He, She, They, Architect: A Gender and Identity Open Mic Forum

In this third segment of The Howl series—an ongoing series of open mic forums at the Center for Architecture—designers are invited to share personal perspectives on gender and identity and how it may have had a dramatic impact on their views of the built environment and professional development as designers. Co-hosted by the AIANY Committee on Residential Architecture and AIA Brooklyn's Custom Residential Architects Network, this will be a multimedia forum to explore the relationship between gender, identity, and our perception of architecture through short films as well as prepared and spontaneous short stories.

Gender and identity have always played a role in the way the most seminal designers and their careers came into being. To set the stage for an evening of storytelling, The Howl 3 (He, She, They, Architect) will be launched with an introduction to this timely opportunity to stand up and speak out for the value of diversity. Using clips of filmed interviews and readings, we'll present personal stories shared by Sheila Bridges, Zaha Hadid, Philip Johnson, and Frank Lloyd Wright. As the evening progresses, moderators Abriannah Aiken and Matthew Bremer, AIA, will draw audience members into the conversation, inviting participants to share their views and experiences. As both a live and virtual forum, the event allows for spontaneous participation at the Center for Architecture, at work, or at home.

This program offers a safe space where everyone’s personal identity and perspectives are acknowledged and appreciated. Discrimination, prejudice, and gaslighting are hurtful and are not tolerated. Please join us for an interactive learning experience—a celebration of diversity and an opportunity for each to share his, her, their personal story.

At this open-mic forum, we will celebrate the value of every individual’s unique point of view by sharing short, three- to four-minute-long personal stories. We encourage all to support our impassioned storytellers and to share your own passion. If you have a personal story that you may like to tell or have any questions regarding the forum or format, please feel free to contact Dennis Wedlick at dwedlick@barliswedlick.com and Namita Modi at nmodi@modiarch.com.

Speakers:
Abriannah Aiken, Designer Associate, DLR Group; Co-founder, Architecture + Advocacy
Matthew Bremer, AIA, Founder, Architecture in Formation; 2023 President, AIA New York

About the Speakers:
Abriannah Aiken is co-author of Disappearing Queer Spaces, a book documenting important queer landmarks from the Harlem Renaissance and co-founder and New York Operations Officer of Architecture + Advocacy, an organization that works to un-design spatial injustice in the built environment through community workshops and design builds. As a Manhattan-based Designer Associate at the DLR Group, her work is focused on the design of cultural and performing arts buildings and urban planning. Her work with Feminist Spatial Practices, a community of architects, designers, and practitioners working towards gender equity in the built environment, was recently featured as part of the Chronograms symposium and exhibition organized by e-flux Architecture and the Jencks Foundation.

Matthew Bremer, AIA, is founder and principal of Architecture in Formation. Based in New York City and Hudson Valley, the firm has won multiple local and national awards and recognition for its residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Bremer has taught architecture around the country, and in 2009 was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the national Young Architects Award. In 2023, Bremer served as President of AIA New York and prioritized equity for marginalized design professionals, which resulted in the formation of the AIANY LGBTQIA+ Alliance, creating space to give voice to the value of diversity and inclusion within the chapter and throughout all the city and state of New York.