Join the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (nycoba|NOMA), the J. Max Bond Center of City University of New York, and the AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the annual J. Max Bond Jr. Lecture. Established in 2010, this talk honors the memory of J. Max Bond, Jr., FAIA, NOMA, an architect, partner at Davis Brody Bond, advocate, teacher, and trailblazer of his time. The lecture addresses issues that were important to Bond: equity, inclusive design, communities, and global cultures, in particular Ghana and Africa at large.

This year’s lecture centers on the legacy and practice of Black Architects, asking how archiving can serve not only as a tool of preservation, but also as a catalyst for shaping the future. Bringing together panelists whose work is deeply informed by archival practice, the discussion will highlight diverse perspectives on how archives can ground, position, and amplify the contributions of Black Architects. Together, we will consider how these archival lenses open pathways for confronting today’s multifaceted challenges and envisioning what comes next.

Archival processes hold the power to revisit the past in ways that inform, educate, and inspire the reimagining of contemporary spatial practice. The J. Max Bond Jr. Lecture itself serves as a living archive—indexing the voices, practices, and trajectories of today’s practitioners. This year’s program culminates in a conversation on the potentials of “living archives,” from the Paul R. Williams Archive Initiative (led by Milton Curry) to the Coles House Project (co-led by Scott Ruff and Albert Chao), which preserves Robert Traynham Coles’ House and Studio while reimagining it as a community space.

Speakers
Albert Chao, Co-Director of Coles House Project, Coles House Project
Scott Ruff, Co-Director of Coles House Project, Coles House Project
Milton Curry, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Engagement, Cornell University and CriticalProductive Journal 

Moderator
Catherine Chattergoon, Project Team Member, Adjaye Associates

For detailed speaker bios, please visit the event website.

Thursday October 16, 6:00 – 7:00pm
AIA NY Center for Architecture
Register