Four Key Lessons from HKS Panel on Black Professionals’ Presence, Influence and Impact on Design
Black History Month invites us to look back at historical milestones and honor pioneers, but what does it mean to make history today?
Nichole Sorhaindo, Managing Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategies for the American Institute of Architects, asked this question of five HKS employees while moderating the firm’s recent panel discussion about Black professionals’ presence, influence and impact on design.
“Architecture doesn’t happen in isolation,” Sorhaindo said. “It’s formed in the rooms that we enter, with the perspectives we bring into the room.”
The HKS panelists discussed how their roles in the design field help shape the impact of the built environment. They shared examples from their careers about advocating for cultural representation and creating pathways for emerging professionals.
Here are four key takeaways from the conversation:
1. Authenticity enhances job performance
Melvin Williams, Digital Practice Leader, Venues, described how authentic presence, free from bias and unfair expectations, allows people to focus fully on their professional contributions and roles. “Bias can put you down a very specific, narrow path,” Williams said. “It can be distracting.” That distraction diverts cognitive energy away from craft, leadership and innovation, requiring individuals to manage how they’re perceived in parallel with performing their jobs.
On the other hand, bringing one’s full self to work and feeling empowered to speak out can bring essential perspectives to design projects and teams.
Williams recounted an occasion from early in his career, when he questioned the absence of Black individuals in architectural renderings for a Harlem, New York-based project. The next set of renderings was populated with a more representative balance of local residents.
As a young professional at the time, his influence was exercised not through authority, but through visibility and reframing the project to better reflect its community context. Williams said influence arises from “little things like that, just being present but not afraid to say the obvious, a simple question like ‘Where are the Black people?’”
2. Influence is rooted in mentorship and representation
Influence also comes from active mentorship and creating visibility for others. Shantee Blain, Office Director, highlighted the importance of mentorship and making herself available to support others, just as she was supported early in her life and career.
Blain, who grew up in a family of designers and master builders, expressed appreciation for her childhood role models and the mentors who guided her professional development at HKS. “Now I know that part of my responsibility as a Black architect – as a Black, female architect – is to pull up those behind me,” she said. “A big part of influence is just being there.”
Blain said her experience as a student at Florida A&M University, one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was instrumental to her personal and professional growth, as well. “That prepared me for when I got into the industry and everyone didn’t look like me,” she said. “It allowed me to seek out those I needed for support, even when they weren’t there physically.”
Guidance and support are essential to developing the next generation of industry front runners. Through a firmwide initiative called Designing Tomorrow’s Leaders, HKS works with HBCUs and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) to provide access, opportunity, sponsorship and mentorship to students and design professionals.
Daryl Shields, Director of Media Production, underscored the role of representation in motivating and guiding upcoming talent. Shields said that growing up, he did not envision that his interests in technology, photography, architecture and design would converge into the career he enjoys today.
He said he loves explaining his role as an architectural photographer to students in mentoring programs who visit HKS. “I like to think that some of them go away not only learning what architects and designers do, but also that there are other fields to explore if you’re interested in the creative arts.”
3. Outreach and engagement build equity
Christina Owens, Project Coordinator, shared her efforts at HKS Atlanta to spark conversations about Black contributions to society. For example, Owens has invited members of local Black-owned AEC firms to speak to the Atlanta office about their impact on the AEC industry.
“It’s one community,” she said. “We need to support each other.”
Community support includes engaging with area residents on design projects. To help design the master plan for a transit-oriented development at the H.E. Holmes station, part of Atlanta’s MARTA rail network, Owens listened to residents of the predominantly African American community to understand their vision for the project. “Showing that we hear their voices, that we understand,” was gratifying, she said.
Owens encouraged others at HKS to pursue outreach and engagement opportunities such as participating in activities with HBCUs or NOMA.
“We need to be heard and involved more,” Owens said. “That’s something I challenge not just younger people, but also leadership.”
4. Meaningful inclusion is key to lasting change
Medy Kepnga, Design Professional, emphasized that empowerment and support are essential to professional development.
“Opening doors isn’t enough,” Kepnga said. “Genuine inclusion requires creating environments where individuals are fully integrated into professional culture and entrusted with responsibilities that can help with growth and advancement.”
She stressed that HKS’ influence in the industry stems from our projects and our people, noting, “If we want to shape the future of the built environment in meaningful ways, we need to create more leadership opportunities for diverse voices.”
Sorhaindo wrapped up the conversation by noting that equity isn’t a one-off event or initiative. For forward momentum to occur, equity must be embedded in a firm’s structure and operations.
“The culture you’re building is shaped by who you invite into the office, the projects you consider pursuing and the lanes you refuse to stay confined in,” Sorhaindo said. “It’s about the doors you open – and keep open.”
