ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE The National Organization of Minority Architects Shines the Spotlight on Dina A. Griffin

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) expands its efforts through a new platform, NOMA Voices. The first feature for NOMA Voices highlights Dina A. Griffin, FAIA, NOMA, IIDA, NCARB.

Dina became president of Interactive Design Architects (IDEA) in 1999. Under her leadership, along with partners Charles Young and Robert Larsen, IDEA has successfully completed a multitude of projects for a variety of clients. Dina has been instrumental in bolstering the firm’s commitment to collaboration and the opportunity to create, learn and interact with other thought leaders in the profession. The firm has partnered with internationally renowned firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, HOK and Renzo Piano Building Workshop. In 2016, IDEA was awarded The African American Cultural Center project at Dina’s alma mater, the University of Illinois. That same year, IDEA was selected to join the team of Tod Williams|Billie Tsien Architects to design the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

Dina’s belief that change is inspired through leadership has motivated her active involvement both within and outside the profession. In addition to past leadership and board positions with the National Organization of Minority Architects and the American Institute of Architects, Dina currently serves on the Illinois Architect Licensing Board as Chair; treasurer for Region 4 of National Council for Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the International Interior Design Association; and the Advisory Board for Contract Magazine.

Reaching aspiring students is fundamental to Dina’s mission to encourage and guide minorities interested in building valuable careers in architecture. She is a sought after speaker, regularly presenting to schools and universities as well as to organizations including the AIA, NOMA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, Dina was the recipient of the IIDA Star Award, a Women in Design Honoree and was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of her service to the profession, and to society, through her dedicated outreach to minority architecture students and emerging professionals.

NOMA’s Q&A with Dina A. Griffin: NOMA’s Q&A with Dina A. Griffin:

How did you first become interested in architecture? Relative to one’s career in architecture and others I know who were a single digit age when they discovered they wanted to be an architect; I was not. It was much later to me. I was in high school at Kenwood Academy here in Chicago. At that time, the curriculum required us to take either an industrial education or home economics course. I unknowingly thought home economics was limited to baking and cooking. In high school I thought, there was no way I was taking this course. I have no interest in baking or cooking, and I still do not to this day. Ultimately, my decision was industrial education. I remember thinking, I will break a nail. I will get dirty. I will do carpentry, welding, and auto shop. However, that year, they decided to teach architectural drafting. Through a small sample, that was my first view into the profession. On the TV show The Brady Bunch, I watched Mike Brady as an architect, so I connected the dots, and I realized this is what I want to do!

All of this prompted me to choose architecture as my major in college. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign was where I ended up as a transfer student because I made my decision late. I started off at Western Illinois University where a professor of engineering basically told me that I had no chance of transferring to the University of Illinois, no chance to major in architecture, and no chance to become an architect. Of course, that fueled me. In this the congratulatory call that we won the project, I turned environment, I was the only person of color and the only away from the phone and said, “Somebody pinch me” as woman. I completed the course because I was required to, I teared up. Then, fast forward to the project kickoff meetin order to successfully transfer to the University of Illinois. ing, the same guy was in that meeting and said, “We chose

When did you first learn about NOMA? Please tell Dina for multiple reasons, but the passion for this project us about your first encounter and/or how you have been is here. For example, when I told her, they got the project, involved over the years? During my collegiate years, I did she asked somebody to pinch her.” I was like, “You heard not know such a thing as NOMA existed. I remember as an that?” He said, “Yes and it really matters to us that you care undergraduate, the students in the graduate program may so much about this project.” How could I not with this have mentioned NOMA to me, but I still was not involved project? After all, this is where my architectural education at all as a student. When I graduated, a few people told me comes from. To think, this all started because I did not about the organization because role models and mentors want to take home economics. were not easily accessible. They were extremely difficult to Do you recommend people become a member of NOMA, find in your place of business because more than likely you and if so, why? Of course I recommend people get involved are going to be one of the few there. with NOMA – especially at the student level. NOMA is

However, I remember my first NOMA meeting, dur- the camaraderie. NOMA is having the resources. What I ing which I met the late Ken Casey. I knew Eben Smith love about NOMA as an organization, if you start a new previously, and Herbert Wilson because we were working chapter or are a part of an existing chapter, you have access together. Attending my first meeting is where I learned to all that NOMA has access to. Empowering the students there were many others interested in this profession. I is just such a great mission of NOMA. The increase in believe I was licensed when I went to my first exposure is important in all of this. I am chair of the meeting. That is how late in my career I en- licensing board for the State of Illinois, and there countered NOMA. Shortly after, I became is nothing like attending as a board member president of NOMA for two years, and and hearing them mention NOMA as a colyou cannot be president without a lateral. NOMA, AIA, and NCARB are license. It was an honor for me. all mentioned at the same time. This is a Serving as president was one of testament to where NOMA is and where the best experiences because I NOMA’s trajectory is going because got exposed to the mission of there is no stopping this, and I am NOMA. very proud to see this happen.

How has NOMA impact- What advice do you have for our ed your professional trajec- NOMA membership as they begin tory? Let me repeat: NOMA their young careers? When I was is the reason I am where I am a student, the experience was not today in the profession. While smooth sailing for me. To be honI was speaking as president of est, I struggled and wished we had a one of our I-NOMA meetings, I NOMA chapter. However, one thing I met the former president of Interac- did do was speak up. I told the professor tive Design. Following that meeting, he of the challenges I was facing. My struggle promised he would call me, even though I was happy where I was. Long story short, Dina A. Griffin included wanting to quit the major. Once that professor, Art Kaha was aware of this, he said, he invited me to come in for an interview, “Okay, Dina I tell you what; instead of quitting and I was hired. Little did I know, I was being groomed right now, give it to the end of this semester. And if, by the to be president of the company in the future. I cannot end of the semester you do not feel that you have made any speak about my professional trajectory without mention- improvement to stay in this profession, then by all means ing mentorship. This is something that played a huge part you transfer out.” He continued, “Right now, let us focus on in my life after I became involved with NOMA. The lack your weaknesses, and you focus on your strengths.” Obviof mentors prior to my involvement helped me realize it ously, I stayed in the profession and became an architect. is our responsibility to help mentor others. Mentoring is I share that story so that I can express how important it is this big letter ‘M’ that comes in this huge package. Once for people to speak up and advocate for yourself. unpacked, it has to do with paving the way for others, but I recommend sharing your experience, because more than you can also be a mentor to peers. You can be a mentor likely someone else has gone through the same thing and to someone who has gone through something before you. can help you navigate through this. My biggest advice is What I like about mentoring is the constant giving and to advocate for yourself and reach out. Have a professional giving. I am proud to say that through the I-NOMA Men- mentor/mentee relationship. NOMA has made that more torship Program, I am a mentor to such fabulous people as accessible. Tiara Hughes, Kim Johnson, and Moid Ali. Mentoring is Dina, I believe I can speak for all of NOMA, when I something that can be done formally or informally, and say we are super excited to have you as the first feature for what I love about NOMA is that mentoring is threaded NOMA Voices. This new platform will emphasize the value through whatever programs are happening. It is all about of NOMA and assist our members, partners, supporters, helping people enter the profession of architecture, be and sponsors in understanding the value of NOMA. As prepared for the profession of architecture, and succeed a result, we are searching across the country to highlight in the profession of architecture. members like yourself who are integral to NOMA continued

Can you share some of your most meaningful work with success. This organization would not be what it is today NOMA? We have been fortunate enough to have some without members like you! ‘pinch me’ moments, as far as projects are concerned. The Well, thank you for this! I know one thing, I would not Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago with Renzo be where I am without NOMA, so it is truly an honor to Piano, the Obama Presidential Center, and of course the be the first voice for this feature. I am happy to contribute University of Illinois African American Cultural Center, in any way I can, because I’ve said this before – I owe my to name a few. career to NOMA.

For the Cultural Center, to have designed a building on the very campus that I earned my architectural education For more information about NOMA, is the epitome of a ‘pinch me’ moment. When I received please visit www.noma.net.

UH Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Breathable Skins” highlighting the concept of air and its complexities within architecture and design in the University of Texas School of Architecture’s CENTER 23 – AIR issue.

Within the publication, Professor Beneytez-Durán and other contributors, including Steven Connor, Sean Lally, Geoff Manaugh, David Gissen, Salvatore Basile, and Michael Benedikt, conceptualized the subject of air in different forms – sensual, metaphorical, and even metaphysical.

“It was really exciting to see that a topic so intangible, such as the one of air, has become tangible in the form of the book,” said Beneytez-Durán. “Having highly educated and renown scholars participating in making this topic present was astounding.”

The complexities of Beneyez-Durán’s chapter “Air: From Bodies to Breathable Skins” gives a retrospective point of view of the human body in context with the atmosphere. Beneyez-Durán incorporates the significance of anthropology and the history of air within the process of architectural design to display the relationship between these elements and how air challenges all our systems of understanding.

“This material is an extension of my Ph.D. dissertation focusing on the atmosphere as foreign in architecture,” said Beneytez-Durán. “I was very happy to work on this chapter because it put my research in context with some very important voices within the Architecture discipline.”

A native of Madrid, Spain, Beneytez-Durán joined the Hines College in 2019 as a professor of Architecture and Director of Undergraduate Architecture. He and his wife, Ophélia Mantz, operate Z4Z4, an architecture and design office located in Madrid and Houston.

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Professor and Director of Undergraduate Architecture Rafael Beneytez-Durán Ph.D. recently published the chapter “Air: From Bodies to Hines College Students Help Build School in Honduras

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Professor Dijana Handanovic and seven undergraduate Architecture students joined forces with Houston’s Awty International School and non-profit organization Schools for Children of the World (SCW) to raise money and build a new school in a rural Buenos Aires village, fifteen miles from Comayagua, Honduras.

Professor Handanovic and the students – Sarah Neiman, Morgan Mendenhall, Chris Nguyen, Sarah White, Andrew Medina, Edgar Castillo, and Steven Griffin – built a physical model of the Honduras school building envisioned by SCW. The students also produced several graphic representations, which were initially scheduled to be displayed at the annual Awty International Festival before the event’s cancellations due to COVID-19.

“It was nice to see our students interact and build a relationship with The Awty School students,” said Handanovic. “They were enthusiastic about this project and doing something good for the community in Honduras.”

SCW and Awty International students raised more than $23,000, with the total cost of construction for the project estimated to be $22,000.

Hines College undergraduate students initially planned to travel to Honduras for a week with Awty students this past summer to help build the school; however, due to the unprecedented pandemic, they could not see the project come to fruition in person. While the upcoming year is uncertain, everyone involved desires to continue involvement in projects impacting the global community, such as this one.

“I am proud of the relationship coming out of this project with the Awty School,” said Handanovic. “There was even talk about starting a program with Awty International upper-level students and University of Houston undergraduate students.”

The Hines College of Architecture and Design is known for its work in the community, including locally with its Community Design Resource Center and other partnerships worldwide.

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