Call for More Minority Architects

"'Architecture is a great profession, but it's tough for minority firms to land big projects here - such as work for the hospitals and universities,' Lee said. 'We've been fortunate in being able to do some major projects in the city, but black architects have tended to do the bread-and-butter work, such as affordable housing.'

This is changing with a new generation of black architects in Boston. Audrey O'Hagan earned plaudits for her transformation of the former NECCO building in Cambridge into stylish lab space for Novartis while an associate at Stubbins Associates, a big Boston firm.

Last year, O'Hagan opened her own practice and has continued to do lab work, but she also designed a new wing for the East Somerville Community School. O'Hagan just completed a retrofit of the Leggat McCall offices in Post Office Square, making the real estate firm's digs ecofriendly."