The AIA announced two honorees in this year's Diversity Recognition Program, which recognizes groups "that are actively committed to increasing diversity and inclusion" in architecture. This year's honorees are Urban Design Regional Action for Minorities (UDream) and Washington, D.C.–based Sorg Architects, and were recognized today at a lunch at AIA's Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Sorg Architects was founded by principal Suman Sorg, FAIA, in 1986. The firm was named to ARCHITECT's Top 50 firm list in 2014, as well as 2013's Top 50 list in business and in sustainability, and recently broke ground on a multi-unit housing building in Washington, D.C., that caters to homeless veterans. The AIA recognized the firm in the Inclusive Firm Policies category.
UDream is a program affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University geared to recent minority graduates in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning. The program offers course and studio work coupled with a 12-week internship, and covers tuition, housing, and travel to and from Pittsburgh as well as a stipend. The AIA honored the program in the Community Involvement category.
The Diversity Recognition Program jury included: Tamarah Begay, AIA, AIA Diversity Council (2012-2014); Brent Castro, Assoc. AIA, 2012-2013 AIAS vice president; Brenda Devrouax, the founder of the Paul S. Devrouax, Jr. Memorial Lecture; George Manos, AIA, the trustee and founder of the Charter High School for Architecture + Design; and Beth Tauke, the associate dean of the University at Buffalo - State University of New York's School of Architecture and Planning.
Videos courtesy of the American Institute of Architects.
For more information on work by Sorg Architects, visit ARCHITECT's Project Gallery.
