Iowa Women in Architecture 2021 Year in Review
Iowa Women in Architecture
2021 Year in Review
Feeling the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, our membership and event participation both saw declines this year. However, our community of volunteers and advocates practiced resiliency and flexibility as we maintained a primarily virtual program offering in the first half of the year. Late summer and early fall brought the addition of hybrid events (virtual with an in-person option).
September 2021 officially kicked off the tenth year of Iowa Women in Architecture. Ahead of celebrating this milestone, we found it important to take a moment to pause. Our community is going through a period of rapid cultural and social change. This organization has always promised difficult conversations – asking the tough questions in order to make real, positive change. How can we ensure that iaWia is evolving and providing positive personal and professional growth, ten years later? To answer this, the iaWia Board of Directors embarked on an ongoing organizational strategic planning process, outlined in this report.
THANK YOU 2020-2021 CORPORATE MEMBERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHO’S A MEMBER OF IAWIA?
Women, men, architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers, construction managers, marketing strategists, graphic designers, lighting designers, HR staff, anyone who wants to increase the number of women retained in design and construction fields by supporting, empowering, and celebrating women in opportunities to lead, learn, and share.
THE TIME IS NOW THEME
As the organization enters its tenth year, the concept of time became a reoccurring theme. When the organization was first created there were even bigger discrepancies in the percentage of licensed female architects compared to male counterparts. As seen in the diagrams on the following pages this has only slightly improved since the founding of this organization. As we began looking forward we found ourselves wondering “what’s next?” In the last ten years, the world has seen many cultural shifts and social/civil rights movements that impact our everyday lives and the design and construction industry including events such as the Me Too movement, and more recently, a global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement calling for social justice reform, racial equality, and an end to police brutality.
In efforts to foster open conversation and collaboration among peers in the design industry, we developed a social series in which members get together to examine relevant topics that promote ongoing discussion within the discipline. In the workbook and corresponding group discussions, we explored how the concept of time impacts our lives through reading material that has been thoughtfully gathered and collated into 5 content areas. These 5 themes explored the concept of time as an experience and how our built environment can affect this experience. We explore time in the general sense of work-life balance and time management. We also explored how time can impact design –and subsequently vice versa even when we don’t expect it to. The last section reflected on how the role and experiences of women in design and construction have changed over time. Iowa Women is in our tenth year as an organization, and we have been doing a lot of reflecting. We looked back on our time leading change in the design professions with much pride, but now more than ever we know that real change takes accountability, education, and action. We decided that we must use this momentum to guide us through the next ten years!
EVENTS
Kick-off Event & Annual Business Meeting - Past Chair, Eli Goll gave the annual business meeting address. Eli introduced the theme for next year’s events and Workbook, titled “The time is NOW.” The keynote speaker was Imani Day and the topic was discussed by Diversity in Architecture. The event was 100% Virtual via Zoom.
iaWia Board of Directors Transition & Kick-off Meeting - The event was held at Gravitate Co-Working Space. The Board of Directors met for formal transitioning of officers followed by a goal planning session for the 2020-2021 year. The group discussed board goals, committee chair goals, Bylaws, local and national speaking, opportunities and picked the date and time for monthly board meetings.
Breakfast Social - Time as an Experience - Articles discussed included: iaWia Founding Member Ann Sobiech Munson wrote an introduction to this chapter entitled: “Time, Light, Statue,” “Who is Afraid of Waiting?” by Marc Wittmann, Ph.D. (2018), “The Hidden Ways that Architecture Affects how you Feel” by Michael Brand (2017). The virtual meeting was moderated by Jamie Horwitz, Iowa State University.
Redlining in our Communities - Panel Discussion - The event was moderated by Education & Programming Committee co-chair Maddie Bany, (OPN Architects) Our panelists were Kendyl Larson (Undesign the Redline DSM), Colin Gordon (Professor of American Public Policy, US History at the University of Iowa), and Teree Cadlwell-Johnson (CEO at Oakridge Neighborhood and Chair of the Directors Council). The event was via Zoom.
Breakfast Social - The Future of Design - “How Architecture Could Help Us Adapt to the Pandemic?” by Kim Tingley (2020) was discussed at the event. The virtual event was moderated by Maddie Bany, Education & Programs Committee Co-chair.
UnHappy Hour - iaWia collaborated on this annual networking event with Polk Couty Women Attorneys. The event was hybrid. Food and beverages were thanks to Peace Tree Brewing and Cyd’s Catering. The virtual presentation featured Judge Mary Pat Gunderson and Kiersten Walker.
Breakfast Social - Managing Time - The articles discussed were “Productivity isn’t about Time Management. It’s about Attention Management.” by Adam Grant (2019) and “3 Mother Architects Winning at both Parenting and Planning” by Jack Valderrama Morley. The virtual discussion was moderated by Kelly Altes, Principal, IMEG Corp.
Development Bike Tour - iaWia collaborated with CREW & the Street Collective to host a bike tour with stops at (5) areas of new development. Each offered a tour and guide to describe the recent work. The tour ended with a combined happy hour at Jasper Winery. Tour stops included: Lauridsen Amphitheater, Ruan Connector, Gray’s Station, Lauridsen Skate Park, and Krause Gateway Center.
Breakfast Social - How Time Impacts Design - Articles discussed were “Landscapes Over Time” by Michael Van Valkenburgh with William S. Saunders (2013), “How Design Affects our Lives” by Arun Rath (2017). This virtual discussion was moderated by Laura Kessel, Senior Partner, RDG.
Celebrating 10 Years of iaWia - We hosted a moderated Panel Discussion featuring three of the four founding members of Iowa Women in Architecture to learn more about their goals for the organization ten years ago, and where they see the organization’s potential impact in the future. The event was moderated by Education & Programming Committee co-chair Maddie Bany, (OPN Architects). Our panelists included Danielle Hermann (OPN Architects), Erin Olson-Douglas (City of Des Moines), and Ann Sobiech Monson (City of Des Moines). The event was hosted at the Des Moines Botanical Center with an option for Lunch.
Breakfast Social - Experiences & Roles of Women in Architecture, Past to Present - The articles discussed included: iaWia Founding Member Danielle Hermann wrote an introduction to this chapter entitled: “Progress and Purpose”, “Room at the Top?” by Denise Scott Brown (1989, published 2015), and “Closing the Architecture Leadership Gender Gap” by Zach Mortice (2019). The virtual meeting with moderated by Katy Susong CEO and President at Cardinal Construction Inc.
Board of Director Volunteer Event (WeCare) - The Board of Directors Volunteered their time to support WeCare, an event organized by Pigott and Herman Miller that seeks to provide children with crafts to assemble which may also double as gifts to family members. This year, iaWia assembled 45 craft and ornament kits with instructions which were then distributed for socially distanced crafting children in Boys & Girls Clubs in both Central and Eastern Iowa.
EASTERN IOWA COMMITTEE - CEDAR RAPIDS / IOWA CITY
This year, the Board of Directors voted to officially instate the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City leaders as an official iaWia Committee (Ex-Officio). Chairs have been championing re-growth in the second half of 2021 as participation in this area halted due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Accomplishments:
The first social had a great turnout with 12 in attendance including professionals and students from Kirkwood College’s Interior Design program.
The first networking social was held on December 8th, 2021, at Cedar
Ridge Winery.
STUDENT CHAPTER
The iaWia Student Chapter aims to build mentorship opportunities with those in iaWia while still in school. Student Group Liaison, Emma Van Zante has been leading the charge since 2020. The main objectives for the year were to boost morale, gain membership, and host events.
Accomplishments:
Surveyed existing and potential student members for interests related to programming and participation.
Provided Student of the Month information for iaWia Newsletters in collaboration with the Communications & Outreach Committee.
Continued social media presence (@iowastateiawia on Instagram
Events:
Goal Getter Event - The virtual event discussed becoming a young entrepreneur, setting goals, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. Allison Wettig, New Wave Clothing in Omaha was the speaker.
Pro Group Event - The virtual event was a Q&A event with professional members.
ISU Arch. Professional Development Workshops - iaWia Students collaborated with AIAS and NOMAS student groups. This event was in preparation for the College of Design (CoD) career fair.
Portfolio + Resume Review /Discussion & Interview / Application Q&A - Various professionals were in attendance.
Campus Scavenger Hunt - The event took place at the Iowa State University campus. Social distance socialization event welcomed students back to school.
Adopt a Campus Clean-Up Event - This event was in collaboration with AIAS and NOMAS student groups.
Welcome Back Picnic Event - The event was hosted on the CoD lawn.
ACE SCHOLARSHIP
Cade Hoover, a senior at Urbandale High School, participated in the ACE Mentor Program for three years. He was awarded a $2,000 scholarship on behalf of AIA Iowa and Iowa Women in Architecture. Cade plans to attend Iowa State University to study engineering. This year, ACE was able to provide 12 scholarships to high school seniors totaling $30,000!
AIA IOWA FALL CONFERENCE - WORKSHOP PRESENTATION
IAWIA hosted a workshop at the AIA Iowa Fall Convention on Thursday. The panel discussion topic was Empowering Women, 10 Years Later. The topics and moderated questions focused on work-life balance, issues related to equity and inclusion, lessons from prominent women leaders in the AEC industry and programs firms are implementing to support employees from a mental health perspective. A recording
Kari Boyens (IMEG, iaWia Vice Chair) was the moderator. The panelists were the following:
Mindy Aust, MA Architecture
Laura Kessel, RDG Planning & Design
Kelley Altes, IMEG Corp.
Annette Renaud, McGough Construction
Amy Fetters, McGough Construction - Amy volunteered her time to help prepare the list of questions and discussion topics but was unable to attend the event due to a conflict.
A recording of this discussion is available upon request.