Prescott Reavis (2020)

Posted on by

In Memorium
By Katherine Williams

Prescott Reavis never wrote his story for ArchStories. He was one who was on my list but it never got done. Prescott passed away suddenly on February 8. I wanted to honor him here because he is one of the originals to support this project.

Prescott and a group of friends are the reason ArchStories exists. Back in 2007, a group of us connected at the AIA conference and challenged each other to get licensed by the next year. Prescott was not in attendance but he quickly became one of the first members on the email list and later Yahoo group thread. It took most of us more than one year to finish. However, that email thread kept us updating and encouraging each other along the journey to finish the exams.

Prescott and I had so many connections. We were both Howard graduates. Then, when I moved to California in 2006, I joined NOMA and Prescott was one of the leaders of the San Francisco chapter. We spent a lot of time together as instructors for the Malcolm X Academy program for five years. We created curriculum together, taught together, and tried to spark an interest in architecture and planning in scores of rambunctious elementary kids. We also presented this work together at several conferences.

Prescott eventually was licensed. Most recently, he started his own firm, Kulima Design. One of the things that has really been on my mind is his work advocating for child-friendly cities and the inclusion of children’s voices in planning and design. He dubbed himself a Child-Friendly Cities Strategist and Spatial Activist. Prescott was expanding that conversation and stretching the movement in the work empowering children to be advocates for their neighborhoods and cities. I hope that all of those who knew him and want to honor his memory and even those who didn’t but are inspired by him, carry that work and advocacy forward.

Thank you to Prescott for being a great friend, always a supporter, and a huge force for good in our profession.

Prescott at Malcom X Elementary 1) session end presentation, 2) student class presentation 3) at Pratt University with seminar attendee.

Read some of the many tributes to Prescott

NOMA The NOMA Family Grieves

Archinect – Remembering Prescott Reavis: A champion of Black excellence and mentorship within architecture

Forever Missed tributes and gallery

Recent interviews

Practice Disrupted Podcast Episode 059: Building the Pipeline Through K-12 Education

Open Architecture Collaborative Prescott Reavis: Stories From the Field

Cal-Berkely Lecture: Fernando Marti + Prescott Reavis

Prescott’s personal website

—————-
Share your story.

Image credits:
1 and 2. Shirl Buss. 3. Andrew Thompson.