AIA Houston Women in Architecture 2024 Equity Series Workshop

JUST! Design Workshop: Beyond the Practice

• April 19, 2024
• 1:30pm - 5:00pm
• Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce
• AIA Credit: 2.0 LU

What opportunities do design professionals have within their practice to promote equitable design? How can designers expand their roles to contribute to their communities when the traditional owner-architect-contractor team presents contractual limitations? Professionals who work in place- and space-making must take initiative as collaborative players in the urban landscape and advocate for their communities.

This year’s JUST! Design workshop aims to investigate tactics that architects and designers can utilize both in their design work and as civically engaged individuals.”

Speakers:

Ann Rosenwinkel, AIA, LEED AP® BD&C - Partner at GSMArchitects

• Ann Rosenwinkel is an accomplished professional with 30 years of experience managing intricate projects. With degrees from Rice University and Texas Christian University, she possesses a unique skill set in mid/high-rise residential buildings and senior living communities. As a key member of the GSMA team, Ann excels in efficiently meeting client needs, and infusing each project with refined design sensibilities. Her approach prioritizes program integration, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. Raised in a family of architects and influenced by her upbringing in a Frank Lloyd Wright home, Ann brings a rich architectural heritage to her work. Beyond her professional role, she actively supports communities in developing their neighborhoods, contributes as a committed member of the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion and LGBTQIA+ Committees at AIA Houston, and is a community gardener.

Darian Jones, AIA – Architect at GSMArchitects

• Darian Jones is a licensed architect whose experience includes residential project design and management, interior remodels, and design-build work. Darian has a deep appreciation for the teamwork and communication that is required to move a design from the page to reality. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and playing viola with the Houston Civic Symphony Orchestra.

Petra Salameh – Designer at GSMArchitects

• Petra is a recent graduate from Cornell University with a Masters of Advanced Architectural Design and a focus on Housing and Urbanism. In her time at Cornell, she sought to understand the macro-scale implications of planning, architecture, and development’s history on the current housing landscape in the city of Houston. In the micro-scale, she learned how sustainable construction methods that keep in mind material circularity along with adjustable spatial planning can benefit communities in reaching their collective housing goals. Outside of design, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, cooking, and baking. 

Diana Anda, Urban Designer, Asakura Robinson

• Diana became an urban designer because she is passionate about our built environment’s impact on the quality of life of people from different communities. Diana has lived and worked in New York, Dallas, and Detroit and is now making her way to her new adventures in Houston. Her thesis from the University of Michigan focused on practices of co-production, environmental justice, and feminist theories. She is centering her work around practices of engagement, participation, and resilience within historically underrepresented communities. She is excited to practice as an urban designer with Asakura Robinson, to work within different growing communities and at a critical time in Houston and Texas.
  
  Before joining Asakura Robinson, Diana completed her Master of Urban Design at the University of Michigan while also completing a certification in teaching and research. Diana spent a year as a Yale Environmental Fellow with We the People of Detroit, where she worked on water advocacy by designing and constructing a green stormwater infrastructure project. She also holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Oklahoma State University and a minor in Architecture History and Theory.

Sandra Rodriguez - Advocacy Director at Latinos For Education

• Passionate about community development and equity, Sandra is a seasoned leader dedicated to positive change. As the Advocacy Director at Latinos for Education in Houston, she drives the organization’s advocacy strategy and spearheaded the Familias Latinas por la Educación Fellowship. Sandra’s role as President of the Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council since 2016 showcases her success in advocating for infrastructure improvements and innovative community engagement. Recognized for her efforts, she has received prestigious awards including the 2022 Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hispanic Heritage Awards Community Activist. Sandra holds a Certificate in Innovative Leadership in Public Administration from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s in Human Services from Springfield College, leveraging her education and experience for meaningful impact.

Cost:

• $25 AIA Members / AIAH Affiliate Members / Students
• $35 Non-Members
• All interested people are welcome to attend regardless of ability to pay.  Please contact Rhonda for further information.

Additional Information:

• Advanced registration is required.  A minimum of 3 days' notice is required to recieve a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation
• Surface lot parking and street parking avaiilable (fees apply)
• Walking distance from the Metro Rail line