Episode 125: Building a Feminist Architecture Firm

How 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 FORA

Guests:

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.

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:

https://architectsfora.com/

https://architectsfora.com/perspectives/thefeministpractice

📚 Past Episodes Referenced:

PD #52 Managing a Virtual Practice

PD #18 Remote Practice

💻 Learn about our podcast partner:

👉 This episode is sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction

Interested in using your design training to prompt change in our industry? The AISC is looking for creative architects to help shape how our profession approaches structural steel. They’re building a program to bring industry leaders together to harness structural steel innovations. Learn more at aisc.org/architecture.

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