Kimberly Nicole Dowdell, AIA, is an American architect, real estate developer, and educator.[1] She is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and is a Chicago-based. Dowdell is currently a principal at HOK's Chicago office, and she served as the 2019-2020 national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).[2][3][4][5] On June 15, 2022, Dowdell was elected as first vice-president and president-elect of the American Institute of Architects.[6] She will be the 100th president of the American Institute of Architects and the first Black woman to serve in the role.[7]

Kimberly Dowdell
Born
EducationCornell University (BA),
Harvard University (MPA)
OccupationArchitect
Websitehttps://www.kimberlydowdell.com

Early life and education

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Dowdell grew up in Detroit.[8] Dowdell received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University in 2006 and her Master in Public Administration from Harvard University in 2015.[3]

Career

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When at Cornell in 2005, Dowdell co-founded the Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) Network.[9] After Cornell, Dowdell worked at HOK's New York office in 2008 before transitioning to focus on real estate in 2011.[10]

After graduating from Harvard University in 2015, Dowdell worked for Detroit's Housing and Revitalization Department and in 2016 transitioned to working with Century Partners on equitable revitalization of the city's vacant lots.[1] Between 2016 and 2019, Dowdell taught architecture and urban planning at the University of Michigan.[1]

As a principal at HOK, Dowdell launched the HOK IMPACT program and co-chairs the Diversity Advisory across all of HOK's global offices.[10]

Awards and honors

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  • Elected to Cornell University Board of Trustees, 2022[11]
  • AIA Young Architects Award, 2020[3]
  • Women in Architecture Design Leadership – Activist Award, 2020[12]
  • 19th Annual Dunlop Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, 2019[3]
  • Next City Vanguard honoree for rising urban leaders, 2013 [13]
  • Crain's Detroit Business "40 Under 40" honoree, 2005[3]

Notable speaking events

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  • World Build Podcast: CSR, environmental stewardship, equity and inclusion, June 7, 2021[14]
  • TEDxDetroit : Home run Detroit[15] November 2017

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Doing Better: Kim Dowdell MC/MPA 2015 is working to revitalize Detroit in a sustainable and equitable way". www.hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  2. ^ "How NOMA Is Helping Architects of Color to Shape Our Future Cities". Metropolis Magazine. 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Kimberly Dowdell". HOK. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  4. ^ "Mission – SEED Network". seednetwork.org. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  5. ^ "SEED Network – Social Economic Environmental Design". seednetwork.org. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  6. ^ "Kimberly Dowdell elected AIA's 2024 president". aia.org. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. ^ Woods, Cat (2023-02-20). "The Architect Using Design to Extend People's Lives". The Cut. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  8. ^ "NOMA President Kim Dowdell on the politics of Detroit and the architecture profession". The Architect’s Newspaper. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  9. ^ "Kimberly Dowdell, AIA - AIA". www.aia.org. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  10. ^ a b Fazzare, Elizabeth. "Meet The 36-Year-Old President Of The National Organization Of Minority Architects". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  11. ^ "New trustees to join Cornell board". Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  12. ^ "Women in Architecture Awards Recognize Five Leaders". www.architecturalrecord.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  13. ^ "Next City Vanguard Members". Nextcity.org. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  14. ^ "Corporate social responsibility, volunteering, mentoring and how to be a good neighbour". www.worldarchitecturenews.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  15. ^ Dowdell, Kimberly (3 January 2018), Home Run Detroit, retrieved 2021-10-20