Industry Voices: Q&A with Pascale Sablan
For our third installment of Industry Voices, we spoke with Pascale Sablan, who describes herself as the 315th living black female architect in the United States. Pascale serves not only as an associate principal in the New York studio of Adjaye Associates, but also as the global president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
"NOMA’s mission is to empower its local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence."
Pascale took time out from her busy schedule to speak with Connections about her experiences at NOMA, her goals for the organization, and how A/E/C firms can better encourage and support diversity.
"We work closely with these five organizations to promote justice, equity, and diversity within the profession."
You became president of NOMA in early 2023 and you will serve for a two-year period. What does your role with NOMA entail?
I oversee the full organization and executive board and set our course and trajectory. My strategy is to make sure that we have strong roots as well as branches that are growing, following a significant increase in membership. Before 2020 we had about 800 members. Today we have closer to 3,000. It’s important to retain our current members while creating opportunities for engagement for the recent joiners.
I also establish guidelines for the various organizations we partner with. In some cases, these partnerships take the form of memoranda of understanding (MOUs). In others, they involve less formal agreements to collaborate on programming and communicating what we do.
During my predecessor’s administration, NOMA became one of six anchor institutions of architecture called The Alliance. The other institutions are the AIA, the student version of the AIA (AIAS), the American Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the National Architecture Accreditation Board, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). We work closely with these five organizations to promote justice, equity, and diversity within the profession.
For example, NOMA presidents head up the AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee. With NCARB we publish reports based on surveys of NOMA members. These reports help firms understand what the issues are. As president of NOMA, I’m actively involved in these kinds of initiatives.
"Before 2020 we had about 800 members. Today we have closer to 3,000."
"Instead of creating new programs and initiatives, I’m focusing on establishing more structure, processes, and procedures around the programs that are already in place and measuring our success."
"...we are responding to the new laws governing affirmative action, and figuring out how this impacts our agenda and our mission."
What is your vision for NOMA?
Instead of creating new programs and initiatives, I’m focusing on establishing more structure, processes, and procedures around the programs that are already in place and measuring our success. Members aren’t always aware of all that we offer, so communication is another component of my vision.
A further objective is to make NOMA global. To do this I am drawing on my experience of 12 years in an international studio, when I worked on projects all over the world, and my experience as the founder of an international advocacy organization called Beyond the Built Environment. It is a nonprofit that exhibits the work of women and people of color in different locations across the globe.
We’re currently modifying NOMA’s bylaws to allow for an international structure. Although we haven’t publicly announced it yet, we have our first international professional chapter – U.K. NOMA. We’re also in the process of bringing on board NOMA Antigua and NOMA Calgary, as well as exploring memoranda of understanding with other organizations around the world.
I recently attended the Union of International Architects’ Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. This congress takes place once every three years, so I am fortunate that it coincided with my presidency. At the congress I was able to network with leaders of organizations from Brazil, Canada, Nigeria, Rwanda, Chad, and Taiwan, to name a few countries. We might start out with MOUs and collaborate in some capacity, such as launching a shared lecture series.
These partnerships would further extend NOMA’s reach, which is important because the issues that we struggle with in terms of equity in the profession are not restricted to the U.S.
But we’re also deeply invested in issues within the U.S. For example, we are responding to the new laws governing affirmative action, and figuring out how this impacts our agenda and our mission.
How do you balance all of these activities with your job at Adjaye Associates?
Fortunately, my firm understands and supports the efforts of NOMA, and has allowed me to integrate my NOMA responsibilities into my work. But it’s still challenging to perform both the roles of architect and activist. To make things more manageable, I resigned from all my other posts and board positions when I became the president of NOMA.
"Members aren’t always aware of what we offer, so communication is another component of my vision."
"Fortunately, my firm understands and supports the efforts of NOMA, and has allowed me to integrate my NOMA responsibilities into my work."
"It’s all about the community and the network you can access through our chapters."
When and how did you originally become involved with NOMA?
In 2009 I was working in an office with roughly 200 employees, and only three of us were African-American. One of my coworkers asked if I planned to attend the memorial service for J. Max Bond Jr. I said, “No, I don’t work for Davis Brody Bond. Why would I go?” My colleague responded, “Because he was one of the most prolific black architects in all of New York.” I’d had no idea that Bond was black.
I decided to attend the memorial, which was held at the Center for Architecture (CFA). There I found myself surrounded by 600 or so black and brown architects in one space. I’d never seen anything like that before in my life. You have to understand that I attended Pratt as one of five African-Americans in the entire school of architecture. And then I got my master’s at Columbia, where I was the only African-American in the school of architecture – including undergrads.
At the end of the memorial, I met a NOMA member who said that if I was so excited about the crowd at the CFA, then I should join NOMA. Soon after, I joined the New York chapter and became the recording secretary. Then I became the corresponding secretary. Eventually I became the president of the New York chapter. Then, in 2016, I started taking on some national roles – first as the historian, then the Northeast Regional Vice-President, and then president-elect, and finally president.
You’ve already identified some key goals and strategies for your presidency, but are there any others you’d like to mention?
Sure. The reason I’m so eager to push through and refine our processes and protocols is because I eventually want NOMA to be self-funded. I want to identify organizations and brands that can support our programs. I also want to make sure that NOMA continues to have a global voice at the forefront of thought in relation to eradicating sexism, racism, and all forms of oppression in the profession.
If you were speaking to a minority architect or student of architecture, what would you say to that person about getting involved in NOMA?
It’s all about the community and the network you can access through our chapters. We have programs specifically developed and designed to create access for you to jobs, to support you in your academic programming, to give you access to lifelong mentorship in this profession, and to create a safety net around you as you navigate spaces and ensure that if you are experiencing injustice, you know that you are not alone, and that you have a very loud president and a very powerful board, and a very passionate membership that will surround you, encourage you, support you, and protect you.
"There I found myself surrounded by 600 or so black and brown architects in one space."
I think until we have a structure that provides accountability and justice, these will continue to be our experiences. But there has been some progress.
"Our names represent our culture, identity, history, and family."
You’ve been in the architectural field for about 15 years now. How, if at all, have the prospects for minority architects changed during this time?
I give a lot of speeches and I often ask the audiences to stand if they’ve ever been told that they’re inadequate. Many people stand and they’re standing in all kinds of spaces, schools, and professional settings.
I think until we have a structure that provides accountability and justice, these will continue to be our experiences. But there has been some progress. For instance, a few years ago, NOMA signed a pledge with AIA and its Large Firm Roundtable to more than double the number of licensed minority architects in the profession by 2030.
How are we measuring this? Well, NOMA has taken over the Directory of African-American Architects. That’s how I know that I’m the 315th living African-American woman architect in the U.S. These kinds of programs and initiatives are changing the landscape for minority students looking to join the profession. It’s a landscape that’s far different from what I experienced.
How can associated sectors like engineering and construction support diversity in the buildings industry?
My first answer will always be to collaborate with NOMA. Let’s hear what your issues are and see if there is any overlap or opportunities to fortify one another in our mission. I don’t necessarily understand the challenges that a minority engineer or construction manager would face, but if you think that justice for diverse design professionals is important, then please join the mission. Or we can collaborate on an MOU, or strategize together to help each other attain our respective goals.
We’ve covered a lot today, but is there anything else you’d like to highlight?
Yes. I think it’s important for us as minorities to continuously seek self-love. For example, before my son was born, I was religious about flat-ironing my hair and wearing it straight every day. At the time I thought I needed to do this to look professional and gain respect. Once my son was born, I realized that it’s hypocritical for me to tell my son, with his big poofy head of curly hair, to love himself while I was spending nearly four hours a week straightening my hair. I no longer do this, and I believe that it’s a minor but meaningful way to combat misperceptions of beauty and professionalism.
Second, I am a mother and that is part of my identity. I bring my son Xavier with me to many meetings and events. He’s part of my entourage, if you will. It’s important to demonstrate that you can be a successful architect leading an organization and be a devoted parent at the same time.
Finally, I’ve shifted my attitude regarding my name. My maiden name was Pascale Saint-Louis and my married name is Pascale Sablan. I used to like the fact that no one could tell what race or sex I was from my name because it helped me bypass obstacles to opportunities. But in 2020 I realized how flawed, problematic, and toxic this thought process is. Our names represent our culture, identity, history, and family. When I came to my realization, I adjusted my bio to identify myself as the 315th living African-American woman architect. If there's anything in that first sentence that doesn't sit well with you, you do not need to continue to read, and we do not need to hang out.
I am a mother, woman, curly-haired individual, architect, and activist. These are worth celebrating. I can audaciously be all that I am in a space and have authority and have the right to be there. I am representing people I don’t even know that I’m representing so it’s critical to be very authentic and mindful in the way I do.
How would you like people to look back on your tenure as president of NOMA?
I’d like them to say that I fought for them tirelessly. That I always brought the entire executive board and leadership into the process of the conversation. That I was generous with my time and love. And that I was audacious in fighting for NOMA and effective at making NOMA a stronger organization for the next president.
"I give a lot of speeches and I often ask the audiences to stand if they’ve ever been told that they’re inadequate."
I am a mother, woman, curly-haired individual, architect, and activist. These are worth celebrating. I can audaciously be all that I am in a space and have authority and have the right to be there. I am representing people I don’t even know that I’m representing so it’s critical to be very authentic and mindful in the way I do.
Main image: Aundre Larrow