Daimian Hines Speaks at “The House that Chase Built”

Honoring Legacy, Elevating Voice

HINESAD Principal Daimian Hines was recently invited to speak at “The House that Chase Built,” a public event held at the historic Houston home of John S. Chase, the first licensed Black architect in Texas and a foundational figure in American architecture.

Hosted by Pastor Linda Davis, Council Member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, and emceed by Briana Connor of ABC 13, the event centered on the preservation of historic Black sacred spaces and the importance of architectural equity in Black communities.

Pastor Davis’s church was recently awarded a grant through the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, as part of its Preserving Black Churches initiative. Launched in 2022 with support from the Lilly Endowment, the $20 million national effort helps restore and sustain historically significant Black churches—recognizing them as vital centers of spiritual, cultural, and civic life.

In his remarks, Hines reflected on the enduring significance of Black leadership in architecture, affirming that voices like his—shaped by legacy and purpose—are part of the continuum John Chase helped define. “Preserving our spaces is inseparable from preserving our stories,” Hines noted. “And preserving our stories is architecture.