[ad_1]
Two HOK leaders talk about how they are extending architects’ influence beyond traditional boundaries.
Director of strategic relations Kimberly Dowdell (left) and resilient sustainable design leader Michele L. Van Hyfte (right) are redefining the traditional role of architects. Their careers demonstrate how architects can drive positive change beyond architecture to shape communities, policy and more.
Dowdell, the 2024 president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and former president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), frequently advocates for equity and social change through architecture. Based in Chicago, she builds bridges across disciplines, connecting design firms, clients, professional organizations, developers, government agencies, and academia. Dowdell co-founded Socio-Economic Environmental Design (SEED) in 2005 to promote sustainable development. She co-chairs HOK’s Diversity Advisory Council, co-founds HOK Impact, the corporate social responsibility arm, and provides mentoring to emerging leaders.
Based at HOK’s Austin studio, Van Hyfte has an extensive background in sustainable and resilient design, including leading urban design, planning and policy initiatives at the Downtown Austin Alliance. Prior to that, as director of sustainability at Seton Healthcare Family (now Ascension, Texas), she pioneered industry-leading sustainability programs for the organization’s facility design, construction and operations. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Austin Area Advisory Council, chair of the updated Climate Impact Strategy Committee, and is chair of the board of directors of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.
In this conversation, Dowdell and Van Heft share their thoughts on the evolving role of the architect.
How has your non-traditional career path influenced your approach to architecture?
Kimberley: My mission to improve people’s quality of life through design began very early, from wanting to improve the Detroit community as a middle school student to founding a nonprofit design organization called SEED in college. This drive to create positive change has led me to roles in construction, government, community development, teaching, and real estate. My time working for the City of Detroit reinforced that policy decisions determine what gets built. Earning a Masters in Public Administration taught me how real estate fits into all the other challenges faced within the public sector. These diverse experiences enable me to tackle construction challenges of varying scales – from grassroots community housing to commercial town center regeneration.
Michelle: I grew up on a farm in rural Illinois and have always felt pulled between appreciating nature and the city, and seeking ways to allow both to flourish. Designing and building sustainably becomes an inherent mission. My early green initiatives and desire for leadership led me to found a construction company dedicated to sustainability long before sustainability became mainstream. Subsequent roles fueled my passion for improving communities through sustainability, policy, urban planning and economic development lenses.
Can you share an early experience that sparked your interest in advocacy or showed you the power of advocacy?
Kimberley: One of my formative experiences occurred during my fifth year in architecture school when Hurricane Katrina hit. At the time, Cornell welcomed displaced Tulane students to transfer and continue their studies. I wrote a letter to the provost saying that we should also invite students from the affected HBCUs. Soon after, students from other universities were invited. I feel encouraged to realize that my letter is helping to achieve this goal. I have seen firsthand the impact of the initiative. Early experiences like this can help people understand the power of their own voices and inspire them to find other ways to express their opinions.
Michelle: During my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, a studio project funded by a community development grant had a profound impact on me. It showed me how design intersects with policy, funding, land use and community needs. While working with disadvantaged low-income communities, I realized that public policy can help those in need. It’s humbling because you soon realize you’re just a grain of sand on the beach. But you may be lucky enough to be able to use your voice to make a change. It’s inspiring to see how advocacy combined with good design can improve people’s lives.
How has your architectural education influenced your career?
Kimberley: My ten semesters at architecture school developed a high level of personal resilience. You’re immediately thrown into the fire and have to figure it out. It also allows me to frequently tackle new challenges and break down complex problems into manageable parts. My university also encouraged us to take courses outside of architecture, which helped me broaden my horizons and even pursue different areas of study in graduate school. The diversity of my educational experiences has had a significant impact on my career trajectory.
Michelle: Architectural education prepares students to be ultimate problem solvers—our greatest skill. If you are a good strategic thinker and problem solver, you can excel in many positions. However, in the early 1990s, architectural education prioritized becoming a great designer and did not help students understand how to apply their skills in different contexts. Therefore, I sought out courses, professors, and extracurricular activities that would expose me to professional practice, advocacy, and urban planning. These experiences taught me how I can make a positive impact outside of my role as a designer.
Can you share how advocacy and public policy influence your work?
Kimberley: I have always had the ability to identify problems and work with others to find solutions. Before I decided to go into architecture at the age of 11, I wanted to be a doctor to help people. As I learned about architecture in art class, I began to believe that if we could improve the built environment, we could help heal people on a larger scale. Today, I live in Chicago, a city where the life expectancy gap between the north and south sides is 30 years. I find this disparity deeply disturbing. In response, I pose a question to our industry: What can we do to better protect the public’s health, safety and welfare? Although I am not involved in day-to-day operations, this is SEED’s mission: to advance everyone’s right to live in socially, economically, and environmentally healthy communities. How do we increase the efforts of the individuals, organizations, institutions and companies involved in this important work?
When I joined HOK in 2008, a small group of young emerging architects helped create HOK Impact to organize and expand our global social responsibility activities. I currently co-chair the HOK Diversity Advisory Committee. We launched HOK Tapestry to help MWBE-owned companies and other disadvantaged companies build more relationships and expand opportunities. As Director of Strategic Relations, I’m constantly looking for ways to connect what’s happening across different parts of our company and in the wider community. This includes fostering connections with local officials and partners and emphasizing the importance of climate action and equity in our field.
As president of the American Institute of Architects this year, one of my goals is to elevate the role of architects in civic discourse and policy development. One way I do this is by urging America’s mayors to appoint a chief architect to serve as a key advisor on issues facing the built environment.
Michelle: At Seton Healthcare (now part of Ascension, Texas), I led a project to define what it meant to be a green hospital system, aligning health care delivery with sustainable design principles and practices. I was also part of the team building a new teaching hospital at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. In these projects, I see the impact of my previous advocacy for healthy materials and building systems standards with USGBC and AIA.
My advocacy leadership with the Downtown Austin Alliance highlights the impact of urban revitalization and quality public spaces on community well-being. This role allows me to be a voice alongside citizens and institutional decision-makers to drive socially focused outcomes.
Policies must be forward-looking and anticipate future problems. More importantly, they must respond to the present and learn the lessons of the past. I apply these experiences to my resiliency work at HOK as we face a changing climate. My goal is to create future-proof, adaptable design strategies for critical community assets. Being an advocacy leader is an important part of shaping the built environment. If policies are not in place, your design will not be realized. I know this from serving on major advocacy committees at USGBC, AIA, and community advisory groups. I have experienced some great successes and failures at the local, county and state levels. Look at how much collaboration in policy development is transformative.
Should advocacy and activism be promoted more within the design profession and practice?
Kimberley: Absolutely. While not all designers will be inclined to advocate, raising awareness of its power can spur more training and participation. Empowering people, especially emerging professionals, with advocacy skills expands empowerment. By giving designers greater power to create positive change, everyone benefits.
Michelle: Architects’ design thinking and problem-solving skills are valuable for advocacy leadership. Our human-centered and nature-centered design perspective delivers exceptional value. Exposure and involvement attract natural advocates. Mentors brought me into this world by seeing strengths I never saw in myself. We can tell others, “You’re already an advocate—you just don’t know it yet!” My frequent experience as the only architect in the room gives me the motivation, knowledge, and confidence to contribute uniquely to the conversation contribution. I will always encourage architects to get involved in public policy.
[ad_2]
Source link