Roy Sealey and the Legacy of Minority Architects in Southern California

6230 E Marina View Dr,Long Beach CA 90803

24 March, 2022

Description

Tour & Panel Presentation 1.5 LU (pending) Description: Roy Sealey was a mid-century Black architect that defied odds by designing several iconic buildings such as the SeaPort Marina Hotel, Belmont Shores Mobile Estates Clubhouse, and Tuna Club, all located at the time in the new, affluent, and least diverse part of East Long Beach. While mostly overshadowed by his acclaimed mentor Paul Revere Williams, there were several Black architects in the 1950s and 60s that overcame racism with talent and determination. In the 50 years that followed Sealey’s achievements, minority architects have continued to lack representation within the field. Only 2% of licensed architects in the United States are Black or African American, and less than 1 in 5 new architects identify as a racial or ethnic minority. In one of Sealey’s recently restored projects, Belmont Shores Mobile Estates Clubhouse in Long Beach, we will tour the facility and view a brief video of project created by Studio One Eleven architects. This will be followed with a discussion on how we are engaging and fostering the next generation of minority architects in Los Angeles. What top-down and bottom-up strategies are currently underway, and how can we as architects contribute towards the next generation to bring greater diversity to the field? Learning Objectives: Understand the history of the community, the people that helped build it and the value it currently brings. Learn the issues of renovating historically significant architecture. Learn who Roy Sealey is and the contribution he made to our community. Understanding the opportunities and challenges for Black Architects. Speakers: Dwayne Gathers, President Gathers Strategies, Creator and Host of CivitasLA (Moderator) Alan Hess, Architect, Author, Lecturer and Advocate for twentieth-century architectural preservation Lance Collins, Architect and President of the National Organization of Minority Architects Lynnelle Bryant, Interior Designer, President and CEO of Masbuild Design Solutions Maria Setaro, Designer, Studio One Eleven Thank you to our program sponsors!