For the first time in the event’s history, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) 48^th annual conference commenced in a fully virtual format. Following an unprecedented year of global unrest and uncertainty, the online event will have an audience of over 1,500 registered participants from October 14–18, making it NOMA’s most well attended conference ever, with most sessions counting towards AIA continuing education credit. This year’s theme, Spatial Shifts: Reclaiming Our Cities, is especially pertinent to current issues.

“When faced with the difficult question of whether or not to cancel our in-person conference at the onset of the pandemic earlier this year, we decided to prioritize the health and safety of our members. In light of this decision and recognizing how much our members need each other,  now more than ever before, we opted to forge into the unfamiliar territory of delivering a virtual conference experience,” says Kimberly Dowdell, 2019-2020 NOMA president and HOK principal (she is also RECORD's 2020 Women in Architecture Awards Activist honoree) in a statement.

“We are gathering online to discuss the pressing issues that COVID-19 brought to light with NOMA members and colleagues from across the industry. As architects, we are responsible for shaping the future of the built environment,” she continues. “In the shadows of this pandemic, it is critical that our profession is better equipped to help foster greater health and wellbeing for people in all communities, particularly those that suffer from the greatest health and wealth disparities in our nation. NOMA members expect to be on the frontlines of these issues moving forward.”