mission

ARCHITEXX is a 501c3 non-profit organization for GENDER EQUITY in architecture transforming the profession by bridging the academy and practice.

We are a CROSS-GENERATIONAL group of academics and practitioners, and our organization is dedicated to the advancement of all women-identified, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and allied individuals.

We encourage and promote the LEADERSHIP AND RETENTION of women in the discipline.

We are redefining what contemporary success is, how VALUE is understood and compensated.

We work to increase DIVERSITY.

We facilitate and support OPEN DIALOGUE, content, conversations, that will inspire a new generation of design professionals to see themselves as AGENTS OF CHANGE by looking at the past to see new ways forward.

FOUNDERS

LORI BROWN

Lori Brown’s design, speculative work, and teaching all engage with the larger idea of broadening the discourse and involvement of architecture in our world. Focusing particularly on the relationships between architecture and social justice issues, she has currently placed emphasis on gender and its impact upon spatial relationships. She fervently believes there should be just as many women as men in positions of leadership within the discipline of architecture however her experiences in both the profession and now in academia demonstrate we are nowhere even close. For these reasons, she was interested in creating an organization that would foster, mentor and create opportunities to bridge between the academy and practice for women architects, designers and students of all ages.

She curated, organized and participated in Feminist Practices, an international group of women designers and architects whose work engages feminist methodologies which was published as an edited book, Feminist Practices: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Women in Architecture by Ashgate in December 2011. Her most recent book Contested Space: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters and Hospitals investigates how legislation affects politicized and securitized spaces was published in June 2013 by Ashgate. Brown received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology where she spent her final year studying at the Ecole d’Architecture in Paris. Following, she received a Master of Architecture degree from Princeton University. Prior to teaching, Brown was working as an architect in New York City for several award-winning firms including Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, Gwathmey Siegel Associate Architects and Hali Weiss Architects. She is a registered architect in the state of New York, a member of the American Institute of Architects and an associate professor of architecture at Syracuse University.

NINA FREEDMAN

As of January 2016, co-founder, Nina Freedman, transitions from the Architexx Leadership and Board of Directors in order to focus on her new practice, Dreamland Creative Projects and teaching commitments. Nina will remain as an external adviser to Architexx in areas of mentorship, and alternative practices. Her current work and news can be found at www.dreamlandcreativeprojects.com

ARCHITEXX BOARD MEMBERS

We are exploring a modern, holistic, evolved, model of interaction in ARCHITEXX. This is new to those of us who have been conditioned by established workplace process. The bridging of academy and practice, a core mission of our group, is instructive for our own internal dynamic group structure. We embrace philosophical differences and interests and support conversation. We come face to face with the joys and challenges of collaboration. Accordingly, our organizational structure is organic and evolving. We ask ourselves the question of HOW? internally first. We listen. We recognize the wisdom in not in knowing all the answers and the value of patience. The right solutions and structure will come. In other words, what we are taking on as a mission -- rethinking institutional hierarchies and conventional models of practice -- we are taking on ourselves. Our organization encourages participation by all members and supportive of member-driven initiatives. After all, we couldn’t do it without you, and believe change happens from the inside out.