“There’s a gender norm of men being raised to build things. You see little boys playing with Legos, helping their dads build sheds, and going into construction as a summer job in high school. They have the advantage of being immersed in that vocabulary their entire lives.”
Construction workshops
Participating in hands-on learning is an important part of an ongoing design practice. On the surface, there is the benefit of advancing one’s knowledge and expertise relative to construction. Beyond that, following your curiosity and testing yourself in unfamiliar territory offers opportunities to experiment, problem solve and innovate in a safe, low-stakes environment. This new found empowerment is not only relegated to the shop, it is something of a super power that can be called up daily and effect change in your professional trajectory. Having intimate knowledge of tools, methods and how things are assembled or fabricated provides a language that affords better communication and more successful connection with all colleagues and collaborators in the building profession.
Locally there’s many opportunities for hands-on learning, so sign up for updates and bookmark our calendar of events to find your next class. Throughout the year Designers Build_pdx hosts a variety of workshops formulated to meet the needs of women in the profession of architecture. Classes are taught and hosted by local experts whose aim it is to provide not only hands-on training, but share current best practices & code related data; promoting respectful discourse and an open exchange of ideas.
Professional development classes
Women account for half of graduates from architecture programs in the US, but they make up a little over 20% of licensed architects and 17% of partners or principles in architecture firms. Though it’s a documented fact that women are especially important to diversity in any type of company, with studies showing they improve the entire triple bottom line of social, economic, and environmental value; in the profession of architecture multiple surveys find that female and minority architects and designers earn lower salaries than their white male peers and less likely to hold positions of leadership. There are many elements effecting this attrition of talent, but to effect change within the culture of architecture there must be a shift in the balance of power.
Designers Build_pdx is committed to fighting the ongoing assumptions that women are unable to command authority on job sites, are any less talented than their male counterparts at every level of experience or are unqualified to lead design firms. We create resiliency by providing tools, mentorship and access to information that aims to eliminate the obstacles preventing the profession from valuing the influence of women.
Community engagement
Numerous partnering opportunities with both public and private organizations, schools and companies provides the multiple benefits of assisting ongoing social projects, learning new skills and building valuable community connections. A few examples are working with PSU’s Center for Public Interest Design on transitional shelter projects, teaming up with Oregon Tradeswomen on job tours and promoting team building by participating in Habitat For Humanity’s Women Build program.
By engaging in our community, these opportunities foster a desire to contribute to society by becoming part of the larger process of change. This social commitment translates into direct involvement in issues that immediately affect the vulnerable or under-represented in our community. By leveraging the design process in support of a people-centered approach these collaborative efforts can help communities find solutions to achieve physical transformation and long term success.