“Vernacular is what you do when you can’t afford to get it wrong.”

• Carley Chastain

Episode Summary:

This episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, hosted by Randy Wilburn and joined by marketing co-host Luke Carothers, traces Carley Chastain's unique path through the architecture profession. Carley, an emerging architectural professional at Marlon Blackwell Architects in Northwest Arkansas, shares how she was drawn to architecture not by tradition, but by curiosity, community, and a keen desire to make the built environment serve real people.

From Auburn University's Rural Studio—where students design and build for underserved communities—to Mass Design Group's healthcare infrastructure projects in Rwanda, Carley unpacks the transformative power of purpose-driven design. Her journey from Alabama to Montana, Boston, and Kigali has shaped her approach to design as one focused on social impact, community resilience, and equity. Listeners will gain perspective on how intentional architecture can shape lives, tackle rural housing and infrastructure gaps, and deliver facilities that truly respond to community needs.

The conversation also spotlights the next generation of AEC professionals prioritizing equity, resilience, and local advocacy. Carley's reflections offer valuable strategies for increasing diversity, retaining talent, and ensuring architecture's continued relevance for the future.

Key Takeaways:

• Community-first Design: Purposeful engagement with local people and issues creates projects that are meaningful and sustainable—whether it’s rural housing or urban centers.
• Tackling Obstacles Holistically: Carley’s experience on the $20K House and the Front Porch Initiative demonstrates how architects can identify and address systemic barriers like access to fire stations and insurance, not just building design.
• Value of Diverse Experience: Exposure to international practice and local development, as well as cross-disciplinary networking, gives young professionals context and resilience—qualities vital for evolving the AEC industry.
• Advocacy and Retention: To retain diverse talent, firms must foster strong community connections, empower staff with local resources, and invest in personal and professional development.
• Importance of Public Health: Architecture’s role extends to building infrastructure that supports public health and preventive care—a lesson Carley saw firsthand with Mass Design Group in Kigali and current healthcare projects in Arkansas.

All this and more on this episode of the Zweig Letter podcast.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Marlon Blackwell Architects: https://www.marlonblackwell.com/
• Mass Design Group: https://www.massdesigngroup.org/
• Auburn University Rural Studio: https://ruralstudio.org/
• Contact Carley Chastain: [email protected]
• Connect with Carley Chastain on LinkedIn
• Learn about the Zweig Letter and subscribe: https://thezweigletter.com/
• Connect with Randy Wilburn on LinkedIn

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From Specs to Stories with Cherise Lakeside

Bridging Design and Construction with Dan Crist

AI Transforming AEC with KP Reddy

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