Hatch Architects enhances the community by empowering students with design skills and knowledge while simultaneously improving our built environment.
Inequity in The Architecture Profession
The field of architecture lacks the diversity and representation that fosters creative and equitable solutions to community issues in the built environment. Only 2% of licensed architects are Black and only 15-20% are female—fewer than 0.2% are Black females. (NCARB data) Underrepresentation in the field perpetuates inequities in the profession and discourages broader participation in architecture careers.
Many students (and adults) don’t know about architecture and related fields as an option, so it would be impossible to enter a career field that you have never heard of–we want to change that. As part of our vision, we aim to encourage Black and other underserved students to become architects and designers, diversifying the profession and bringing their own under-represented perspectives to the design world.
Hands-on Workshops
We aim to increase the diversity in the architecture profession and inspire young people to explore and pursue it themselves! Our students work with with real working architects and designers as mentors as they complete real projects in their community.
As part of our workshops, we ask students to think about their community and then design something that would enhance it. This reflection not only helps them envision the impact they can have, but highlights the intentionality of the existing spaces they experience everyday. These physical projects enhance and beautify our communities, and the students take ownership and are proud of the final product. This often marks a crucial transition for students to become stewards and leaders within their communities.
Community-Focus
Our programming currently serves Northwest Dayton where the population is 80% Black and the median household income is $25,000. This demographic is poorly represented in the architecture field.
By design, we partner with public organizations to facilitate design-build projects for the community to use. The students' assess, design and build permanent useful structures, which become a valuable contribution to a shared public space. This builds relationships and community as members of the public engage with their work. But, perhaps most impactful is the student's own transformed self-image as a valuable member of that community, proudly affirmed on installation day.
