Strength in numbers. That hope and philosophy prompted nine Detroit-based female architects, architectural designers, and landscape architects to join forces last year in an effort to raise awareness of their work and the possibilities it represents for transforming Detroit.
Their name, The New School, is a loose and tongue-in-cheek reference to the New York Five, a group of “old-school” white male architects popular in the 1970s, and to the fact that, according to the American Institute of Architects, more than 70% of registered architects identify as male.
Members are Salam Rida of 9XS Design, Laura Marie Peterson of 1+1+ Architects, Kimberly Dokes of Dokes Design Architecture, Elise DeChard of END Studio, Mollie Decker of Subject Studio, Laura Walker of Other Work, Ujijji Davis Williams of JIMA Studio, Imani Day of RVSN Studios, and Torri Smith of ARC BAE.
And they have more in common than just gender. The members “all sort of knew each other,” Dokes says, or at least of each other. “Our willingness to share resources naturally brought us together.”
Smith agrees. “We all share interests and passions,” she says, including projects that focus on youth, mentoring, community, and sustainability. Beyond that, “we all have fun together,” she adds.
Dokes says they hope not only to champion women in general, but also to give Black women architects the spotlight they deserve. “African American women represent less than 1%” of registered architects, she says. “We are a small group; it’s important to shine a light on that.”
The group has begun marketing itself as “badass women, good ass design,” a slogan they hope expresses their strengths and their collective willingness to fight for what they believe in. “In this industry, you have to be a badass,” Dokes explains. “You can’t take no for an answer. You have to have some moxie. Once you feel good in that lane, you can take on anything.”
Walker elaborates. “We’re a badass group because we will go to bat for the disenfranchised,” she says. A perk, they say, is that together they have a relationship with the city where they can push back when necessary. “We’re badass because we advocate for ourselves and for others,” Rida adds.
Much like a sisterhood, they encourage and console each other when needed, celebrating each other’s victories and mourning each other’s setbacks. “If I lose a project to one of the other members, at least I know the decision is working to transform the design culture in Detroit,”
Walker says. DeChard shares that sentiment. “It’s not a me vs. you mentality,” she explains of the group ethos. “We’re sharing the load and sharing the wealth.” Ranging in age from their 30s into their 50s, members consider one another both mentors and inspiration. “I’ve learned a lot of from each of these women,” Smith says. Joining forces, they say, has bred a healthy creativity. “We become resources for each other,” Smith adds. “The camaraderie is empowering” and more. “Sometimes, it’s like therapy,” Rida says.
The group as a whole has yet to work on a project together but would love to. “We always want to do more together, but it’s a matter of time,” Peterson says.
“We’ve been trying to get together to make pasta and can’t even get that scheduled,” Rida jokes.
Their list of dream projects is long. “I’d really like to get into more housing revitalization in Detroit,” says DeChard, who is based in Corktown.
“We’ve talked about collaborating on a large-scale project such as the RenCen that has a big impact,” Peterson adds, explaining that the landmark could be developed as a mixed-use project including affordable and senior housing while increasing hotel space to make the city more competitive for events and to build a stronger connection to nearby Hart Plaza. Detroit should “build on what we have, make it better,” she says. “Slow down and think for the long game, not the short.”
Rida has her sights set a bit farther west along the riverfront. “The Joe Louis Greenway would also be great,” she says with a laugh. “Just in case the RenCen project doesn’t work out.” They all hope the tide is turning, with more women and small firms doing pioneering work in the city and beyond. “We want to be at the big tables — all of us or one of us is a victory for the group,” Peterson says. “It’s all about creating happy relationships between people and built environments. When small practices are given a seat at the table, we see projects that are not only ambitious but also grounded in a real understanding of the people and places they’re designed for.”
“We’re most happy when we use our skill sets to help the community,” Dokes adds. Rida casts an even wider net. “We all want to see a better Detroit, better metropolitan region, and a better world.”
This story originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on May 5.
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