As Minnesotans and, beyond that, as human beings, we are heartbroken by the brutal killing of George Floyd. We honor him and the countless other Black lives lost so cruelly and senselessly. We condemn all forms of racism and social injustice. Change is long overdue—more than 400 years overdue. MSR Design commits to listening to, learning from, and supporting the communities that suffer as a result of racism so that we can accelerate real and sustained societal transformations.
As AIA Minnesota’s “Broken” statement articulates, “Before rebuilding, the architecture community must join with others in rethinking, reimagining, and redesigning what’s next.” In a call for solidarity against racial injustice, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) president Kimberly Dowdell declares, “We must all leverage our positions of privilege to help our most vulnerable citizens, neighbors, and colleagues strive for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I urge you to consider what’s happening right now as an American problem that we must all face together.”
We wholeheartedly agree with Kimberly Dowdell. “As architects,” she states, “we are professionally responsible for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.” In response, we have pledged to donate $115,000 in design services through a 50% match in paid time to encourage our staff to volunteer their planning and design skills to organizations that assist and empower communities in need. This pro bono effort aligns with MSR Design’s overall commitment to designing truly inclusive buildings for entire communities to do our part to build a more just world and eliminate racial inequity.
Organizations to Support
Friends of the Hennepin County Library Local Library Equity Fund
Lake Street Council | We Love Lake Street
Neighbors United Funding Collaborative for Midway and Union Park
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) in partnership with Northside Funders Group