This episode features a conversation with Architect, Rasheda Tripp, and Developer, Morgan C.B. Miles. They were the only other two black women in my graduating architecture class at UVA and have been dear friends of mine for almost 20 years. We talk about our careers, what brought us to architecture and how we navigate white, male spaces as black women.
Quote:
"The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being." - Toni Morrison
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Bios:
Rasheda Tripp
Rasheda Tripp received her BS in Architecture in 2006 from the University of Virginia. She earned her M. Architecture degree in 2012 from Washington University in St Louis.
Rasheda is currently a Project Architect for GuernseyTingle in Williamsburg Va. She’s been with the firm since 2013 and has continued to work remotely from Charlottesville since 2017. Her project types range from retail, multi-family residential and government facilities at all levels.
Rasheda is passionate about designing affordable and equitable housing. She frequently stops to admire the ceilings and doors of spaces. She’s mother to 2 boys and a wife to a husband who no longer judges her for stopping to look at random building details.
Morgan C.B. Miles
Morgan C.B. Miles serves as the Senior Manager of Development for Strategic Property Partners (“SPP”) where she oversees entitlements, design, and construction of the $171 million, 388-unit luxury residential building as part of the first phase of the Water Street Tampa development. Integrating principles of walkability, sustainability, connectivity, design quality, and wellness, SPP will create, own, and operate the $3.5 billion, 9-million-square-foot mixed-use waterfront development in Tampa, Florida.
Morgan joined SPP from Hoffman & Associates and worked on The Wharf – a $2.5-billion world-class, mixed-use waterfront redevelopment in Washington, DC comprised of 3.2 million square feet of residential, hotel, office, restaurant, retail, marina, and public uses including waterfront parks, promenades, piers, and docks. Morgan managed the development of North America's first Canopy by Hilton (a 175-key signature, lifestyle hotel) and DC’s first Hyatt House (a 237-key extended-stay hotel). As the Senior Development Manager, she was responsible for all aspects of this 9-time, award-winning $194 million hotel development including zoning, entitlements, design, permitting, hotel brand management, investor relations, financing, construction management, retail and master site coordination, furniture procurement and installation, LEED Gold certification, sales & marketing, concept creation and branding for the rooftop bar/lounge, pre-opening operations, and transition to asset management. During her time on the Wharf project she also led the development of the $190 million, 96-unit ultra-luxury condominium building, designed by world-renowned Rafael Viñoly Architects P.C. with interiors by Thomas Juul-Hansen, LLC.
A LEED Accredited Professional, Morgan holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. in Real Estate and Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. This past November, Morgan was selected as one of the 10 Florida Winners of Connect Media’s Third Annual Women in Real Estate Awards Program.