Leadership and Choice Lecture – Allison Williams, FAIA, Lecture

We enter this profession with a range of purpose and motivation: social, environmental, policy advocacy, educational, technological, or with a passion for creating beautiful places. Frequently several are intertwined inseparably. They are all essential elements in the business of architecture, in the art of architecture and urban design in the built environment and in the creation of a just society. More heritage urban communities in American cities, Brooklyn, Oakland, Detroit are strategically “Planning to Stay” in place as they transform, gentrify and evolve. Representation in our leadership, our capacity to lead, consistent with the rich array of our choices, experiences and expertise across the board is critically important.

Allison Grace Williams chose corporate, team-based, interdisciplinary firm practice predominately at Perkins+Will and Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Within these cultures of design excellence she led and realized large-scale work across broad project types, at home and in far-flung places. The often complex interventions, most of them in the public realm, succeed in how they touch and reflect the culture and traditions of place. Design leadership at this scale and of this nature is crucial in the plan to stay, and few so design leaders of color have emerged through this form of practice.

Williams’ keynote conversation will put her career path in context with her background and passions, share some favorite work, ideas, and evolving identity. With 40 years of practice under her belt, AGWms_studio is her reinvestment of choice, both professional and personal.