Charles F. McAfee, FAIA

Considered one of the most important African American architect in the United States, Charles McAfee of Wichita, Kansas, has used architecture to create opportunities for African Americans and make social commentary about racial inequality. Born in Los Angeles to Arthur and Willie Anna McAfee on December 25, 1932, McAfee received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska. Beginning his career in the early 1960s, McAfee has developed and sustained Charles F. McAfee Architects and Planners, with offices in Wichita, Atlanta, Dallas and Oklahoma City.

The diversity and breadth of McAfee's career distinguishes him in his field. Throughout his career, he has been affiliated with countless architectural and urban planning projects, many receiving national recognition. McAfee's projects range from institutional facilities (renovation of Oklahoma City School District 89) to transportation structures (Atlanta's North Line Midtown Station), religious structures (Wichita's Calvary Baptist Church) to recreational facilities (McAdams Park), in addition to housing and commercial facilities. The significance of a regional structure, like Kansas's first national black historical society, is as striking as McAfee's national projects. His firm's projects have included the design and construction of FAA/NADIN computer facilities as well as design consultation and construction management of facilities for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

In recognition of his distinguished career, McAfee has been the recipient of countless awards and distinctions, including the American Institute of Architects Kansas Chapter Excellence in Architecture Award and the Federal Housing Administration's First Honor Award. He serves on numerous professional and civic boards of directors, including the Catholic Social Services and the National Business League. McAfee has also served as the president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and Midwestern president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

McAfee maintains his commitment by providing mentorship to minority architects and planners, including his daughters, Cheryl McAfee-Mitchell and Charyl McAfee-Duncan, who run the family offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Oklahoma City. McAfee is married to Gloria Winston McAfee, a dedicated educator and community leader.

Roland A. Wiley, RAW International

Mr. Wiley, managing partner of RAW International, has over 24 years experience in project design, technical coordination, and construction management. As founder and managing partner of RAW International, Mr. Wiley’s responsibilities range from the strategic and economic planning of the firm to resolving design and construction problems. His demonstrated leadership and planning skills have sustained the firm’s continued growth and success for 20years. The firm has evolved into a creative problem solving team, successfully executing a diversity of projects ranging from transit planning to sanctuary design.

Mr. Wiley considers himself an urban visionary. His 24 years of experience have afforded him the opportunity to plan, design, and build urban projects ranging from a downtown high-rise commercial development to light rail and bus transit studies. In the process of his professional development Mr. Wiley has developed a passion for the sustainable revitalization of underserved urban communities. Projects under his direction include the Crenshaw Prairie Transit Corridor Major Investment Study which identified the significant potential for revitalization by using regional transit investment as a catalyst for the development of a community. In addition, Mr. Wiley performed a sustainable technologies analysis for the California Science Center, which evaluated the feasibility of cutting edge sustainable technologies including fuel cells, photo voltaic cells, and thermal energy storage systems.

Mr. Wiley's recent projects include the Crenshaw District Pedestrian Linkages Plan, and the Union Station Gateway East Portal in Los Angeles, CA. The Union Station Gateway East Portal Project entails an intermodal transit facility that shall be the hub of pedestrian and transit activity for the Metro Rail, Metro Link, Amtrak, and RTD bus system.

RAW International
http://www.rawinternational.com/profile_bios.htm