IDG+ Architects Awarded First Ever Minority Architecture Contract by Dolton 149
IDG+ Architects Awarded First Ever Minority Architecture Contract by Dolton 149 (Calumet City, IL) — Renowned minority-owned architecture firm IDG+ Architects is happy to announce that their proposal for architectural services for Dolton School District 149 has been recently accepted by the Dolton 149 Board of Education. This marks the first time in Dolton School District 149 history that a minority-owned architecture firm has been selected for any project.
“At IDG, we take great pride in each opportunity we receive to help uplift a community through the built environment,” said Aaron Gunn, Associate Managing Principal of IDG+ Architects’ Illinois office. “Dolton School District #149 is another such opportunity where we will showcase not only our talents and abilities as an Architectural firm, but also IDG’s commitment to delivering nothing short of excellence in Architecture to the African American communities we proudly serve.”
IDG+ Architects hopes that by making in-roads in the heavily-minority Southland communities, they can soon open a Chicagoland office to add to their offices in Peoria, Houston, and Dallas.
Historically, minority-owned firms, especially those providing professional services such as architecture, have been left out of the bidding process. Unfortunately, many elementary and high school boards of education do not participate in reporting of awards of bids to disadvantaged businesses. Furthermore, current Illinois statute does not require participation goals to be placed on the boards of public elementary and high schools, unlike community colleges, which require a 20% participation goal of disadvantaged business in the professional services fields, which include accounting services, architectural services, engineering services, information technology services, insurance brokers, investment management, and legal services. Currently, an elementary or high school board of education of a public school must set their own goals, if they choose to do so.
This historic award of a professional services contract to a black-owned architectural firm marks a changing of the tides with regard to minority business, especially in the Southland.
About IDG+ Architects
IDG+ Architects was founded in 2001 by Ben S. McMillan III (AIA, NCARB, NOMA) as a multi-disciplined, full service architectural firm offering a full-range of architectural services including survey and analysis of existing facilities, programming, planning and interiors.
IDG+ is guided by the principle that conscientious, proper design has an enduring value. IDG+ applies the most creative and advanced technology with equal concern for economy, aesthetics, function and durability to achieve the most effective design solution that satisfies the needs, goals and objectives of the client.
Simply stated, IDG+ will do “whatever it takes” to assist our clients in having the most efficient, functional and well-designed facilities possible within their time, scope and budget allocations.
Ben McMillan is the founder and Principal of IDG Architects Inc. With four decades of extensive background in educational, governmental, commercial and worship facilities, he has been contributing to the design and architecture of Houston. Ben has built his firm’s culture and team while exceeding his clients’ expectations. Ben is not only viewed as a boss by his IDG team but rather as a leader — leading his team to success!
Aaron Gunn is an Associate Managing Principal in the IDG Architects office in Peoria, Illinois. With his background in educational, governmental, commercial and worship facilities, he has been contributing to the design and architecture of Peoria.
IDG+ Architects Awarded First Ever Minority Architecture Contract by Dolton 149
Congrats