When he was in the sixth grade at Brown Elementary in the Hazelwood School District, Ryan A. Wilson’s teacher had him write a letter detailing his career goals and aspirations. Seven years later, when he graduated from North County Tech, the teacher mailed the letter to Wilson and upon opening it he discovered one passion burning even stronger – architecture.
But architecture has struggled with diversity. According to the American Institute of Architects, only 1 percent of licensed architects are African-American. Today, Wilson is blazing a trail to change that with St. Louis-based HOK.
As Wilson was engaged in his final year to earn his degree in architecture at another St. Louis institution, Washington University, HOK Management Principal Rebecca Nolan was exploring a minority internship program with Washington University.
“There just weren’t enough minority architecture students, so I reached out to Bruce Lindsey, dean of Washington University’s College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, about starting up a more intensive year-long internship program for minority students,” said Nolan.
“We wanted to develop our hometown talent who could one day mentor and encourage a new generation of minority architects.”
The result is an internship under BJC HealthCare’s Campus Renewal Project, a partnership of BJC’s Barnes-JewishHospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, along with Washington University School of Medicine. The internship is part of the project’s focused diversity and inclusion effort.
Growing up in St. Louis, attending McCluerHigh School and North County Tech, Wilson says architecture suffers an awareness problem among minorities.
“It’s just not well known,” said Ryan. “There are not enough role models. It’s a tough career path to sell. I stuck with it only because I’ve been fascinated by architecture since I was a kid, building things with Legos and Lincoln Logs.”
“Ryan’s passion for architecture goes beyond self interest,” said Nolan. “That’s what really impressed me about him. He sees his career goals as a way to help others who may just need a spark from a role model to ignite a talent to design and deliver new ideas for how we live, work and recreate.”
Indeed, Wilson initiated a non-profit endeavor, Urban Youth Nation of Tomorrow (U.Y.N.T), at the Clinton Global Initiative Conference at Washington University in April of this year.
“It’s all about creating a brighter future for urban communities through change from the inside out,” Wilson said. “We need to give urban youth a better blueprint to fully develop their talents and aspirations.”
In advancing U.Y.N.T., Wilson will draw on his own personal experience with being mentored.
He was provided guidance that led him to enroll in Ranken Technical College, where he earned an associate degree in architecture technology. At Ranken, an advisor recognized an aptitude for architecture that could further blossom at Washington University, where Ryan graduated this May with a degree in architecture with a minor in general art. Washington University then connected Ryan with HOK, where for the next year he will engage in practical applications of his studies in architecture.
After a week of orientation, Wilson will sit in on planning meetings for the BJC project, one of HOK’s largest. He’ll also get extensive training on Revit three-dimensional design technology.
“I’m just going to be a sponge and soak up all that I can,” Wilson said.
“That’s what is really exciting about working with Ryan,” adds Nolan. “He’s so eager to learn and because of the quality of his character, we are going to learn a lot from him.”
Nolan has connected with other institutions in St. Louis, including Ranken Technical and Maryville University, in an effort to add minority students from those programs as well.
