Jon welcomes internationally renowned architect Kevin Kennon, the founder and CEO of Beyond Zero DDC, to discuss his journey and innovative approach to sustainable design. Kevin shares his experiences, including his involvement in the World Trade Center design competition, and the concept of distributed practice. He explains how this model can help studios access the best talent while remaining competitive and nimble. Kevin also touches on the advantages of working with remote teams, the importance of harnessing new technologies like AI, and the future direction of the architecture profession. The episode provides valuable insights for architects on balancing tradition with innovation in the architecture industry.

Today’s Guest

Kevin Kennon is an internationally renowned architect with over 40 years’ experience in sustainable and innovative design. He’s the founder and CEO of Beyond Zero DDC, leading the creation of zero-carbon luxury eco-resorts around the world. His portfolio includes major projects such as the Barclays North American Headquarters, the Rodin Museum in Seoul, and award-winning Bloomingdale’s stores. A finalist in the World Trade Center design competition, Kevin has received over 40 international design awards and has work in MoMA’s permanent collection. He also lectures at top universities and contributes widely to discussions on urban development and climate change.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction

00:45 Meet Kevin Kennon

04:10 Understanding Distributed Practice

10:19 Challenges and Misconceptions of Remote Teams

16:49 Success Stories of Distributed Practice

22:24 Kevin's Career Journey

25:20 9/11, Ground Zero, and the World Trade Centre Design Competition

27:56 Advantages of Running Your Own Practice

30:46 The Future of Architecture and AI

39:08 Advice for Younger Practices

43:55 Main Takeaways

45:32 Favourite Travel Destination

46:42 Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

You can achieve more by building teams for each project and working with people from different places. This helps you find the right skills and makes your work stronger.

You should be open to new ideas and ways of working. Using technology and working with others online can help you keep up with changes in your field.

You will grow if you keep learning and share your knowledge with others. Every project is a chance to learn something new, and working together makes your work better.

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Next Episode

Next time, Jon chats with David Drazil to explore whether design professionals still need sketching skills.