Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

How are individuals using their training in architecture to explore diverse career paths?

This week, we revisit the world of social impact design and the work of a rising, mission-driven entrepreneur. Maya Bird-Murphy joins us to share her story of designing and growing her nonprofit, Chicago Mobile Makers. The organization is on a mission to make design education accessible to everybody through youth design-thinking and problem-solving workshops across the greater Chicago community.

According to the 2020 NCARB by the Numbers report, 83% of newly licensed architects were white, and 65% were male. Those who are currently not represented need support and guidance for a clearer path to careers in design. Chicago Mobile Makers seek to expand the variety of people entering the field of architecture to create more diverse workplaces, leading to more equitable decision-making and design.

After converting a former USPS van into a mobile classroom, the Mobile Makerspace allows Maya’s team to bring the design studio directly into diverse communities, inspiring and lifting the next generation of design talent.

Guest:

Maya Bird-Murphy is an architectural designer, educator, and maker from Oak Park, Illinois. She is also the founder and Executive Director of Chicago Mobile Makers, an award-winning nonprofit organization bringing design-focused skill-building workshops to underrepresented communities. Maya believes that architecture should not be a privilege and must expand to accommodate more people through teaching and community engagement. She loves Chicago and hopes to make her mark by making it a more equitable place to live. In her free time, she can be found outside in nature with her two dogs.

Show Links:

Check out Chicago Mobile Makers

Support their work!

Featured on Dwell ‘A Delivery Van-Turned-Mobile Classroom for Kids Hits the Streets of Chicago’ by Duncan Nielsen / Photos by Tom Harris

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

Section Cut by Monograph

On August 12, Monograph is hosting Section Cut, a virtual conference dedicated to firm owners and operation leaders. Hear from leaders at Lake|Flato, SOM, Workshop/APD, Colloqate, and more! Reserve a seat today by visiting sectioncut.com.

💻 Learn about our podcast partner Twinmotion:

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. 👉 Visit twinmotion.link/disrupted and try Twinmotion for free. 

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

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Can you measure workplace culture? And if so, how?

Great Place to Work® is on a mission to build a better world by helping organizations become a great place to work FOR ALL by 2030. Backed by 30 years of research, Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture.

Great Place to Work® makes it easy for companies to survey employees, uncover actionable insights and get recognized for great company culture. They offer the world’s best employee experience platform, proven to help companies quantify culture, increase employee engagement and do the right thing for their business and their people. Their research shows what it takes to build an outstanding culture for everyone, no matter who they are or what they do for the organization.

In this interview we’ll speak with CEO Michael C. Bush to learn how Great Place to Work® quantifies the employee experience. We’ll also discuss lessons from the research that architects can apply to their small businesses.

Guest:

Michael C. Bush is a global chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading small and mid-sized organizations through transformational growth. Driven by a love of business and an unwavering commitment to fair and equitable treatment, in 2015 Michael acquired ownership and currently serves as global CEO of Great Place to Work® headquartered in Oakland, California with operations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Great Place to Work® is a global people analytics and consulting firm that helps companies of all sizes produce better business results by focusing on the work experience for every employee. Through certification programs, Great Place to Work® recognizes outstanding workplaces and produces Fortune’s annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, the World’s Best Workplaces™ list, the 100 Best Workplaces for Women™ list, the Best Workplaces for Diversity™ list and dozens of other distinguished workplace rankings around the world.

Show Links:

Check out Great Place to Work®

📖Get the book A Great Place to Work For All

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

💻 Learn about our podcast partner Twinmotion:

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. 👉 Visit twinmotion.link/disrupted and try Twinmotion for free. 

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

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Welcome back to Practice Disrupted! 

To celebrate the launch of season 3 we’ve organized a special crossover episode between the Design Voice Podcast and Practice Disrupted. Guest moderator Catherine Meng will interview Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain to discuss podcasting, the practice of architecture, and more.

The Design Voice Podcast seeks to elevate and amplify the voices of women in the architecture, engineering, and construction professions. Each episode features honest conversations with those who shape the built environment. By telling their stories, this podcast hopes to serve as a source of education, inspiration and empowerment. 

The evolution of architectural practice has been relatively slow towards change, yet modern shifts in business and design management have prompted today’s leading architects to rethink how they work. Practice Disrupted addresses how technology, cultural shifts, and emerging best practices in business are prompting industry disruption and transformation. The series features thought leaders on business, innovation, entrepreneurship, and/or architecture. 

Hosts:

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, the first-ever Senior Experience Designer at Slack Technologies, and the first female Treasurer to AIA National‘s Board of Directors.

Je’Nen M. Chastain, MBA, Assoc. AIA is trained in architecture and business management with a decade of experience working with award-winning architects. She founded Apostrophe Consulting to help architects improve firm culture, and strengthen their teams and businesses. She specializes in talent development, change management, and business strategy, including marketing and communication.

Moderator:

Catherine Meng is an architect at DLR Group in San Francisco. Her broad design experience includes projects in the multi-family housing, higher-education, workplace, and commercial sectors. Before moving to San Francisco, Catherine practiced in Shanghai, and New York City. Catherine is also the creator and host of the Design Voice Podcast, which seeks to elevate and amplify the voices of women in architecture, engineering, and construction. 

Show Links:  

Check out Design Voice Podcast

To join the PoA Lab, visit practiceofarchitecture.com/lab

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

💻 Learn about our podcast partner Twinmotion:

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. 👉 Visit twinmotion.link/disrupted and try Twinmotion for free. 

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

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What do the disruptors have to say about it?

This week co-hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain sit down with the Chief Creative Officer at Gābl Media, Dimitrius Lynch, to reflect on the creation of 40 episodes. They’ll share comments and questions from Practice Disrupted listeners, and discuss highlights from past conversations with over 50 guests. Against the backdrop of a daunting 12 months, that included the pandemic, major workplace disruptions, a heated election, and growing calls for action on diversity and justice, the team will share their behind the scenes experiences working on the podcast.

If you’ve been following the growth of the show -- thank you for your ongoing support! The team is currently developing a robust season 3, which will launch in early July 2021.

Co-Hosts:

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, the first-ever Senior Experience Designer at Slack Technologies, and the first female Treasurer to AIA National‘s Board of Directors.

Je’Nen M. Chastain, MBA, Assoc. AIA is the founder of Apostrophe Consulting, 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.

Moderator:

Dimitrius Lynch, NCARB, LEED BD+C, Well AP is the founder and principal architect of LYNES, and a licensed architect in the state of California. He has practiced both domestically and internationally in various building types with a focus in residential and specialty retail. Dimitrius also created and hosts SPACES Podcast, a show dedicated to detailing the spaces that we occupy everyday. To expand on this endeavor, he co-founded and is the Chief Creative Officer of Gābl Media, a multimedia network that empowers global thought leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries to entertain, inspire and share their knowledge with an audience dedicated to building a better world.

Show Links:

Check out SPACES Podcast

To join the PoA Lab, visit practiceofarchitecture.com/lab

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

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What do mid-career transitions look like, and how can individuals prepare to make the jump?

Continuing our series “Architecture, And”, we interview Agnessa Todorova about her mid-career transition from architecture into technology. Agnessa will share her career pivot from working in an architecture studio to working for a technology company. She’ll explain what skills from her training in architecture are most transferable to the work she’s doing now, and what opportunities she sees for other designers considering similar career pivots. Learn why she still sees herself as an architect, and how she’s thinking about customer success in her role at Outer Labs.

Outer Labs is a dynamic company that is passionate about developing technology related to the built environment.  Their work is a mixture of custom software development for forward-thinking technology companies that want to radically change the process of how buildings are created, and software development for their own product that empowers people to better engage with their physical space.  They are a 100% distributed company with people in such varied places as San Francisco, St. George, Irvine, Seattle, London and Lake Tahoe. Outer Labs believe people should lead balanced lives, and live/work from a place that brings them joy.  

Guest:

Agnessa Todorova, AIA, NCARB is a licensed architect working as the Director of Customer Success at Outer Labs. Since transitioning to a career in technology she has focused on using her background in architecture to help software developers and user experience designers tackle common problems faced by AEC professionals. At Outer Labs she works shoulder-to-shoulder with ambitious organizations that need their own technology to design, build, and operate real estate at scale. Prior to joining Outer Labs she worked as a Senior Director of Product Management in the Bay Area where she led the development of AEC tools aimed at digitizing transitional workflows. She earned her Master in Architecture from California College of the Arts, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture from the University of Memphis.

Show Links:

Outer Labs

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

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What are lessons learned from building a successful building information and technology consultancy for the AEC industry?

David Fano joins us to share the story of the creation of CASE, Inc., the building information consultancy later acquired by WeWork. CASE found it’s momentum by identifying a need in the industry. They became known for their ability to bridge architecture and technology, and worked with design firms to identify, implement and manage the technologies and business practices that enabled more effective coordination, communication and collaboration on projects.

The founders of CASE, Inc. combined their experiences as architects, engineers, project managers, software developers and educators with their passion for technology to improve the way buildings were designed, built and operated. Case provided strategic advising to building design professionals, contractors and owners seeking to supplant traditional project delivery methods through technology driven process innovation. 

We’ll discuss the early days of CASE, Inc. leading up to the point it was acquired. What key lessons did Dave learn from designing this service-based practice? What key lessons can architects adapt into their own service-based businesses?

Guest:

A serial entrepreneur and architect by training, David Fano has built his career by creating high-growth teams. He founded the successful building information and technology consultancy CASE and ultimately sold it to WeWork, where he served as Chief Growth Officer and increased the unicorn startup’s revenue 100% Year over Year for four years and grew the team by 2,000%. In 2020, Dave launched his latest passion, Teal, which offers a collective of resources that puts career development back in the hands of the individual so they can pursue a fulfilling career. 

Show Links:

Teal

‘WeWork Acquires Case Inc.’ by Wanda Lau

‘The Former Founders of Case Discuss WeWork’s Lasting Impact on Architecture’ by Wanda Lau

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

What can we learn about navigating uncertainty from graduates of the class of 2020?

2020 was unlike any year. This week we sit down with three talented, emerging leaders from the class of 2020 to hear their journey. We’ll revisit their last semester in the studio, discuss Zoom graduations, and the exhausting process that led them to landing jobs. 

We hope that their lessons learned will inspire others. We also hope that firm leaders will listen to these stories and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges our newest graduates entering the profession have been facing.

Guests:

Alison Katz received a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University in May of 2020 with a minor in Social and Political History. She is currently working as a Design Associate for buildingcommunityWORKSHOP (a Texas based nonprofit community design center) in Houston. She is interested in the intersection of community based design, sustainability, and politics, and is dedicated to exploring ways to use design tools within the built environment to create a more equitable society for marginalized and historically disenfranchised people.

Haley Evans graduated with a Masters in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2020. In 2018 she received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Bowling Green State University. She is currently working as an Urban Designer at H3 Studio, a design, research, and planning firm. She has always steered her practice and studies in a way that integrates architecture, graphic design, and urban design. She is passionate about sustainability and advocates that untraditional design approaches are necessary to create a better and more just future of the build environment.   

Kyra Stark received her Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University in May of 2020. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington and works at third place design co-operative. Kyra became interested in community-engaged design and affordable housing during her thesis year at Auburn University's design-build program, Rural Studio. Kyra is also passionate about education and leadership, which stems from her time as Treasurer and President of Auburn University’s American Institute of Architecture Students (“AIAS") Chapter, as well as serving on the AIAS National Board of Directors as the South Quad Director. Kyra believes that we all have a role to play in creating a more healthy, sustainable, and equitable future.

Show Links:

buildingcommunityWORKSHOP

H3 Studio

third place design co-operative

AIAS

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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

How are individuals using their training in architecture to explore diverse career paths?

Continuing our on-going series “Architecture, And”, we invite Brian Ringley onto the show to discuss his role as a construction technologist at Boston Dynamics. Brian is part of the team developing Spot, an agile mobile robot that navigates terrain with unprecedented mobility. In this episode we’ll learn more about Spot, Boston Dynamics, and how Brian’s passion for technology and architecture led him to this innovative company.

Guest:

Brian Ringley is a construction technologist at Boston Dynamics where he promotes new value-add autonomous capabilities for construction project delivery and works to expand the construction application ecosystem with the Spot SDK. Prior to Boston Dynamics, he was a Senior Construction Automation Researcher at WeWork where he managed the construction robotics research program and contributed to initiatives in design automation, unitized prefabrication, and construction site progress monitoring. He has also taught architecture courses for many years, most recently at Pratt GAUD where he led seminars in computational fabrication and industrial robotic automation for industrialized construction.

Show Links:

Boston Dynamics 

Boston Dynamics, 'Do You Love Me?'

Meet Spot

‘Beyond the Master Builder: How Robots Can Really Transform the Role of the Architect’ by Brian Ringley, published in Architect

‘Boston Dynamics: Inside the workshop where robots of the future are being built’, 60 Minutes

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Leaders 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. 

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 | Twitter

Susan 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. 

📍Follow Susan: LinkedIn

Annie 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 | Twitter

Ming 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. 

📍Follow Ming: Instagram | LinkedIn

Alvin Huang, AIA, NOMA is an award-winning architect, designer, and educator who explores the intersections between technology and culture to produce innovative design work that challenges convention and expresses universal values. He is the founder and principal of Synthesis Design + Architecture and an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, where he is also the Director of Graduate and Post-professional Architecture.

📍Follow Alvin: Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

Show Links:

Anti-Asian Violence Resources

Asian American Artists, Now Activists, Push Back Against Hate

💻 Learn about our podcast partner 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 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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter

Is angel investing and venture capital finding its way into AEC?

The Spatial Syndicate is a growing and engaged community of architects, engineers, founders, and builders. They believe the future of technology is spatial and see an opportunity in investing in great teams that are flattening inefficiencies, building new infrastructures, or creating new tools. Their unique background unlocks expertise in sectors such as AEC, manufacturing, film and beyond. Their network falls both within and beyond Silicon Valley; resulting in new, undiscovered and unique investment opportunities.

In this episode we’ll interview George Valdes, one of the partners of the Spatial Syndicate. He’ll explain what a Syndicate is, what types of creative teams they’re looking to invest in, and how they hope to transform the practice of architecture. We’ll also learn about George’s career path beyond traditional practice.

Guest:

George Valdes leads the marketing team at Monograph and co-leads the Spatial Syndicate along with Kat Dov, Leona Hudelson, and Federico Negro. Before joining Monograph, George was part of the Global Growth Strategy team at WeWork. He holds an M.Arch from Columbia University - Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and a B.LArch from Florida International University.

Invest with Spatial Syndicate

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.

📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter