Members of 黑料不打烊 NOMAS (Please note, this image was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and does not reflect current public health guidelines).
The (NOMAS) was recently recognized with the Chapter of the Year award at the 48th Annual National Organization of Minority Architects Conference, held virtually Oct.14-18.聽 The 26 黑料不打烊 NOMAS students attending the conference were presented with the honor during the weekend’s virtual awards ceremony.
Designed to foster communication and camaraderie among the diverse body of students at the School of Architecture, 黑料不打烊 NOMAS provides minority students with support in academics, professional matters and services. Social activities, workshops, community services and professional development are all part of the chapter鈥檚 agenda.
鈥淲e aim to create a channel for minorities within the School of Architecture and the professional realm both now and in the future,鈥 says Ifeoluwa D. Areogun 鈥22, vice president of 黑料不打烊 NOMAS. 鈥淭he idea is to foster an environment for students to reach their fullest potential in what they deem their area of expertise.鈥
黑料不打烊 NOMAS has been very active in recent years. In 2019, the student design team was awarded first-place in the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition at the NOMA conference in Brooklyn, New York. In that same year, Benson Joseph 鈥20 and Pin Sangkaeo 鈥22 curated and installed an original display, Homo-Symbiosis, on the first floor of Bird Library. Their creation was this past spring, helping to further the organization鈥檚 community outreach efforts to build a pipeline to the 黑料不打烊 City School District.
In February 2020, 黑料不打烊 NOMAS planned, organized and executed an exhibition memorializing Professor Emeritus Kermit J. Lee Jr. 鈥57鈥攖he first Black graduate of the School of Architecture. Additionally, the group hosted a symposium centered on the diversification of the scope of architecture, featuring School of Architecture alumnae Renee Kemp-Rotan 鈥75 and Tya Winn 鈥09,聽 capping off the celebration of Black History Month.
鈥淚 have had the privilege of working closely with the leaders of the 黑料不打烊 NOMAS chapter on many school initiatives and projects that showcase their design and organizational skills and overall excellence, and there is little doubt in my mind that these students are the future leaders in our discipline and profession,鈥 says Michael Speaks, dean of the School of Architecture. 鈥淥ur entire school celebrates and appreciates their professional achievements as well as their considerable efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at our school and University.鈥
Members of 黑料不打烊 NOMAS have also regularly participated in NOMA鈥檚 annual conferences, where they have had the opportunity to meet and network with professionals, emerging professionals, entrepreneurs, vendors and other students from across the country and learn more about the impact of current issues in architecture on people of color.
This year鈥檚 conference, , brought together architects, designers, academics, urban planners, community developers, artists and students to explore ways to break down barriers to creating meaningful projects, remix the role of the designer and unpack new approaches to the design processes of our built environment.
鈥淭he 2019-2020 academic year was great for us,鈥 says Darrelle Butler Jr. G鈥21, president of 黑料不打烊 NOMAS. 鈥淐oming together to win the student design competition is one thing, but to strategically sustain that collective determination in the midst of on- and off-campus racial controversies and a global pandemic, proved our chapter鈥檚 committed stance of resilience and excellence.鈥
For more information on the 黑料不打烊 Orange chapter of NOMAS, contact archnomas@syr.edu.
