A foundation of inclusivity, architect draws a foundation for life

A foundation of a building, brick by brick, holds together the framework creating structural integrity.

Every design has its reasoning behind why it is created in the way it is: security, stability and in this case, inclusion. 

For Randall Vaughn, vice president of architecture for Gray Construction, shaping his career as an architect was defined by justice and lack of equality. 

Vaughn came to speak to the University of Kentucky’s National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) event sharing his career and what came about his aspirations of architecture.

His first inspirations were drawn from his seventh grade career day in middle school, the best time to share the passion of architecture, according to Vaughn.  

“I think we had every profession covered but architecture. I looked in the dictionary and came across ‘a’ and read architect, ‘Oh what was that’ and so I started reading about it, understanding this is pretty cool,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn searched for opportunities as he pursued further education and even asked his industrial arts teacher at Seneca High School in Louisville, Kentucky, if students pursued this career or went to the universities he was looking into. 

Vaughn said he wanted to know if others who were also African American also pursued similar career paths as him. 

“At that time no internet, so I had to write off to different places, American Institute of Architects (AIA) being one of them and I said ‘Tell me about architecture,’ so they sent me a bunch of brochures on architecture schools,” Vaughn said.

Architecture already seemed like an intimidating field, but for Vaughn to have known others like him pursuing the same career, fear was only in the back of his mind.

Having teachers tell him that others from his hometown of Louisville went down the same path as him, only furthered his reassurance for what he wanted to do in his life.

“Two or three people have come from Seneca to UK, so they sort of gave me a boost of confidence, one individual in particular was an African American from my neighborhood,” Vaughn said. 

As Vaughn continued his education, UK became a big competitor on his list of choices such as Indiana University Bloomington, Ball State University and Hampton Institute for universities to apply to. 

Previously, UK had an entrance exam students would take if they wanted to pursue architecture. 

Vaughn said the exam would take place at UK and he would drive up and take the exam on a weekend. 

This exam would allow students to qualify into the architecture program at UK.

“We all gathered in Pence Hall, and when I went into the room, there were only three African Americans out of 300,” Vaughn said.

At this moment, Vaughn questioned if he was meant to be in this room filled with people who did not identify in the same ways he did.

“I don’t know why I did this, but I walked into the room, did a sort of canvas of the ground and I walked back out,” Vaughn said, worried about whether or not he should be there. “I stopped and said ‘Am I in the right spot? And I said yes you’re next.’”

At times Vaughn saw this as an adversity, as he tended to gravitate towards people like himself.

Vaughn said not having as many people to lean on was one of his biggest challenges and not knowing someone from his neighborhood that was there with him.

Even with this, Vaughn chooses to use inequality, justice and fairness to influence his work as an architect.

By using his background and perspective, Vaughn has been able to use what he knows about his life and others to affect his work.

“I think having those diverse perspectives often helps us come up with solutions that benefit the entire whole (people working together in a firm),” Vaughn said.

Even in his current work place at Gray Construction, Vaughn emphasizes how his job acknowledges diversity to be key when making decisions.  

Whether it’s for women by women, for African Americans by African Americans, these perspectives foster an inclusive environment, according to Vaughn. 

“There are less than 550 African American female architects, so a rarity beyond just African Americans in general, it’s less than 2% and it’s been less than 2% for half a century,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn focused on starting at the elementary and middle school ages to show minority students the field of architecture so they can become interested and excited about the progression.

In high school you have so many choices, however in middle school, students begin to develop their interests and they should be exposed to architecture, Vaughn said.

The profession is about networking, according to Vaughn, and  knowing the right people in the right places.

“African American architects may not always have that connection,” Vaughn said. “Oftentimes just having that network will allow that opportunity to blossom.”

Vaughn has now been in positions where he can create those connections and bring them to groups like NOMAS, but to also use his career to create change for what he feels is right.

“The saying is ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,’ so when you have those opportunities where you’re at the table, in policymaking, planning and I think architects have a real opportunity to do that,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn said with taking those sacrifices and continuing to pursue his career real opportunities can arise, not just for architects, but for people in general. 

By having inclusivity and diversity, Vaughn said this can allow for a variety of perspectives we wouldn’t have otherwise. 

In his career and in his life, Vaughn has enriched himself in the pursuit of diversity and equality in and out of his career by volunteering in any way he could.

“A rising tide lifts all boats, I think if you have more (people) just anybody, that can only enrich,” Vaughn said.