OFÉ CLARKE

Portrait courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

Senior Associate at KSQ Design, New York

Ofé Clarke is a naturalized American of Jamaican parentage that epitomizes the concept of the American dream being attainable by all who pursue it, immigrant and natural-born alike. Ofé’s passion for architecture stemmed from a mundane request from her parents to design a family home when she was a teenager and through that simple request, Ofé was able to find her career bearings. While this profession is dominated by men, her ascendency as a black woman has placed Ofé at the forefront of her field, and the spotlight should only get brighter as she progresses further.

Making an Impact Through Education and the Habitable Environment

What is your favorite dish?

Lasagna

What is your favorite song by a Black artist?

The Prayer- Donnie McClurkin & Yolanda Adams

Three additional facts about Ofé:

1. I’m an event planner in my spare time

2. I used to play field hockey

3. I taught myself American sign language (ASL)

What inspired you to study architecture? 

It is actually quite simple. I wanted to live in a home that I designed to my liking and to my taste. Uncannily, my parents gave me that push to begin the process as they were the motivators behind my design challenge. Then, as I drove around during my daily travels and flipped through magazines, I realized the endless styles of architecture and that the possibility of the design was endless. If I could think of it, I could design it and someday build it. This led to my insatiable interest in exploring the field of architecture. As a result, I committed myself to excellence and added innovation to that excellence to carve out a path for myself as a black woman of immigrant heritage in an arena dominated by traditional concepts. I did not set out to break any glass ceilings, but what I did engage was an ardent desire to express my talents in such a way that I could not be overlooked or disregarded. As I studied my passion and eventually worked in the field that could help me realize my passion, my desire never abated, but instead expanded as my appetite for architecture continues to gain new heights.

Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

Name a Black architect/artist who most influenced you as an emerging professional?

This influence, for me, would have come from Paul Revere Williams. I admire his drive. He faced every roadblock and challenge that was thrown his way without flinching from the task of occupying his space in the architectural world and his adherence to his craft motivates me. Architecture is not easy and many persons leave the profession shortly after completing college due to the challenges of finding meaningful employment and an avenue to express their uniqueness. These daunting trials are ubiquitous across professions, yet it takes an obstinate single-mindedness to overcome these deterrents. Mr. Williams is a testament to the fact that despite all the roadblocks he faced, he kept pushing to make his dream a reality. Because of his unyielding spirit, Mr. Williams was able to celebrate many groundbreaking achievements and became revered as Hollywood’s architect. Similar to Mr. Williams, my pursuit is to become an architect of historical substance, an individual whose name will echo through history and become the motivation for other young, black, immigrant girls to follow their passion because they can achieve whatever they have set their minds to, despite traditional pressures or societal hindrances.

Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

Name a favorite project completed by a Black Designer. Why is it your favorite?

 My favorite design would be 130 William by Davis Adjaye. This design is perfectly balanced between solid and open. Its masonry construction, with arched openings, juxtaposes nicely against its glazed skyscraper counterparts and it gives me a futuristic feeling. I keep thinking of the Jetsons, a children’s cartoon based in a futuristic world, who lived in an age of sharp angles contrasted by fluid lines. This stylistic design conjures revolt in some and admiration in others, yet this polarity is the essence of its gravitational pull and popularity. For me, this description embodies the work of 130 William. I would describe my feelings as umami, that Japanese culinary word that describes the perfect balance of flavors between sour and sweet, spicy and soothing. 130 William inspires that chemistry of flavor to get to the point known as “savory.” As with modern chefs, as an architect I aspire to achieve that delightful effect in those that imbibe my work, sparking in them that flavorful experience that inspires their own creativity.

Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

How does your culture, ethnicity, and/or race affect your studies and the way you design?

The topography of where I am from to the big apple is drastically different. I am accustomed to large expanses of land, spacious and airy spaces, and utilizing passive cooling strategies. I do find that designing large habitable spaces or spaces that feel spacious is the backbone of my design motif. Jamaica is a country of open fields and rolling hills. The skyline is indelibly natural and connects heaven and earth in seamless splendor. This natural ruggedness is still seen in the cities and town, even if overshadowed in the center of these locales, nature blooms again upon exit from the confined spaces of high buildings and expansive intrusion. My heritage, then, lends itself to the motif of openness I seek to employ in my designs. The natural expanse must find its way into a confined, man-sculpted space, and here ingenuity is necessary for this to be achieved. Hence, combining the concrete and steel of New York City with the verdure and fluency of Jamaica becomes the underpinning of my design strategy.

Stony Brook University student housing and dining project is now known as Cesar Chavez and Harriet Tubman Residence Hall and east side dining was my first completed project out of college and so holds a special place in my heart. I had so much fun collaborating with the team members, designing the interior architecture, and producing the construction documents. The 750-bed residence hall has a hotel-like feel with suite-style housing and an occupiable green roof. Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

As a Registered Architect and an active member of the architectural community, tell us about different initiatives that you have taken to better shape the built environment.

There are two areas of the built environment I have had a passion to impact – education and the habitable environment. I desire to impact the classroom because a vast majority of human life is spent in places of education, especially our formative years, and the classroom can and should ultimately shape our future as the place in which we study, collaborate, and learn. Because of this view, I happily attend high school career fairs and have availed myself to be the co-chair of the “Where I Work” architecture mentorship initiative by the AIA Bronx chapter. We focus on educating and encouraging children attending middle-school in underserved communities about the profession of Architecture.  To date, this is where my profession has taken me, and it has been truly rewarding. This is so because I have seen that through space planning and programming, learning can be further fostered. I still intend to make an impact in the area where people go to find comfort, peace, and tranquility, but providing the comforts of home through architectural innovation is yet part of my future plans.

The project exemplifies modern architectural language through the use of glass, metal, and brick. Affectionately called the swoosh during design, the dining project hosts a variety of cuisine options, where each station is designed specifically to reflect the food being served. The project is LEED Silver. Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

Since you were previously ACE mentor for high school students and Co-Chair of AIA Bronx Emerging Professionals group, tell us about the importance of mentorship, especially for BIPOC students and professionals.

Seeing is believing. When BIPOC students and professionals see their fellow minorities in these prolific careers and roles, they are motivated and believe there is an opportunity for them as well. Role models are necessary for minority communities because of the historical barriers to prominence that would have been erected in society and found their way into communities, schools, homes, and even churches. What becomes a necessity is that these children become engaged with someone who not only speaks but has accomplished that which they speak of. These children need more than dreamers, they need those living the reality. This truth brings to bear the great need for mentorship among this class of students. Lives dedicated to opening doors, opening curtains, and providing a secure place is essential for these mentees to extricate themselves from what Bob Marley calls “mental slavery.” Mentors can unlock, for the lack of a better term, the cages that bar these fruitful young minds from growing and expanding beyond the barriers erected in their lives. This is why I dedicate myself to this enterprise, not being selfish and reveling in my own ascendency not clutching maniacally at my perceived prestige, but freely giving of myself and my status to boost others to attain greater heights than I have achieved.

A new wing for a progressive public high school in the historic city of Kingston, NY. The expansion and renovation of the 98-year-old high school had multi-phasing to multiple buildings on campus and is almost complete. The project created "academies" or small learning communities for each grade level. Every aspect of the school was touched. New academic wings were recreated, renovation of the historic Main building to bring it into the 21st century, renovation and addition to the field house, new fields, renovation to the pool, new site work, and so on. Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

If you were able to talk to your younger self, what would you say?

I would tell my younger self that life does not get easier but it becomes more enjoyable. I would tell myself that when I start to see the fruits of the seeds I planted there is no greater feeling of accomplishment. Such a conversation would not be the most grammatically easy to orchestrate, but the conversation would center around these two great truths in my life. I would encourage myself to look out for the pitfalls that would threaten to derail achievement. I would also tell myself not to focus on victimhood, but focus on overcoming, nurturing an “I can” spirit because positivity is what reaps success. I would tell myself to prepare for the wild ride that is life and not to become too discouraged when cherished things or people are lost, but to maintain focus on the ultimate goals.

In one of the renovated buildings, an inviting library was created which makes provision for individual study or collaborative study utilizing the main space or the break out rooms. With the growing age of technology and everything going digital including books, we ensured to incorporate a technology bar in addition to a modest area for stacks. Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.

What would you want to say to the next generation of aspiring Black women architects?

I would tell them that we may be few in numbers for now, but there is still opportunity available. Do not limit yourselves. Break the barriers that appear to hold you back and change the status quo. We are just as capable, creative, and inspiring as our fellow counterparts. Where there is perceived inferiority, counter it. Where there is entrenched traditional foundations, uproot them. Where there is continued gender stratification, subvert it. Where there remain stereotypes about race, surmount it. Have an undying fire burning in the very core of your being that propels you to achieve greatness in an area where tradition is not in your favor. There must be an unshakeable faith that actuates you to keep moving, even if submerged in mud; to keep drawing, even if no conventional tools are at your disposal; to maintain integrity, even if the world is promised to you; to celebrate heartily, because each achievement is praise-worthy!

Image courtesy of Ofé Clarke.