in the fall. Goltz said that he was not at liberty to disclose the name of the store but hinted that the name is well known in the neighborhood after a board member asked if he would know it.

Goltz said the proposed 4,600 square-foot 7-Eleven store and gas station, which would be located at the southeast corner of the development, would be unlike other area locations, which he said are mostly converted White Hen pantries. The station would be open 24-hours a day.

A 10,000 square-foot multi-tenant building would be located on the northeast corner of the property, along Harlem Avenue, and Goltz said both Aspen Dental and Starbucks Coffee have been identified as potential tenants.

A 7,000 square-foot building would be located at the southwest corner of the development, along Montrose Avenue. Goltz said that tenants have not been identified for the space yet but plans include drive-through access for a restaurant.

During the meeting members pointed out that the drive-through would be across the street from residences and placed a restriction on hours of operation so that the drive-through would only be allowed to operate between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

A presentation from GW Properties said that the developer expects $35 million in retail sales to be generated annually, with an estimated sales tax return of $875,000.

In addition, GW Properties estimates that property taxes for the site will increase from the current $65,000 to $300,000 per year upon completion. The developer pointed out that between sales and property taxes, Norridge stands to gain more than $1 million in annual revenue from the project.

In addition to the revenue, GW Properties highlighted that the development would create hundreds of local construction jobs, more than 200 permanent part- and full-time jobs and the site would also feature upgraded utility infrastructure.

Our goal would be to start demo in late summer or early fall so the project could be live by next summer, Goltz said.

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Well-known NW Side grocer, 7-Eleven gas station proposed at Harlem-Montrose in Village of Norridge - Nadig Newspapers

By the BF StaffFrom the July/August 2020 Issue

When first introduced, federal Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ) provided a new hope for economically distressed neighborhoods in the U.S. The federal program was created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to stimulate the economic development and job creation in low-income neighborhoods through the use of long-term private investments.

There are now designated QOZs in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories based on blocks of low-income areas by census tract that were submitted by each state or territory and certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

The goal of the program is two-fold: (1) investment in a QOZ will revitalize the impoverished areas economy and, (2) if a taxpayer invests eligible gain into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF), and meets several other requirements regarding the type of assets held by such QOF in the Opportunity Zone, then the taxpayer will be eligible for preferential tax treatment. The preferential tax treatment for taxpayers who invest in QOZs can include deferral on the initial gain invested in the QOF, partial reduction in deferred gain and exclusion of gain from investment in the QOF.

While the QOF program got off to a fast start, several issues had started to appear before the COVID-19 pandemic became wide-spread in the U.S. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released several revenue rulings and final regulations in December; however, many questions remained causing some investors to remain cautious about investing in QOFs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused major shutdowns in March, many investors turned their focus away from QOFs and back to making sure that their primary businesses and assets would survive in a volatile economy. Since March, there has been a sharp drop in the equity market, a freeze of commercial real estate investment and also a decline in asset values and capital gains which could have otherwise been invested in QOZs. Novogradac has reported that QOZ vehicles have raised about $10 billion; initial estimates had projected that QOZs would tap into nearly $6 trillion of capital gains.

While COVID-19 effectively slowed down the momentum of QOZs, the IRS is providing relief for investors and renewing hope through Notice 2020-39, which was issued on June 4. Part III of the notice extends deadlines for QOZ investors. Heres an overview of the requirements that have been relaxed, and how this may impact the QOZ program:

While COVID-19 is having a substantial impact on the economy and most businesses, it has also provided some unique opportunities with respect to QOFs. During the pandemic, many investors chose to sell assets to maintain their business operations or their personal lifestyle. Such sales are likely to have caused the realization of long-and short-term capital gains.

If a client has sold assets to provide liquidity, they may be able to invest the built-in gains into a QOF to alleviate some of the tax impact of the sale. In addition to reducing the built-in gain realized from the sale of capital assets, a properly vetted QOF may provide a better return for investors given the current economic environment. If invested properly and left in the QOF for a certain period of time, investors could see as much as a 15 percent increase in basis and tax-free growth within the QOF. Even if the growth never materializes, a 15-percent ROI through the increase in basis is not an insignificant return.

The sale of assets in order to survive the impact of COVID-19 will likely present unique opportunities in the real estate marketespecially those in and surrounding QOZs. With many businesses forced to shut down and real estate markets on the edge of a pullback, properties available for redevelopment within QOZs may start to become more accessible. If properties within the QOZs are bought and redeveloped by a QOF as required by the program, the goal of the programto revitalize certain economically distressed areasmay become a reality even faster. QOFs may ultimately be a great way for investors to help rebuild the areas hard hit from COVID-19 related issues. [By Christopher Steele and Jasmin Severino Hernandez, Chamberlain Hrdlickas Trust and Estates Practice.]

Gilbert celebrates its 100th birthday this year and has grown from a small farming community to the 5th largest city in Arizona. With a population over 265,000, Gilbert is larger than Salt Lake City, UT; Boise, ID; Tacoma, WA; and Richmond, VA. Located near the original Town site, Gilberts Opportunity Zone is one square mile and encompasses the communitys Northwest Growth Area and the downtown Heritage District. Two key community growth areas with focused revitalization efforts underway, both have a unified vision of making strategic infrastructure improvements, encouraging reinvestment, attracting new development, increasing property values and improving the quality of life.

On a typical night in Gilberts vibrant downtown Heritage District, music can be heard from the street, restaurant patios are filled with the laughter of family and friends, theater patrons are scurrying to take their seats and colorful art benches line the sidewalks. Over the past 10 years, Gilberts Heritage District has undergone a renaissance, transforming it into a premier entertainment and employment destination within metro Phoenix. Now home to over 140 businesses, ranging from restaurants to retailers to higher education institutions, the Heritage District has received over $60 million in public investment and attracted over $80 million in private investment since 2012. The district has also seen a 110 percent increase in sales tax revenue in the last five years.

This growth can partially be attributed to it being designated as a redevelopment area in 1989. Through revitalization efforts, this area continues to attract investment from industry leaders like ETix and is now home to Park University and the University of Arizona. Several other exciting projects are currently in the planning phase and will combine transit-oriented development with a mix of office, retail, restaurant, multifamily and hospitality amenities.

The Northwest Growth Area is Gilberts densest employment area, with 20.7 percent of the Towns job base concentrated here, and is home to 2.3 percent, or more than 7,500 of Gilberts residents. In Fiscal Year 2019, Gilbert kicked off a focused revitalization effort within the Northwest Growth Area, which includes a designation of a redevelopment area. The beneficiary of over $20 million in public investment, and over $130 million in private investment since 2012, this area continues to attract a portfolio of industrial, office, housing and retail uses with industry-leading anchor institutions and companies. These companies are primarily associated with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) related occupations in aerospace, manufacturing and professional services industries. Notable employers in the Northwest Growth Area include GoDaddy, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, MOOG Broad Reach and Curry Supply Company. Ideal investment projects for the Northwest Growth Area could include manufacturing, distribution, research and development, office, hotel, breweries/tap houses and live/work residential.

Both the Northwest Growth Area and the Heritage District present unique and different opportunities for investors. A few of the current developments in Gilberts Opportunity Zone include:

North Anchor. In 2019, the Gilbert Town Council unanimously approved the development of this 9.1-acre site. This development will consist of a minimum of 500,000 gross square feet and is planned to include Class A office, retail, hotel, multifamily housing, an urban park, a pedestrian paseo and two parking structures.

South Anchor. Serving as a gateway entrance to the Heritage District, the South Anchor development will strengthen adjacent commercial uses and spur development of nearby vacant parcels. Gilbert is currently in negotiations with developers for the 2.18-acre site.

The Paseo. This north-south, car-free pedestrian and bicycle route will link existing Heritage District neighborhoods with key redevelopment areas. A common thread of distinctive landscape, paving, furniture and signing elements will create a joyful and memorable setting.

Vaughn Ventilator. A new alternative route that will provide new vehicular access through the Heritage District from the west. The slow-speed, human-scaled road will be designed to provide a setting for strolling and window-shopping in the District Core.

The Collab. The Collab is a four-story, mixed-use project that recently finished construction and is now available for lease. The 40,500-square-foot building brings new office, shopping and dining opportunities to the Heritage District.

University Building. Gilberts University Building is home to two higher education institutionsPark University and the University of Arizona.

Park University began offering classes in the fall of 2018 and grew to over 300 students in just one year. The University of Arizona College of Nursing began offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN-IH) at the University Building in Fall 2019. This is the first program in the nation to incorporate integrative health knowledge and interventions into a BSN program.

The Town of Hamden is a diverse community of over 60,000 residents located in south central Connecticut, just north of New Haven. It is close to rail, public transportation, major highways and Tweed New Haven Airport.

Hamdens Economic and Neighborhood Development Dept. offers a comprehensive Business Incentive Program, provides hands-on services to small businesses and values the importance of workforce development. Hamden offers property tax abatements and waivers of building permit fees in its expansive QOZ, which includes BOROUGH496, a business center in the historic Highwood neighborhood.

The Economic Development Commission has developed a long-range Economic Development Plan which promotes programs for business retention and expansion. These initiatives include neighborhood revitalization projects, streetscape improvements, Town-wide energy strategy, a Business Assistance Center, workforce readiness initiatives and assistance to its nine local industry clusters, including retail, health care, financial services, insurance and manufacturing. Redevelopment and brownfield initiatives are managed through the Hamden Economic Development Corp.

The total increase over the last several years in tax base resulting directly from construction, expansions and relocations included more than $75 million in investment and over $2.5 million annually in net tax revenue attributed to the Business Incentive Program as well as larger project development investment.

Hamdens public school system offers great opportunities to prepare young people for good paying jobs and satisfying careers. The high school offers a new Hamden Engineering Careers Academy (HECA). Hamden High School also offers among the most Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the State of Connecticut. Hamden has numerous affordable housing options to meet the needs of all households.

The local economy remains diverse with a mix of manufacturing, retail and growing health care sector. The Town has a strong partnership between the business community, Town government and the Hamden Economic Development Corporation. The Towns Economic and Neighborhood Development Director has been the Director since 1999, facilitating the consistency needed for long-term projects and initiatives.

Some important recent economic development projects include the following:

An investment in one of Manchesters two opportunity zones is an investment in a vibrant, financially stable, diverse and growing community. Manchester is a dynamic municipality of nearly 60,000, ten miles east of Hartford. The commerce hub of the east-of-the-river region, Manchester boasts a wide variety of development opportunities. Our two OZs, surrounded by stable neighborhoods and a multitude of natural, cultural and recreational resources, provide safe investment opportunities with impressive upside.

Manchesters historic Downtown has seen a renaissance over the past five years as both the Town and the private sector have actively strengthened the districts status as a regional destination. The zone, including Downtown and the Spruce Street neighborhood, includes hundreds of local businesses and a population of 4,356 immediately adjacent to the commercial core. Since 2016, the Downtown area has seen millions of dollars worth of new investment and the rehabilitation of over a dozen existing buildings. These projects include several new or expanded restaurants; long-anticipated local business staples like a coffee shop, ice cream shop and local brewery; and an art studio/caf. Other major recent initiatives include the reconstruction of the primary municipal parking lot and the launch of WORK_SPACE, the Town-owned co-working and meeting center, which serves as a business development and entrepreneurship driver for both Manchester and the wider region. As a home to various small businesses, remote workers and creatives, WORK_SPACEs location within this opportunity zone presents a unique location opportunity for startups and entrepreneurs. Projects within this zone may also be eligible for other incentives, including: Manchesters Downtown 2020 Loan program for transformative projects, historic tax credits, tax agreements and tipping fee rebates.

The Broad Street area, in the geographic center of town and once its commercial center, is on the cusp of tremendous growth with continued public and private attention and investment. The Broad Street Redevelopment Area, a 148 acre mixed-use district, has been a primary focus over the past decade and is currently the Towns top economic development priority.

In 2009, Manchester voters approved an $8 million bond referendum to fund revitalization efforts in the district. Since that time, the Town has moved intentionally to implement the plan, purchasing and clearing key sites for development, reconstructing Broad Street and related infrastructure, remediating environmental contamination, connecting the district to the towns park and trail system, and adopting a flexible form-based zoning code, which allows significant development density and a range of allowed uses. The private sector has responded. The Town recently reached an agreement with a private Connecticut developer to construct a $100+ million mixed-use project on 24 acres in the district, including housing, office and entertainment uses. There are many other development opportunities available within Broad Street and this QOZ.

The Town of Mansfield is the home of the University of Connecticut (UConn), the states flagship university. Mansfield offers a skilled work force, excellent public school system and a unique mix of urban and rural amenities. The Opportunity Zone is located in the northern section of Mansfield, adjacent to the UConn campus. It encompasses the major northern and western gateways to UConn and the Town of Mansfield.

Building upon the success of the collaborative efforts to redevelop Downtown Storrs, Mansfield and UConn have turned their focus to four specific areas within the Opportunity Zone that have been identified as not only prime for development but also consistent with, and supportive of, the Towns Plan of Conservation and Development and the Universitys Master Plan:

The City of Meriden is in the midst of an economic rebirth following impressive public and private infrastructure investments. Catering to more than 129 major employers, Meridens economy is robust and is home to the expanding Hartford Healthcare MidState Medical Center.

With wide-open spaces and some of the best hiking in Connecticut, the City also boasts 3,200 acres of park space. Business properties in the citys Opportunity Zone are positioned in our historic Transit-Oriented Development District (TOD) area that hosts an award-winning 14-acre green with walking trails, pedestrian bridge and amphitheater.

The TOD District encourages mixed-use commercial and residential development and is poised for continued economic growth. Properties in the district are conveniently located near rapid rail connections to Hartford, New Haven, Boston and New York via our new train station and offer convenient highway access to I-691, I-91 and Rte. 15. Available properties in Meridens QOZ include: 132 West Main Street, an 8,454-square-foot corner lot in a building with expansive windows that allow for natural lighting, including office/retail space with a built-in kitchen; 61 Colony Street, a three-story building within walking distance of the Amtrak station; and 75 Cook Avenue, a 12,990-square-foot corner lot on over 1.2 acres with more than 360 feet of frontage. The Cook Avenue property is located close to downtown Meriden and the proposed Bridgewater Village project, and all three of its buildings have overhead doors.

Located in Connecticut in the heart of Fairfield County, the City of Norwalk is the states sixth-largest city and a diverse community rich in culture and personality. Uniquely situated on Long Island Sound, Norwalk features a vibrant Urban Core that overlaps Opportunity Zones, remarkable schools and beautiful beaches and parks, making it a wonderful place to live, work, play and invest.

Investors have called Norwalk the hottest city on the East Coast due to our proximity to New York City without break-the-bank real estate prices. Unique neighborhoods sprawling across half-an-acre prove to be a wonderful place to raise a family, and downtown apartments are completely booked with those starting their careers, looking to downsize, or who wish to be within walking distance of award-winning restaurants and shops.

Tech companies, entrepreneurs, artists, large-scale office ventures and traditional retail are all flocking to Norwalk. In fact, while shopping malls are struggling across the country, Brookfield Properties decided Norwalk was the ideal place to invest $600 million into the recently opened SoNo Collection. The SoNo Collection has contributed millions of dollars in annual tax revenue to Norwalk, created thousands of good-paying jobs and has become a regional go-to destination.

Norwalk is a thriving place to be. Developers believe in Norwalk. Forgotten parcels of land and old factories have been transformed into state-of-the-art apartments and mixed-use developments. The Pearl has elevated Washington StreetSoNofrom strictly a restaurant scene to a thriving downtown block. Nearby, The Waypoint is bringing high-end living at affordable prices. Below stylish apartments are restaurants and bars that bring people in from up the stairs and across the state.

COVID-19 has certainly made everyone rethink how businesses operate. Norwalk continues to prove its business-friendly attitude to help support local businesses. With Norwalks plethora of economic development tools, such as the Enterprise Zone and Opportunity Zone, it is well positioned to attract businesses, developers and new residents alike. This year alone Norwalk saw a significant spike in startup tech industries and boutique manufacturers. Since COVID-19 we have not seen the trend slowwith new companies like Scholastic moving in, and steadfast startups like Datto continuing to be on top.

Additionally, Norwalks QOZs overlap with other special investment areas and the Urban Core neighborhoods. These geographies have seen substantial growth since 2010 and continue to see attraction focused around Metro North Train stations. This trend is on track to continue, with over 1,000 new apartments planned in Norwalks Opportunity Zones for construction within the next year. This development attraction has leveraged millions of local, state and federal investment dollars which has supported streetscape improvements that include fiber optic infrastructure, lighting, sidewalks improvements and flood mitigation programs.

Ansonias QOZ runs the entire length of Main Street from Bridge Street to Division Street. Everything on Main Street is considered to be located in the QOZ.

Ansonia is seeing a revitalization of its downtown, a campaign known as Ansonia Recharged. The city is renovating a 65,000-square-foot building at 65 Main Street to include a new police station, community center and senior center. Ansonia recently transferred ownership of three city-owned buildings on Main Street to Shaw Growth Ventures, who just received approval for the first phase of what will be upwards of 300 apartments in the downtown, along with retail and commercial space.

The City of Ansonia has taken measurable steps to incentivize development in its QOZ; the QOZ is also a designated Enterprise Zone and is within the City Center Zone and TOD Zoning district. The TOD zone is made possible by the proximity (one block) to the Metro North Waterbury Branch line Commuter Rail station, and the tract is served by frequent fixed-route commuter bus service connecting to New Haven and Bridgeport.

These regulations have increased the permissible residential density; relaxed, and in some cases eliminated, the standard parking requirements; and maintain business opportunities on the first floor for retail and commercial development. The QOZ is concurrently in the low-to-moderate income tracts, according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines for eligible Community Development Block Grants.

Available parcels that offer dynamic opportunities to become a part of Ansonias Recharged efforts include two commercial/residential buildings located at 158 Main Street and 200 Main Street, with pre-approved site plans to create 40 units of residential development with retail/commercial space; 218 Main Street, an approved commercial/residential lot available for sale; 403-495 Main Street, with 65,000 square feet of space (the former home of BigY supermarkets); and 420 Main Street, which shares an entrance with a Target store.

The Ansonia Shopping Centerhome to Marshalls, Home Goods, Bobs and Rite Aidhas more than 177,000 square feet available. The site is more than 15 acres, and it provides ample parking and the opportunity to develop an additional pad of approximately 3,500 square feet.

Windsor is strategically located between Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA on Interstate I-91 and adjoining Bradley International Airport. Major employers include The Hartford, VOYA, Amazon, SCA Pharmaceuticals and SS&C Technologies.

With a large, growing employment base, stable taxes, an AAA bond rating and an expeditious development review process, Windsor is a great place for investment.

The Tract 4738 QOZ (Wilson neighborhood) is located in the southeastern portion of Windsor. This neighborhood has easy access to I-91 and I-291. Additionally, the area is served by four different CT Transit bus routes. Commercial values in this tract exceed $28 million; nearly 25 percent of the area is zoned for commercial or industrial use. Residential development takes the form of compact, affordable single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. Also featured in this neighborhood is a public library, a community center and three large public parks.

Recent construction activity in Windsor has totaled over $1.9 million, including relocation of a DSS office and demolition/remediation of a former gas station.

Current listings for lease include 3,200 square feet of office/retail space. Current listings for sale include multiple parcels ranging from 1.8 acres to 14 acres in size. Available sites for investment include the Town-owned redevelopment parcel (5.68 acres), the former Wolcott school and the privately owned, 14-acre former Flamingo Inn site.

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Theres Still Time To Invest In Qualified Opportunity Zones - Business Facilities Magazine

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced a majority of people all over the world to stay indoors for an extended and unknown period of time a situation that puts a special strain on the facilities of any property

So, whether you lease or own your space, have a broad portfolio, or a single asset, as a property owner, the attention you give to your assets, and its facilities, is more crucial now than ever

CBRE, a property consulting firm, oversees a number of buildings throughout Cambodia and across China, South East Asia, Europe, and America

We have a regional hub in South East Asia where each of the heads of Property Management is in regular contact; sharing information/ experiences and jointly developing plans and procedures, especially in these times

This has imparted valuable lessons behind my no-regrets, action-oriented recommendations: Manage entries The best way to keep your facility safe is to keep people with the virus at home

There are several ways to approach this, including temperature screening and other sophisticated equipment that could become permanent installations

There are also low-cost options, like increasing lobby signage reminding people to stay home if ill, restricting visitors, and setting up selfcheck temperature stations

Plan for an exposure-related shutdown It is likely that you will experience a suspected or confirmed case in at least one of your facilities

Rather than waiting for that moment and having to scramble, prepare a written plan, and educate your site managers, staff, and providers proactively

What to do with the individual? How to isolate them? How to get them home safely? What steps to take? If you think all of this through and get it in writing beforehand (working with your legal, HR, building owner, and key stakeholders) you will mitigate risk and reduce anxiety when the event happens

Clean often Increased cleaning has a direct, infection-control benefit and should be implemented as a preventative move

A full daily disinfection may not be necessary, but the virus lives on surfaces for up to 3 days; and proper, increased cleaning will help lower your exposure

Clean more often and be visible with these services, especially in common areas

As the world opens back up for business, we should expect a lot more cleaning

Use the downtime to prepare for re-opening Every facility has deferred projects and tasks that were waiting for a weekend when the building sits empty

Planned correctly, now is your chance for these projects

We are working with clients to complete delayed projects, replacements, and repairs

Our teams in China realized that deferred maintenance on older equipment just could not respond to more intensive HVAC demands, so we are working hard to repair, replace, and upgrade

Communication Keep up to date with all local newspapers and government departments so that you are ready for any changes that may be enforced

Keep your company, all your clients, tenants and occupiers updated regularly but also limit the channels of communication and avoid participating in gossip groups as misinformation creates confusion and worry

The Future New Normal As you plan for re-opening, your employees, customers, and suppliers are going to have new expectations for how to run, clean, and manage your facility

Consider focusing on three areas: Operations: Inspect and test key building systems to ensure the building is safe and comfortable as you come back to full occupancy

Service Planning: Allow providers of cleaning, food, concierge, HVAC, security, etc

ample lead time to ensure they can get their teams back on-site and fully operational Transparency: Ensure the occupants are aware of whats been done, whats different, and what protections need to stay in place to keep everyone healthy

Set up a hotline to take their questions

Original link: https://www.realestate.com.kh/guides/how-to-maintain-your-properties-duringcovid-19-outbreak/

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How to maintain and manage your property during COVID-19 outbreak - Khmer Times

ICONIC AWARDS 2020: Kengo Kuma and Associates Named 'Architects of the Year' by the German Design Council

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The ICONIC AWARDS 2020: Innovative Architecture, organized by the German Design Council, honor the best architecture and design solutions internationally. This years winners have now been announced and can set themselves clearly apart from their competitors thanks to their title. The special awards, were presented to Kengo Kuma and Associates (Architects of the Year) and Alberto Caiola Studio (Interior Designers of the Year). The Architects Client of the Year honor went to Adidas AG.

Alongside the special awards, the jury also honours the best work in the categories of Architecture, Interior, Product, Communication and Concept as well as the general category of Innovative Material. A comprehensive summary of all winners can be found at: http://www.iconic-world.com/directory/filtered/award-iaia/year-2020.

Architects of the Year special award

The jury awarded the Architects of the Year distinction to the extraordinary firm of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who is currently one of the most influential creators of contemporary buildings internationally with his iconic designs. Recent projects such as V&A Dundee, The Exchange and Ochanomizu are the preliminary highlights of an impressive gallery of work that amazes through the consistently high quality of its design. The skilled incorporation of light in combination with airy facade structures is remarkable, giving buildings such as V&A Dundee and The Exchange an almost immaterial feeling. The nature and quality of the designs not only cause the beholder to pause for reflection but also, through their power, stir the beholder emotionally.

Interior Designers of the Year special award

This years Interior Designers of the Year award was given to Alberto Caiola Studio. Alberto Caiolas work removes the boundaries between classic interior design and art installation in an extremely individual way. When people visit these projects, they do more than enter a room. Rather, Caiola has the visitor discover new, frequently surreal worlds and experience and explore them with all the senses. This creates exciting installations with high show value, such as the extravagant Crash Baggage @ LaFayette retail space, as well as visually fascinating locations such as the ancient Greece-inspired rooftop club NYZ, where visitors are immersed in immaterial-appearing scenery and leave the real world behind them for the time of their stay.

Architects Client of the Year honor

The Architects Client of the Year honor, which the jury presents to a project client that supports a holistic understanding of architecture, was given to Adidas AG this year. Adidas hired BEHNISCH ARCHITEKTEN and COBE Copenhagen, two renowned architecture firms with iconic designs attracting admiration globally, for two buildings for its head office employees. They were built shortly after each other on the World of Sports campus in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria. Even though both structures have aesthetics that are strikingly different from each other, they still clearly and consistently represent the brand values of the world-famous sports product manufacturer integrity, passion, performance, and diversity externally, internally, and down to the fine details. Two remarkable projects with iconic architecture that fulfill the companys ambitions of modernity and contemporary functionality in an exceptional way. Whats more, they offer formidable proof of the visionary power and openness to the extraordinary that Adidas has as an architecture client.

Jury members

German Design Council

The German Design Council is one of the worlds leading centers of expertise in communication and knowledge transfer within design, branding, and innovation. More than 340 businesses are currently members of its Foundation. The German Design Council was founded in 1953 as an initiative of Germanys federal parliament to strengthen the German economys competence in design. Its many and varied activities all have one aim: to communicate a lasting improvement of brand value through the strategic use of design.

Read more:
ICONIC AWARDS 2020: Kengo Kuma and Associates Named 'Architects of the Year' by the German Design Council - ArchDaily

At age 6, the architect Mariam Kamara moved with her family from Niamey, the capital of Niger, deep into the countrys vast Saharan interior, not far from the 15th-century city of Agadez, where the narrow streets of the historic center are lined with centuries-old houses built from rust-red adobe. During their five years in the desert, Kamara and her father, a mining engineer, traveled frequently into the nearby mountains, where they visited caves rich with neolithic paintings and polished stone, remnants of a time when the area was green and populated by nomads. This open archaeological site really gave me a sense of what my region is about, says Kamara, 41, who splits her time between Providence, R.I., where her husband is a professor of computer science at Brown University, and Niamey, where her firm, Atelier Masomi, has operated since 2014. Its not the story were fed about Africa being this place with no history.

Since completing her Master of Architecture at the University of Washington (and a thesis project on gender and public space) in 2013, Kamara has built her practice on layers of narrative. Her buildings read as missives from the people who inhabit them: about their history, the ways they move through space, and their needs and aspirations, all gleaned through careful observation and conversation. Constructing clear geometric forms almost entirely from three locally produced materials cement, recycled metal and unfired earth Kamara shapes space from the inside out, using environmental and cultural cues to generate her designs. Whether creating levitating metal disks to shade earth-brick market stalls in the village of Dandaji or a clean-lined office building for an innovation incubator in the capital, she uses a combination of traditional and contemporary technologies to address her clients desires. No matter where you are, architecture is a process of discovery, she says. Its not just space-making; its about discussion and how you turn desire into form.

Kamara began her first major project, 2016s Niamey 2000 apartment complex (designed with Yasaman Esmaili, Elizabeth Golden and Philip Strter), by interrogating the spatial problems of her own Western-style childhood home in the colonial city of Niamey. Like many middle-class houses built after independence in 1960, the concrete structure amplified the brutal heat. Compound walls created privacy but interfered with the practice of faada, gatherings that occur in the space between house and street. I remember this tension between the way the house was built and how we actually lived, Kamara says, this sensation that we were always working around and against its layout.

She thought back on the adobe houses shed seen throughout the Nigerien countryside, with shaded vestibules and heat-absorbing earthen material that kept the interiors cool, and decided to do something similar. Typically associated with rural poverty, earth masonry was a provocative choice for a middle-class, urban project, but Kamara was committed to using the material not only as an environmentally friendly, cost-saving solution, but also as a means of reframing the conversation around an indigenous technology as not merely contextual a word she resents but irreducibly logical. Combining earth with trace amounts of cement, she built four interlocking structures that pushed up against the edge of the plot, eliminating the need for a perimeter wall and trading exposed Western-style lawns for shaded interior courtyards. A low bench built into the facade reintroduced space that facilitated faada, while small square apertures placed high along the exterior walls provided light and ventilation. Kamara was struck by how similar the final building looked to traditional adobe houses in the 18th-century city of Zinder: Spatial logic had brought her to the same formal conclusions as master builders centuries before.

Her next project, the Hikma Religious and Secular Complex in Dandaji, began with an urgent call to rescue a 30-year-old adobe mosque whose mud-and-thatch domes, abstract bas-reliefs and squat minarets idiomatic elements in the regional style had fallen into disrepair.

After several long sessions with local stakeholders, Kamara and her collaborator, Esmaili, working with a team that included several of the original masons, elaborated a design that would convert the old building into a library while erecting a new mosque alongside it, with a ribbed earthen facade opening into a spectacle of mud-brick domes lofted 30 feet up on slender whitewashed columns. Between the two buildings, garden paths create a single space, Kamara says, without contradiction, between secular knowledge and faith.

In other words, the project declines to prioritize one type of knowledge over the other. Between her past work and her plans for an ambitious new cultural center in the heart of Niamey its elliptical earth-brick towers filled with libraries, galleries and performance spaces Kamara is mounting a quietly radical revolt against the Western dictatorship over our space, which still insists that African architects should only build clinics and rural schools, never addressing higher aspirations. For Kamara, that attitude is not just constraining, its an affront to the humanity of the place she comes from and the people for whom she builds. She prefers instead to elevate lived experience, to dare to do something that would make someone dream.

Read this article:
In Niger, an Architect Looking to the Countrys Design Traditions - The New York Times

MAD architects, the firm led by ma yansong, has shared its design for a concrete library in china that is currently under construction. located on the coast of haikou, in the countrys hainan province, the wormhole library has been conceived as an oasis that allows visitors to temporarily remove themselves from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. the building serves as a multi-functional building that allows visitors to read, enjoy views of the sea, and attend open-air performances. the sensuously curved pavilion appears to be a wormhole that transcends time and space, says the design team.

all images by SAN, unless otherwise stated

the project forms part of the a larger plan to rejuvenate haikous coastline with new public spaces. a series of pavilions by both domestic and international architects is under planning and MADs library will be the first one to be completed. the monolithic design is cast from white concrete, which ensures that the librarys interior ground, walls, and ceiling read as a continuous surface. to ensure accuracy and seamlessness across the curved surfaces, the building is being cast using both a CNC and 3D printed model. meanwhile, all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements have been hidden within the concrete cavity.

the interior is composed of two parts: a 690-square-meter (7,430-square-foot) reading space that can store approximately 10,000 books, a caf, and a terrace; and a 300-square-meter (3,230-square-foot) public rest area that is equipped with a bicycle parking system, public bathrooms, and shower areas. carefully positioned apertures allow the architecture to breathe, while letting natural light flood the interior. elsewhere, the grey spaces of the exterior corridors provide shaded spots for passersby to stop and rest.

curved sliding doors and retractable glass curtain walls not only provide views of the sea, but also enhance overall airflow and ventilation. in response to local weather conditions, the roof on the sunny side is cantilevered to achieve comfortable temperatures, realizing a sustainable and energy-saving building. the wormhole library is now under construction and is scheduled to complete in 2021. see other projects by MAD architects on designboom here.

More here:
MAD architects unveils plans for 'wormhole library' on the coast of hainan - Designboom

Date and time: Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 4 to 5 pm Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4)

Register here.

An online lecture and visual walkthrough of the new Zaha Hadid Architects Opus building in Dubai hosted by RIBA Gulf Chapter.

Christos Passas, Co-Author and Design Director at Zaha Hadid Architects will give an online lecture and visual walkthrough of the new Opus building in Dubai, a mixed-use building home to the new Melia Hotel on Wednesday, August 12 at 4 pm (UAE time).

Exploring the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior, the design was presented by Zaha Hadid in 2007 and is the only hotel in which she created both its architecture and interiors.

This free online event is open to all, and a great chance for people from anywhere in the world who admire contemporary architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects work to learn about this exciting building.

It is being hosted by the RIBA Gulf Chapter and will be introduced by the Chapter Chair Andy Shaw of AMA from Dubai. The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

BIO Christos Passas

BArch (Hons), AA Grad.Des.Dip,RIBA, ARB, ETEK

Christos joined Zaha Hadid Architects as a Senior Designer in February 1998 and has been a key member in the evolution of the overall artistic direction of the Studio its business development, the office culture and leader of a wide range of build and unbuilt projects and competitions within the practice.

Education & Teaching

He received his architecture degree with Honours as a Fulbright Scholar at the Pratt Institutes School of Architecture in Brooklyn, NY in 1995. He was registered as an Architect at Technical Chamber Cyprus 1996, a member of the Architects Registration Board in the UK since 2000 and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects since 2011. He received his Graduate Design Diploma in 1998 in Advanced Architectural Design at the Architectural Association, London.

Christos taught Parametric Design and Urbanism at the Architectural Association with Patrik Schumacher in London between 2007 and 2010, working on the exploration of digital and parametric techniques for the formation of large urban settlements.

He subsequently went on to serve as Guest DAAD Professor in the Dessau Institute of Architecture (HA) at Bauhaus, Dessau, from 2008 to 2012 working on the implementation of digital design strategies for large scale objects with a complex geometry and character, exploring uniqueness, diversity and complexity. He regularly participates in design juries at universities across the UK and Europe, and is a frequent guest lecturer in parametric design, design thinking and the role of Architecture. He is currently Honorary Professor at the University of Technology, College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Qingdao until 2022,

Projects Christos has been involved in the initial stages of the design of many of the practices seminal projects such as the Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati; the MAXXI: National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome; and the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Christos has served as design and project director for a large number of projects. Since his arrival to the company, he has worked closely with Zaha Hadid and is one of the practices design leaders.

He has delivered a broad spectrum of designs for various typologies such as for Cultural Institutions and Performance spaces, Residential, Interior Design, Commercial, Innovative Workspaces, Mixed-use Urban Projects, Urban Regenerations, and Masterplanning in a variety of scales projects in the US, Europe, China, Eastern Europe and Russia, North Africa and the Middle East.

Go here to read the rest:
Presentation of Zaha Hadid Architects' Opus Building - The Media Line

Of the 116,242 licensed architects in the United States and its territories, just two percent are Black. Only 2,325 Black architects are building the cities and suburbs, shaping the skylines and creating the museums, housing, schools, government buildings, places of worship and any other variety of structures we live in or with every day. In a nation with a population of nearly 330,064,000 people, solely 2,325 Black citizens have the power and access to physically design our built environment.

When faced with these figures, it becomes clear that the racist systems that often bar Black Americans from competing on an equal socioeconomic playing field also extend to architecture. White people have always had a head start. Licensure laws were first passed in 1897, but the first Black architect to be licensed, Paul Revere Williams, was not bestowed the title until 1921. While this marked an incredibly important milestone, society must resist the urge to celebrate isolated successes as evidence of racial equity. Instead, it raises the question: why did this take so long?

Today, statistical outliers are more plentiful but the trend has not significantly changed; according to the data from annual National Council of Architectural Registration Boards reports, that two percent figure is in stasis and has been for at least the last five years. Non-Black people of color account for nine percent of the nations licensed architects. White architects continue to make up the vast majority of industry professionals. Its not uncommon to find a design firm where the number of Black architects is fewer than five. Black partners are even more scarce.

Since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25, many architectural firms, professional institutions and media companies have pledged to correct the lack of Black equity in their staffs, coverage and projects. But with these pledges comes the risk of tokenism. Putting out statements is important because designers and architects must participate in this conversation, says Pascale Sablan, whose organization Beyond the Built Environment has helped to center the design work of her fellow Black architects since 2017. But, the architecture industry can ensure sustained, meaningful change by going beyond statements of camaraderie and solidarity, to action items. It is not enough to show up to a funeral and offer your condolences; you need to bring the lasagna, too.

In a systematically racist society, how can the industry move toward true equity? How does architectures lack of diversity affect the professional successes or challenges of Black architects? What kind of othering does it perpetuate? How do these marginalized voices want the industry to change? What are the experiences of being Black in architecture? These are a few of the questions I presented to a group of 15 Black architects over the last month. For all, one directive is clear: as the United States awakens to its embedded racism, actions speak louder than words. If the systems promoting inequality are to change, it needs to start with active reparative work by white allies.

Katherine Williams. Photo by Ti-Ka Wallace. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Katherine Williams, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA

Katherine Williams is a licensed architect in Northern Virginia, a senior project manager at Georgetown University, owner of real estate development firm Fifth Generation Holdings and a Black Women in Architecture Network organizer. She has written extensively about the architecture profession, diversity in the industry and community development. Katherine has served as editor for multiple publications and was the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) magazine editor from 2009-2014.

The first memory I have of feeling othered in my professional life was shortly after I graduated from university. I will start by saying I attended predominantly white schools for K-12. I was used to being the only Black face in my classes. When I received a full scholarship to Howard University, I had no idea the breadth of the effect that being in that environment would have on me personally and professionally. I was one in a sea of Black faces. It is not just that most of my peers were Black, it is that I now was hanging out with Black people from across the globe. My class references were rooted in the Black experience from throughout the diaspora. I carried that into my interactions on campus and my travels off campus, including trips around DC and my study abroad semester in Toronto.

When I left school, I returned to my hometown. I knew I should engage with organizations to start building my network to begin my career. I decided to do that by connecting to my local AIA chapter and attending an event. It was the summer after my final semester. I remember the event was at a location where there was a large monumental stair that led down into the space where everyone was gathered. I stood at the top of the stair, looked down, and the sea of white faces made me catch my breath. I had to reorient and re-armour myself. I had spent five years, mostly, without that anxiety of being the only Black face in the crowd, without worrying if people saw me for my skill and intelligence first or for my skin color. I entered the space and nervously engaged, having small talk and introducing myself to people there.

I dont remember much more about that evening. I do know that I felt determined to make the chapter live up to what I assumed was the purpose of the organizationto help local architecture professionalsand for me that meant helping get my career started. My engagement with the chapter actually helped introduce me to my first boss. Additionally, I went on to serve on the board and restart the ARE prep program.

As a licensed, Black, woman architect, part of a 0.4 percent slice of licensed architects in the United States, I know there will be many times where I am in a room as an other or in places without another who looks like me. I continue to be in those rooms and hopefully create space for others like me to join.

Steven Lewis. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Steven Lewis, FAIA, NOMAC

Steven Lewis is a principal of urban design and planning at ZGF Architects in Los Angeles, California and the president of Thinking Leadership, a strategic planning consultancy. Formerly, he served as the urban design director for the central region of Detroit, the president of NOMA and was a Harvard Loeb Fellow from 2006 to 2007. Dedicated to advocating for his fellow architects of color, Lewis lectures across ZGF offices and elsewhere about equity in the workplace.

You first achieve a sense of racial awareness, that you are something different than what has been reflected back to you, as a child in television and media (which at my time of growing up in the early 1960s was Dennis the Menace and The Andy Griffith Show) when you are confronted with some event that shakes that paradigm. You then become immediately aware of two parallel universes. Black folks have, as a matter of survival, had to navigate seamlessly through those two parallel universes, but most white folks dont have that racial awareness: they just are. For them, there has always been one universe. Well, when George Floyd was murdered, and, this is my Trekkie coming out, a wormhole opened up between those two universes and all the white folks got sucked into the Black universe and now see what we see. At that instant, the wall between the two crumbled and we are all in one place now with no choice but to move forward.

What worries me is that wealth and power are so concentrated in this country that the acquiescence to a new realigned society is the last thing that leaders want. They have ways of subverting these movements, which they have demonstrated in the past. Ironically the loss of John Lewis reminds us that we have been here before, maybe not quite in the same way, particularly with young white folks out in the streets saying, this is crazy; were not tolerating this. If the groundswell can build the confidence among the general population to not be paralyzed by the enormity of this task of gratitude, it then must accept that this is an arc, a lifetime journey. 43 years ago, I was told suddenly that I had to stick an insulin syringe in my arm; I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and that day forever changed my life. I have to have insulin by some other means than my own production every day to be alive. I had to accept that new variable in my life forever and there have been good days and there have been bad days, just as on this quest there will be missteps and I say to my white colleagues who are afraid of saying the wrong thing that racism is white peoples problem to dismantle. It is our job as Black folks to be the sherpas, the guides. We will pick you up when you fall off the path but we have to allow you to own it, to make the necessary steps to fix it. We are generations from solving racism but we can get on the path and we have enough momentum on the path.

My father was an architect. RIP Roger Lewis. He left us about three years ago at age 88. I knew about architecture, unlike many of my friends, from a young age. It was quite an awakening when I arrived at school, at Syracuse University, because architecture revealed itself in a much different way than what I had been exposed to through my dad. Attending a majority institution I was part of a small cohort of Black folks who were in the school at the time and there were instances where we experienced racism, but, being a product of coming of age during the civil unrest of the 1960s and having parents that were very active and aware, I had a social consciousness at an early age.

My dad, having grown up in Harlem, was able to start a firm around 1970 with two partners, as were other colleagues of his (J. Max Bond Jr., etc.) and I was in the room as a teenager when they would meet as NYCOBA,the New York Coalition of Black Architectswhich still exists today as a chapter of NOMA. I was horrified by what they had to encounter just trying to establish themselves as architects and professionals in that society. That was it. I had that consciousness and I was living in those parallel universes where if I saw racism, or if it affected me or touched me, I would name it, call it out and attack it intellectually, not emotionally.

That just rolled through college and out into the world. Because I never met a word I didnt like and communication is probably the greatest gift I have been given, I became a natural spokesperson on these issues. Part of my role right now is helping build strength and confidence among my white colleagues. Ive been invited to have a seat at the AIA Large Firm Roundtable and Im talking to their CEOs and Im offering them wisdom and advice that they are very open to and have an appetite for. For example, just the other day they were allocating funds within each of the firms to financially support the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Out of over 100 HBCUs, only seven have accredited architecture programs and its those seven schools that are responsible for graduating 85% of Black architecture students, yet those schools are underfunded and under-resourced. Theres a recognition that this is the farm; weve got to grow these crops and make them strong and well. Theyre throwing money at other resources who are attacking the problem directly and I said, why dont all of you reprogram a chunk of that money, create a JEDI bank (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) within the firm, and that way, instead of giving the money to someone else to do the work, you can do it yourselves? You have many people in your firms, particularly young people, who want to take direct action and they are somewhat limited because they may not have a charge number to bill their hours. They loved that idea.

Its one thing to throw money at it and its another to be the action. With best intentions, they were putting money into good causes, but youve got to do the work. Thats the hard part.

Samantha Josaphat. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

On Tokenism In the Workplace

My early experience in architecture required me to seek mentors who understood the direct and/or passive aggressive behaviors towards me in the workplace. The lack of diversity in the profession provided the opportunity for a former boss to tell me she was using reverse racism with me. Once I got licensed and I kept being treated differently from my colleagues who got licensed after me and had equal qualifications and responsibilities, I decided that I wouldnt let years go by letting others who dont want to see my worth have control over my career. My true value was never recognized until I provided myself with the opportunities when starting my own practice. Samantha Josaphat, RA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED, is the principal of Studio 397 Architecture in Brooklyn, president of NYCOBA|NOMA and an assistant professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture at City College in New York.

I think the biggest struggle is having only a handful of Black architects in leadership roles to look up to, work with and learn from. Being one of a handful of Black students in school was never a non-normal thing, having grown up in a predominately white city (Madison, Wisconsin), going to predominantly white schools (UW Milwaukee for my BS Arch Studies and IIT for my Masters of Architecture) and working in a predominantly white profession. It wasnt until I became heavily involved in NOMA that it hammered home that there is a ton of diverse talent out there, but that group is comparatively so small that I can know many of them on a personal basis. Its encouraging to see so many successful and talented Black and brown designers around the country and always an adrenaline boost to whatever I am working on when I am around them. Id love for the profession to be so diverse that I dont automatically become friends with all of the Black employees, if for no other reason than there are too many of them. Richie Hands, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NOMA, is an associate at Lamar Johnson Collaborative in Chicago and the NOMA National Project Pipeline Co-Chair.

Being othered means the reality of being or feeling as though I am the only person of color in architecture over my 25 years of an academic and professional career. Conversely, it also means you can often be in high demand because of your otherness. I dont view this peculiarity as a spectacle anymore, but as a true indicator that, unlike many other professions which may have reached a higher percentage of minority participation, architecture is not one of them and frankly neither is design. The othered has been a part of my experience from 6 years of university, studying in Europe and India, practicing in several American cities, Asia and the Caribbean.

The profession, like many others, is built on experiences and relationships. It would be ideal if there was a system of meritocracy but we dont live in a utopia. There exist conscious and unconscious biases, however, moments such as this one have forced us collectively to recognize and openly discuss these biases. I am well aware of the need to label certain firms minority firmsthe bias is real and design firms need a bona fide seat at the table. The question then becomes what is our perceived value, a check on a mandated minority participation box, or being recognized as equally talented design professionals and business owners? This would be a worthwhile change. Daimian S. Hines, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, is a principal of Hines Architecture + Design in Houston, Texas and the president of the Houston chapter of NOMA.

Dr. Kwesi Daniels. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Dr. Kwesi Daniels, MArch, MSc Sust. Mgmt, ABD

Dr. Kwesi Daniels is a department head and associate professor at the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science at Tuskegee University, a historically Black university in Tuskegee, Alabama.

The experience of being Black in architecture involves learning about a discipline that does not include the contributions of African American architects like Paul Revere Williams, Robert R. Taylor, Walter T. Bailey and Wallace Rayfield within the canons of the profession. It involves being taught to admire and replicate planning strategies like Levittown, Long Island as examples of successful community developments, without being taught how they were developed to maintain racial segregation. It means learning how architects have been at the center of social engineering and how their efforts have been responsible for creating conditions that have adversely affected so many communities of color for generations. The experience of being Black in architecture requires you to unearth the accomplishments of other Blacks in architecture to understand how they navigated the often tumultuous waters of the profession. It involves developing your own methods to address the challenges that face communities of color because the projects we work on in school do not prepare us to design our spaces. My experience of being Black in architecture involved me teaching myself how to use design to celebrate my culture.

YOMA Headquarters by Daimian S. Hines. Photo by Daimian S. Hines. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

On the Importance of Genuine Allyship

As someone employed at a large firm, my biggest concern was not so much tokenism as it was optical allyship for the purposes of improved perception. Its important the firm not only recognizes me as a licensed Black architect, but also, a skilled designer who is a contributing member of every team that I am on. I avoid tokenism by engaging with my colleagues ideas about equity and diversity. If they send me links to initiatives and strategies used by other organizations, or have suggestions about how the firm can improve its approaches to equity and diversity, I always turn the onus back on them and ask, Thats great, do you want to lead that initiative? or Sounds good, how can I help you get that off the ground?

Its important for allies and co-conspirators to understand that the pledges made by firms recently are not the sole responsibility of the BIPOC employees to execute, but are instead instilled in the mission of the firm itself. As such, every employee is a steward for that mission. Firms should not publicly dedicate themselves to uplift the Black community, then ask their Black employees to be the only ones making it happen. During my conversations with our firms leadership, I remind everyone this is the firms mission, not the mission of a limited committee. I learned this strategy from watching my mentor, NOMA President Kimberly Dowdell. She invites everyone to the table and makes them a stakeholder, and ensures that each person has a committed interest in the improvement of our profession. Melanie Ray, AIA, LEED Green Associate, NOMA, NCARB, is an associate at Hord Coplan Macht in Baltimore, the NOMA Northeast university liaison and a founding member and treasurer for the Baltimore chapter of NOMA.

There has been quite a bit more attention being given to my work over the last two months since George Floyd was publicly stripped of his right to live in America by an officer of its most cherished institution. However, none of that attention has turned into any kind of offer for new design commissions or ways of expanding my professional practice. It has mostly resulted in more Instagram followers and a few invitations to explain to the rest of America what its like to be a Black architect. Each of these instances has made me feel othered. Sekou Cooke, RA, is the owner or Sekou Cooke Studio in Syracuse, New York and an assistant professor at Syracuse Universitys School of Architecture.

Advocacy work can and should start on your block, in your neighborhood, in your community. See what injustices are impacting your town and take that as a beginning standpoint. Once youve identified the communitys specific oppressions, whether that be architectural or other, you should reach out to the community leaders and get more information, understand the politics of the issue, understand the institutions and the characters that perpetuate the injustice. Together with that deeper level of understanding, ask how you can get involved. Lets make the fight for justice personal; bring it home to your family, your neighbor, your block and your community and make them better and more just. Pascale Sablan, AIA, NOMA, LEED, is a senior associate at S9 Architecture and the founder and executive director of Beyond the Build Environment.

Ibrahim Greenidge. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Ibrahim Greenidge, AIA, NCARB, NOMA

Ibrahim Greenidge is managing partner at BOLT Architecture in Brooklyn and is on the Black Gotham and ONENYC 2050 advisory boards. He is the former president of the New York Coalition of Black Architects and the author of the forthcoming book, Its Going to Be Brick: Being Black in Architecture.

Its 1982, Im born to two Muslim-converted parents who are first generation Americans. They move to Brooklyn. When I was a young kid and Gavin Cato was killed, the environment started to shift around me. There were metal detectors at school. The kids werent looting and rioting during the Crown Heights Riots but because the school that we lived in had predominantly white female teachers, there needed to be some sort of safety in place. What also starts to resonate with me is the lack of public spaces. The lack of spaces for us to congregate outside of Prospect Park. In a lot of other communities there are bath houses, private spaces, yoga studios, meditation spaces. I didnt have the words for this. No one is telling me that architects, engineers, and urban planners designed this.

I moved to Long Island, New York to a completely suburban lifestyle. I go from being a majority Black kid to one of only a few Black kids. What started to happen was that my high school started to see a shift in migration and culture because of its education. The demographic of the school started to see white flight. I am fortunate that I grew up in a very mixed environment. I thought the world operated that way.

I was always great with my hands. In 10th grade, people began asking, what do you want to do? No one ever mentioned architecture. Its not in their vocabulary. They had never met an architect. So, one summer, my granddad asked me to help him build a backyard shed. What I started to appreciate was the art and science of building. I went back to school and told them that I wanted to become an architect and they said, you should become a janitor or a mechanic. My father said to me, why do you have to be a mechanic, why cant you be the one designing things?

As a Black man in college, the movie Get Out is a perfect example of how it felt: surrounded by white fraternities, surrounded by these acts of subtle racism, your models being destroyed at night, people leaving you in parking lots when you had asked for a ride, teachers giving you different grades because they dont feel you participated meanwhile your classmates are saying, he is doing even more than us. Unfortunately, this has been my reality since I was a young boy: being in the streets and stopped by police, learning how to be Black in corporate America, what projects dont you want to work on. Why is the Black person the only one being put on the jail projects?

I came to a point in my career where I had to think, do I want to continue building these structures that I consider unethical? Without these events, I probably would have never thought of quitting my job and beginning my own practice. When youre in college and youre in this environment, its about survival. Youve got your blinders on. Its just your reality. You think that this is what its like in architecture. But then, when you join a firm, you realize this is only happening to you.

Has it been made clear in architecture that I am one of a few? Absolutely. Have there been moments where I am in the room with Black engineers and Black contractors? Yes, sure there have been. But those are far between. My work experience has given me the pleasure of working on projects of all scales and types. But, I found out everything that I didnt like in the corporate structure and, in my own firm, I dont do that here.

COS Store in Toronto by Samantha Josaphat. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

On The Importance of Mentorship

In order to change the face of architecture we have to dedicate time and resources towards solidifying the pipeline for the next generation of minority architects and designers. Over the last 15+ years Ive invested the majority of my time and energy outside of work to the ACE Mentor Program and NOMAs Project Pipeline Architecture Camp, two national programs focused on exposing career opportunities to young students in underserved, under represented, and under resourced communities. Each program employs different tactics and strategies to expand their catchment areas across the country with the support of various industry sponsors and partnerships.

Within ACE I have served as a mentor, team leader, Associate Board member and co-instructor for the Summer Design Build Workshop over the last 13+ years in Chicago. I have mentored students along their journey towards ACE professions, first as young high school students solidifying their plans to pursue ACE disciplines and degrees, followed by coaching to help them land their first summer internship as college students, and then finally connecting them with potential employers to help them land their first job out of school as young professionals. To be with a student through that journey and see the mission and process come full circle is honestly one of the most rewarding feelings as a mentor, and gives me reassurance of the impact were making on young students lives as we work towards changing the face of our profession. Jason Pugh, AIA, AICP, NOMA, LEED AP, is an associate at Gensler in Chicago, the NOMA President-Elect 2021-2023 and on the associate board for the Chicago ACE Mentor Program.

Richey Madison. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Unlike many colleagues, I didnt go to a Historically Black College for undergraduate education. I attended Iowa State University on a full academic scholarship, and was also a scholarship athlete in Track and Field. During my undergraduate career, four faculty members stand out as advocates for me, and were instrumental in helping me define and discover my potential and passion in the architecture industry.

David Block was a former collegiate student athlete and successful residential architect who I will always have gratitude for. Without him as an advocate, Im not sure what my career would be like, because I would have transferred to another school and started off in a completely different environment. He was the earliest influence I had on design, professional practice and sustainability. He helped me build my confidence and ignore stereotypes related to architecture as a predominantly white profession.

Brenda Jones was the first Black faculty member I met at Iowa State. She was a visibly strong Black woman who was one of the best at what she did. She was in the Art department and I attribute the refinement in my rendering and drawing skills to her. My drawing capabilities and eye for compositions became a major key to my success as a designer.

Kate Schwennsen, who later became the Chair of the Architecture program and President of the American Institute of Architects, was one of my instructors. She pushed me. She supported me. And she inspired me. She was the first female licensed architect that I encountered and is a big part of why Ive become an advocate for gender equity on my teams and in my firm.

The late John Rice was initially one of the hardest on me about my athletic distractions. He was a tireless advocate that I acknowledge for giving foundation to my design process and design thinking. We would go on field trips, look at buildings, and talk about design, structure and proportions, as well as the interactions between interior, exterior and landscape architecture. Richey Madison, RA, NCARB, NOMA, is a principal in higher education & science+technology leader at Stantec in Irvine, California.

I look up to past and present industry leaders like Theaster Gates, Michael Reynolds, Buckminster Fuller, J. Max Bond Jr., Phil Freelon, Paul Revere Williams and Robert R Taylor. All of them have been thought leaders and have pushed the envelope beyond whats possible. They have questioned the rules that society has imposed on everyone and found ways to reframe those rules to achieve results that are worthy of respect. My mentors have been architects like Eddy Todd of Pensacola, Florida; Ken Casey of Chicago; Bryan Hudson of Chicago, a past president of NOMA, and Ian Smith of Philadelphia. They have all guided me in different ways and have encouraged me to stay in the profession. Dr. Kwesi Daniels, MArch, MSc Sust. Mgmt, ABD

Anzilla R. Gilmore. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

Anzilla R. Gilmore, FAIA, NOMA

Anzilla R. Gilmore is the assistant director for project management and engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas and is a founding member of the Houston chapter of NOMA.

I am very aware of my race in my experience practicing architecture and working as a project manager as an owners representative. It is rare to walk into a room and see anyone that looks like me. That can be isolating when you are young. But I think it has helped me to become more unapologetically Black. When I am the only one in a room, I like to believe that everyone there must know I am pretty special to have made it to the table, at least that it is what I tell myself.

I cannot say that the lack of diversity has been an obvious professional challenge for me. I suspect that is because I have never known anything other than what I am experiencing, so it is normalized. In fact, the lack of diversity has been the thing that drives me. I am driven to diversify the profession and have made it my lifes work. When I became licensed in 2004, I realized I had never met a Black female architect. I have done my best to be visible enough to the students and emerging professionals around me to make sure that no Black female in architecture can ever say they have not ever met a Black female architect.

I felt othered during my time in graduate school and as an intern at a large firm. My first interaction with my graduate advisor came with an insult to the degree I received from an HBCU. That set the tone for the rest of my time in that program; 4.5 years spent building confidence in my ability was quickly torn down at this majority institution. The firm I worked for was also not nurturing in any way. I liken it to a high school with popular kids: if you were not in the in-crowd, you would not succeed. The firm showed no interest in me or my future with the firm. The insecurities I developed during that experience as the only Black woman in that program and at that firm took years to shake.

I dont believe tokenism should be a concern. As long as universities are committed to producing capable professionals, no Black person should feel like a token and no one should assume they are a token. The idea that the handful of Black students that make it through the rigors of an architecture program would somehow only get a job because of tokenism is in itself offensive. I have never felt like a token because I know I am capable, talented and worthy.

Jason Pugh. Graphic design by Katie Brown.

On Actionable Ways the Industry Should Change

Our profession needs an expanded view of successful design. Great design is often viewed through a euro-centric, elite-focused prism. Projects that serve/transform communitiesoften with extremely small budgets/limited resources available for designare regularly overlooked during awards cycles. These, coincidentally, are typically the projects that many small Black-, women- or other minority-owned firms work on. The self-generated perception that the architecture profession hyper-values highly visible buildings produced for wealthy/elite patrons and/or public clientele has disconnected us from society and, in my opinion, rendered mute our voices in shaping society. Renauld Deandre Mitchell, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, is managing partner of the Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices of Moody Nolan, the largest Black-owned firm in the United States.

There are many of us who did not come from a solid foundationwe are building from scratch on a very shaky one. We dont come from inheritances, connections, or parents who are college graduates. The removal of racist monuments is slight progress, but the actual work will come when we remove racist systems. When that happens, the industry can take the necessary steps toward equity. It should be a common practice to provide opportunities for minorities to lead, individually and in joint ventures. Society should revisit systemic barriers in promotion policies and companies should diversify their boards of directors. Universities should diversify those who are considered scholars as well as their notions of scholarship. Bring in professionals to train your leadership, professors and employees on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Tiffany D. Brown, Assoc. AIA, M.B.A, NOMA, is a project manager at SmithGroup, executive manager at NOMA, founding member of NOMA Detroit and the founder of 400 Forward, a nonprofit that introduces young girls to architecture and helps guide them to become licensed architects.

Whitney M. Young, the past president of the National Urban League, said it best in his 1968 keynote address to the American Institute of Architects: Only when our profession reflects the demographic composition of the society that we serve will we truly be on the right track. Dr. Kwesi Daniels, MArch, MSc Sust. Mgmt, ABD

Interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

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15 Architects On Being Black In Architecture - Cultured Magazine

The UK government'splanning reform proposals, which were revealed yesterday, will fail to address the root causes of England's housing crisis according to architects and critics.

The government's Planning for the Future white paper, which aims to reform the planning system, prioritises the interests of developers over the building of good-quality, affordable housing, architects told Dezeen.

"The government are proposing to hand volume housebuilders the right to build whatever they want," warned architect Charles Holland. "This is unlikely to be either beautiful or affordable."

"While there's no doubt the planning system needs reform, these shameful proposals do almost nothing to guarantee the delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes," said RIBA president Alan Jones.

White paper aims to fast-track development

In the Planning for the Future report, the government laid out proposals for ways to fast-track schemes that conform to pre-set beauty standards or will be built in areas earmarked for development.

Prime minister Boris Johnson called the proposals "radical reform unlike anything we have seen since the second world war". The current planning system was created in 1947.

But the proposals are an attempt to "destroy" the planning system, according to Dezeen columnist Owen Hatherley, who noted that while affordable housing was a focus of the white paper, the question of social housing was conspicuously absent.

"Since 2010, the government has had only one idea for planning," he said. "To attempt to at once destroy it and social housing along with it, while also preserving the pickled villages and protected landscapes that make up the Tory base."

"There's not enough provision for social housing"

Co-founder of architecture firm dRMM Sadie Morgan called on the industry to "make the best of the reforms proposed" but agreed that there "are aspects in the reforms that are of concern", especially relating to social housing.

"There's not enough provision for social housing, which needs much greater investment," Morgan told Dezeen.

"The target for carbon-neutral homes by 2050 is too slow and design codes are only ever as good as the client and architect who interpret them,".

"But I do welcome the commitment to good design; the involvement of local people in the planning process as early as possible; and the recognition of local services through a hopefully non-negotiable infrastructure levy," added Morgan, who was given an OBE for services to the advocacy of design in the built environment.

Housing crisis caused by "structural inequalities"

The report aims to tackle the housing crisis afflicting the UK, with an estimated 8.4 million people living in unaffordable or insecure houses according to the National Housing Federation.

The possibility of scrapping section 106 a legal agreement between a planning applicant and the planning authority to provide infrastructure to make an otherwise unacceptable planning application acceptable was floated in the paper.

The plans would turn the existing community infrastructure levy into a single tax based on floor space that would be paid by the developer to the local authority upon occupation. A discount would be available for including affordable homes in developments.

"While the government has identified a lack of affordable housing as a major problem, this isn't an effective plan to deal with it," Holland told Dezeen.

"The white paper blames the planning process for delays and blocks to housing development and therefore proposes deregulation as the answer," he added.

"The housing crisis is really about structural inequalities between different areas of the UK. What we should be doing is addressing how to create jobs and places to live across the country as a whole."

"Marginalisation of architects here is shocking"

The proposals also marginalise the opinion of architects, according to Holland.

"It is also very noticeable how absent architects and architecture is from government thinking," he said. "If you want to increase the quality of housing design in the UK then the marginalisation of architects here is shocking."

RIBA president Jones agreed that the proposals missed the point, warning the changes could "lead to the creation of the next generation of slum housing".

"The housing crisis isn't just about numbers, and deregulation won't solve it," he said.

"If the government is serious about addressing the dominant position of large housebuilders and the lack of quality social housing, the secretary of state needs to make changes to the tax system, look at why land approved for development lies untouched for years, and give local authorities power and resource to promote and safeguard quality."

The architecture community responded with similar energy last year when the government announced its commission into improving design quality. The Building Better, Building Beautiful final report eventually recommended the fast-track for beautyincluded in the Planning for the Future document.

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UK government attempting to "destroy" planning system say architects and critics - Dezeen