Architect Nakita Reed shares insight into the intersection of architecture, historic preservation, sustainability, and systemic challenges

Building Bridges with Bricks: Nakita Reed on Preservation, Sustainability, and Purpose

Reimagining Buildings: The Purpose of Preservation in Architecture

Architect and historic preservationist Nakita Reed shared her compelling story and expertise during a recent discussion. With over a decade of experience in architecture and historic preservation, Nakita’s work transcends the traditional scope of her profession. Growing up in Northern Virginia and observing the homelessness crisis amongst abandoned buildings in 1990s Washington, D.C., inspired Nakita’s journey into architecture. Her childhood understanding—that rehabilitating buildings could solve social problems—transformed into a lifelong commitment to sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Nakita emphasizes that historic preservation is inherently sustainable. Through the lens of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the foundational pillars of environmental conservation, adaptive reuse of buildings reflects a powerful way to reduce waste and dependency on new materials. As she astutely points out, everything architects design and build today will one day stand as candidates for historic preservation. The challenge lies in designing buildings with long-term value and cultural significance rather than creating disposable structures destined for obsolescence.

The Passive House Standard: Designing for Longevity and Climate Change

As climate change becomes a pressing global issue, architects face increasing pressure to create structures that meet rigorous sustainability standards. Nakita elaborated on the Passive House standard, a building performance standard focused on energy efficiency. Unlike checklist-based systems like LEED certifications, Passive House standards include field-verified measurements like energy usage per occupant, air-tightness, and blower-door tests to ensure high energy performance.

Buildings designed to Passive House standards are not only functional but evolving into beautiful, aesthetic spaces. They reflect the essential balance between utility, environmental impact, and design longevity. Nakita believes that as architects, we must question whether our current designs will stand the test of time. Will the structures we create today still hold merit 50 years down the road?

Drawing Connections: Racism, Climate Change, and the Built Environment

One of the standout moments of Nakita’s discussion touches on the intersection of racism and climate change. She referenced Hop Hopkins’ powerful statement: “You can’t have climate change without sacrifice zones. You can’t have sacrifice zones without disposable people. And you can’t have disposable people without racism.” Nakita uses this framework to highlight how systemic racism directly impacts who bears the brunt of environmental degradation and poor urban planning. For example, marginalized communities often become “sacrifice zones” for waste and industrial projects, exacerbating health and infrastructure disparities.

Nakita envisions architects playing a pivotal role in addressing systemic issues by leveraging their platforms and expertise to engage policymakers. She works to educate decision-makers on the interconnectedness of existing buildings, climate change, and human impact. Making these connections holds the transformative potential of reshaping urban environments to foster equity and inclusion.

Breaking Siloes and Building Communities: Architects as Connectors

For Nakita, architecture isn’t confined to design alone but extends into addressing social, cultural, and policy challenges. It involves the art of connecting disciplines, including sustainability experts, policymakers, and tradespeople, in collaborative efforts. She notes the critical shortage of skilled preservation tradespeople—often attributed to age, demographics, or waning interest—and highlights the importance of diversifying this field by recruiting underrepresented groups such as veterans or formerly incarcerated individuals.

This spirit of collaboration extends further into Nakita’s broader philosophy of urban renewal and community development. She encourages architects, developers, and policymakers to recognize the greater value of reinvesting in neglected neighborhoods. These communities, rife with buildings bearing untold histories, present opportunities to marry preservation with economic empowerment. Nakita passionately advocates for black communities to reclaim ownership of their neighborhoods by fostering localized investment and reducing dependence on outside developers.

The Power of Purpose and Vision

As the discussion pivoted to self-reflection, Nakita shared her belief in the importance of purpose and vision. A defining moment came when she described the need to stop seeking external permission or validation for one’s goals. At the core of this realization lies her advice for aspiring change-makers—be cautious about where you seek approval, and trust in your vision to push through resistance and self-doubt.

For Nakita, prosperity means the freedom to use her platform to advocate for systemic change. Five years from now, she envisions herself fully entrenched in community-driven urban revitalization projects, working with like-minded individuals to reinvest in historic buildings that benefit underrepresented communities.

Looking Ahead: Building for People, Stories, and Sustainability

Nakita Reed’s conversation serves as a powerful reminder that architecture is ultimately about people—about creating spaces imbued with culture, history, and purpose. Whether through challenging systemic inequities, advocating for sustainable design practices, or bridging disciplines, Nakita exemplifies the broader role architects can play in shaping inclusive urban landscapes.

Her journey calls on all of us to reflect on the spaces we inhabit, the structures we preserve, and the communities we aim to build—with the hope that future generations inherit a world designed with connection and care at its core.