Bonus Episode: Autodesk AIHow is AI reshaping the way architects design, collaborate, and innovate?On this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Amy Bunszel, the Executive Vice President of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions at Autodesk, and Ryan McNulty, Principal of MBH Architects, to dive into the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it relates to architectural practice — including The Phoenix, one of Ryan’s recent projects recently showcased at AU 2023.First, Amy describes the positive impact of AI and how the technology can help the built world — and its customers — improve the sustainability of projects. She explains the role Autodesk AI plays in delivering more innovative projects to clients in a way that will transform both the industry and individual practice.&nbsp;&nbsp;AI can help with three things: automation, augmentation, and vast data analysis. The sustainability challenges in the world are also accelerating the need for change. The built environment is responsible for 42% of annual global CO2 emissions. Now is the time to leverage all the great technology we can to drive towards some of these important goals. - Amy BunszelFrom there, Ryan illustrates why and how AI can be useful for architecture from a project standpoint. He shares how AI helps to diminish architectural administrative tasks and focus on architectural decisions — one example being The Phoenix, a West Oakland affordable housing project created in collaboration with Autodesk. We also learn Ryan and Amy’s future plans for integrating AI into different projects and tools in support of the changing profession.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Ryan and Amy provide tips for architecture students integrating AI into their practice and share their individual aspirations for how AI can positively impact and shape their environments.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tune in next week for an episode about employee wellness and organizational culture in design firms.Guests:Amy Bunszel, EVP AEC Design at Autodesk manages product strategy and execution for Autodesk’s 3D design portfolio including the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, AutoCAD family, Autodesk Revit, and more. &nbsp;With more than 20 years’ of experience innovating software products across the architecture, engineering, and construction, manufacturing and media and entertainment industries, Amy inspires innovative strategy while driving large-scale agile software development around the globe. Amy combines her roots as a start-up co-founder with deep product management knowledge and large-scale product execution expertise to build high performing teams focused on delivering value to their customers. &nbsp;Ryan McNulty, Principal MBH Architects has an innate ability to unify project stakeholders to create successful projects with meaning and respect to local context. Ryan is known for his keen thirty-thousand-foot view of projects while closely managing every detail. This holistic design approach informs the decision-making process and allows effective communication at every stage, making him an asset to MBH’s broad array of project types — from workspace and labs, to multi-family and hospitality projects.&nbsp;Ryan brings deep experience with complex structures, managing client goals, community hearings, and stakeholder coordination. He is currently principal-in-charge of a a large commercial project in Los Angeles, as well as a confidential residential development in New York City.&nbsp;&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about Autodesk AI<a href="https://blogs.autodesk.com/aec/2023/11/13/ai-in-aec/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode 137: MASS Design Group Business Evolution&nbsp;Why do we need a non-profit architecture business model?A Model of Architecture for Society (MASS) Design Group was founded in 2008 as a non-profit organization with the mission to research, design, build, and advocate for architecture that promotes justice and human dignity. On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Patricia Gruits, AIA, Co-Executive Director and Ashley Marsh, Senior Director to learn about how MASS has experienced and moved towards growth in recent years. Patricia and Ashley share why MASS is a nonprofit architecture firm and how their specific business model challenges others to think differently.&nbsp;“Being a nonprofit allows us to challenge policymakers, challenge developers, challenge communities to think more radically, more equitably, more sustainably, about what the potential of the built environment is. That space for failure and learning is something nonprofits are very, very interested in.” - Ashley Marsh&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Patricia notes the ways the MASS continues to evolve and adapt through challenges. Plus, Patricia and Ashley share their perspective about the reality and reward of the profession — including the significant impact relationships have on each individual’s experience at work.&nbsp;Tune in next week for an episode on a new report titled “New Realities: Employee Wellness and Organizational Culture in Design Firms.”Guests:Patricia Gruits, AIA, the Co-Executive Director of MASS Design Group believes that design is a tool to envision a better world&nbsp; — one that is just and beautiful for all people and our shared planet. Patricia also supports the strategy, development, operations and design practice across the North America studios. She works in concert with studio principals, lab leaders and designers, to navigate how architecture can address critical issues of Public Memory, Disability Justice, Food Systems, Native Communities, Climate Resilience, and Restorative Justice.&nbsp;In recognition of her outstanding contributions to architecture, Patricia received the 2020 Flansburgh Young Designer Award by the Boston Society for Architecture. Patricia also frequently speaks at national and local AIA events, including the AIA 2022 National Convention where MASS received the Architecture Firm Award.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ashley Marsh, RA, is a Senior Director of MASS Design Group and is responsible for securing strategically-aligned partners, supports, and funding to advance the mission and secure the long-term health of the organization. She guides the stewardship of existing relationships as well as the identification, qualification and cultivation of new ones. Ashley serves the North American studios by developing and driving earned income strategy and tactics, and has been with MASS Design Group since 2018.&nbsp;Ashley’s early career specialized in consulting on the upstream stages of project and owner readiness, advising a spectrum of education, technology, creative and nonprofit organizations in design, strategy and change management capacities. She helped a public school in Oakland, California win a $10 million XQ Super School grant, was named ‘40 under 40’ by the San Francisco Business Times, and was part of the team that wrote The Third Teacher–one of Fast Company’s best design books of 2010. Ashley is a recipient of the Design Futures Council Emerging Leader award and serves on the Advisory Board of the Boston Architectural College.&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about MASS Design GroupRead the 2022 AIA statement...

Episode 136: Redesigning the Future of WorkHow do you build a people-first workplace environment that is both innovative and supportive?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Brian Elliott, a leading expert on workplace flexibility and co-author of How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives who spent two decades building companies and leading teams as a startup CEO and leader at Google and Slack. Brian co-founded Future Forum to help decision-makers tackle real-world challenges, including hybrid work and building for diversity, equity, and inclusion.&nbsp;First, we hear about Future Forum as an extension of and in support of Slack, which changed the way we work together. Since Future Forum has ended, Brian shares where to look for insight and data about the workplace to keep topics top of mind and weighs in on the debate between office and work-from-home culture and the opinions about different generations’ approaches to work. Brian also illustrates the need for intentionality if/when people come together and the effect it specifically has on marginalized communities.At the end of the day, people are people. And what we're talking about here is actually a really core element, which is, ‘How do you drive engagement of employees in the mission and purpose of your business?’ That engagement is what gets them to go the extra mile to try harder to work harder for your customers. It shows up in things like trust and transparency, and how that actually impacts people's work ethic, much more so than anything else. - Brian ElliottThen, Brian illustrates the overarching element of a flexible, innovative workplace: emphasizing a people-first approach. We learn of a few companies implementing innovative strategies and tactics to their support teams, and Brian provides recommendations for starting those conversations, including creating boundaries for the communication tools put into place.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Brian gives his perspective on whether architecture should pivot its business model in regard to output, quality, and productivity and gives recommendations for leaders to implement change within their organization. Plus, we learn what the changing economy can mean for the future of workplace culture, and Brian shares how the next steps in his career are still in support of making work life better for people.&nbsp;Tune in two weeks from now for an episode with MASS Design about how and why structuring an award-winning architecture as a nonprofit maximizes industry reach.Guests:Brian Elliott is a leading expert on workplace flexibility. After two decades building companies and leading teams as a startup CEO at Google and Slack, Brian co-founded Future Forum, a leading think-tank on the future of work. He’s also the co-author of “How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives.” Brian has shared his insights and best practices on how to create more effective, connected, and diverse organizations in various publications and media outlets including Axios, Bloomberg, the Economist, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, Time and the Wall Street Journal.His mission is to build a future of work that's better for everyone and believe that in doing so, we can dramatically improve organizational outcomes. Brian is also a proud father, happy spouse, and frequent dog walker.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect with Brian on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/belliott/"...

Episode 135: Architecture, And: Melodie Yashar, Space ArchitectHow can you merge architecture with space robotics to create a new design language?&nbsp;On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Melodie Yashar, a space architect, technologist, researcher, and Vice President of Building Design and Performance at ICON, a construction technologies company focused on large-scale additive manufacturing. First, Melodie illustrates the niche discipline of space architecture and the types of backgrounds and perspectives that lead people into the field. We learn about Melodie’s serendipitous entrance into space architecture after submitting to a NASA 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, and why the merge of design and technology is an inspiration for her work.&nbsp;&nbsp;3D printing was an area that felt like it was advancing my knowledge in technology and taking it beyond the scope of creating an architectural model. Tackling the most challenging scientific and technological problem of space, you merge architecture with a specific idea or opinion of space robotics. That was the thing that really compelled me at the time. And it still does, frankly. - Melodie YasharThen, we dive into ICON: The five main areas they contribute to, their different building and design teams, and one of the company’s newer additions, 3D-printing house design. We learn why 3D printing became a solution for challenges space architecture faces, and how ICON’s teams plan for unforeseen events when working with emerging technology like 3D printing. Melodie also details projects ICON’s working on alongside NASA to reimagine aspects of space.To wrap up the episode, Melodie speaks to the rapid growth of the space architecture field, plus ways to collaborate with ICON and help reimagine 3D printing as a new design language.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tune in next week for an episode about redesigning the future of work.&nbsp;Guests:Melodie Yashar, is a space architect, technologist, and researcher. She is the vice president of building design and performance at ICON, a construction technologies company focused on large-scale additive manufacturing. Melodie oversees the architectural direction of ICON’s built work as well as the performance of ICON’s building systems to deliver optimally performing structures that shift the paradigm of homebuilding on Earth and in space. Melodie is a professor at ArtCenter College of Design. In previous roles, Melodie was a research associate at NASA Ames as well as a co-founder of Space Exploration Architecture, a research group developing human supporting design concepts for space exploration. Her background is in industrial design, architecture, and human-computer interaction with an emphasis in robotics.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect with Melodie on LinkedInLearn more about ICONJoin ICON’s Initiative 99 Competition&nbsp;Watch Melodie’s TED Talk&nbsp;📚 Continue Learning:Learn more about AIA’s Women’s Leadership SummitCheck out <a...

Episode 134: Architecture, And: Growing a Tech Start-up out of an Architecture FirmHow does architecture support a CEO stepping out and into a specialized tech start-up space?&nbsp;On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Zach Soflin, AIA, the Founder and CEO of Layer, the first and only flexible and mobile-friendly building management software. First, we learn how the company was created in response to the Nebraska State Capitol Building where Zach and his previous firm, BVH, were looking to connect field data to their designs. Zach built his own solution, which would become the prototype for Layer. Zach shares what he’s learned about being a CEO and how an architecture background (and mindset) shows up in day-to-day operations.&nbsp;“Critical thinking and skills I learned in architecture have helped immensely in building this business, particularly around designing product and user experience. Those skills have definitely translated and given us an opportunity to provide a different software experience than what architects might be used to working with.” - Zach SoflinThen, we dive into Layer: its focus on design as an entry point toward its target market, and Zach shares how customers utilize the software to link different parts of their projects together. We also ask Zach about hiring prioritization in a highly technical field and his process for navigating the talent pool outside of Silicon Valley.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Zach shares the biggest obstacle for architecture to overcome, and the role technology plays in shaping the future of the practice. With potential entrepreneurs in mind, he illustrates a step system to understand if creating a product is, in fact, the best solution for a problem at hand.&nbsp;Tune in next week for another episode in our Architecture, And series with Melodie Yashar, Space Architect.Guests:Zach Soflin, AIA, is the Founder and CEO of Layer, where he leads company operations and product development. With a decade of experience practicing and leading computational design and innovation initiatives, Zach’s passion for improving the building lifecycle drives the vision and energy behind Layer —&nbsp;a multi-platform app and Revit add-in that makes it easy for architects and engineers to connect rich building data to BIM. Zach speaks regularly about BIM and complex building data, including at the APT International Conferences, AEC Tech Symposium, AIA National Conference on Architecture and BILT Digital Week.&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about LayerSee what Layer is up to on LinkedInRead The Next Normal in Construction McKinsey Report📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #25: Architecture, And: TechPD #29: Taking the Leap from Architecture into Tech<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/practice-disrupted-with-evelyn-lee-and-jenen-chastain/id1518820081?i=1000516272238"...

Episode 133: 2023 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award Honoree Robert L. Easter, FAIA, NOMACHow does a desire to make a difference bring visibility to underserved and marginalized students, and future practitioners?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we’re incredibly honored to be in conversation with Robert L. Easter, FAIA NOMAC, an AIA National Award winner, recipient of the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, whose work broadens diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. Robert is the founding Principal of Kelso &amp; Easter, Inc. (KEi) Architects, an award-winning full-service architecture firm passionate about the built environment and how it influences the world in which we live.We begin the conversation by learning about Robert’s hope for the architectural industry. He shares where he believes there’s room for evolution, and the role his parents played in his determination to fight for, support, and uplift diverse communities.&nbsp;From there, we learn about Robert’s response to winning the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, and Robert’s path to becoming the 15th president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). He describes his hand in its evolution, particularly in building relationships with students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Robert also describes the difference between “being rewarded” and “being rewarding” and illustrates some of his most meaningful takeaways and moments from his vast portfolio of work.“Things are starting to change because you get involved in the fight. And you learn that you've got more allies than you think you do. And that there are people who want to help you achieve some of the goals that are important to you. There are a lot of biases I had when I was a young person that have gone away because of this endeavor.” - Robert L. Easter&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Robert shares why having empathy and compassion for the “most important social and cultural issues of our time” allow us to become better problem solvers in our personal and professional lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tune in next week for the next episode in our Architecture, And series.Guests:Robert L. Easter, FAIA NOMAC is an AIA National Award winner, and the recipient of the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Robert began practicing in Baltimore, Maryland where he served as a Project Architect and designer for Ford &amp; Associates, Inc. In 1992, Robert was elected as the fifteenth president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), as a vigorous advocate for increased minority participation in the public and private sector building industry. In 2017, Robert was invited to participate in the Dean’s Forum of the AIA’s Large Firm Round Table where he helped create partnerships between firms and the seven historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to advance the hiring and licensing process. In 2020, Robert was elevated to the AIA’s College of Fellows. Robert was also a member of the AIA Virginia Board of Directors and in 2022 was elected as the first African American to serve as the components president.&nbsp;Robert recently retired as the chair of the Hampton University Department of Architecture after 15 years, where he adopted the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensing program. His work, both civic and professional, has been recognized in national print media, including NOMANews, the New York Times, Metropolitan Magazine, the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Richmond Free Press, Progressive Architecture Magazine, and Inform Magazine. 📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect with Robert on LinkedInRead AIA’s <a...

Episode 132: Architecture, And: Ownership, Mergers, and Tech StartupsHow do you utilize technology to make good design efficient and accessible for everyone?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Alma Lopez, Head of Creative at CANOA, and Elizabeth (Liz) Wert, Head of Brand at CANOA, an AI-assisted collaborative online tool for designers, to learn about their journey from business owners to company mergers, how a tech startup forces efficiency, and the ways CANOA serves as an inspiration point for both its users and an evolving industry.First, we hear how Alma and Liz decided to start their business, ADITIONS, together in 2021 from a human-centric approach to leverage community as a way to locally source design pieces. They illustrate how the merger with CANOA gave them an opportunity to use technology to make good design accessible to everyone.&nbsp;“Do we stay and go the traditional route and scale our studio, and keep working with the 1% that can actually afford our services? Or do we go and build software with an amazing team that actually helps the interior design industry do better through technology? It was kind of like a no-brainer. We got to help everyone.” - Liz WertThen, we dive into CANOA: its impact in the design and tech startup world, how it challenges the industry to be more efficient, and why it serves as a reminder that design is never done alone. We ask Alma and Liz to share their specific roles and the ways that their background and skill sets overlap to support each other and the business. Plus, we learn about CANOA’s current user base and the possibility of international reach.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Alma and Liz share why their love for problem-solving is essential for building and growing a startup, and how diversity in the profession will support the future of CANOA (and the architecture and design industry) as a place for discovery, education, building community, and promoting sustainability.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tune in next week for a conversation with AIA National Award winner and recipient of the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, Robert L Easter, FAIA NOMAC.Guests:Alma Lopez is Head of Creative at CANOA. Originally hailing from Texas, Alma landed in the Bay Area studying Interior Architecture and Design at Academy of Art University. Alma co-founded experience design studio, ADITIONS, in 2021, which merged with CANOA in 2022. There, she is focused on bringing to market a diverse curation of brands, products, and ready-to-use design templates that bias sustainable solutions and share carbon data. By doing so, she aims to create better access to healthier solutions for people and our planet. Alma’s work has been recognized in Architectural Digest, Wallpaper, The New York Times, Interior Design Magazine, Inc. World’s Coolest Offices, Fast Company, and won the Good Design Award in furniture.Elizabeth (Liz) Wert is Head of Brand at CANOA. Liz spent 14 years in the interior design industry having a diverse range of roles and commercial interior design and branding and marketing. She has worked with major furniture manufacturers and global furniture dealerships, and co-founded her own design and strategy studio, ADITIONS, with Alma in 2021. At CANOA, Liz focuses on brand design and development and go-to-market strategies to grow CANOA’s interior design user base. Liz has been featured at Milan Design Week, the New York Times Architectural Digest and Sight Unseen, to name a few.&nbsp;📍 Show...

Episode 131: Five Topics on Mental Health for Architects &amp; DesignersWhat are specific strategies architects and designers can implement to support their mental health?For this week’s episode, we’ve selected five mental health topics that commonly relate to the practice of architecture: identity, perfectionism, stress + anxiety, burnout, and coping strategies. Allison Grubbs, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor, joins us to discuss these in-depth. Allison is actively working with the North Carolina State University College of Design to integrate mental health into the curriculum. She’ll share her insight on supporting design students and practitioners alike.We begin the conversation by addressing the identity of becoming an architect. We learn whether perfectionism is externally or internally motivated (or both!). We also hear Allison’s perspective on why boundaries are the key to leading with vulnerability. We discover the power of explicitly acknowledging big emotions or moments and how stress impacts the mind and body. Allison also illustrates how she defines burnout, and provides differentiation for certain feelings, such as belonging and fitting in, and feeling stressed and overwhelmed.“We will always have ruptures, we will always have issues that come up. A big piece of parenting, work, partnership, any kind of family work, is about repair. And if leaders can get really good at repair, it really helps the whole culture.” - Allison GrubbsTo wrap up the episode, Allison shares ways leaders can use curiosity and self-awareness to better understand their humanness and perception. Her advice: gestures of curiosity and kindness toward ourselves and others are the gateway to making a big difference in support of what we consider most important, mental health included.Tune in next week for a conversation with Canoa's Head of Design and Head of Brand, as they talk about a new Firm Ownership, Mergers, and the transition to working in tech. Guests:Allison Grubbs is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and is Certified in the work of Dr. Brené Brown. She was trained in 2013 by Brené Brown and has been facilitating her work in both clinical and professional settings ever since. She has been practicing as a therapist for about 16 years and maintains a private practice in downtown Raleigh. Allison also works with leaders and organizations to help them practice and grow in emotionally healthy ways. You can connect with Allison on her website.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect with Allison OnlineThank you to Claire Craven and Matt Fornaro for their contributions to this episode.📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #96 Addressing Mental Health in ArchitecturePD #124 Architecture, And: Mental Health in the Profession📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | <a...

Episode 130: Designing for Inclusion with Olivia AsuncionHow do architectural design decisions create physical symbols that tear down social barriers and inequities?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Olivia Asuncion, AIA, a Project Architect at Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and advocate for individuals with disabilities. Even further, as a Fulbright Scholar, Olivia was recently appointed by President Biden to the U.S. architectural and transportation barriers compliance Access Board. We learn about Olivia's disability and how accessibility and inclusive design helped her both find her voice in the field, and navigate&nbsp; barriers and challenges faced along the way. Then, Olivia shares how workplace culture needs to shift in order to accommodate its (in)visibly disabled employees, and provides suggestions for navigating constructive conversations.&nbsp;“The biggest and most powerful thing that a person in an architecture office can and should learn, is to listen and to believe the needs of the people who are working there. We need to shift our understanding that what's ‘needed to function well at a job’ differs between people.” - Olivia AsuncionTo wrap up the episode, Olivia shares the impact of her appointment to the U.S. Access Board and the types of future opportunities it can lead to in support of the future of accessible and universal, inclusive design.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tune in next week for an open conversation about mental health with Allison Grubbs, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor.Guests:Olivia Asuncion, AIA Olivia has oriented her career path towards advocating for inclusive design. She received her undergraduate degree in Architecture at the University of California Berkeley, then began her professional career at Equity Community Builders helping non-profit organizations with their construction management needs. This includes assisting in the construction management of the Ed Roberts Campus, a universally-designed building in Berkeley, CA. After receiving her Master of Architecture degree from University of Oregon, she served as an architect at Shah Kawasaki Architects in Oakland, CA, working on public safety buildings and office spaces for public sector clients. Currently, Olivia is a Project Architect at Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, working on K-12 educational facilities.&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Meet QKA FirmConnect with Olivia on LinkedIn&nbsp;Check out Olivia’s Faculty BioFollow Olivia on Instagram📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #57 Southeast Asian American Architects&nbsp;📚 Continue Learning:White House statement appointing Olivia to U.S. Access Board📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PracticeofArchitecture/"...

Episode 129: Architecture, And: Waterfront DesignHow do you transform interests into a specialized niche and trailblaze a non-linear path?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Dena Prastos AIA, a waterfront architect with a background in civil engineering and Founder and CEO of Indigo River, a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation. We learn about Dena’s upbringing in Alaska and how access to nature influenced the trajectory of her professional path. She also shares how her unique education and experience in both engineering and architecture have informed the creation of her company.“My experience was a unique niche through the engineering lens. Wearing my architecture hat, I saw the opportunity to both be the generalist to gather all the specialists in the room, but also be the specialist that can speak the same language. I leaned into this opportunity to have this larger vision — my relationship with nature, and appreciating both the built fabric as well as what is natural and wild.” - Dena Prastos&nbsp;We also learn about civil engineering, both in relation to architecture and as an industry of its own, and Dena shares what architects should know about climate adaptation, resiliency, and the waterfront.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Dena shares advice for anyone in search of the impact they can make in the world while building a career within a specialized niche. This episode offers a unique perspective of the non-linear career path, and the power of approaching areas of growth as another relationship to strengthen.&nbsp;Tune in next week for a conversation with Olivia Asuncion, a Project Architect and advocate for individuals with disabilities.Guests:Dena Prastos, AIA, is the first "waterfront architect," trailblazing a new category in the industry. Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation. A leading authority in New York Harbor and beyond, the firm specializes in climate adaptation through waterfront solutions that seamlessly transcend boundaries — guiding and executing projects from ideation through final construction and operations. Indigo River is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) committed to helping society evolve together with our environment.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;Indigo River Design FirmFollow Indigo River on InstagramFollow Dena on Instagram&nbsp;Connect with Dena on LinkedInFollow Dena on Twitter&nbsp;📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | <a...

Episode 128: CO Architects, Leading the Way Through ChangeHow do you shape the next chapter of an established firm, while leading a “practice into perpetuity”?Tune in for a conversation with Jenna Knudsen, Managing Principal at CO Architects, who we had the pleasure of connecting with at this year’s American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture (A’23). In this episode, we learn about Jenna’s transition into the role of Managing Principal, the challenge of stepping into a new role during COVID, and how continual improvement shows up in the 160 person practice.&nbsp;“Practice into perpetuity. It means that the current partners are really the caretakers of the firm. The goal is to continue to care for this practice for the next generation of leaders. The culture is really about this idea of continual improvement, continually learning and really thinking about growing everyone in the practice.”&nbsp; - Jenna KnudsenTo wrap up the episode, Jenna shares what career transition challenges taught her about herself, and explains why it’s so important that the future of the practice is more diverse.&nbsp;Tune in next week for a new episode in our Architecture, And series.Guests:Jenna Knudsen, the managing principal of CO Architects, has led award-winning, large-scale academic, laboratory and healthcare projects on university and healthcare campuses across the country. Her groundbreaking projects demonstrate innovation in design, sustainability and project delivery — including early use of BIM and integrated delivery, for which she has been nationally recognized. In addition to her leadership role in the wide adoption of BIM, she has continued to push for the use of tools such as computational design, virtual and augmented reality, and custom applications to advance the work. Within both the practice and the profession, Jenna has been a long-time advocate for equal representation, spearheading initiatives to support and encourage women in architecture. Jenna received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design at Columbia University.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;https://coarchitects.com/&nbsp;https://www.linkedin.com/company/co-architects/https://vimeo.com/user73627226https://www.instagram.com/coarchitects/https://www.facebook.com/COArchitectshttps://twitter.com/COArchitectsLA📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | <a...

Episode 127: NCARB Scholars of Professional PracticeWhat is the NCARB Scholars of Professional Practice?In this episode, we meet some of the individuals who gathered for the fifth annual NCARB Scholars in Professional Practice at Ball State University CAP:INDY. This event is one of the, if not only, places where professors gather to discuss the struggles and opportunities of teaching this course inside the architecture curriculum. We hear participants’ biggest takeaways from the program and explore a range of perspectives from educators, NCARB staff, facilitators, and more.“My first challenge as a teacher is to give my students confidence about what their professional futures look like. To generate excitement about it, to empower them, to say, ‘All of these topics are part of the equation that creates great design, and don't see these as an outlier to the design process.’ Approach this as another set of muscles that you need to develop in order to be the kind of architect you want to be.” - David Hinson, Associate Dean at Auburn UniversityLastly, Evelyn and Je’Nen discuss the “future of practice,” followed by a look at NCARB’s Futures Collaborative. We’ll learn about ways NCARB has started exploring the future of practice — and the role advanced technologies play in benefiting and strengthening the professional model.&nbsp;Tune in next week for a conversation with Jenna Knudsen, the Managing Principal of CO Architects.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;National Council of Architecture Registration BoardsNCARB Scholars in Professional Practice📚 Continue Learning:NCARB Scholars: Going Further for Architectural EducationNCARB Article on Trends Shaping the Future of ArchitectureArchPaper Article on Practicing Practice📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes&nbsp;Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

Episode 126: Redesigning Professional PracticeHow are Professional Practice professors redesigning their coursework to support architecture students entering an industry in transition?Tune in as we kick off a NEW! podcast series centered on Professional Practice. Karen Williams from the University of Oregon School of Architecture &amp; Environment and Nilou Vakil from the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design join us to discuss their experiences teaching Professional Practice and the potential for this course to evolve and expand.&nbsp;We’ll introduce the 2022 NCARB Scholars in Professional Practice program — an annual, multi-day professional development intensive dedicated to ensuring that Professional Practice educators have the resources for students to succeed. Karen and Nilou share their thoughts on expanding education to support future architects, illustrate their individual successes in curriculum approach, and detail what questions students should ask of professors to gain further knowledge.“How can we talk about the ethics of what we do within the framework of cultural competencies? That is what gets us jobs or brings repeated clients back. People start to trust you to design something for them that serves them, instead of being sort of an egoistic process. I think that part of it is missing from the conversation of business and Professional Practice.” - Nilou VakilTune in next week for a recap of the 2023 NCARB Scholars of Professional Practice.Guests:Nilou Vakil, AIA, LEED AP BD+C&nbsp; is the principal at in situ DESIGN and an Associate Professor of Architecture at KU School of Architecture and Design. Nilou has a personal connection to community involvement in shaping the built environment — she witnessed neighborhood destruction in the Middle East during an eight-year war. With over two decades of experience in the field, she is an expert in community-based architecture, housing, and urban design. As an associate professor, Nilou leads design studios, Ethics and Leadership in Professional Practice, and research seminars focusing on community-based partnerships and service learning. Her contributions to academia and architecture have earned her recognition as one of the top 25 most admired architecture professors by Design Intelligence in 2018, and she received the Faculty Fellow award in the KU Honors Program in 2020.&nbsp;Karen Williams, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP is a Project Manager at PIVOT Architecture in Eugene, OR. She is consistently working to educate people about the inner benefits of the architecture community and working toward a more equitable practice. She is a Career Instructor at the University of Oregon where she teaches Professional Practice and Practicum. As a means to be a professional example, Karen reviews architecture programs with NAAB, serves as a member of the Eugene River Guides Board, is a member of the Editorial Committee for ProPEL, and serves as a member of the research and writing team for the AIA Equitable Practice Guides: Justice and Education.&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncarb.org/press/2022-ncarb-scholars-professional-practice" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode 125: Building a Feminist Architecture FirmHow do you redefine what a 21st-century architecture firm looks like and how it operates?This week Leah Alissa Bayer, Sarah Vaccaro, and Kate Conley discuss their practice, Architects FORA, a 100% woman-owned design firm. This episode explores the ownership transition of this 40-year-old practice, how they operate the fully virtual practice, and the values that shape the feminist practice. They detail specific changes they’ve made in their hiring processes to support diversity and inclusion in a remote environment, and how remote working bolsters ongoing communication, collaboration, and 1:1 mentorship.“If you give people the appropriate space so that they can do their work in the environment that they're comfortable in, and then create this very transparent platform that people can receive communication when they can digest it — or go back if they've forgotten, or if something comes up on a project — that's way more valuable than just a passing conversation that just happened because you're looking over somebody's shoulder. It's intentional, it's documented, it's recorded, it's scalable. It's better in every way.” - Architects FORAGuests:Sarah Vaccaro AIA, LEED AP is Principal at Architects FORA. Her passion for design and serving communities drives the commitment to the quality and purpose behind FORA's work. She respects the responsibility of designing places people will call home and is deeply committed to FORA’s collaborative approach and restorative process. In pursuit of a new experience working to address one of the greatest challenges facing the Bay Area, Sarah joined OJK Architecture + Planning (now Architects FORA) to work on affordable multi-family housing. In 2021, Jerry King, founder of OJK, entrusted his firm of 40 years to Sarah, Leah and Kate to continue designing beautiful, resilient, and equitable housing in partnership with their non-profit housing developer partners. Today, Architects FORA is focused on creating vibrant homes for all that empower and enrich our communities.Leah Alissa Bayer, AIA, NOMA, LEED GA, NCARB, is an award-winning Architect licensed in California, Hawaii, and Washington with an endless curiosity, forward-focus, and passion for improving quality of life. Leah graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.), a Minor in Fine Arts, and four years of Structural Engineering (B.S.) from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She founded EVIA Studio, a highly collaborative, women-led, and virtual architecture practice that in 2021, merged with OJK, and subsequently became Architects FORA.&nbsp;Kate Conley AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, is a Principal at Architects FORA. She is a licensed architect in California, Colorado, and Washington State. Kate leads Building Excellence initiatives at FORA, employing her strong technical and design expertise gained from a career studded with award-winning built work and from her world-class mentors in architecture and construction. Improving equity and justice in the design and engineering professions and advocating for housing abundance in our communities are areas of emphasis throughout her work.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;https://architectsfora.com/https://architectsfora.com/perspectives/thefeministpractice&nbsp;📚...

Episode 124: Architecture, And: Mental Health in the ProfessionHow can we better support the mental health of architects and designers?Co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain sit down with the moderator of Practice Disrupted’s Season 7 kickoff, Joann Lui, licensed architect turned-marketer and founder of the Women Architects Collective, to discuss how she transitioned from architecture into marketing for tech startups, and why this decision was in support of her passions and her mental health.Joann shares her newest project, the Mental Health Summit, which she created in response to a statistic stating that 97% of architects experience burnout. Joann curated the entire run of show to help attendees find and apply real, actionable strategies to managing their mental health and burnout. Session topics include people-pleasing, journaling, and building a practice that promotes mental health.“I was so unhealthy. I was constantly getting sick and not taking care of my own health. And I just want a profession where while we're building great buildings, and designing for other people, that we take care of ourselves, and we can be happier and just healthier individuals in general.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Joann further discusses her work as an entrepreneur and illustrates how she has helped architects build their personal digital brands during the pandemic and, in turn, was inspired to create multiple businesses as a way to support the community — ranging from coaching to an online matcha shop.&nbsp;Tune in next week to hear a conversation with Evelyn and Je’Nen with Architects FORA discussing the Feminist Practice Model.Guest:Joann Lui, AIA is an architect, speaker, and the Founder of Women Architects Collective, a digital space where she provides community, conferences and coaching for 4,700+ members. To spread the voice of the community, she hosts annual events such as the Women Architects Festival and the Mental Health in Architecture Summit. Joann developed her professional experience at Gensler NY and transitioned into a Content Marketer role at AEC tech startups such as Monograph and TestFit. You can find her on her website, watch her YouTube channel, and follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;https://www.joannlui.comWomen Architects CollectiveSign up for the MentalHealthSummit.co📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #96 Addressing Mental Health in ArchitectureLeah Bayer:PD #52 Managing

Episode 123: Architectural Education: Evolving Curriculum &amp; Alternative PathsHow has the MIT School of Architecture and Planning driven innovation and influenced alternative career paths for students in the field?&nbsp;In response to their listeners’ curiosity on bridging pathways into alternative careers, co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain interview Nicholas de Monchaux, Professor and Head of Architecture at MIT, to discuss the evolution of curriculum at the oldest architecture program in the US. They’ll discuss potential career paths students can take and how Nick created a career that blends architecture, teaching, writing — and even installation work.Learn about the history of MIT and how its architectural program is immersed in both research and entrepreneurial culture, as well as how the history and culture of MIT has influenced graduating students’ ideas of architecture in the world. In this conversation, Nick illustrates how MIT enhances its students’ experience, the types of students MIT attracts, and how moving through unexpected spaces allowed Nick to redefine the possibilities of his career and carve a path of his own.To wrap up the episode, Nick shares advice to students about fusing curiosity and passion into new career pathways as faculty strive to expand the profession, its impact, and who has access to it — all in an effort to find other ways to speak with and to the world.“The architecture of our world is much bigger than bricks, although bricks are very, very important. I'm interested in that largest meaning of architecture, both as a sense of what we describe architecture as being&nbsp; —&nbsp;which extends far beyond buildings both bigger than them and much smaller than them — and also extends far beyond the traditional notion of practice as well.”Tune in next week to hear a conversation with Evelyn and Je’Nen as they discuss the upcoming Mental Health in Architecture Summit.Guest:Nicholas de Monchaux is Professor and Head of Architecture at MIT, as well as a partner in the architecture practice modem. He is the author of Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo (MIT Press, 2011), an architectural and urban history of the Apollo Spacesuit, winner of the Eugene Emme award from the American Astronautical Society and shortlisted for the Art Book Prize, as well as Local Code: 3,659 Proposals about Data, Design, and the Nature of Cities (Princeton Architectural Press, Fall 2016). His design work has been exhibited widely, including at the Biennial of the Americas, the Venice Architecture Biennale, The Lisbon Architecture Triennial, SFMOMA, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Storefront for Art and Architecture and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. He is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Until 2019, he was Craigslist Distinguished Professor of New Media and Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at UC Berkeley.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;MIT School of Architecture + PlanningMIT Department of Architecture📚 Continue Learning:modemLocal CodeSpacesuit💻 Learn about our podcast partner:👉 This episode is sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction&nbsp;Interested in using your design...

Episode 122: Entrepreneurship in Architecture, Apostrophe ConsultingWhat does it take to build a purpose-driven architecture management consulting business?Co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain are back on the mic — except this time, Evelyn is guiding the conversation and interviewing Je’Nen! On this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn and Je’Nen share how they first connected in the architectural design world, and Je’Nen talks about how her entrepreneurial spirit and non-linear career path gave her a unique perspective in her business, Apostrophe Consulting.Apostrophe Consulting is a purpose-driven, woman-owned management consulting practice dedicated to helping architects transform their companies. With expertise in talent development, change management, and business strategy, Je’Nen helps her clients navigate growth in a changing world.To wrap up the episode, Evelyn asks Je’Nen what her hope and vision is for the future of both the field of architecture and Apostrophe Consulting. Stay until the end to hear what Je’Nen has to say, as well as her advice for anyone looking to step into entrepreneurship. “The number one is finance. And the number two is mental health. Those are the two things that I think most entrepreneurs need to be ready to navigate. I don't think you have to have it all figured out at the start — you can transition into this and still be successful. And there's nothing wrong with that.”Tune in next week to hear a conversation with Evelyn and Je’Nen about the MIT School of Architecture and Planning and how the program has driven innovation.Guest:Je’Nen Chastain, MBA, Assoc. AIA is the Founder of Apostrophe Consulting, a practice focused on helping architects and next-gen leaders strengthen their teams and businesses. In addition to consulting with firm leaders on practice management issues, she co-hosts Practice Disrupted, a podcast with a growing audience of over 30k unique listeners. She earned her MBA from Mills College and BArch from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has received several industry leadership awards, including the 2017 AIA Associates Award and Presidential Citations from AIA California &amp; North Carolina. She wrote the business plan for the AIA Leadership Institute 2015-2020 and served on the AIA national board of directors in 2010.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Apostrophe Consulting📚 Related Past Episodes:PD #119 Architecture, And: YouTube, Entrepreneurship, &amp; ArchitecturePD #89 Entrepreneurship in Practice: Taking Risks to Create ValuePD #75 Growing an AEC Startup, The Evolution of a CompanyPD #56 Leading with Finance &amp; EntrepreneurshipPD #26 Climate Action Through Entrepreneurship💻 Learn about our podcast...

Episode 121: Season 7 Launch, AMA with the Women Architects CollectiveWhat questions do the Women Architects Collective have for Practice Disrupted?Co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain celebrate Season 7 (happy 3rd birthday, Practice Disrupted!) with an AMA, Ask Me Anything. The conversation is guided by Joann Lui, a friend to the podcast, licensed architect-turned marketer, and founder of the Women Architects Collective.&nbsp;On this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn and Je’Nen answer questions relating to the podcast and their careers. Topics include: Evelyn and Je’Nen’s paths to earn an MBA, how to get involved with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), what architects can learn from other industries, and advice to Evelyn and Je’Nen’s younger selves.&nbsp;To wrap up the episode, Evelyn and Je’Nen share how Disrupted Practice has evolved over seven seasons. They also explain why their approach to the podcast has shifted, and how their favorite types of podcasts serve as inspiration for future episodes.&nbsp;“Intention is important to us. People are really looking for substantial content, so in Season 7 our hope is to bring on interesting people who can deliver on that energy to help us answer how we can really change and evolve practice going forward.”Tune in next week to hear a conversation with Evelyn and Je’Nen about change in the profession, and the work Je’Nen is doing through her company Apostrophe Consulting to support architects with adopting change in their practices.Special Guest:Joann Lui, AIA is an architect, speaker, and the Founder of Women Architects Collective, a digital space where she provides community, conferences and coaching for 4,700+ members. To spread the voice of the community, she hosts annual events such as the Women Architects Festival and the Mental Health in Architecture Summit. Joann developed her professional experience at Gensler NY and transitioned into a Content Marketer role at AEC tech startups such as Monograph and TestFit. You can find her on her website, watch her YouTube channel, and follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn.Co-Hosts:Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA is the Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, and Founder of the Practice of Architecture. She integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organization’s employees, clients, and guests. She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021 and will serve as the 101st AIA National President in 2025.Je’Nen Chastain, MBA, Assoc. AIA is the Founder of Apostrophe Consulting, a practice focused on helping architects and next-gen leaders strengthen their teams and businesses....

Replay: Voices of Mothers in Practice&nbsp;What can architecture firms do to support mothers who are working in practice?Leaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on their identity between practice and motherhood. This discussion aims to explore the experiences of working mothers in diverse career stages who are raising children of different ages.Practice Disrupted is committed to elevating conversations on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to teach, empower, and build greater awareness across the industry.Guests:Christina Cho Yoo, AIA, PE, LEED AP BD+C is co-founder of Atelier Cho Thompson. She received a BS &amp; MS in civil &amp; structural engineering and construction management at Stanford University and received a masters in architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She was a structural engineer at the international engineering company Arup, where she was the Structural Sustainability Champion for the Americas &amp; worked on projects such as the LEED-Double Platinum California Academy of Sciences, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Kaiser hospitals, Schroder Overcrossing, and various other projects. She went onto work at architecture firms internationally including Kao Design Group on Richard Branson's Eco-Island, SHoP Architects on the Google HQ, Neri &amp; Hu in Shanghai, Mass Studies in Seoul, and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson on Apple stores, the Apple iAd office, and the Square HQ. Christina is a licensed architect and engineer in California and has been LEED accredited since 2003.Her work has spanned typologies from single-family to multifamily residences, hospitals, labs, museums, innovative workplaces, hospitality and food service, to retail, exhibits, furniture, and graphics for various organizations. Before architecture school, she staged at Tartine Bakery while taking courses at the California Culinary Academy. She has lectured on Green R&amp;D at Harvard and served as a critic at Parsons, Stanford, Harvard, &amp; the California College of the Arts (CCA). She is an Adjunct Professor at the CCA, having taught advanced urban studio on the Post-Retail City and Integrated Building Systems. She served as Design &amp; Innovation Chair of the Stanford Club of SF and currently is on the Board of Directors at Pacific Primary School.Jennifer T. Matthews, Associate AIA, is a full-time remote Architectural Designer at SS&amp;A Design Collective based in Montgomery, Alabama. With eight years of healthcare design experience, Jennifer has worked on architectural projects for multiple healthcare providers and...

Replay: Latina Voices in Practice“Why is it that the largest community of color within the US still makes up such a small percentage of the profession?” ~ACSA Hispanic &amp; Latinx in ArchitectureFour leaders in the profession share their diverse perspectives on race, equity, and architecture.Practice Disrupted is committed to elevating conversations on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to teach, empower, and build greater awareness across the industry. Building from prior diversity conversations, this week we learn about Hispanic &amp; Latinx in Architecture.Guest:Venesa Alicea-Chuqui, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, an Architect, Educator and Advocate, is Founding Principal of NYVARCH Architecture, a NYC based collaborative Architectural Practice focused on building community and equity through design.&nbsp; With over 15 years of experience designing multi-family sustainable affordable, and supportive housing developments and civic projects, she is committed to working with local communities to develop good design, both sustainable and socially conscious. She’s the Vice Chair of Outreach to the AIA Small Firm Exchange and President of the Architecture Alumni Group of the Alumni Association of the City College of New York, her alma mater (B.Arch ‘05), where she has also taught the Coop Internship and Professional Practice classes. Committed to design justice in the built environment, she’s an active contributor to Dark Matter University, Design as Protest, and a former co-chair to the AIANY Diversity &amp; Inclusion and Emerging New York Architects committees. She is past chair of the AIANY Puerto Rico Resiliency task force, an active member of the AIANY Planning and Urban Design Committee, and a 2019 Fellow of the Association for Community Design.Siboney Diaz-Sánchez is an affordable housing advocate and the community engagement administrator for the City of San Antonio's Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. She serves as a NOMA Empowerment Committee Co-Chair, organizes with Design As Protest Planning and Policy Committee, and is proud to teach Community Practice at The Boston Architectural College. In 2021 she joined the Association for Community Design board of directors.&nbsp; Prior to returning to San Antonio Siboney was an Enterprise Rose Fellow and project/design manager at Opportunities Communities in the Boston area working for two non-profit community development corporations, The Neighborhood Developers and Nuestra Comunidad.&nbsp; While in Boston she developed design standards for affordable housing, helped secure funding for a low income housing tax credit housing development,...

Replay: 2022 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award RIDING THE VORTEXWhat lessons on architecture, practice, and change can we learn from AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Recipients Kathryn Prigmore, Kathy Dixon, Katherine Williams, and Melissa Daniel?Named for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., the AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access. Architects and design leaders Kathryn Tyler Prigmore, FAIA; Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA; Katherine Williams, AIA; and Melissa R. Daniel, Assoc. AIA are the winners of this year’s award for their leadership in advancing educational programming to support and increase the number of people of color licensed to practice architecture in the U.S.According to the American Institute of Architects, “The number of practicing African-American architects had been a stagnant 2% in recent decades. In the early 1990s, there were just 1,800 licensed African-American architects in the country, and only 30 of them were women. As of the summer of 2021, those numbers have grown to 2,435 and 533, respectively, and VORTEX has been a major catalyst in the 254% growth in African-American women architects.”This episode includes the stories of the VORTEX collaborators, as well as a candid discussion about their careers, what inspires them, and their work to build this program.Guests:Kathryn Prigmore, FAIA, NOMAC, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, CDT is an architect, educator, and design practice leader with an inimitable understanding of the dynamics that impact the management of firms from the perspective of an architect, academic, and regulator. She has over 40 years of design and management experience for award-winning architectural projects of a wide range of sizes, types and delivery methods executed for private and public clients within diverse practice environments. Her academic leadership includes teaching experience in sustainable design. As an award-winning strategic thinker and planner, she is also a leader in regulatory issues and professional ethics. Kathryn is skilled at growing staff into leaders.&nbsp;Kathy Denise Dixon was born in Baltimore and grew up in Harford County, Maryland. She is a graduate of Howard University School of Architecture and attended UCLA matriculating with a Master's degree in Urban Planning in 1993. Kathy has been a licensed architect since 1998 and started the firm K Dixon Architecture, PLLC in 2003. She acquired legacy firm Walton Madden Cooper Robinson Poness in 2016. Kathy is a past president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and was elevated to Fellow in the American Institute of Architects in 2017.&nbsp; She is also the co-author of the book titled “The Business of Architecture: Your Guide to a Financially Successful Firm” published in December 2017.&nbsp;Katherine Williams, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP is a licensed architect in Northern Virginia and currently a Senior Project Manager at a DC university. Her career path includes work in traditional architecture firms, community development, and managing commercial construction for a general contractor. Katherine has written extensively about the architecture profession, diversity in the industry, and community development. She has served as editor for multiple publications and was the NOMA magazine editor from 2009-2014. She writes at katherinerw.com and is publisher/editor for <a...

Replay: Southeast Asian American ArchitectsLeaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on race, equity, and architecture.Practice Disrupted is committed to elevating conversations on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to teach, empower, and build greater awareness across the industry. Building from prior diversity conversations, this week we learn about Southeast Asian Architects.&nbsp;Guests:Meghana Joshi, AIA, NOMA is a strong proponent of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice in the architecture profession. At SoCal NOMA, she is a Director of Outreach and Recruitment for Project Pipeline and works towards increasing minority representation in architecture through summer camps for middle and high school students. She founded AIA Orange County’s Women in Architecture Committee in 2015 to give a platform for Orange County firms to meaningfully contribute towards the improvement of professional conditions for women in architecture. She joined AIA Orange County’s Board of Directors in 2019 and founded EDI+J Committee to increase minority representation through mentorship in leadership. She founded “Project Amplify” to amplify voices and works of minority architects in the AEC industry. She is an active member of ULI-OC/IE’s Office and Commercial Product Council. She is currently engaged in bringing ULI’s Urban Plan program to educate underrepresented demographics and communities. She is also an active member and advocate for “Belong at Little” – Little’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force.Suyama Bodhinayake, Assoc. AIA diverse experience in architecture spans three continents, shaping his commitment to design excellence, sustainability and service. He currently resides and works in Southern California.&nbsp;Throughout his career, Suyama appreciates the opportunities to contribute to international and national award-winning projects, as well as the opportunities to serve the profession through a variety of leadership roles within the AIA. Since 2018, he has been a member of the AIA Orange County (AIA OC) Committee on the Environment (COTE) and a founding member of the COTE Southern California Coalition in 2019. In 2020, he joined the AIA OC’s Board of Directors and has since served as the chapter’s Director of Sustainability and the Chair of COTE, leading a multi-faceted approach to promoting sustainability. As a member of the AIA California COTE Advocacy Task Force, he advocates for building decarbonization policies at a local and state level. Suyama is committed to sustainability as part of design excellence. As a member of AIA OC’s Design Awards committee, he guided the process of how every AIA OC design awards submission must now comply with the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. Additionally, Suyama advocates for architects to be recognized as stewards of the built environment. He was nominated, and currently serves as AIA Orange County’s first Director of Advocacy. He has advanced AIA’s role as a leader in sustainability within communities around Orange County, California. He has been supporting education in architecture since 2016, serving on the Advisory Board for the Architectural Technology Program at Orange Coast College.As a champion of causes that impact our future, Suyama firmly believe in the Native American saying, “we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”&nbsp;Farah Naz Ahmad is an Architect and LEED Accredited Professional based in New York City, specializing in building sustainability and green building standards. Her public sector experience in city government agencies includes sustainable design review of projects, assessment and development of technical standards and energy code compliance. Additionally, Farah is engaged in green building journalism, spreading awareness on environmental policy and...

Replay: Architecture, And: EDI+JWhat is the role of a firm leader focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice?As we continue to expand our exploration of diversity in practice, we’ve invited Yiselle Santos Rivera back to the podcast so she can share what she’s learned after two years of serving HKS as their Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, &amp; Justice.What does it mean to position someone in a firmwide leadership role dedicated to increasing diversity within an architecture studio? What lessons can firms learn from the adoption of a leadership position of this scale? And what are some of the challenges in driving change in this capacity? Yiselle will help us explore this conversation in depth with personal stories from her leadership experience, as well as lessons learned along the way.Guest:Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, LLSSYB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP is a medical planner and Global Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity &amp; Inclusion at HKS. With national and international experience on a broad range of healthcare, sports, residential, institutional, and commercial/mixed-use projects, she thrives on designing for inclusive communities, building belonging through equitable practices, and empowering the next generation of leaders in the architecture, design, and construction industry.&nbsp;Yiselle is a published author, national speaker, has been featured on various podcasts, and is the founder of “We Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design” (WIELD), recipient of the 2019 AIA Diversity Program Recognition Award. She is a storyteller, a 2015 Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program Scholar, and a recipient of the 2018 AIA Associate Award.Show Links:📍 HKS📍 AIADC WIELD📚 Continue Learning:AIA&nbsp; Guides for Equitable Practice📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 120: Season 6 Finale, a Moment for ChangeWhat does it mean to be elected the 101st President of AIA National, the largest design organization globally?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, co-host Je’Nen Chastain interviews fellow co-host Evelyn Lee in her first interview after being elected the 2024 First Vice President / 2025 President-elect of the AIA, and why they see this election as a moment of change within the profession.Evelyn answers all the questions that individuals asked during the campaign, opens up about what it takes to run a campaign for AIA National, and talks about what she hopes to accomplish during her one-year term.&nbsp;While it is the end of a race, it is just the beginning of the work that the industry has ahead of it, and it will take a community to continue the momentum that this election has started.&nbsp;Co-Hosts:Evelyn Lee is the Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, and Founder of the Practice of Architecture. She integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organization’s employees, clients, and guests. She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021.Je’Nen Chastain, is the founder of Apostrophe Consulting, a practice focused on helping architects and next-gen leaders strengthen their teams and businesses. In addition to consulting with firm leaders on practice management issues, she mentors architects on career development, leadership, and strategy. She specializes in facilitating conversations that engage multi-generational teams and has designed, developed, and presented dozens of training programs that inspire next-gen leaders. Je’Nen received the 2017 AIA National Associates Award, an Associates Award from AIA California in 2012, and an Emerging Professionals Award from AIA San Francisco in 2017. She served on the AIA National Board in 2010.📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 119: Architecture, And: YouTube, Entrepreneurship, &amp; ArchitectureWhat is the role of visual storytelling in architecture, and how can it help architects gain clients?On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we interview Dami Lee, a multi-hyphenate architect that launched her firm off of the success of her self-titled YouTube Channel.We talk about the next generation of architects, how they seek more meaning in their work, and finding different outlets of content creation to tell the stories they are most interested in.&nbsp;We also center on Dami’s journey from freelance photographer to YouTube sensation and have an honest conversation about how the channel enables her to do architecture and how her architecture practice creates content for the channel. The conversation looks at the lack of scalability within the traditional business model and the importance of scalability when it comes to growing a business and enjoying life while doing so.Overall, the episode offers a fascinating look into the architecture industry's unique challenges and the innovative ways that young architects are creating new paths for themselves.Guests:Dami Lee is a successful YouTube entrepreneur with over 765,000 subscribers and the founder of Nolli Studio. A licensed Architect in Vancouver, BC, Dami has led various small projects and renovations, typically working with tight budgets, fast timelines, and complex existing conditions. Her desire to explore different typologies and work on larger projects led her to Faulknerbrowns Architects before starting her firm.She is inspired by students and others in the field and believes the current environment is ripe for a happier, healthier, and more connected generation of architects.&nbsp;📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;https://damilee.com/https://www.youtube.com/@DamiLeeArchhttps://nollimedia.com/https://www.instagram.com/damileearch/https://www.instagram.com/nollistudio/📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 118: 2023 AIA Architecture Firm Award Winner, MithunWhat can we learn from the 2022 AIA Architecture Firm Awards Winner, Mithun?Mithun is an integrated design firm dedicated to creating positive change in people’s lives. The firm’s team of architects, landscape architects, interior designers, urban designers and planners work in a wide range of typologies and scales — with a focus on urban environments and places where people live, work and learn. Mithun is an internationally recognized leader in sustainability, combining exemplary design with a focus on building and site performance, human health and social equity.Guests:Greg Catron is an Architect and Senior Associate who has been with Mithun for almost 9 years. He has a passion for complex technically challenging design with diverse experience in residential highrise, mixed use development, educational facilities, cultural centers, and office design. He is a member of Mithun’s sustainability committee with expertise in healthy materials research and implementation. Greg also balances his career in architecture with his practice as a felt textile artist.&nbsp;Katie Stege, AIA, is a Senior Associate at Mithun who is passionate about pursuing interdisciplinary solutions to complex land use challenges. Katie co-leads Mithun’s R+D efforts, supports strategic climate resilience initiatives, and works on design teams at the district, neighborhood, and building scale. Her dual architectural and environmental background lend a data-driven approach to designs that address rural conservation, outdoor education, and resilient and equitable planning. She co-chairs AIA Seattle’s Adaptation and Resilience committee, nerds out about linking GIS tools to visualization workflows, and appreciates multi-day mountain adventures in any season.Michael Bryant, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is an Architect and Senior Associate at Mithun. He has a passion for exploring the intersection of design and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). He works toward finding synergies in JEDI and design through professional work experience on multi-family residential, education, and master planning projects. In addition to professional work, Michael is also part of the JEDI Committee at Mithun and past board member of National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Northwest Chapter, where he was a key contributor and co-chair facilitator of the Call-to-Action pledge. 📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;https://mithun.com/Press Release: https://www.aia.org/press-releases/6574742-mithun-receives-2023-aia-architecture-firm&nbsp;Award Summary: https://www.aia.org/showcases/6572178-mithun&nbsp;📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 117: Towards an Equitable and Inclusive Future: LGBTQIA+ ArchitectsWhat would an equitable future for LGBTQIA+ people look like? What’s the role of architecture in designing an equitable future?Expanding our equity, diversity, and inclusion series, episode 117 explores the perspectives of LGBTQIA+ architects and designers working to create a more equitable future for all. One of the earliest episodes in this series, “Voices from the Future of the Profession,” episode 016, was recorded in 2020. Since that recording date, a number of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills and legislation have been passed across the United States - risking protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. As architects and designers, we believe there is much more we can do to create safe and inclusive policies and spaces in the built environment and within our communities. We’ve invited leaders to share their stories and discuss what matters most in this moment of change.Guest Moderator:Dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and visibility of LGBTQIA+ architects, architecture adjacent, and design professionals, Sarah Nelson-Woynicz, AIA, is the Founder of Pride by Design. As a Project Architect with HKS, Inc in Atlanta, Georgia, Sarah’s professional practice focuses on commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family markets, while also amplifying and engaging in HKS’ justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Sarah has served on the AIA Atlanta Board of Directors and currently serves at the AIA Young Architects Forum Advisory Committee, Community Director.&nbsp;Guests:Rajas Karnik is a Project Architect with over 20 years of varied project experience in urban design, transportation, commercial and residential buildings.&nbsp;Raj grew up in India, where he was surrounded by a family of artists. As a child, he spent many days in his father's architecture office and felt it was his destiny to follow in his footsteps. He attended the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, his father's alma mater, before moving to the United States to pursue his Master of Architecture at Texas A&amp;M University. Raj believes a strong team drives a successful project. It's a combination of personality and communication, but mostly it's about respect. Architecture is one of the few professions where you are literally learning new every day—from different building parameters, to changing client needs and goals, and new consultant teams. He feels that you have to form personal relationships and learn from everyone, so treating everyone equally and with respect is most important.Rajas is also the co-founder and Past President of Build Out Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community within the building design and construction industry. Through this group he helps create visibility for Out LGBTQ professionals and create a safe environment for them to celebrate who they are.Beau Frail is a poet, artist, and architect. Beau is passionate about community-engaged design and advancing equity and justice, including within the LGBTQIA+ community. Beau has served on the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Board of Directors, where he helped launch the EDI Committee, and on the AIA National Associates Committee. He helped start LGBTQIA+ Alliances at AIA Austin and AIA New York. Beau was honored with the 2020 TxA Presidential Citation and the 2018 AIA Austin Honor Award for Community Service. Beau was selected as a Next City Vanguard, an AIA Design Justice Fellow, and an Association for...

Episode 116: Visualizing the Future: Mission 2130What will the world look like in 100 years, and what is the architect's role within it?On August 25 to 27, 2022, the American Institute of Architects invited 50 architects, designers, and affiliated professionals to YAF Summit 30: Mission 2130, the 30th-anniversary summit of the Young Architects Forum (YAF). These individuals were asked to imagine the world 100 years into the future and to develop a roadmap to a better society. The goal was to orient attendees beyond the immediately accessible into a truly future-forward mindset.&nbsp;We sit down with the Past Chair, Current Chair, and Vice Chair of the Young Architects Forum to talk about the event and how they used its findings to shape the strategic plan for the next five years of the committee’s work.&nbsp;Finally, we explore:What’s the role of the next generation of architects in the industry's future?What are the greatest challenges and opportunities that the industry faces? ANDHow can you get involved with the Young Architects Forum?Guests:Jessica O’Donnell, AIA is a Project Architect in Collingswood, New Jersey, specializing in multifamily and affordable housing. She was the 2022 Chair of the Young Architects Forum, recognized as a BD+C Networks 40 under 40 honoree, and is a 2022 AIA Young Architects Award recipient.Matt Toddy, AIA is a Partner at Astra Studios in Columbus, Ohio. Toddy is the 2023 Chair of the AIA Young Architects Forum, the 2022 President of AIA Columbus, and a 2021 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award.Jason Takeuchi, AIA, NCARB, NOMA is a project architect at Ferraro Choi And Associates in Honolulu, HI. Recognized with the 2018 AIA Associates Award and 2023 AIA Young Architect Architect Award, Jason is currently the Vice Chair of the AIA Young Architects Forum and will chair the committee in 2024.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;YAF Summit 30: Mission 2130Mission 2130 Post-Event Report📚 Continue Learning:AIA YAF Connection 21.01 - Mission 2130Lakisha Woods’ welcome remarks for AIA’s Mission 2130 Code Red CharrettesMission 2130 Code Red Charrette ToolkitVolunteer at the AIA: Get Involved💻 Learn about our podcast partner:👉 This episode is sponsored by Autodesk.Autodesk has been part of the design conversation since 1982, providing the tools that help architects around the globe imagine and create beautifully designed, memorable buildings that people love and admire.Autodesk is honored to support the work of Practice Disrupted, bringing the architecture community together, sparking curiosity, and leading vibrant and necessary conversations with the industry’s visionaries and thought leaders.📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | <a...

Episode 115: Leading a Culture of MentorshipHow do you apply mentorship in project work and team collaboration?Mentorship is a term frequently used in the field of architecture. But what exactly is mentorship? Many architects struggle to mentor because they’re unsure what mentorship looks like and when to apply it. To help retain, attract, and develop the next generation of architects, the concept of mentorship is a necessary leadership tool needed inside the architecture firm to support a healthy culture of feedback and guidance. By considering mentorship as an integral part of a talent development strategy, architects can introduce mentorship conversations at the project level of their day-to-day operations. To help us discuss applied mentorship within project settings and teams, we’ve invited Ben Kasdan to join us. Ben is a Principal and Design Leader at KTGY in Washington, DC. He’ll share some of the ways he’s thought about mentorship in the context of managing his projects and people.Guest:Ben Kasdan, AIA, is a Principal and Design Leader at KTGY in Washington, DC. He is a frequent speaker and published writer about the value of design, mentorship, advocacy, sustainable architecture, resilience, student housing, multifamily housing, and mixed-use communities. He has held leadership positions with AIAS at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, AIA Orange County, AIA California, and AIA National, including serving as the 2019 President of AIA California.&nbsp; 📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more bout KTGYRead the book "Multipliers"📚 Continue Learning:Listen to PD 051 Designing a Culture of Mentorship💻 Learn about our podcast partner:👉 This episode is sponsored by Autodesk.Autodesk has been part of the design conversation since 1982, providing the tools that help architects around the globe imagine and create beautifully designed, memorable buildings that people love and admire.Autodesk is honored to support the work of Practice Disrupted, bringing the architecture community together, sparking curiosity, and leading vibrant and necessary conversations with the industry’s visionaries and thought leaders.📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 114: The Architecture of Motherhood What lessons can you learn from an immigrant architect about starting a firm in the US while becoming a mother?In celebration of Mother's Day this weekend, we welcome back Gloria Kloter, the founder and CEO of Glow Architects and a best-selling author. Less than a year ago, she released her book, "The Architecture of Motherhood," which shares her journey to building a business while becoming a new mom. In this episode, we revisit Kloter's story and book to see what additional lessons she has learned since its publication. Now a mom of two little ones, Kloter shares how motherhood has continued to shape her perspective on architecture and design.Through "The Architecture of Motherhood," Kloter offers a unique perspective on both motherhood and architecture. Her book is a testament to the power of personal experience and how it can shape one's professional life. Join us as we dive deeper into Kloter's story and learn more about her journey as an immigrant architect, business owner, and mother.Guest:Gloria Kloter, AIA, NCARB, CODIA, is an award-winning architect, founder and CEO of Glow Architects, a keynote speaker, and a bestselling author. Gloria has been a practicing architect both in her home country (Dominican Republic) and in the United States since 2004. She is an advocate for immigrant architects, women in architecture, and motherhood.In her book, The Architecture of Motherhood, she shares her incredible journey to becoming a worldwide renowned architect and business owner while being a new mom. Through this book, the reader can learn how women in any industry can find a balance between their professional life and motherhood without having to compromise either role. Gloria is also a co-author of the bestselling book “City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers”, a compilation of the journey of 24 successful professionals from all over the world who are making a positive impact and paving the way in the USA as architects and leaders in our industry.Kloter has dedicated a huge chunk of her career to helping other young architects grow. As a leader in the architecture community, she is the founder of the Foreign Architects, a private online community where she mentors young and aspiring immigrant architects on how to obtain their architect license in the United States.​​As a testament to her influence and impact, Gloria Kloter currently serves as the Architect Licensing Advisor of the State of Florida through AIA Florida. She is a part of the Board of Directors of the AIA Tampa Bay where she is the founder and chairperson of the Women in Architecture (WIA) committee.Among her awards and recognitions, Gloria is a recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award 2022 by Realty 2.0 and the AIA Tampa Bay 2020 Kelley Emerging Professional Award, She was also honored with the <a href="https://www.aia.org/press-releases/6156295-architects-foundation-announces-2019-recip"...

Episode 113: 2023 AIA Gold Medal Award Winner Carol Ross BarneyWhat can we learn from 2023 AIA Gold Medal Award Winner Carol Ross Barney?Join us this week as we speak with Carol Ross Barney, the 2023 AIA Gold Medal winner. Ryan Gann, a former employee of Carol's and one of her students, will be our facilitator. Get ready to be inspired by a unique conversation that only happens between two individuals who have a great deal of respect for each other and have worked together for many years.Ryan and Carol's conversation is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between architecture and social justice. They discuss the importance of Equity + Representation in architecture, and how Carol has been a trailblazer in this area throughout her career. She shares stories about the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, and how she overcame them with the help of other women who inspired and supported her along the way.&nbsp;The conversation also touches on Purpose Driven Architecture, which is an approach that prioritizes the needs of people and communities over aesthetics or ego. Carol explains how this philosophy has guided her work, particularly in projects that serve marginalized communities.&nbsp; Finally, Ryan and Carol go beyond architecture to discuss how design can be used as a tool for social change.They talk about the role of architects in addressing issues like climate change, affordable housing, and racial inequality, and how Carol's work has been driven by a desire to impact society positively.&nbsp; Overall, this conversation is a powerful reminder of the potential for architecture to be a force for good in the world, and of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the field.It was a great privilege to sit back and listen to these two individuals. We hope that you will enjoy the change-up in the format of this episode and find it as insightful as we did.Guests:Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, HASLA has been in the vanguard of civic space design since founding Ross Barney Architects in 1981. With a career that spans nearly 50 years, Carol has made significant contributions to the built environment, the profession, and architectural education. From the early days in the United States Peace Corps planning National Parks in Costa Rica to recent collaborations with City Governments, Carol has relentlessly advocated that excellent design is a right, not a privilege. At the forefront for equity in the architectural profession, Carol has long sought to move beyond her gender as a contributing factor or hindrance to success. But it’s not enough just to blaze the trail, Carol continually teaches, mentors, and empowers young architects to contribute their ideas and designs to progress the profession.Ryan Gann, AIA, NOMA an Architect and Design Strategist; helps clients become better versions of themselves through design, culture, and prosperity. This work expands beyond architecture and often sits at the intersection of engagement and facilitation, elevating community-centered voices through the built environment. Ryan is the recipient of the AIA Associates Award, Schiff Foundation Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago, was the inaugural Architect-in-Residence at the Hyde Park Art Center, and recently co-curated an exhibition with Carol at the Chicago Architecture Center titled&nbsp;ReCovered: Chicago's Urban Tree Canopy."📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about Ross Barney&nbsp;ArchitectsMeet Ryan Gann📚 Continue Learning:Learn about <a href="https://www.aia.org/showcases/6572042-carol-ross-barney-faia "...

Episode 112: Leading Climate Action Through Adaptation &amp; MitigationHow can architects support their communities before a disaster happens?This week we speak with Illya Azaroff, an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, adaption, regenerative design and resilient planning strategies. Following Superstorm Sandy, Illya was a frequent consultant to New York City and other public entities on issues of resilience, policy and sustainability. His work has continued to expand beyond New York into wide-reaching US and international communities. Illya is using his training in architecture to help the communities he partners with access funding and implement climate-focused solutions. We discuss some of the projects he supports, strategies he recommends architects can take action on, and the difference between adaptation and mitigation. Illya further explains why architects must become global leaders in climate action.Guest:Illya Azaroff, FAIA, is an Architect, Geographer, and professor at New York City College of Technology (CUNY). He is the founding director of +LAB Architect, whose mission is to build resilient capacity and advance goals for a sustainable, regenerative future while giving underserved communities greater voice and visibility. Illya serves on the AIA National Board (2023-25). He served as a COP-27 delegate and is leading the COP-28 delegation for the AIA this year. Currently, Illya serves as a technical expert on the New York Climate Impact Assessment.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; https://www.pluslabglobal.com/ https://illyaazaroff.com/📚 Continue Learning:Listen to PD Episode 004 - Purpose Driven PracticeCOPhttps://www.aia.org/articles/6571631-aia-delegates-at-cop27-provide-key-takeawahttps://www.aia.org/resources/6077668-framework-for-design-excellenceAdaptionhttps://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SeS-Adaptation-Agenda_Complete-Report-COP27_FINAL-1.pdfPerformance Based Codeshttp://media.iccsafe.org/downloads/CodesPlus/Performance-Based-Building-Design-Concepts-Chapter2.pdf2030 Commitmenthttps://www.aia.org/pages/6464938-the-aia-2030-commitment📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/practiceofarchitecture/"...

Episode 111: Practice with Purpose - A Guide to Mission Driven DesignHow can architects address some of society’s most urgent challenges?Written by LEDDY MAYTUM STACY Architects, “Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission Driven Design” is about designing buildings beyond their property lines to address some of society’s most urgent challenges: the climate emergency, racial and ethnic injustice, chronic homelessness, educational crises, and the preservation of the embodied carbon and culture of existing buildings. These are not discrete phenomena - they are inextricably linked in an ecological and societal emergency that demands creative, integrated design responses. Architects and designers have a historic opportunity to help lead our communities toward an equitable, climate-positive future for all.This week we sit down with Founding Principal William Leddy and Senior Associate Gwen Fuertes of LMSA to learn more about the firm’s model for practice, their new book, their projects, and net zero carbon architecture.Guests:William Leddy, FAIA, is a Founding Principal of San Francisco-based LEDDY MAYTUM STACY Architects, the 2017 recipient of the AIA Firm Award.&nbsp; For over 30 years, he has been a national leader in the design of environments that celebrate our place in the natural world.&nbsp; LMSA has received more than 175 design awards and is one of only three firms to have received eleven or more national AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project awards. A past chair of the national AIA COTE, he currently serves as the AIA California Vice President for Climate Action, helping to advance the rapid decarbonization of the built environment in California and beyond. He is the co-author of his firm’s new book – “Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission Driven Design”, published in late 2022.Gwen Fuertes, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has two decades of work in design, research, and analysis of high-performing buildings. She began her career at the US Green Building Council in Washington, DC. She then worked at the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) as a graduate student researcher, acquiring a depth of expertise in building science and post-occupancy analysis. Gwen has worked at LEDDY MAYTUM STACY Architects for over nine years, designing low-carbon, mission-driven projects in Northern California.Gwen was a member and former co-chair of the AIA 2030 Commitment working group, most recently leading the pivot of the program towards a carbon-focused metric. She was also a member of the LEED Technical Committee. She has taught at California College of the Arts and UC Berkeley as an adjunct lecturer, focusing on energy efficiency, resilience and resource cycles, and considers teaching a passion. She has spoken at numerous national conferences on integrating low-carbon design in practice.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn more about LEDDY MAYTUM STACY ArchitectsPurchase Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission Driven Design📚 Continue Learning:Ed Roberts CampusEdwin M. Lee...

Episode 110: Architecture, And: CeramicsHow do you balance a career in architecture while exploring a passion for art?This week we’re joined by Betty Chung, a registered architect, designer and ceramic artist, currently working as an architect by day and as a ceramic artist by night. Her ceramic work is a synthesis of art and architecture, exploring forms by their materiality and texture through 2 &amp; 3 dimensions expressing&nbsp; form and the creation of sculptural yet usable objects. In this interview we explore how Betty has successfully built parallel careers in architecture and an artist. She has continued to practice while also building her ceramic business from the ground up. She discusses her work in the built environment, in clay, and raising her new daughter.Guest:Betty Chung began her interest in ceramic in 2008 through involvement at the Auckland Potters Studio, working alongside with some world-class Ceramic Artists. From this early work she recognised the importance of expressing her Asian&nbsp; heritage, fused with her up-bringing within Western culture. It is from this bi-cultural aspect that characterises her ceramic and architectural work.Betty has exhibited her work both in Australia and New Zealand. Betty’s work are now found about the world from a unique commission for an exclusive dinner set for a 60m luxury super yacht, Athos, to commission in restaurants, to sales at the Te Uru Gallery, Tauranga Gallery and other local retails, cafes and restaurants.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; Learn more about Betty Chung CeramicsLearn more about Isthmus Group📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 109: Architecture is Political CrossoverHow is architecture political?This week we are joined by Melissa R. Daniel, a fellow podcaster and creator of Architecture is Political, a podcast where Black and Brown folks have a conversation about architecture. In launching and developing her podcast, Melissa shares her story of growing up in Tyler House, a low-income housing development in Washington, DC. Her experience inspired her to pursue a career in architecture. Through the creation of her podcast, Melissa is exploring her identity and the role architects can take in political activism and design. We'll discuss why architecture is political and how architects can stay engaged through their work.Guest:Melissa R. Daniel is a Facilities Project Manager in Maryland and is the creator/ host of the Architecture is Political (AIP) podcast, where Black and Brown folks discuss architecture. She received the 2022 AIA Whitney M Young Award and the 2018 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Associates Award. Melissa serves as Chair for AIA Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community and as a Steering Committee Member to the DC Legacy Project Barry Farm-Hillsdale.📍 Show Links: Listen to Architecture is PoliticalFollow @archispolly on Instagram🎤 Related Podcast Episodes:Arch is Polly Tyler House SeriesTIKTOK, ARCHITECTURE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE&nbsp;Legacy of Barry Farms and Hillsdale CommunityTyler House &amp; Gentrification w/ Rev. Chris TobiasArchitects, Displacement and Housing2022 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Winners: RIDING THE VORTEX📍 Episode correction:26:30, it’s Rev. Earl Tyler, not Earl Grey📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | <a...

Episode 108: Attracting and Retaining Midcareer WomenWhy are leadership-track women in architecture leaving their firms?Throughout 100+ episodes of Practice Disrupted, we’ve touched on the missing middle, burnt-out architects, and the challenges in navigating career growth in practice. We wanted to dedicate an entire episode to exploring and understanding why midcareer and even senior-level women are considering leaving their firms. We'll look also discuss the core issues driving retention in the field.We invited career and executive coach Maya Sharfi on the show to discuss her new whitepaper titled, 'Attracting and Retaining Leadership-Track Women in Architecture &amp; Planning.' Maya has been working extensively with women across practice on training and career development. In this episode, she shares her insight and provides recommendations.Guest:Maya Sharfi is a career and executive coach and the founder of Build Yourself. She helps women in design, tech, and innovation advance their careers on their own terms and helps companies grow and promote their rising women leaders through coaching, training, and consulting.Companies Maya has worked with have seen a 3x increase in the rate of women promoted, and 18% of women are more likely to recommend their companies to other women. They’ve seen more women owning and leading initiatives and setting boundaries that make projects more effective and grow junior staff. Maya's individual clients achieve results like moving into senior director roles, launching new, innovative programs, and achieving $25,000 raises.Maya has trained national industry groups, like Women in Innovation and the American Institute of Architects, and works with leadership and staff at global design and innovation companies such as Stantec, Gensler, and HOK, and she helps women become principals and partners at their firms. 📍 Show Links:&nbsp; Learn more about Build Yourself📚 Continue Learning:Attracting and Retaining Leadership-Track Women in Architecture &amp; PlanningApply for Partner &amp; Principal One-on-One Coaching📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 107: Architecture, And: Business DevelopmentHow do architects leverage their skillset to become better at sales?This week on Practice Disrupted, we follow the career path of an architect turned architechie who landed in the business development side of a tech company, Monograph. If you are interested in learning more about other roles that architects can have in tech, this one is for you!&nbsp;We take a deep dive with our guest, Tyler Suomala, on all things in architecture, the realities of burnout running your own practice, entrepreneurship, the search for an architecturally adjacent career, parenthood, and more.&nbsp;The conversation also goes into different roles in sales, identifying the difference between sales development and account executive roles, how sales differ from his new role in marketing, how important ongoing talent development support has been for his career, and Monograph’s famous 4-day work week.We also talk about his growth as a content creator on LinkedIn and how he has grown an audience of over 15,000 followers.Guest:Tyler Suomala is an architechie and business development professional at Monograph. He helps architects better communicate their unique value through his fun and popular weekly newsletter, Tyler Tactics. 📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Join Tyler TacticsTyler on LinkedInMonographOther Episodes with individuals from Monograph:075 - Growing an AEC Startup, The Evolution of a Company034 - Investing in What’s Next, The Spatial Syndicate013 - Architecture, And: Entrepreneurship📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 106: Open Architecture Collaborative Pathways to EquityHow are designers centering equity and racial justice in architecture and design practices? Open Architecture Collaborative is a global learning community mobilizing architects, designers, and a diverse range of professionals who shape the built environment with technical skills to build capacity with communities experiencing systemic racism and marginalization.Pathways to Equity is a design leadership experience for social equity. The program aims to create transformative learning experiences, shifting the field towards anti-racism and equitable outcomes. P2E introduces designers to methods for equity in practice, historical and systemic racism within the buit environment, self-reflective and community building practices, and strategies for community engagement.Consider enrolling in Pathways to Equity for 2023! P2E Virtual is a 10-week online introductory course happening April 11th-June 13th, 2023. Community members, firm principals, and individual volunteers are encouraged to apply.Guests:Shalini Agrawal is trained in architecture and is founder of Public Design for Equity. She is director for Pathways to Equity, a leadership program of Open Architecture Collaborative that trains architects and designers in racial justice workshops. She works with interdisciplinary practitioners, firms and organizations to address equity in the workplace and community engagement. She is Associate Professor in Critical Ethnic Studies at California College of the Arts, teaching curricula that aims to decolonize design and architecture practices.📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Apply to Pathways to Equity📚 Continue Learning:Learn more about the Open Architecture CollaborativePublic Design for Equity📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Episode 105: Podcast Live: AIA|LA People, Processes, and Practice: Technology + The Business of DesignHow can technology elevate the business of design?AIA Los Angeles invited Practice Disrupted Co-Hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain to present the opening keynote at their annual technology conference in February.More about the conference:&nbsp;Digital transformation is revolutionizing the AECO industry, offering new ways to develop and construct the built environment. The use of cloud, data, and artificial intelligence is maximizing the creative potential of architects and engineers by augmenting their ability to rapidly create, analyze, and optimize designs while streamlining processes and revealing actionable project insights. However, this rapid advancement of technological trends sometimes creates more questions than answers.How can we better engage with clients using technology? How can we best manage practices? How can we build better and more efficiently? This conference gathers the AECO community to discuss how technology is reshaping the industry and provides a platform for designers, architects, and built environment professionals to embrace the new possibilities of digital and explore innovative solutions for their clients.A special thank you to: Brian Skowvron, Assoc. AIA, Nicole Buhles, Assoc. AIA, Lauren Coles, AIA, Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA, &amp; Carlo Caccavale, Hon. AIA|LACo-Hosts:Evelyn Lee is the Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, and Founder of the Practice of Architecture. She integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organization’s employees, clients, and guests. She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She recently served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021.Je’Nen Chastain is the founder of Apostrophe Consulting, a practice focused on helping architects and next-gen leaders strengthen their teams and businesses. In addition to consulting with firm leaders on practice management issues, she mentors architects on career development, leadership, and strategy. She specializes in facilitating conversations that engage multi-generational teams and has designed, developed, and presented dozens of training programs that inspire next-gen leaders. Je’Nen received the 2017 AIA National Associates Award, an Associates Award from AIA California in 2012, and an Emerging Professionals Award from AIA San Francisco in 2017. She served on the AIA National Board in 2010.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; More about the conferencePD Technology Playlist📚 Continue Learning:Future ForumAIA Los Angeles📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/practiceofarch/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode 104: Empowering Student Voices, Ideas, &amp; ActionsWhat is the AIAS, and how are they advancing leadership, design, and service among architecture students?The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an independent, nonprofit, student-run organization dedicated to providing unmatched progressive programs, information, and resources on issues critical to architecture and the experience of education. This week we speak with the 2022-2023 National President and Vice President of the AIAS to learn more about their work and what is top mind for their members.Guests:Cooper Moore, AIAS, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, GRP, is the 66th President of the American Institute of Architecture Students. A graduate of Kent State University, Cooper previously served as the AIAS Midwest Quadrant Director and is currently the Student Representative on the AIA Board of Directors. Raised on the Great Lakes and an avid naturalist, he is passionate about sustainable design, and is a certified Green Roof Professional. Cooper lives and works in Washington, DC.Nicole Bass is the 2022-2023 National Vice President of the American Institute of Architecture Students. She holds a Bachelor's degree in architecture from City College of New York. Born and raised in New York City, Nicole had an interest in the built environment&nbsp; inspired by traveling to different neighborhoods to visit family in her youth. In high school and college, she pursued internships and programming related to architecture, art, policy, and advocacy. At the Bernard and Ann Spitzer School of Architecture, Nicole held leadership positions in AIAS, NOMAS, FAME, and Student Government to better understand the world of academia, host impactful events, and advocate for the architecture student voice. She looks forward to continuing the good work of make the profession a better place.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; https://www.aias.org/&nbsp;📚 Continue Learning:March 2023 Quad ConferencesSponsor an AIAS MemberChapter TakeoverIn Studio Blog&nbsp;Chapter Leader of the Month&nbsp;Freedom By DesignAsk An ArchitectModel Learning Teaching Culture PolicyPartner with the AIASFor intrested or questions on career expos, please email [email protected] or [email protected]&nbsp;📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | <a...

Episode 103: Enhancing Workflow with Artificial IntelligenceHow can artificial intelligence help architects improve their productivity?AI has recently emerged as a powerful tool for creating written text that is both accurate and informative. From automated news reports to automated customer support chatbots and beyond, AI has enabled the production of content that was unthinkable only a few years ago. This document is a direct example of this trend, as it has been created entirely by AI-powered text generation software. It is our hope that today’s episode will demonstrate the potential of AI and inspire listeners to explore the possibilities this technology presents.This week we’ve invited Jason Kuperberg on the show to discuss AI, ChatGPT, and a powerful AI writing tool his company created called HyperWrite. Hyperwrite uses a combination of AI-driven analysis and human editing to create content that is both efficient and accurate. Hyperwrite's algorithms are able to quickly analyze a user's writing style and suggest edits that improve the overall clarity of the text.&nbsp;Guest:Jason Kuperberg is the co-founder of OthersideAI, an applied AI company that specializes in building writing and communication tools using advanced AI systems such as GPT-3. The company's flagship product, HyperWrite, is one of the first generative AI writing platforms and a leading Chrome extension known for its innovative use of AI technology and focus on user experience and interface.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; Try HyperWrite for freeGet the HyperWrite Chrome ExtensionUse the discount code TRYHYPERWRITE to get 50% off your first month.Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Episode 102: Architecture, And: An Evolving Career in TechHow are individuals using their training in architecture to explore diverse career paths?Our ongoing series “Architecture, And:” follows the careers of professionals using their education and training in architecture to expand their current role in practice or apply their skills in an entirely new field. These interviews help us understand how an architectural education prepares people for diverse career opportunities. Past interviews include:[073] - Architecture, And: Civic Leadership[067] - Architecture, And: The Future of Workplace[066] - Architecture, And: Technology[055] – Architecture, And: MBA[054] – Architecture, And: EDI+J[045] – Architecture, And: Publishing[043] – Architecture, And: Nonprofit Design Education[039] – Architecture, And: Customer Success[036] – Architecture, And: Robotics[025] – Architecture, And: Tech[019] – Architecture, And: Film[015] – Architecture, And: Social Impact[013] – Architecture, And: EntrepreneurshipSpecial Guest:Nick Caravella, AIA, NCARB, NOMA is a registered architect who has transitioned from traditional practice to a focus on working on and with industry technology solutions that help improve the way we work and deliver better outcomes. Nick started his career in technology as he started to wonder how he could make a bigger impact on the profession by helping firms rather than within one. Since starting this journey, Nick has worked in a variety of Sales, Marketing, and Product roles that enabled him to leverage his experience as an architect paired with his training as one to create value for the profession. Today Nick works at Avicado Construction Technology Services and helps Owners with the creative technology solutions they need to better manage their program. In his off hours, you’ll find him contributing to Method Group as an Operations Specialist contributing to rethinking the way we deliver projects using the processes he’s picked up on while working in tech.📍 Show Links: <a...

Episode 101: Season 6 Launch with Getting Back Into PlaceWelcome back to season 6 of Practice Disrupted!&nbsp;Co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain sit down with writer and fellow podcaster Sean Joyner of Getting Back Into Place to kick off the first episode of 2023. The discussion includes highlights on what’s ahead for season 6, how the market dip has impacted the tech sector, recommendations for how individuals and firms can prepare for a Recession, and more. Sean shares more about his career path from architecture into writing, and his latest project in podcasting. We discuss his article published on Archinect in 2022, “Debunking Architecture’s Mythological Work Culture.”Special Guest:Sean Joyner is a writer and essayist based in Los Angeles. He formerly worked as a full-time Editor and Staff Writer at Archinect. His essays and articles typically explore themes spanning history, pop culture, and philosophy and how they connect to architectural discourse and the experience of architecture. 📍 Show Links:&nbsp;&nbsp;Listen to Getting Back Into Place, Hosted by Sean Joyner📚 Continue Learning:“Debunking Architecture’s Mythological Work Culture” by Sean Joyner, ArchinectAIAU 2023 Economic Update 1📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Replay: Immigrant ArchitectsLeaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on equity and architecture.Expanding our diversity series, this week we learn about the lived experiences of individuals who immigrated to the United States.Guests:Originally from Colombia, Graciela Carrillo, AIA, LEED AP, immigrated to the United States in 2003. She recently joined Nassau BOCES Facilities Services as a Senior Manager where she is managing school operational and capital projects. Graciela has committed a decade of volunteer leadership service to the AIA. Currently she is serving as the President 2020-2021 as well as the Chapter’s Women In Architecture Co-Founder and Co-Chair. Graciela was the past 2017-2018 NY Regional Director (YARD) for the Young Architects Forum (YAF). She is also the Co-Founder of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, a group committed to helping and providing resources for immigrant architects to achieve a prosperous career in the US. In 2019, Graciela was the recipient of the AIA NYS Young Architect Award. Gloria Kloter, AIA, NCARB, CODIA, is founder and CEO of Glow Architects. A practicing architect both in her home country of the Dominican Republic and in the US, she has dedicated her career to helping other young architects grow. She is the founder of the Foreign Architects, a private community in Facebook where she mentors young and aspiring immigrant architects on how to obtain their architect license in the United States. Gloria also serves as the Architect Licensing Advisor of the State of Florida through AIA Florida. She is a part of the Board of Directors of the AIA Tampa Bay where she is the chairperson of the Women in Architecture committee. She was also honored for the 2019 Sho-Ping Ching Women’s Leadership Summit Scholarship, a recognition to mid-career women architects who are advancing toward leadership roles and are making a positive impact within their communities.&nbsp;Shahad Sadeq, Assoc. AIA is an Iraqi immigrant architectural designer at Smithgroup. She is an active member of the AIA in her local chapter in Dallas, Texas. Shahad is passionate about amplifying diverse voices in the profession and developing sustainable workplace culture. She currently is co-leading the immigrant architect coalition and sits on the J.E.D.I. committee board of Smithgroup. She previously helped found an Equity in Architecture effort through the AIA Kansas City Chapter.Yu-Ngok Lo, FAIA, CDT, LEED AP is the founding principal of YNL Architects, Inc. His work received numerous design awards such as the NAHB Best of American Living Awards, Gold Nugget Awards, Aurora Awards, American Residential Design Awards, and various AIA Design Awards. The projects of his firm have been published in ArchDaily, Hinge Magazine, CONDE, CommArch Magazine, and Hospitality-Interiors Magazine. Yu-Ngok is a past recipient of the AIBD Designer of the Year, AIA Presidential Citation, AIA National Young Architects Award, BD+C 40 Under 40, 2015 ENR 20 Under 40, and the AIACC Young Architect Award. He was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2020.Show Links:📍 Immigrant Architects Coalition📍 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForeignArchitects" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Replay: Architecture, Identity, &amp; CultureHow are architects exploring identity and culture through practice?An architect at Vines Architecture, Vershaé has dedicated her career to the exploration of culture in the built environment. A rising design leader in the southeast, Vershaé has contributed to major cultural projects including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Motown Museum Renovation and Addition in Detroit, the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Branch Public Library in Washington, DC, the Gregg Museum of Art and Design Expansion at North Carolina State University, and leads both the Emily Krzyzewski Center Expansion in Durham, NC and Henrietta Lacks Building in Baltimore, MD.&nbsp;Vershaé helps her clients navigate and design in response to cultural narrative. Through research, storytelling, service, and advocacy she is raising the visibility and representation of historically underrepresented voices. In addition to her project leadership, she contributes to advancing the profession through volunteer service with AIA and NOMA.Guest:Vershaé Hite, AIA, NOMA is a licensed architect and Associate at Vines Architecture. Since 2004, Vershaé’s academic and professional career have exposed her to a range of unique experiences throughout the United States, China, Israel and Palestine that have carefully constructed her crafted, compassionate perspectives on the relationship between design and the human condition. Her role as an architect and project leader is founded on her theoretical interests regarding the interconnectedness of culture, community, and art to architecture. For Vershaé, this emerges from a unique framework that she developed while obtaining her master's degree in London. The deeply rooted meanings in her work are extensions of well-crafted, honest stories - are a direct result of both her sensitivity to diverse social and cultural landscapes and an investigative process that looks to film, literature, and experimental art.As such, her professional portfolio is characterized by complex cultural projects, historic renovations, libraries and higher education projects. As an Architect with award-winning firms like The Freelon Group, Perkins+Will, Andre Johnson Architect, and Vines Architecture, she is well versed in working with complex cultural matters through architectural design and execution.&nbsp;Show Links:Vines ArchitectureNational Museum of African American History &amp; CultureSAY IT LOUD - North CarolinaBeyond BlackEmily K CenterNCNOMA📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Replay: Asian American ArchitectsLeaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on race, equity, and architecture.Against the backdrop of recent acts of hate and violence towards the Asian American community, we are amplifying five stories of Asian American Architects who are actively leading the profession of architecture forward. Practice Disrupted is committed to elevating conversations on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to teach, empower, and build greater awareness across the industry.&nbsp;Guests:Evelyn M. Lee, FAIA, MBA, MPA is a licensed architect in the state of California, with over 15 years of experience working with individuals and companies that are looking to reshape their future. She is the founder of Practice of Architecture, a co-host on this podcast, Practice Disrupted, the first-ever Senior Experience Designer at Slack Technologies, and the first female Treasurer to AIA National‘s Board of Directors. 📍Follow Evelyn: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterSusan Chin, FAIA, Hon. ASLA is a principal of DesignConnects and an accomplished architect, urbanist, and civic leader. She formed an independent consultancy on art, architecture, landscape, and urban design in 2020 and provides leadership and advises government, developers and non-profits on design, planning, and policy. Until 2019, she led the Design Trust for Public Space.&nbsp;📍Follow Susan: LinkedInAnnie Chu, FAIA, IIDA is an architect, interior designer, and educator with over 30 years of experience at a dozen architectural and design schools across the country and abroad. As a founding principal of Chu+Gooding Architects, Annie has worked extensively with world-renowned museums, cultural facilities, and arts-related institutions.📍Follow Annie: Instagram | LinkedIn | TwitterMing Thompson, AIA, NOMA is co-founder of Atelier Cho Thompson, a New Haven- and San Francisco-based multidisciplinary practice working between architecture, interiors, graphics, and strategy. Ming was a recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award in 2020. Her firm has been the recipient of numerous national and regional design honors, including the IIDA Foundation Visionary Award.&nbsp;📍Follow Ming: Instagram | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ming-thompson-87969a8/" rel="noopener...

Replay: Voices from the Future of the ProfessionFuture leaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on architecture and the LGBTIQ+ community.Guests:Ryan Gann, Designer at Ross Barney ArchitectsA.L. Hu, Design Initiatives Manager at Ascendant Neighborhood DevelopmentLora Teagarden, Architect at RATIOYiselle Santos Rivera, Firmwide Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, &amp; Inclusion at HKSAmy Rosen, Sociospatial Designer at PLASTARCRyan Gann, Assoc. AIARyan Gann has blazed a trail founded on service, leadership, and design. From his time as an engaged student leader to his expanding contributions to the built environment, Ryan has managed to stay ambitious while having fun along the way.As a designer at Ross Barney Architects he has worked on some of the studio’s most ambitious civic projects. These architectural and urban design investigations have allowed him to collaborate with communities across Chicago and the world, expressing the role public space plays in everyday life.Ryan is the recipient of the 2018 AIA Associates Award, Schiff Foundation Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago, and was the inaugural Architect-in-Residence at the Hyde Park Art Center. Ryan previously served on the national boards of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).A.L. Hu, Assoc. AIAA.L. Hu is a queer, trans, nonbinary Taiwanese-American architect, organizer, and facilitator who lives and works in New York City. Their practice synthesizes organizing for racial, class, and gender justice with world-building and design; rethinks the architect’s role in facilitating accessible spaces; and manifests in design, visual media, and collaborative cultural work. They are a 2019-2021 Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow and Design Initiatives Manager at Ascendant Neighborhood Development in East Harlem. They shared their experiences on a panel of queer architects at the AIA National Conference on Architecture in 2019; was a Thought Leader at the AIASF Equity by Design Symposium in 2018; and received the 2018 AIANY Emerging New York Architects ARE Scholarship. They received a Master of Architecture from Columbia University GSAPP in 2017, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a minor in Sustainable Design from UC Berkeley in 2012.Lora Teagarden, AIA, LEED AP BD+CLora is an Architect at RATIO, headquartered in Indianapolis, and the founder of L² Design, LLC. A published author and creator of #AREsketches, her passion for the profession drives her to mentor young professionals and volunteer in her community. She is a 2017 Young Architect Award winner, the 2019 Chair of the Young Architects Forum, 2020 AIA Indianapolis President, and was recently elected as an At-Large Representative on the AIA National Strategic Council. Her website and blog offer unique insights into professional practice, together with inspiration and tips for young architects.Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, LSSYB, WELL AP, LEED APYiselle Santos Rivera is a medical planner and the Firmwide Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, &amp; Inclusion at HKS, Inc. With national and international experience on a broad range of healthcare, institutional, and commercial/mixed-use projects, she thrives on building belonging and designing for inclusion.Seeking to empower the next generation of leaders, she co-founded the Latin American Interior Designers, Engineers, and Architects (LA.IDEA) DC Committee and founded the “Women Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design” (WIELD) event, recipient of the 2019 AIA Diversity Program Recognition Award.Mrs. Santos currently serves...

Sponsored Episode: NCARB and the Future of PracticeHow is NCARB addressing industry change and transformation?In this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain sit down with Patricia Ramallo and Jared N. Zurn, AIA, NCARB of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to learn how NCARB is responding to wide-reaching industry change and transformation. We’ll discuss NCARB’s role in advancing equity in architecture, including the Baseline of Belonging Report, as well as the adoption of new policies intended to strengthen the pipeline of diverse talent into the profession. We’ll also discuss NCARB’s innovation team and the recent Analysis of Practice study. Learn how research studies like NCARB by the Numbers yield new insight into our industry, and how you can continue to share your ideas with NCARB to champion industry transformation.Guests:Patricia Ramallo started working at NCARB in 2015 as part of the Experience + Education team. In her current role as assistant vice president of innovation, she leads the design and implementation of innovative strategies throughout the Council and supports transformational initiatives such as strengthening international relations.&nbsp;Before joining NCARB, Patricia dedicated 14 years to the architecture field, fulfilling various design, management, and construction administration functions. She worked in Michigan, Kentucky, and New York on projects nationwide ranging from residential and multifamily to religious, commercial, and mixed-use buildings. Patricia also serves as an adjunct faculty instructor at the Boston Architectural College, where she teaches two graduate courses in professional practice.Patricia holds a Master of Architecture degree from Lawrence Technological University and is licensed to practice architecture in Argentina, Kentucky, and New Jersey. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects, holds LEED AP® Homes &amp; BD+C credentials, and the NCARB Certificate for national reciprocity. In 2019 she obtained a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University, and in 2021 she earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.Jared N. Zurn, AIA, NCARB, Vice President, Examination joined the Council in 2008 as assistant director, ARE development. He has been involved with all aspects of the examination including development, operations, security, and implementation of ARE 5.0. Promoted to vice president in 2013, Zurn is an advocate for transparency into the examination with a focus on refining the efficiency of the process while maintaining high standards and measurement quality.Before joining NCARB, Zurn operated a sole proprietorship in northwest Minnesota. He also served as faculty of the Architectural Technology program and division chair at Minnesota State Community and Technical College where he led the Architectural Technology program in the areas of curriculum development, course assessment, and program outcome assessment. Zurn earned his professional degree from North Dakota State University.📍 Show Links:&nbsp; Learn more about the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards📚 Continue Learning:NCARB by the NumbersNCARB’s Baseline on Belonging ReportsOverview Report<a href="https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/BOB_ExperienceReport.pdf" rel="noopener...