Only 27% of licensed architects are women, according to the National Council of Architecture Registration Board. Fossil Ridge High School Engineering teacher Michael Wilbourn would like to see that number increase. 

“Data shows statistically that when companies that are general contracting companies and stuff that have more women in their positions tend to do better,” Wilbourn said. 

Though Wilbourn’s Engineering and Construction classes are made up of mostly a male population, he wants to spread diversity and continue to encourage female students to join his class.

He remembers one excellent female student who ended up studying construction management at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 

“It benefited her. I mean, there were $10,000 scholarships available for her,”  Wilbourn said.

Fort Collins architect Ingrid McMillan says the benefits to her career choice have been great, despite her initial concerns in college. 

“I was afraid of the math, right? Because I missed some classes in high school,” McMillan said. ”So I was afraid, oh, I can’t do architecture so much math.”

Struggling in high school and switching majors in college didn’t stop McMillan from pursuing a new interest even when she was the only female.

“I was often the only female around my office. I’d have a meeting with clients and I’d come in the room and they assumed I was the receptionist at first, that was in the late ‘80s, and it’s come full circle,” said McMillan.

McMillan mentioned advances in technology have opened up opportunities in her field.

“The field’s going to change and open up lots of new jobs,” said McMillan.

There are many positions in architecture, not just a regular lead architect. This field has evolved to have new positions that don’t fit the traditional standards, McMillan said. 

“Jobs like drone construction manager or AI code compliance officer, curating textures and materials for digital spaces, disaster relief habitat designer, space tourism architect,” McMillan said about the new kinds of jobs that have opened up. 

Navigating things online and in person, learning how to build things and use tools is beneficial for everyone.

“I literally can build anything myself just from knowing how to design it,” she said. “If I want a shelf in my house, I will just go build it.” said McMillan

Promoting diversity in architecture supports individuals of all backgrounds. Careers such as engineering and construction management are closely related and often work with architecture. Students have access to many classes such as Construction and Engineering and Architecture, particularly at Fossil.

“My students learned so many good life skills, they could fix a lot of things in their house or outside their house after taking my class that they probably wouldn’t have known before,” said Wilbourn.

McMillan said the reward for her work is immeasurable. 

“There’s thousands of people out there working or living in places that I worked on, which makes you feel good. I didn’t do anything in my life that hurt other people, only good,” she said.