US architects have expressed "outrage" at the lack of gender diversity at the American Institute of Architects' upcoming annual conference in Orlando.

Fifty architects, firms and students signed a letter sent to the Architect's Newspaper, highlighting the fact that no female architects are billed to give keynote presentations at the event.

The 2017 AIA National Convention is due to take place in at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from 27 to 29 April 2017.

Of the seven keynote speakers currently listed, only one is a women, and the letter points out that Amy Cuddy – a Harvard professor and best-selling author – is not an architect.

"The keynote panel is in no way representative of our collective intellect," says the letter.

"If the AIA was serious about changing its image – and we do not mean a superficial marketing strategy – then they should lead the profession and put forward a panel of keynote speakers that is reflective of the diversity in architecture."

Gender parity in the architecture industry is an ongoing issue. The AIA's own survey released in March 2016 found that 70 per cent of female architects and architecture students in the US feel that women are still underrepresented in the profession.

Earlier this year, on the day that so-called Women's Marches took place internationally, David Adjaye said the industry still doesn't provide the same opportunities for both sexes. And this week a survey by the Architect's Journal found that men are paid more than women across the board in the profession, and that pay disparity is widening.

Signatories have also used the letter to criticise the AIA's actions following a statement supporting Donald Trump after he won the US presidential election last November.

CEO Robert Ivy and president Russ Davidson issued an apology for the statement and pledged $1 million towards improving diversity, but the architects do not feel it is enough.

"The financial support is a weak attempt to cover their errors in judgment and misrepresenting the desires of AIA membership, specifically, and all architects in general," the letter says.

It urges others to contact the organisation and express their outrage, and suggest speakers for the conference.

Read the full letter and list of signatories so far:

Where is the Female Representation: shouldn't we ALL be outraged?

How is it that the AIA could not come up with a single female architect as a keynote speaker at the convention? If you have not seen the AIA's keynote speaker list for their newly rebranded national convention, it is shocking to see that out of the seven speakers listed only one is a woman (and she is not even an architect).

In what seems to be a string of missteps by the AIA, this announcement of the keynote speaker list for the national convention is not surprising. AIA CEO Robert Ivy and AIA President Russ Davidson recently apologized to the architecture community for their ill-conceived letter of support of the Trump administration which does not respect women and minorities. Ivy and Davidson, also, announced a nationwide listening tour to find out what the AIA membership wanted. After additional criticism of that response, Ivy and Davidson produced a video apologizing for a second time and promised to commit $1 million to boost diversity in architecture. The financial support is a weak attempt to cover their errors in judgment and misrepresenting the desires of AIA membership, specifically, and all architects in general.

The AIA currently dedicates a small corner of the national website to the Equity in Architecture Commission with a generically worded "Diversity and Inclusion Statement". The stunningly short statement totals 175 words, including title and dates, and merely ensures rights that are already protected by federal law. Apparently, the apologies are only lip service. The organization continues to not put equity issues front and center in ALL of its programming and events. Why are they only TALKING about change and not MAKING change?

In their annual conference literature, the AIA states "it's about tapping into the collective intellect and entrepreneurial spirit of architects and design professionals who are shaping our industry". However, their actions speak volumes against such sentiments. The keynote panel is in no way representative of our collective intellect.

If the AIA was serious about changing its image – and we do not mean a superficial marketing strategy – then they should lead the profession and put forward a panel of keynote speakers that is reflective of the diversity in architecture. When the AIA states that they are committed to "broadening equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession of architecture through dedicated leadership", we must ask where are the diverse leaders?

A recap of the AIA leadership as it relates to equity issues can be found in the 2012 Places article by Gabrielle Esperdy titled "The Incredibly True Adventures of the Architectress in America". The article thoroughly documents the history of the AIA's refusal to act on behalf of women members. Particularly depressing is the fact that women pressed for these same issues of equality in the 1970s. The latest Equity by Design report seems to indicate that while our schools continue to graduate almost 50% women into the field, keeping women once they have entered the profession has reached a point of stagnation.

We are calling for a more active and aggressive stance on equity by the AIA, starting with the National Convention keynote speaker line-up. Following this, we request more diverse representation on the AIA board and presence for the Equity by Design initiative on the AIA National website.

If you are equally outraged by the lack of female representation for keynote speakers at the AIA convention we encourage you to reach out to your AIA boards and the national organization including CEO Robert Ivy ([email protected]). Tell them the following:

1 – That you are outraged
2 – Who you would like to see as a keynote speaker

Making the AIA leadership aware of our outrage and changing the demographics of the keynote speakers at one convention is clearly not a solution to the larger issues of systemic homogeny in the organization. But it is a step in the right direction and will show the leadership that we expect more than platitudes on issues of diversity and inclusivity within the AIA.

Signed:

Mo Zell, RA, Women in Design – Milwaukee; Jori Ann Erdman, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP; Ali Kopyt, AIA, NCARB; Angie Tabrizi, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Ursula Twombly, AIA; Patricia Frost, AIA; Allyson Nemec, AIA, LEED AP, Past President AIA WI; Paula Verboomen, AIA; Kristin Dufek, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP; Alexa Wojciechowicz; Angela Kehl, Allied ASID; Taruna Gupta; Ganesh Nayak; Barbara Hughes; Ellie Lange; Shannon Criss; Marie-Alice L'Heureux, PhD, AIA, NCARB; Kathryn e. Martin-Meurer; Ai Csuka; Lyssa Olker; Bridget Owen; Erica Chappelear; Vaishali Wagh RA, LEED AP; Kathy Osowski; Rosheen Styczinski, PLA FASLA; Sara A Maas; Patricia S Algiers, ASID, CNU-Accredited; Maria Wenzel, Associate AIA; Nicole Craanen; Nikole Bouchard; Rachel Momenee; Nancy Chu; Layla Qarout, LEED GA; Brian K Schermer; Mark Keane; Linda Keane; Emma Price; Don Hanlon; Matt Rinka AIA NCARB (and firm of Rinka Chung); Chris Cornelius; Mike Utzinger, RA, PE; Karen W Plunkett, AIA; Jacki Kinney; Laura Gainer; Nader Sayadi; Kyle Reynolds; Jennifer L Lehrke, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB; Melinda Pogwizd