Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

How can we leverage a background in architecture with soft skills to successfully transition from architecture to product management?

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we chat with Liz Fibleuil, who made an inspiring transition from architecture to product management. With a Master's in Architecture and Sustainable Design and over 10 years of experience, Liz leverages her architectural background with her soft skills to deliver digital solutions at Tanooki Labs. In our conversation, we explore Liz's transition from architecture to tech and her perspective on changing career paths. 

First, Liz opens up about her architectural background, why she drifted away from the field, and how she ended up in her current role as a project manager. She offers advice on recognizing when it's time to step away from a career, overcoming fear to make that transition, and positioning yourself in a new industry even without prior experience.  

Then, Liz offers strategies for self-teaching tech skills and dives into the details of her role as a product manager at Tanooki Labs. We discuss her current responsibilities, challenges during the transition, and how she learned from each setback.

The moment that you're starting to question if this is the right path for you, whether you are 5 years in or 35, don't ignore that…Why don't I love it? Is it a fundamental reason why I don't love it? Is it a financial reason? Is it because I don't love my boss? What are the real reasons that you are discontent at any stage in your career? Once you define that, then start to analyze if you can find it somewhere else, and really go through that personal exploration. - Liz Fibleuil 

To wrap up the conversation, Liz reflects on what she misses most about architecture while emphasizing the importance of empathy in both fields. She expresses her optimism about the future of the tech industry and shares her long-term goals.

Tune in next week for an episode with Rolf Provan, CEO of Luckett & Farley, on how his diverse experiences have shaped his leadership style and where he sees the biggest opportunities for our industry to drive meaningful change. 

Guests:

Liz Fibleuil

Liz Fibleuil, a Panama-born architect with over 10 years of experience, has successfully transitioned into a Product Manager role, leveraging her soft skills to excel. With a Masters in Architecture and Sustainable Design, Liz's passion lies in creating user-centric experiences. As a Product Manager, she manages various web and mobile application projects, empathizing with users and stakeholders. Alongside her professional endeavors, Liz finds inspiration in literature as a habit reader and expresses her creativity through painting. With over three years of experience in product management, Liz combines her architectural expertise with her empathetic nature to deliver exceptional digital solutions.

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn

📚Continue Learning:

Tanooki Labs

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How can AI, automation, and technology democratize custom home design and improve the home building process for both buyers and architects?

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we welcome Marc Minor and Michael Bergin, the co-founders of Higharc. With Marc's passion for combining design and technology and Michael's dedication to improving the built environment through design automation, they created Higharc. Higharc provides software tools to make custom home design more accessible, enabling users to design, estimate, sell, and build their ideal homes. Our discussion is focused on their vision for democratizing custom home design.

First, Marc and Michael discuss the origins of Higharc, their relationship as co-founders, and their goal to bring design automation to the industry. They highlight the ways tech can address housing shortages, improve affordability, and enhance the home-building process.

Then, we dive into efficient customization in home design and how Higharc empowers architects to engage with the industry on a larger scale. They share strategies for optimizing the home-buying experience for both buyers and architects, working with the industry's supply and demand, and managing the current housing market.

What really is going to make it so that houses are more affordable is addressing the supply problem. Higharc as a business is also very pointed at this soft cycle supply problem making it faster to build homes so that we have more homes for people to move into. There's an ecosystem here, and if we could take that knowledge and have systems that enable professionals to engage with this process, this industry at greater scale, we all stand to benefit. - Michael Bergin

To wrap up the conversation, Marc and Michael look to the future and share their vision for bridging the gap between architects and buyers, with the goal to create more diverse, automated, and connected communities.

Tune in next week for an episode with Tanooki Labs Product Manager, Liz Fibleuil. 

Guests:

Marc Minor:

Marc started Higharc with the goal of making good home design accessible to more people. He’s passionate about pairing design with technology and guiding teams to bring those technologies to market. Prior to starting Higharc, Marc launched two 3D printing companies — Desktop Metal and Carbon3D — out of stealth to become industry leaders, and held management roles for some of the world’s most beloved brands and creative consultancies.

Michael Bergin:

Michael is VP of Product and Co-Founder of Higharc. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to improving the built environment through design automation. Early in his architecture training, he became dissatisfied with the slow pace and limited accessibility of custom home design. Frustrated, he returned to graduate school and explored the potential to improve these conditions through research into mass-customization of homes. He applied these concepts in practice as a Research Lead at Autodesk, creating a product enabling design automation for the automotive and aerospace industries. His work leading the product design effort culminated in the release of Autodesk Generative Design.

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Marc on LinkedIn

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Follow Higharc on LinkedIn

📚Continue Learning:

Architechie 

Contact Higharc

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How can architects think broadly about their career options and the various ways they can contribute to and grow within the built environment? 

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we're joined by Laura Wake-Ramos, a business development manager at Mortenson. As an architect and real estate developer with experience in design-build construction, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of architecture and construction. In our conversation, Laura shares her journey in the field, insights on alternative career paths outside of traditional practice, and thoughts on the future of architecture.

First, Laura shares her background of getting into architecture and what a business development manager does at Mortenson. She provides insight into business development in architecture, explaining how she balances creativity with construction logistics. 

Then, Laura dives into alternative career paths in architecture, emphasizing the importance of building support networks and diversifying your skills. She offers advice on following your curiosity and taking career development risks while highlighting the benefit of continuing education.

In simplest terms, I think of real estate development as a Shark Tank of architecture – where you have this concept, you have this design, you have this idea, and you need to talk about how you're going to get it funded. That's where I think the bridge between architecture and development lies. The development world has connections to private equity and to the debt partners to get buildings funded. - Laura Wake-Ramos

To wrap up the conversation, we discuss gaps in the architecture profession. Laura identifies areas for improvement in architectural education, such as the need for more business knowledge in capital markets and market analytics. She shares her aspirations to elevate alternative career perspectives in architecture and break down barriers between architecture and allied professions.

Tune in next week for an episode about the future of housing with the co-founders of Higharc.

Guests:

Laura Wake-Ramos

Laura is a leader in project delivery through strategy, leading teams, and technology integration.  As a Business Development Manager with Mortenson, Laura is responsible for cultivating real estate development opportunities in the Washington DC metro region, leading with the strategy of integrated developer-builder. Laura’s career encompasses construction management, design-build management, and virtual design & construction integration. 

One notable project Laura led as the Design Phase Manager was a historic renovation project in Washington DC that won a National Design-Build Award in 2023. Laura serves as the 2023-2024 Chair of the AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Community, and serves as 2024-2026 At-Large Representative for AIA Strategic Council. Laura is passionate about volunteering and giving back her experience to the community. Laura has volunteered with the ACE Mentorship Program of America, Greater Washington Affiliate Board Member, Arquitina, Design-Build Institute of America, Mid-Atlantic Board Secretary, and DBIA student chapter liaison. 

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn

Mortenson

📚Continue Learning:

ACE Mentor Program of America

Design-Build Institute of America

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How can architecture firms grow alongside the future of the practice by exploring other business models and embracing opportunities for innovation?

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we’re excited to introduce Lawrence Fabbroni as our new Chief Innovation Officer at The Practice of Architecture. Larry is an architect with over twenty years of experience and has been involved in many major development projects in the US. Currently, he works as a consultant focusing on strategic pre-development services. Today, Larry talks about his architecture and business career and his plans to enhance innovation within our company.

First, Larry discusses his career background and his role in The AIA Practice Innovation Lab. As an MBA candidate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Larry shares key takeaways he learned that can benefit our approach to innovation in architecture.

Then, we dive into the challenges that firms encounter in managing growth and sustainability alongside the evolution of architecture and AI. Larry highlights what we're currently working on and our goals, how our consulting service differs from others in the AEC space, and the exciting opportunities to merge the expertise of Larry's network with The Practice of Architecture network.

In the world of innovation, we separate what we define as invention and innovation. There's multiple types of innovation that can happen, and the most common is to innovate iteratively on what you already do, right? I think architects are really inclined to want to be really creative and kind of develop something brand new all the time. That's how you cause major disruption, maybe, but that's not the majority of innovation that's happening in this other space. - Larry Fabbroni 

To wrap up the conversation, we explore the importance of mindset shifts for fostering innovation in the industry's future, the role of mid-sized companies, the potential for creativity, and the influence of workplace culture on driving innovation within firms.

Tune in next week for an episode where we continue our "Architecture, and" series with a guest who’s making a significant impact beyond traditional practice—Laura Wake-Ramos. 

Guests:

Lawerence J. Fabbroni, AIA, LEED AP

Larry is an architect with over two decades in practice. He formerly led master planning projects at Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects and Strada Architecture. He has worked on some of the largest development projects in the US, and currently works as an consultant focused on strategic pre-development services. Currently, Larry is an MBA candidate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he focuses on entrepreneurship and strategy.  

Larry has received the AIA Pennsylvania Emerging Professional of the Year award, as well as the AIA’s national Young Architect Award. He is formerly a national president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), a national Chair of the AIA’s Young Architects’ Forum (YAF), and a national board member of the American Insti­tute of Architects (AIA). He has been a leader in many other local and regional organizations. 

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Larry on LinkedIn

📚Continue Learning:

The Practice of Architecture Website

Practice Innovation Lab

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How is Quinn Evans embracing sustainability, historic preservation, and equity in their practice to positively impact the future of architecture, environments, and communities?

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we're joined by the next generation of leaders from Quinn Evans, the 2025 AIA Firm of the Year Winner: Julia Siple, Principal and Director of Sustainability, and Senior Associates Nakita Reed and Charles Sparkman. We discuss Quinn Evans' focus on sustainable architecture, their workplace environment, and how this award will shape the firm's future.

First, our guests share their paths to becoming architects, joining Quinn Evans, and what it means to the firm to win the award. Because the award also involves creating a positive work culture, the panel explains how the firm fosters an enjoyable work environment, embraces diversity, and supports employee development through mentorship and engagement groups.

Then, we discuss the firm’s inspired approach to professional and leadership development. They also reflect on ways they’ve continued to collaborate within the hybrid remote work model.  

As architects, we should be designing things that we want a preservationist to want to preserve in 50 years. As preservationists, we're not just trying to preserve things in amber. It's about how we sensibly manage change and understand how to see things from multiple viewpoints. The sustainability impacts, the cultural impacts, the neighborhood impacts, and all of the ways that existing places really matter are what we strive for and we thrive in at Quinn Evans. Winning the firm of the year...it's great to finally see preservation, adaptive reuse, sustainability, and stewardship shine. - Nakita Reed

To wrap up the conversation, we touch on Quinn Evans' commitment to learning, curiosity, and industry evolution. They express their hopes for the future of the firm with the role of technology and AI in historic preservation. 

Tune in next week for an episode with Practice of Architecture’s New CIO, Larry Fabbroni.

Guests:

Julia Siple, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Principal, Director of Sustainability

Julia is an architect and advocate for design that positively impacts people, ecosystems, and climate. As Quinn Evans’ director of sustainability, she leads efforts to empower teams and projects to achieve sustainable and high-performing outcomes. 

Nakita Reed, AIA, CPHC, LEED AP BD+C, NOMA | Senior Associate

Nakita's career focuses on the intersection of historic preservation, sustainable design, and equity. She is skilled in both restoration and adaptive use of historic buildings and serves on multiple boards, including the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings (ZNCC).

Charles Sparkman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate

Charles's integrated design approach synthesizes art, building science, and research into architecture that is rich in meaning and beautiful in craft. He is adept in complex historic preservation projects and new construction that elevates campuses and communities.

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn

Connect with Nakita on LinkedIn

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn

Connect with Quinn Evans on LinkedIn

Follow Quinn Evans on Facebook

Follow Quinn Evans on Instagram

Julia’s QE Website Profile 

Nakita’s QE Website Profile 

Charles’ QE Website Profile

Tangible Remnants Podcast 

📚Continue Learning:

Quinn Evans Website 

Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program

📚 Past Episodes Referenced:

PD #15: Training the Next Generation of Leaders

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How can architects thrive within the future of architecture by embracing the professional business development aspects of the practice? 

Welcome to Season 9 of Practice Disrupted! In this episode, we are joined by Aya Shlachter, the CEO and owner of MGS Global Group and the host of the "Architect My Business" podcast, where she provides valuable insights for small businesses in the architecture industry. Today, our conversation is focused on various business-related issues within architecture firms and strategies for addressing these effectively so architects can thrive and develop stronger management practices for the future of architecture. 

First, Aya and Evelyn dive into the role of education in the future of architecture and how schools can equip new architects with necessary skills. Evelyn explains why firms should adapt their business models to support the nuanced teachings in schools. We touch on the need for schools to provide more resources to students to support the growing influence of delivering beyond the buildings. 

Then, we discuss integrating freelancers into firms and the recent shift to the gig economy within the workforce, expanding on aspects such as healthcare, freelancers versus fractional employees, and how this trend allows for more flexibility within the industry. Evelyn also shares potential solutions for the lack of professional development in business for architects outside of firms. 

Architects are aware of their weaknesses in business management. Despite this awareness, there's still a gap in addressing issues effectively. So, for architects to thrive, they need to develop stronger business strategies and management practices. I always say architects were taught how to master their craft but not taught how to run or grow a business. - Aya Shlachter 

To wrap up the conversation, Aya and Evelyn address AI's impact on the future of architecture. Evelyn also opens up about her decision to become a full-time business owner and reflects on the growth of the Practice Disrupted community. 

Tune in next week for an episode about the future leaders of AIA’s Firm of the Year Award Winner, Quinn Evans. 

Guest:

Aya Shlachter

Aya is the CEO and owner of MGS Global Group, a female minority-owned business providing full-service architecture support to the AEC industry. She has impressively expanded the company from a solo operation to a thriving firm with 50 plus employees , serving hundreds of clients, including publicly traded and Fortune 500 companies.

📍 Show Links:  

Connect with Aya on Linkedin

Architect My Business Podcast

MGS Global Group

Architect My Business on YouTube 

📚Continue Learning:

Evelyn Lee’s Linkedin

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI)

MAICON Cleveland 2024 Conference in Ohio

Harvard Business Review: Highly Skilled Professionals Want Your Work But Not Your Job

Almost Technical

Practice Community + Lab

The Ultimate Health Insurance Guide for Self-employed Creators

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

How do we expand mental health support to professionals across the industry of architecture?

Peter Exley, FAIA, RIBA, NOMA, a former AIA National President, Gregg A. Garmisa, J.D., Principal and General Counsel at Studio Gang, and Korey D. White, AIA, NCARB, Senior Associate at DLR Group and a member of the AIA Strategic Council join us to address the growing concerns related to the mental health and well-being of individuals working in the profession of architecture. 

“As the industry continues to transform and grapple with inequities, workforce diversity, labor challenges and climate change, among other current issues, we challenge our colleagues to join in a collective and inclusive commitment to expand mental health support throughout our profession.”

– Peter Exley, Gregg Garmisa, and Korey White, “We Need a Safe Place to Address Our Mental Health,” Chicago Architect, Summer 2022. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss the problem we’re facing related to mental health in the profession of architecture and steps we can take to start to address this challenge.

This episode is dedicated to anyone who is currently or has previously struggled with burnout, mental health, addiction, substance abuse, or related mental health challenges. You are not alone. There is a community of allies who seek to destigmatize, raise awareness, build acceptance, and build better overall well-being practices within our profession.

Guests:

Peter Exley’s career is committed to an equitable and inclusive built environment for children, families, and communities.

As co-founder of Architecture Is Fun, he uses the power of design to build places and spaces that reflect the values, ambitions, and purpose of every stakeholder on myriad civic, cultural, private, and not-for-profit agencies.

As a teacher, he is nurturing future architects as the primary and credible resource with the explicit training and qualification to lead the creation of healthy and equitable net-zero place-making.

As the 97th President of the American Institute of Architects, he led AIA’s delegation to COP26 in Glasgow, and advanced the AIA Headquarters renewal project embodying the urgent need for climate action alongside a dramatic transformation for workplace, member, and community experience.

Gregg Garmisa is Principal and General Counsel at Studio Gang, based in the Studio’s Chicago office. Gregg interacts with clients, consultants, and our design teams on all projects to establish and maintain productive and collegial professional relationships.

Immediately prior to joining the Studio, Gregg was Vice President and General Counsel at a national engineering and sustainability consulting firm, where he became one of Studio Gang’s earliest collaborators. Before that, he practiced law and provided public policy guidance to clients in Washington, DC, and Chicago, and served as a legislative advisor to a US senator on Capitol Hill.

Gregg is an invited member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, a former board member of the American Institute of Architects Chicago, and a former trustee of the Chicago Architecture Center. He is an experienced lecturer on current topics at the intersection of the design profession and the law, which he has delivered at undergraduate- and graduate-level architecture programs as well as conferences across the US and abroad.

In 2019, he accepted an academic appointment as a Lecturer in Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Since then, he co-teaches each Fall semester “Foundations of Practice”, a required course for M.Arch I degree candidates that examines models and issues that define the modern architectural profession.

Gregg earned his J.D. from Georgetown University, where he was a law review associate editor and his undergraduate degree from Stanford University.

Korey White is driven by her zest for the built environment, bringing open-mindedness and creativity to her role as an architect and urban planner. She applies her dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban and regional planning to an interdisciplinary approach that creates impactful outcomes for her clients and the community. Korey currently works for DLR Group in the Chicago office, focused primarily on educational facility master planning for K-12 school districts and leading the planning discipline. 

Korey is recognized for her leadership within architecture by her recent election the AIA Board of Directors as an At-Large Director for 2023-2025. She has most recently served as the AIA Strategic Council 2022 Moderator and was awarded the 2018 AIA Young Architects Award, the 2017 BD+C 40 under 40 and the 2016 AIA Colorado Leadership Award. She is currently enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the iMBA program. She is a Forte Fellow and will graduate with her MBA in Fall 2022.

📍 Show Links: 

Peter Exley, Gregg Garmisa, and Korey White, “We Need a Safe Place to Address Our Mental Health,” Chicago Architect, Summer 2022. 

Reposted on LinkedIn

Program Referenced: Lawyers’ Assistance Program

📚 Continue Learning:

Katherine Flynn, “The Burnout Problem in Architecture,” Architect magazine, April 01, 2022.

Sean Joyner, “Debunking Architecture’s Mythological Work Culture,” Archinect, April 04, 2022.

Ian Volner, “Paradigm, Interrupted,” Architect magazine, April 14, 2022.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

What should architects understand about the influence of computational design in practice?

Technology has prompted a massive change in the way we practice architecture. This week we’ve invited Andrew Heumann to the show to help us take a deep dive into the world of computational design and coding. This episode aims to bridge the gap between those new to the niche of computational design and those embedded in the community. Andrew will share his perspective on the evolution of the digital tools that help architects create, the role of coding in architectural design, his work at Hypar, and trends in computational design.

Hypar:

Building technology visionaries have spent 70 years telling us we could generate building designs, but instead, the software industry helped us draw walls. It's time for AEC to do what the software industry has done for 40 years — capture and share its expertise to accelerate the improvement of an entire sector, not just individual projects.

With Hypar, anyone can generate, visualize and analyze buildings to make better decisions faster. You can easily add your own processes and expertise so you don’t start from square one with each new project.

Guest:

Andrew Heumann is a software developer at Hypar, with a passion for building the next generation of software tools for designers. He has previously worked as an automation researcher at WeWork, and before that as an architectural designer at Woods Bagot and NBBJ architects. He has written more than 20 plug-ins for 3D modeling software like Rhino and Revit, including the popular "Human" and "Human UI" plugins for Grasshopper. Outside of his professional work, Andrew is a generative artist, working with data, algorithms, geometry, and machines to create rich visual abstractions that engage and challenge the limits and affordances of digital media. Andrew has studied both architecture and computer science and has lectured and taught seminars at Columbia GSAPP, Yale University, Princeton University, and the California College of the Arts. His work has been published in Wallpaper* magazine, the International Journal of Architectural Computing, CLOG journal, and presented at conferences including ACADIA, SIMAUD, Autodesk University, the Design Modelling Symposium, and the AEC Technology Symposium.

📍 Show Links:

Andrew Heumann

Hypar

Andrew on Twitter @andrewheumann

📚 Continue Learning:

#26 What's All The Hype About Hypar W/ ANDREW HEUMANN

TRXL 014: 'A DEGREE OF NUCLEAR', WITH ANDREW HEUMANN

💻 Learn about our podcast partners:

👉 Monograph is the cloud-based practice operations solution built for architects by architects. It is easy to use, beautifully designed, and helped firms streamline operations by empowering them to see project and firm-wide financial health in a single tool.  Plan your projects with schedules, budgets, roles, and team members. Track a project’s financial health with their unique MoneyGantt which takes timesheet data and makes it simple to see whether you are on track or not.  Use firm-wide revenue forecasts to make strategic decisions. With Monograph, you never have to make a decision in the dark again. 👉 Visit Monograph now.

👉 ArchIT:

Tired of dealing with generic IT providers? ArchIT offers Complete IT Solutions for Architecture, Design, and Engineering firms, including helping architects fight back against ransomware and cybersecurity attacks. Visit http://getarchit.com/pd  to set up your free 15-min Cyber Security Assessment, or custom solutions for your design firm.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

Why is everyone talking about Monograph?

Founded in 2018 by Robert Yuen, Alex Dixon, and Moe Amaya, the initial agency called Dixon & Moe has grown into a 50-person team, now known as Monograph. 

In their search to build tools and websites for startups and architecture firms, they noticed a recurring challenge—architects and project managers kept complaining about their existing and non-existent project management software. Even more prevalent, there was a disconnect between how projects were managed, budgets were forecast, and time was tracked. Often they would hear that existing solutions are “cumbersome” or “tedious”. Why wasn’t there a solution that could help architects manage their firms more effectively, with more transparency?

This week we interview Robert Yuen, the CEO and Co-Founder of Monograph to learn about the company’s growth, pursuit in solving the challenges of the industry, and vision for the future. Let’s just say that their plans are much bigger than project management.

Guest:

Robert Yuen, Assoc. AIA, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Monograph, a software company revolutionizing the future in how architectural projects are managed. Having worked as an architectural designer in his hometown Chicago and ultimately setting his roots down in San Francisco, Yuen discovered his passion for designing software solutions for the AEC industry. A serial entrepreneur, a trained architect, and zealously productive, Robert is an active member and avid public speaker within the architecture, design, and engineering industries.

His experience in working with some of the industry’s most renowned firms and designers, including SOM, Holabird & Root, and BluHomes, led him to discover a void for a simple cloud-based project management application that was tailored to the industry. As such, Yuen co-founded Monograph alongside his co-founders Alex Dixon and Moe Amaya, to help architects and engineers oversee projects in an integrated, user-friendly, and ever-evolving interface. Robert graduated with a Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Science in Digital Technologies from the University of Michigan.

📍 Show Links:

Monograph

👉 Monograph is the cloud-based practice operations solution built for architects by architects. It is easy to use, beautifully designed, and helped firms streamline operations by empowering them to see projects and firm-wide financial health in a single tool.  Plan your projects with schedules, budgets, roles, and team members. Track a project’s financial health with their unique MoneyGantt which takes timesheet data and makes it simple to see whether you are on track or not.  Use firm-wide revenue forecasts to make strategic decisions. With Monograph, you never have to make a decision in the dark again. 👉 Visit Monograph now.

👉 ArchIT:

Tired of dealing with generic IT providers? ArchIT offers Complete IT Solutions for Architecture, Design, and Engineering firms, including helping architects fight back against ransomware and cybersecurity attacks. Visit http://getarchit.com/pd  to set up your free 15-min Cyber Security Assessment, or custom solutions for your design firm.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation

Who is the Architectural Workers United? 

The Architectural Workers United is organizing towards making architecture more equitable, the profession more just, and our built environment more resilient. Join us as we interview Andrew Daley and Jess Myers to learn more about the architectural labor movement, unions, and the history of labor practices in architecture. What are the biggest misconceptions? What is the benefit? What are the most common questions people ask? We’ll discover all of this and more as we discuss why there is a growing group of advocates standing behind AWU.

Guests:

Andrew Daley is an organizer, activist, and licensed architect living and working in Brooklyn. He is currently working with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) on organizing efforts within the architecture industry. He has 12 years of experience working for a number of offices in multiple states, most recently for 7 years at SHoP Architects as a Project Director working on US embassies worldwide.

Jess Myers is an assistant professor in Rhode Island School for Design’s architecture department. Her podcast Here There Be Dragons offers an in-depth look into the intersection of identity politics and security policy in public space through the eyes of New Yorkers, Parisians and Stockholmers. Her work can be found in The Architect’s Newspaper, The Funambulist Magazine, Failed Architecture, Dwell and l’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui. (Read more about Jess on Madame Architect.)

📍 Show Links:  

AWU Website

AWU FAQ Page

AWU How to Unionize

AWU Instagram

AWU Twitter

AWU Contact: [email protected]

📚 Continue Learning:

Labor Resources

DPE Data Sheet

EPI Productivity-Pay Gap

EPI Union Density-Top 10% Income

DOL Employee Rights

NLRB Website

National Labor Relations Act

NYC Central Labor Council

Architecture Labor Resources

The Architecture Lobby Union Pamphlet (downloadable pamphlet)

Architecture and Anti-Trust Article

Why Don’t Architects Have Unions? (by Jess Myers)

Architecture and Labor (review of book by Peggy Deamer)

NCARB Demographics

AIA Bias Report

FAECT Article (by Mardges Bacon)

Press about AWU (selected)

New York Times Article

Curbed Article

New York Review of Architecture Article

Architectural Record Article

Architect’s Newspaper Article

Press about Overwork/Burnout/Stress

Harvard Business Review Article (about long hours)

Salon Article (about 40 hour work week)

Gallup Union Support Poll

CNBC Article (about long hours)

Wall Street Journal Article (about overtime)

World Economic Forum (about employees leaving)

National Bureau of Economic Research (union job satisfaction study)

Recent Professional Unions (Non-Exhaustive, there are 6,000,000 professional union members)

VICE Media Union (est. 2017) - WGA East

VOX Media Union (est. 2018) - WGA East

The New Yorker Union (est. 2018) - News Guild

New York Magazine Union (est. 2018) - News Guild

Wirecutter Union - (est. 2019) - News Guild

New Museum Union - (est. 2019) - UAW

Whitney Museum Union - (est. 2020) - UAW

Guggenheim Union - (est. 2021) - UAW

ACLU Lawyers - (est. 2021) - IFTPE

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Check out our past episodes 

Be a part of our community — join the conversation