Roberta Washington
{{Short description|American architect}}
{{Infobox architect
| name = Roberta Washington
| image =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Howard University
Columbia University
| practice = Roberta Washington Architects
}}
Roberta Washington {{post-nominals|list=FAIA}}, {{post-nominals|list=NOMA}}, is an American architect. She founded the firm Roberta Washington Architects in 1983,{{Cite web|title=APDesign, NOMAS present architect Roberta Washington|url=https://www.k-state.edu/ksuniteweekly/announcement/?id=51473|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.k-state.edu|language=en-US}} which, at the time, was one of very few architecture firms in the United States led by an African-American woman.{{Cite web|last=Syrkett|first=Asad|date=2017-02-22|title=16 architects on why race matters in the profession|url=https://archive.curbed.com/2017/2/22/13843566/minority-architects-diversity-architecture-solutions-advice|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Curbed|language=en}} She was a Commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission from 2007 to 2015.{{Cite web|title=APDesign, NOMAS present architect Roberta Washington|url=https://www.k-state.edu/ksuniteweekly/announcement/?id=51473|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.k-state.edu|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=LPC - About the LPC - Meet the Commissioners - Roberta Washington|url=https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/index.page|accessdate=2015-10-19|website=www.nyc.gov}} She is a past President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (1997){{Cite web|last=Rogers|first=Mr|date=2007-05-02|title=NOMA Counsel Online: NOMAC Profile: Roberta Washington|url=http://nomacounsel.blogspot.com/2007/09/noma-counsel-member-roberta-washington.html|access-date=2021-02-23|website=NOMA Counsel Online}} and is a Director and Treasurer of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Foundation.{{Cite web|title=the NOMA Foundation – Official online presence of the NOMA Foundation|url=https://www.noma-foundation.org/|access-date=2021-02-23|language=en-US}} She has been a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 2006.{{Cite web |title=Architecture Graduates Elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects {{!}} Howard University - College of Engineering and Architecture |url=http://www.cea.howard.edu/news/architecture-graduates-elevated-college-fellows-american-institute-architects |access-date=2021-02-23 |website=www.cea.howard.edu}}
Early life and education
Washington received her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1970 from Howard University.{{cite book|authorlink1="Roberta Washington"|title=Who's Who Among African Americans|date=2011|publisher=Gale|location=Detroit}}{{Cite web|title = Roberta Washington {{!}} The Network Journal|url = http://www.tnj.com/25-Influential-black-women/2004/roberta-washington|website = www.tnj.com|accessdate = 2015-10-19}}{{Cite web|title = AIA New York Chapter : Calendar|url = http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=8057|website = cfa.aiany.org|accessdate = 2015-10-19}}{{Cite web|title=Architecture Graduates Elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects {{!}} Howard University - College of Engineering and Architecture|url=http://www.cea.howard.edu/news/architecture-graduates-elevated-college-fellows-american-institute-architects|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.cea.howard.edu}} She completed a Master of Architecture degree at Columbia University in 1971.{{Cite web|title=Meet Two Pioneering Black Women Architects|url=https://news.columbia.edu/news/meet-pioneering-black-women-architects|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Columbia News|language=en}} She received a full scholarship from Columbia University along with 25 other African-American students as a response to its campus riots in 1968.{{Cite web|title=Roberta Washington {{!}} BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT|url=https://www.beyondthebuilt.com/roberta-washington|access-date=2021-02-23|website=BeyondtheBuilt.com|language=en}} After earning her master's degree, she spent four years working on hospital and housing projects in Mozambique.{{Cite book|title = Designing for Diversity: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the Architectural Profession|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qqo2LXIaW7YC|publisher = University of Illinois Press|date = 2001-01-01|isbn = 9780252026416|language = en|first = Kathryn H.|last = Anthony}}
During her education, she was active in organizations including the Women's Caucus at the American Institute of Architects and Alliance of Women in Architecture.{{Cite web|title=Roberta Washington {{!}} BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT|url=https://www.beyondthebuilt.com/roberta-washington|access-date=2021-02-23|website=BeyondtheBuilt.com|language=en}} Forming bonds with fellow architects helped inspire Washington to work to ensure legacies of Blacks and women aren't lost. She has been researching and writing about architects Beverly Loraine Green{{Cite web|title=Meet Two Pioneering Black Women Architects|url=https://news.columbia.edu/news/meet-pioneering-black-women-architects|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Columbia News|language=en}} and Georgia Louise Harris Brown since 1997.{{Cite web|title = Feature: Roberta Washington, FAIA, Makes A Place - Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation|url = http://www.bwaf.org/roberta-washington-faia-makes-a-place/|website = Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation|accessdate = 2015-11-11|language = en-US}}
Washington was elected to the board of directors of the Society of Architectural Historians in 2021.{{Cite web|title=SAH Announces Incoming Board Members for 2021|url=https://www.sah.org/about-sah/news/sah-news/news-detail/2021/01/11/sah-announces-incoming-board-members-for-2021|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.sah.org}} She is a member of the Board of Directors of Save Harlem Now.{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Save Harlem Now!|url=http://www.saveharlemnow.org/?page_id=42|access-date=2021-02-23|language=en-US}} She served on Community Board 10 in Central Harlem where she was chair of the Housing Committee and co-chair of the Land Use Committee.{{Cite web|title=Roberta Washington {{!}} BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT|url=https://www.beyondthebuilt.com/roberta-washington|access-date=2021-02-23|website=BeyondtheBuilt.com|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|url=http://www.noma.net/article/255/happenings/news/an-interview-with-roberta-washington-faia-nomac|title=An interview with Roberta Washington, FAIA, NOMAC|publisher=National Organization of Minority Architects}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Roberta}}
Category:American women architects
Category:Howard University alumni
Category:Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation alumni
Category:African-American architects
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)