Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu

Architect Elsie Owusu is campaigning to become the first nonwhite woman president in the 185-year history of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). From July 3 to August 7, RIBA’s 44,000 members will vote for a new leader, picking between Owusu, establishment favorite Alan Jones, and U.S.-based British architect Philip David Allsop. But Owusu’s path to the nomination is the most fraught. An elected RIBA Council member since 2014 and vice chair of the London School of Architecture, Owusu has been praised for leading renovations on the UK Supreme Court building and Green Park Station transit hub. She has also been snubbed by some for accusing RIBA of institutionalized racism and sexism. But despite what she says have been dismissive comments from peers, “death threats” from a fellow Council member, and a failed 2015 bid for RIBA’s vice presidency, Owusu launched a Twitter-based campaign in 2017 to increase RIBA’s diversity called “+25.” Her efforts raised the number of nonwhites on the governing council to a historic 12 from one—herself—and earned support from colleagues David Adjaye, Allison Brooks, and Richard Rogers.

An alum of the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Owusu, 64, spoke to RECORD about her contentious campaign, her vision for RIBA’s future, and her own nimble practice.