Incoming IIDA Head Gabrielle Bullock Makes Diversity Priority One

You’ve stated that inclusion and diversity are priorities for you as the head of the IIDA. It’s something you’ve been working on already at Perkins+Will. How did that role come about? 

I had been managing director of the Los Angeles office for about eight years, and we typically rotate that position because you get kind of burned out. The CEO [Phil Harrison] asked what role I’d like to take on next, and I came back with a proposal—a new role as head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement.The architecture profession has not been diverse at all, and the demographic changes in the world have been broad and global. We should mirror the society we serve. As one of very few African Americans in this industry and in this firm, I saw firsthand what we’re missing. I went to every one of our offices in the U.S. and London and had very open discussions, and it was clear that my notion was correct: We did have issues around diversity and inclusion—around race, gender, LGBTQ rights, you name it.