24/Seven From left: Salam Rida, Laura Marie Peterson, Kimberly Dokes, Elise DeChard, Mollie Decker, Laura Walker, Ujijji Davis Williams, and Torri Smith. (Not pictured: Imani Day)
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. That hope and philosophy prompted nine Detroit-based female architects, architectural designers, and landscape architects to join forces last year in an effort to raise awareness of their work and the possibilities it represents for transforming Detroit. Their name, The New School, is a loose and tongue-in-cheek reference to the New York Five, a group of “old-school” white male architects popular in the 1970s, and to the fact that, according to the American Institute of Architects, more than 70% of registered architects identify as male. Members are Salam Rida of 9XS Design, Laura Marie Peterson of 1+1+ Architects, Kimberly Dokes of Dokes Design Architecture, Elise DeChard of END Studio, Mollie Decker of Subject Studio, Laura Walker of Other Work, Ujijji Davis Williams of JIMA Studio, Imani Day of RVSN Studios, and Torri Smith of ARC BAE. And they have more in common than just gender. The members “all sort of knew each other,” Dokes says, or at least of each other. “Our willingness to share resources naturally brought us together.” Smith agrees. “We all share interests and passions,” she says, including projects that focus on youth, mentoring, community, and sustainability. Beyond that, “we all have fun together,” she adds.
36 H OUR DE T R O I T.C O M
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TEAMING UP FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE
These nine owners of women-led architecture and design firms have joined forces to take on a big and small projects in Detroit BY KHRISTI ZIMMETH
Dokes says they hope not only to champion women in general, but also to give Black women architects the spotlight they deserve. “African American women represent less than 1%” of registered architects, she says. “We are a small group; it’s important to shine a light on that.” The group has begun marketing itself as “badass women, good ass design,” a slogan they hope expresses their strengths and their collective willingness to fight for what they believe in. “In this industry, you have to be a badass,” Dokes explains. “You can’t take no for an answer. You have to have some moxie. Once you feel good in that lane, you can take on anything.” Walker elaborates. “We’re a badass group because we will go to bat for the
disenfranchised,” she says. A perk, they say, is that together they have a relationship with the city where they can push back when necessary. “We’re badass because we advocate for ourselves and for others,” Rida adds. Much like a sisterhood, they encourage and console each other when needed, celebrating each other’s victories and mourning each other’s setbacks. “If I lose a project to one of the other members, at least I know the decision is working to transform the design culture in Detroit,” Walker says. DeChard shares that sentiment. “It’s not a me vs. you mentality,” she explains of the group ethos. “We’re sharing the load and sharing the wealth.” Ranging in age from their 30s into their PHOTO JOHN D’ANGELO