Expanding Outward: Tiara Hughes on Enriching Her Approach and Cultivating the Next Generation

Courtesy of SOM

By Julia Gamolina

A St. Louis native, now based in Chicago, Tiara Hughes is a Senior Urban Designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, a Commissioner with the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission, and a real estate professional.

She is a devoted activist, educator and advocate for underrepresented communities and voices, and currently serves on the national board for NOMA and is the founder of FIRST 500, an initiative focused on raising awareness of the importance of Black women architects throughout history. Tiara is a believer in giving back to her community, serving as a co-leader of SOM’s ACE Mentorship program in Chicago, a member of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and in NAACP’s ACT-SO Program.

As a designer, Tiara is driven by creating work that emphasizes greater socioeconomic equity and cultural awareness. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from Drury University. In her interview, Tiara talks about cultivating her own varied experience, and paying it forward to cultivate the next generation of Black architects and designers that are women.

How did your interest in architecture and urban design first develop?

I was accepted into a gifted arts program in second grade. Each year we had a fundraiser where we created art works of our choice and the proceeds went to providing gifts for every child in the school. For my contribution, I drew buildings from books and magazines. The following year, I saw blueprints for the first time and although they aren’t around anymore, I will never forget the smell of the ink and feel of those prints. Understanding how to read a blueprint was unheard of at my age; the person who designed my experience of space was the person I wanted to be when I grew up. The following year someone connected the dots for me when they said, “Tiara, you want to be an architect.”

How did you get your start in the field?

Like most young architects, I started out as an intern, working on everything from small retail projects to major convention centers and hospitals. I interned with Oke-Thomas + Associates, BatesForum and hdesigngroup for a couple years.

My first job after college was at HOK on a big team, collaborating with consultants, and overseeing a large and complex project through an advisory period after handoff to a local firm. After HOK, I worked for Tilton Kelly Bell (TKB) as a Building Information Modeling Manager, where I worked with the firm's leaders to help integrate emerging 3D digital modeling technology into their design process. I consulted with software companies, performed cost analyses, and led internal software learning workshops.

“Ultimately our efforts to positively impact communities of color will expand outward and evolve our firm, our industry and by extension, our communities.”

— Tiara Hughes

What did you do after HOK?

After HOK, I was at TKB and then SOM. In 2017, I studied and became a licensed Real Estate Broker, which is something that I believe has enriched my approach to design, project management and working with developers, stakeholders and communities. Understanding the numbers and political parameters attached to property is fundamental to property owners, so from a design perspective this enhances the solutions we are able to present.

2018 was a pretty pivotal year for me —it’s when I founded FIRST 500 and started working at SOM as an Urban Designer on Lincoln Yards, on one of the largest master planning efforts in Chicago today. Starting on such a complex project catapulted my growth in the urban realm. Since then, I’ve been promoted to Senior Urban Designer working on high impact projects in impoverished communities of color similar to those I grew up in. Working on projects like this has always been a dream of mine. Ultimately our efforts to positively impact communities of color will expand outward and evolve our firm, our industry and by extension, our communities.

Where are you in your career today?

I’m passionate about advocating for change within SOM and broadly in the design industry. At SOM, I help lead our approach to addressing and expanding diversity at our firm. I had a huge hand in collaboratively developing the action plan we released in July (read it here) to bring meaningful change to SOM’s culture.

Outside of SOM, I serve on the National Board for NOMA. In this capacity, I’ve been able to secure SOM as the Student Design Competition sponsor for NOMA’s Annual Conference, three years running! In September of 2019, I was nominated by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to serve as a Commissioner on the Chicago Landmarks Board, to protect the legacy and history of the city’s most notable structures. Lastly, I’m the Founder and Executive Director of FIRST 500, a national initiative primarily focused on highlighting African American women architects and raising awareness of their distinction.

“...though my experience studying architecture in Greece was remarkable, I returned from this idyllic interlude to maxed out student loans. This resulted in a full semester of homelessness.”

— Tiara Hughes

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges?

When I started my freshman year of high school, the housing complex my family and I lived in became too dangerous for us to remain in, so we had to relocate to a county far from my school. Unfortunately, the schools in our new county were not of the same caliber. Access to a great education was and still is really important to me, so I decided to remain at my former school. This meant waking up at 4 am every morning to take two public buses, a train and a school bus to get to school on time.

My master’s program required a semester abroad, and though my experience studying architecture in Greece was remarkable, I returned from this idyllic interlude to maxed out student loans. This resulted in a full semester of homelessness. Through that struggle, I found hope in my grandfather’s promise to be present at the finish line for my graduation. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat prevented my sick grandfather from traveling to the bank each month to send me funds for food. A year later, I successfully finished my degree. Though he was unable to join me physically, he kept his promise and was there virtually to illuminate our big day.

What have been the highlights?

My community impact work has always been some of my proudest. I strongly believe in increasing industry exposure for young Black students interested in studying architecture. At SOM, this means securing designated spots for NOMAS students to join our annual global shadowship week. Recently, through my role on SOM’s Talent, Equity, Diversity and Development team, I helped advise the SOM Foundation on the creation of the Robert L. Wesley Award, their first award for BIPOC undergraduate students enrolled in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or structural engineering programs across the US. This year, as part of my work as Landmarks Commissioner, I voted to establish Emmett Till’s house as a Chicago Landmark due to the continued importance and relevance of Till’s story in the racial history of Chicago and of our country.

Project-wise, I’m very proud of my contributions to the Auburn Gresham RFP for the City of Chicago’s INVEST South/West community improvement initiative for Chicago’s South and West Side communities. I’m also working on the ongoing campus master plan for Atlanta University Center, which reimagines the district to amplify the impact of several HBCUs and create a designated cultural and academic center of Black leadership.

Who are you admiring right now and why?

Zaha Hadid’s ability to push the envelope, lead boldly and defy the industry norms has always resonated with me. She once said, “I really believe in the idea of the future.” This sentiment has inspired my own work and passion for fostering the next generation of designers. Defending herself unapologetically is why her spirit lives on! To the first woman to win The Pritzker Architecture Prize, you have left an indelible mark on me and many women across the world. We will never forget you...Rest up!

I would also like to highlight several of the Black women who constantly give me a million reasons why my FIRST 500 work is necessary. They have all influenced me personally and professionally for different reasons: Dina Griffin, President at Interactive Design Architects; Gabrielle Bullock, Principal at Perkins+Will; Pascale Sablan, Founder & Executive Director of Beyond the Built Environment; Kimberly Dowdell, NOMA Past President and Principal at HOK; Amanda Williams, a Chicago-based architectural designer and artist; and Norma Sklarek, who was the first Black woman to pass her license exam.

What is the impact you’d like to have on the world?

Leaving the industry better than when I entered it, which starts with more Black architects that are women. I am so proud that we have reached 500 Black women architects living in the US. As I closed out my FIRST 500 presentation for the Black Women in Architecture Brunch pre-COVID, I reminded the group of women that this is a moment of celebration. It took us 60+ years to get here and let’s not let it be another 60+ years before we get the next 500 Black women licensed architects. It is our collective duty to cultivate the generations after us and support them on their path to licensure. I will continue to carry the FIRST 500 platform with that message.

“It is our collective duty to cultivate the generations after us and support them on their path to licensure.”

— TIara Hughes

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

When considering what advice to pass along, I often think of what I would tell my younger self when I was homeless in college, fighting to survive and to get my architectural education; when my professors and advisors continuously told me this field and industry may not be right for me. I would tell my younger self, and to young women everywhere: if this industry feels lonely, you are not alone. If your ideas are not heard, keep speaking. If one door closes, three will open. Keep going and never give up. If there is no well to dig from, dig until you create one!