How HBCU Outreach Fuels Innovation at HKS
HKS believes design can change people’s lives for the better. We embrace different backgrounds and vantage points to create places that support health, well-being, increased opportunities and a deep sense of belonging.
Outreach to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is part of our commitment to developing an international design practice that reflects the clients and communities we serve.
Best Practice
Different perspectives enrich our work and our relationships with clients.
Multifaceted teams are known to outperform homogenous teams. Several studies, including a decade-long globe-spanning research project by McKinsey & Associates, correlate workplace diversity with innovation and greater success.
According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), “design solutions are often more comprehensive and equitable when a wide range of personal experiences is represented in the team.” Assembling broad-based teams is one of AIA’s best practices for developing creative and innovative solutions.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards reported that people who identify as Black or African American make up only 2% of licensed architects. To build effective design teams and strengthen our industry, HKS aspires to broaden access to the field of architecture. We conduct outreach at a wide range of colleges and universities to strive for a diverse applicant pool that includes talented students from HBCUs.
Critical Resources
Seven HBCUs offer architecture programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB): Florida A&M University, Tallahassee; Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; Morgan State University, Baltimore; Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama; and the University of the District of Columbia.
A study published by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture noted that these seven institutions, which comprise 5% of NAAB accredited schools, enroll 32% of the Black students admitted to accredited and preprofessional architecture programs. This means that one in three Black architecture students attends an HBCU. For comparison, each of the 139 remaining accredited programs graduates, on average, two Black architecture students a year. HBCUs are critical to expanding the architecture talent base.
HKS participates in campus job fairs and hosts networking events to recruit HBCU architecture students. In the past five years we have hired 25 recent graduates from accredited HBCU architecture programs. In addition, eligible HBCU students or student members of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) are invited to apply for our Equitable Impact Fellowship, a paid opportunity to join HKS for eight weeks to strengthen their architectural skillset and contribute to various client projects.
Supportive Workplace
HKS endeavors to recruit excellent employees, retain their services and nurture their skills. Our mentoring program connects people with similar backgrounds to build a sense of belonging within our firm. In addition, we offer a variety of Affinity and Inclusion Groups (AIGs) that create pathways to network within HKS and across the industry. Our BLACK Collective AIG aims to empower Black design professionals by fostering a supportive workplace where their talents are utilized, valued and promoted. Our ongoing partnerships with NOMA provide further opportunities for professional development and connection.
HKS recognizes that you cannot give what you do not have. We will not be able to design equitable communities if we do not highlight equity in our internal practices and policies. We are committed to meeting the needs of our people and reaching out to welcome diverse, robust talent to our firm. By building strong teams that are reflective of our communities, we improve how and what we design.