Event Recap:
AIA Brooklyn’s Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee held this insightful pair of talks hosted by Marset USA in their elegant Williamsburg lighting showroom. The event featured talks by Marta Gutman, PhD and Jessica Fletcher, PhD on their studies of how women were at the center of early community design.
Marta is an architectural historian and the Dean of the Spitzer School of Architecture at City College. Her book, “A City for Children: Women, Architecture, and the Charitable Landscapes of Oakland, 1850-1950” focuses on the role women played in developing urban spaces for children in Oakland, California. She shared imagery and stories of orphanages, kindergartens, day care centers, and other spaces for children that were built by women in their community, often with no financial support.
Jessica is an art historian and researcher whose work follows the movement by women to establish community health clinics in their neighborhoods throughout New York City. She presented information and photographs from her Art History PhD dissertation on the pivotal role that women played in the development of district health centers throughout the City, some of which are still operating today.
Marset’s hospitality was unparalleled and provided attendees the opportunity to mingle, sample delicious Spanish food, experience the Marset showroom, and learn about some prominent examples of the early impact of women on the built environment. We appreciate Marta and Jessica for sharing their wealth of knowledge with us and hope to see everyone at future AIA Brooklyn’s WIA events this fall!
The next WIA Committee Meeting will take place via Zoom on September 15, 2025. Keep an eye on AIA Brooklyn’s Eventbrite site for the RSVP page.
Women Shaping the Built Environment: Lessons from Oakland, California and New York, NY
Join us for an evening of ideas, inspiration, and connection at the Marset USA Showroom as we spotlight the critical impact of women shaping our cities and communities. This is more than a panel — it’s a space to meet others, exchange insights, and reflect on how architecture intersects with advocacy, equity, and public life.
Our discussion draws on powerful case studies from Oakland and New York City. Speakers Marta Gutman, PhD (Dean, Spitzer School of Architecture, CUNY) and Jessica Fletcher, PhD (CUNY Graduate Center) will share research on the roles women have played in designing public architecture and health infrastructure—lessons we can use to build a more inclusive and responsive future.
What to Expect:
- 6:00-7:00pm: Panel discussion and Q&A
- 7:00-8:00pm: Networking reception with Spanish food and beverages
Featured Speakers:
Marta Gutman, PhD – Dean of the Spitzer School of Architecture, City College of New York. Award-winning architectural historian renowned for her research on ordinary urban spaces and public architecture for children.
Jessica Fletcher, PhD – Writer and researcher who holds a PhD in Art History from CUNY Graduate Center. Her dissertation examined the pivotal role women played in the movement for district health centers in New York City.
Hosted by: AIA Brooklyn’s Women in Architecture Committee (WIA)
Venue Partner: Marset USA
**All tickets are first come first served. Registration ends at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 24.**
Image: Rooftop playground at the Judson Health Center, c. 1925. Source: Eleanor Campbell, “Measuring the Work of a Health Center: A Report of Four Years Work of the Judson Health Center” (New York: Judson Health Center, 1925).