Golden celebration: FAMU grads make their mark as School of Architecture turns 50

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In April 2025, the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology at Florida A&M University celebrated 50 years of academic success with a 'Golden Jubilee.'
Established in 1975 as a School of Architecture (SOA), today it is a fully accredited School of Architecture and Engineering Technology (SAET). Fifty years after its founding, it is a renowned learning center for architects, engineers and members of the construction industry. The School has grown, held steady and graduated many diverse classes.
Today those graduates are working all over the country to much acclaim and new students are coming to study from all over the world. That's definitely something to celebrate!
At a time when 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion' (DEI) is considered un-American by some, the story of why FAMU was selected to be the third architecture school in Florida is noteworthy, as is the name of the building that originally housed it and was known on campus as Banneker 'B.'
Benjamin Banneker was a Black mathematician, astronomer and surveyor who used his skills to help set the boundaries for the city of Washington, D.C. Thereafter, Thomas Jefferson, who recommended him for the job, praised him in word and letter for his knowledge of 'spherical trigonometry.' Although Jefferson's description probably related more to Banneker's astronomical skills, it sure sounds like a complicated architectural skill to this writer.
In response to a 1973 study indicating a significant need for more architects in Florida, a joint degree program with the University of Florida was established at Florida A&M University. Given that there were seven other public universities in Florida at the time, why did the architecture school go to an historically Black university?
The fact is that in the early 1970s, the Board of Regents wanted two things to happen. First, the establishment of a third, and much needed, architecture program at a Florida public university and second, to encourage an increase in the number of White students attending an historically Black university (HBCU) in Florida. Ironically, it was sort of a 'DEI program in reverse' that was ultimately instrumental in creating one of the highest ranking architecture programs in the state.
What do Michael Conn, Rodney Little, Donald Gray, Jr., Cam Whitlock, Rhonda Hammond, Will Rutherford, Gina Demirel and Jehna Godwin all have in common? They are some of the award-winning architects who have contributed so much to the profession of architecture and, even more important in light of the 'Golden Jubilee,' they are all graduates of what is now the FAMU School of Architecture and Engineering Technology.
EMI Architects, a prominent Tallahassee firm headed by Brad Innes, AIA, is staffed almost entirely by FAMU/SAET grads. In addition to all the improvements to Doak Campbell Stadium, the firm designed buildings for the Schools of Medicine, Psychology and Education at FSU.
Architects Lewis and Whitlock have changed the face of Tallahassee with important buildings ranging from the new Student Union at FSU to the Jim Moran Entrepreneurial Center on Monroe Street. Michael Conn, AIA added the Gateway Center to Monroe Street and Marché at Midtown, a centrally located and vibrant hub that has helped revive the heart of Tallahassee.
FAMU grads have designed so many of the significant buildings that have reshaped the city landscape that it's impossible to name all of them. Many of their designs have been honored by the American Institute of Architects and below, in their own words, are a few important thoughts.
'Barely two months after graduating from Leon High School, I was sitting in the first 8:00 a.m. class on the first day of the new School of Architecture at FAMU. It was a difficult calculus class and we were told to look around and imagine that two out of every three students would not be graduating. The SOA teachers were all top notch and paying attention was the way to succeed. Teaching us how to think and solve problems was a gift the school gave me and one that I passed along to my daughter who is also a graduate of the SAET.' — Michael Conn, AIA, Conn Architects
'As a proud alum of the SAET, owner of my own firm and my leadership role as AIA Florida's 2024 President, I know that my education set the stage for my success in practice and in firm ownership. My education was almost a global experience working alongside students from around the world who were learning to meet the demands of climate, energy and housing. It had a huge impact on my work.' — Rhonda Hammond, AIA Hammond Design Group
'I met my future business partner in my second year at FAMU. We found out early we had a knack for working together and in 2000, we formed our own architecture firm. Now, 25 years later, we've designed a great many buildings and won a lot of awards, all of which began with our education in the FAMU SOA.' — Rodney Lewis, AIA, Architects Lewis & Whitlock
'I joined EMI 25 years ago and am now an Associate Principal. It still excites me when new SAET grads join our firm, bringing with them new skills and ideas. My FAMU experience gave me a solid foundation to grow and thrive in my studies and my professional work. Recently, I have become EMI's public face at FAMU for completing a host of projects including the Foote-Hillier Renovation and the University Commons IPODIA Lab. — Seth Coffin, EMI Architects
My time at the FAMU School of Architecture was foundational for me as a professional. The design-thinking environment combined with a practical application of architectural concepts helped me to see the built world differently in those formative years. It prepared me for two rounds of graduate work and for my current role as a principal at the design firm I help lead. I hope the program has 50 more good years and that my kids will consider attending as well.' — Donald A. Gray, Jr., AIA, Fitzgerald Collaborative Group, LLC.
The 'Golden Jubilee' brought together past and present faculty, alumni, benefactors and representatives of established professional firms and companies that recruit from the SAET.
Within the walls of the recently enlarged and updated architecture building at the south end of campus, guests were given a tour of classrooms, studios and labs, many of which looked like settings for a sci-fi movie. It was clear that robots were about!
Guests toured, chatted, and listened to instructors explain what a Hololens does and what mycelium is and why robots are so much fun to work with. Speaking during lunch, Dean Andrew Chin described the school as 'a place where big ideas come to life.' Tours of the new labs left no doubt that new ideas would definitely come to life.
Two well-known companies have made big commitments to the SAET which is critically important because it shows the level of confidence both companies have in FAMU's success training architectural professionals. In 2024, Trimble made a generous gift to the school to establish the Trimble Technology Lab. The partnership represents a major milestone as FAMU became the first HBCU to host a Trimble Technology Lab.
The lab is set to revolutionize the learning experience for students in architecture and construction engineering as they utilize laser scanning and reality capture to document and preserve old structures. The lab enhances cost estimation and scheduling processes and reduces project costs by integrating real-time data analysis and automation to prepare students for real world challenges.
Jacobs is a global company that delivers outcomes and solutions for the world's most complex challenges. In line with its commitment to early-stage investments in young, underrepresented students, Jacobs established FAMU's Kaizen Collab, a digital fabrication lab that equips students with the necessary tools and resources to excel academically and in the future . 'Collab' is a play on the word 'collaboration.'. In this lab, students explore the intersection between technology and design. Dean Andrew Chin says 'It's where access meets opportunity.'
Visiting Professor, Dr. Ian Fletcher's Electronics Lab, is focused on the exploration of material ecologies arising from the intersection of human and non-human worlds.
Mycelium is a network of fungal threads that is gaining attention for use as a versatile and sustainable material. It can be grown on various organic waste materials like garbage and used to create light-weight, insulated and fire-resistant building blocks. I know because I held and hammered on some of it!
In the Trimble Lab, Drs. Doreen Kobelo, Mohamed Ahed and Tejal Mulay are working with, among other things, the Microsoft HoloLens, an augmented-reality (AR) mixed-reality (MR) headset developed and manufactured by Microsoft. Trimble partnered with Microsoft to integrate the HoloLens device into construction hard hats for a mixed-reality solution called the Trimble XR10 that promises great things for the construction industry.
In the Robotics Lab , Santiago R. Perez, is teaching students to combine spatial and geometric knowledge with complex digital software, robotic hardware and material properties. Students learn how to plan and script the movement of the robot, developing 'Digital-Twin models for simulation before sending the code to the robot for 'hands-off' physical construction.
'As we modernize our studios, labs and common spaces, the SAET is creating an environment where creativity and innovation thrive," Chin said. "The future of the School is grounded in partnerships that connect our students to national firms, global experiences and emerging technologies. The result will be graduates who are both visionary and highly employable.'
Diane Greer is a retired professor of Architectural History at FAMU who served as Editor of Florida Architect magazine for 30 years. In that time, she has seen a lot of change in the city's built environment.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU architecture grads make their mark as school turns 50