Architecture Student Thaddaus Perkins Named 2022 NOMA Foundation Fellow

Master of Architecture graduate student Thaddaus Perkins was named a 2022 National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Foundation Fellow. Perkins held an 8-week fellowship with Multistudio, the evolution of Gould Evans, a collaborative practice that embraces the “multiple ways in which we design to uncover possibilities and engage with the world.”

The NOMA Foundation Fellowship is supported by a partnership with the AIA Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) to further careers and inspire the profession to recognize talent and broaden the professional pipeline of graduates of color.

Perkins’ primary responsibility during his fellowship was to work with the research team to develop new concepts and preliminary space designs for their Gender Inclusive Design Study — a 2+ year investigation into how gender messaging manifests in classroom design.

Michael Ralph, senior associate, lead researcher for Multistudio, and NOMA Fellow Supervisor reflected that, "While peer reviewed literature and measurement-focused research can be daunting for some designers, Thad was outcome-focused from the start and engaged with our project materials without hesitation. This kind of professionalism is exactly the kind of design approach that will move our field forward, and I was grateful for Thad's conscientious approach and diligent practice."

As UL Lafayette Chief Diversity Officer Kiwana McClung stated, "Inclusive design is not just an aspiration, but also an imperative that requires that we examine our practices and the lens through which we look at the built environment. To ensure that everyone feels they belong, we must go beyond the minimum requirements for accessibility and have a more empathetic response to the various needs of the people we serve. As a longtime member of the UL NOMAS Chapter, Thaddaus has had multiple opportunities to engage in service-learning design that is focused on creating inclusive outcomes for all its stakeholders and develop his knowledge in this area. I am so happy to hear that the fantastic professionals at Multistudio recognized his value and welcomed his insights as a rising designer."

Perkins joins distinguished NOMA Foundation Fellow Alumni Sami Jaber (2020) and Shaela Nelson (2021), graduates of the UL Lafayette Master of Architecture Program, and Keristen Edwards (2020), Adjunct Faculty in the School of Architecture and Design.