Abstract:

Architectural practice suffers from systemic underrepresentation of key demographics including females and marginalized populations which has cascaded into academia and its intake pipeline. Over the past decade all industries have embarked upon programs that have formalized intentions to address these equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) challenges. While these prompt initiatives are applauded, they have a limited impact if a dearth of underrepresented populations are available to participate in them. It is imperative for the architectural community to encourage, educate, and exemplify what is possible to these groups as students even prior to embarking upon post-secondary education. Without adequate motivation, programming, and role models to bring future generations of architects from underrepresented groups (including racialized, female, and immigrant populations), the EDI crisis in architectural praxis will continue. Academic institutions are increasingly mobilizing initiatives to encourage underrepresented groups’ awareness and engagement with careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) including related creative industries such as architecture. A constant challenge to these educators is the ability to develop programming that is accessible, relevant, and inspirational to these nascent professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges faced by the organizers of these outreach initiatives were compounded by the inability to participate in these events in-person.

This paper presents a range of initiatives undertaken by the largest architecture program in Canada to encourage interest and career paths in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adopting strategies characterized by blended-learning, interactivity, accessibility of resources, and industry relevance, these initiatives present methods that other STEM-based disciplines may undertake to address the necessary outreach to underrepresented communities.

Keywords:

Outreach, equity, STEM, EDI, pandemic.