The Architecture of a Community | Vincent Myers & Maria Maruta

Why It Matters

Myers’ story illustrates how early representation and targeted mentorship can diversify architecture, while his firm’s collaborative model shows that preserving culture through mergers yields both social and business success.

Key Takeaways

• Early exposure to a pioneering Black architect shaped Myers' vision
• ACE program creates pathways for disadvantaged youth into architecture
• DIG’s merger preserved culture through shared community mission
• Senior‑living designs prioritize independence over institutional feel
• Legacy scholarships honor father while fostering new talent

Summary

The interview with Vincent Myers centers on how his father, New Jersey’s first African‑American architect, influenced his perception of architecture as a tool for representation and community building. Myers recounts childhood memories of watching his father work, noting that constant exposure to design, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit involvement forged his confidence and commitment to the profession.

A major theme is the Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) program, which Myers and his father helped launch in New Jersey. By sponsoring high‑school students from disadvantaged neighborhoods, the initiative offers hands‑on design projects, competitions, and a $5,000 scholarship in his father’s name, directly addressing the exposure gap Myers identifies as critical for future Black architects.

Myers also explains the evolution of Design Ideas Group (DIG), a merger of four firms that retained a unified culture by focusing on civic projects in under‑served school districts. The collaborative model, initially formed as NJK12 Architects to capture state‑funded school contracts, grew into a 60‑person firm recognized as AIA Firm of the Year in 2022, demonstrating how shared values can survive complex mergers.

Finally, Myers discusses senior‑living design, emphasizing human‑scaled environments that promote autonomy and joy rather than institutionalization. Drawing on early experiences with Presbyterian Homes (now Springpoint), he highlights design strategies that foster community, accessibility, and dignity for an aging population, underscoring architecture’s broader social impact.

Original Description

Vincent Myers of DIGroupArchitecture reflects on growing up in architecture, finding purpose in civic design and leading with care.

"Architecture is the mother of all arts," believes Vincent Myers, co-founding principal & president of New Jersey–based DIGroupArchitecture. As the firm marks its 20th year, Myers reflects on a career shaped as much by legacy as by architecture.

Recognized last year with the American Institute of Architects’ Diversity in Business Leader award, Myers continues to lead with a focus on service and long-term impact. In this interview with Multi-Housing News, he reflects on mentorship, responsibility and the kind of legacy he hopes his work will leave behind.

Here are the interview highlights:

(00:00) Intro: Meet Vincent Myers

(04:01) Building pathways through ACE

(08:27) How DIG was formed

(14:23) Merging cultures into one firm

(16:46) Designing senior living today

(26:42) Choosing community-centered work

(29:48) Diversity as firm practice

(33:43) Representation in civic spaces

(39:42) Future of community design

(43:32) DIG’s 20th year and what’s next

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