Inspiring the next generation of architects goes BEYOND technical skills. It requires people to be authentic and remain true to their principles, advocating for the development of a culture that celebrates and respects the diversity of our communities. Richie Hands, Senior Associate at Clayco’s partner company Lamar Johnson Collaborative, inspires this spirit and is paving the way for the industry.
Richie was recently named one of the AIA National Young Architects of the Year, which is a testament to his great work. This is an incredible honor, with only 30 individuals selected each year in the entire country. The Young Architects Award honors individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in design, planning, education, and service – something Richie has done tremendously in his 12 years of practice.
With the goal to diversify and advance the industry, Richie has led some of the most impactful programs that support underrepresented youth who are pursuing careers in architecture. In addition to his work at LJC, Richie is also the associate director for AIA Chicago, the national chair of NOMA’s Project Pipeline, and a member of the ACE Chicago Mentor Program’s executive Board of Directors. There is no slowing Richie down on his journey to research, innovate, and find ways to cultivate communities that thrive in diversity, inclusion, and forward-thinking innovation.
He has been an important member of several award-winning projects, including the renovation of Horizon Therapeutics’ headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, which received the 2022 Illinois Real Estate Journal Award. Richie also served as the job captain for the design and implementation of the transformative Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Advanced Outpatient Care Center in Chicago. This work showcases Richie's talent, expertise, and dedication to the development of spaces that positively impact communities.
When it comes to Richie’s community efforts, he’s helping to introduce young people of color to the architecture field through NOMA’s Project Pipeline summer camp. The camps support the important mission to increase the number of Black licensed architects—who currently comprise only 3% of all architects in the United States.
By advocating for diversity, inclusion, and forward-thinking ideas, Richie is helping architects design spaces that truly reflect the communities in which we work and serve. Encouraging these values in the next generation of architects empowers them to create a more equitable and sustainable world that will allow everyone to reach their full potential. I’m so proud of Richie; he’s an excellent role model for his peers, Chicago’s youth, and future architects.
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