Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

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 & 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. 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 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.  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 & 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. 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:  Connect with Robert on LinkedInRead AIA’s article about Robert Learn more about NOMASee Robert’s work at KEi📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #09 Voices from the Future of the ProfessionPD #68 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Winners: RIDING THE VORTEXPD #79 Increasing Black Women in Architecture 📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

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. “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. 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.   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. 📍 Show Links:  Learn more about CANOA📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #67: Architecture, And: The Future of Workplace📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodesBe a part of our community — join the conversation!

Episode 131: Five Topics on Mental Health for Architects & 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:  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 | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

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  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. “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.  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. 📍 Show Links:  Meet QKA FirmConnect with Olivia on LinkedIn Check out Olivia’s Faculty BioFollow Olivia on Instagram📚 Past Episodes Referenced:PD #57 Southeast Asian American Architects 📚 Continue Learning:White House statement appointing Olivia to U.S. Access Board📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodesBe a part of our community — join the conversation!

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 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. 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. 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: Indigo River Design FirmFollow Indigo River on InstagramFollow Dena on Instagram Connect with Dena on LinkedInFollow Dena on Twitter 📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

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. “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.”  - 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. 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:  https://coarchitects.com/ 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 | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

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. Tune in next week for a conversation with Jenna Knudsen, the Managing Principal of CO Architects.📍 Show Links:  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 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 & 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. 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  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. 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. 📍 Show Links:  2022 NCARB Scholars in Professional Practicehttps://www.acsa-arch.org/resource/propel/https://arcd.ku.edu/people/nilou-vakilhttps://www.isdarchitecture.com/https://pivotarchitecture.com/ 📚 Continue Learning:Building Design Podcast #14 Diversity and Equity in Architecture feat. Nilou Vakil💻 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. 📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!

Leah Alissa Bayer, Sarah Vaccaro, and Kate Conley discuss Architects FORA, a 100% woman-owned design firm. They explore their ownership transition, operating a virtual practice, and how remote working enhances communication and mentorship. They highlight changes in their hiring processes for diversity and inclusion. The guests emphasize the importance of creating an inclusive, diverse, and feminist practice.

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.”  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. 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:  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 a Virtual PracticePD #18 Remote PracticeBen Kasdan:PD #115 Leading a Culture of MentorshipJennifer Matthews:PD #95 Voices of Mothers in Practice📚 Continue Learning:Burnout in Architecture 2021 Survey 💻 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. 📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | TwitterCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation!