Black Woman Architect encourages more black women to join the architectural space
Pascale Sablan, a licensed associate principal at Adjaye Associates New York studio, is pushing for more diversity in the field of architecture. She was told by a professor that she would never become an architect because she was Black and a woman. This experience fueled Sablan’s passion for advocacy, leading her to create Beyond the Built Environment in 2017. This platform features the work of underrepresented architects through virtual and in-person panels and exhibits. Sablan also created The Great Diverse Designers Library, which provides students with a database to research and view the work and identities of diverse professionals.
Sablan’s drive for diversity comes from her own experiences as a Black woman in the field of architecture. During her time at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture in New York City, she was one of only two Black women in her class. A white professor once singled her and another Black woman out in front of their peers, stating that they would never become architects because they were Black and women.
Despite this adversity, Sablan obtained her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt and her Master of Science in Architectural Design from Columbia University. She was licensed in January after 13 years of working and exams, leading to her promotion with Adjaye Associates, a prestigious firm credited for some of the world’s most extraordinary buildings.
Sablan is the current president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and the youngest African American inductee of the AIA College of Fellows. She believes that she represents her gender and ethnicity and must show up and show out to the maximum degree. She wants to be an example for underrepresented groups in the field of architecture and hopes to see more representation in the future.
Content originally seen on Black Enterprise
