Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

How can architecture firms unlock decades of buried institutional knowledge, and what happens to the apprenticeship model when every detail the firm has ever drawn is just a single query away? In this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee dives into a conversation created with Pirros, exploring how technology bridges the gap between historic firm data and daily production workflows....

How can early-stage startups drive true transformation in the AECO space, and what happens when AI-native tools are designed to amplify human intent rather than replace the architect? In this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee explores the intersection of corporate acceleration and cutting-edge startup innovation. The conversation brings together German Aparicio from Trimble Vent...

How can architects protect and monetize their creative work with the help of intellectual property (IP) laws? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we’re joined by Ana Juneja, an award-winning intellectual property (IP) attorney and founder of Ana Law® – the first law firm offering flat-fee, 100% guaranteed services for patents, trademarks, and copyrights. In our conversation, Ana explores the es...

How can architects transition from marginal innovation to true business transformation, and what does it look like to run a diversified, AI-native practice that prioritizes attention over productivity? In this Season 12 Finale of Practice Disrupted, the tables are turned as host Evelyn Lee steps into the hot seat. Instead of interviewing an industry guest, Evelyn is interviewed by Sage, her own AI...

How can a 60-year-old architecture firm maintain an 80% energy reduction across its portfolio while fostering an integrated "no excuses" culture that empowers its future leaders? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with three future leaders from LPA Design Studios, the winner of the 2025 AIA Architecture Firm Award. Federico Cavasos, Jake Junge, and Rachel Nasland join...

What happens when intersectional storytellers from different generations sit in a room together to connect their personal narratives and design a more inclusive future for architecture? In this special episode of Practice Disrupted, the format shifts as host Evelyn Lee steps back to listen, handing the moderation over to Sarah Woynicz. This conversation marks the second of two episodes celebrating...

How can sharing personal narratives empower the LGBTQIA+ community to hold the line and design a more equitable future for architecture? In this special episode of Practice Disrupted, the format shifts as host Evelyn Lee steps back to listen, handing the moderation over to Sarah Woynicz. This conversation marks the first of two episodes celebrating the upcoming June 1st release of Out in Architect...

Can the rigorous, systematic process of architectural design be the secret ingredient to disrupting the fashion industry? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with Aidan Turner , the founder of The Garment Architect . Aidan, who graduated from the Syracuse School of Architecture just one year ago, is challenging the standard "fast fashion" model by treating apparel design wi...

How can the AEC industry turn 41 million tons of annual wood waste into a circular economy powerhouse? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee ventures into the construction and manufacturing side of the built environment to speak with Todd Thomas , founder and CEO of Woodchuck . While the podcast typically focuses on architectural practice, Todd’s work at the intersection of AI and sust...

How can architects transition from being passive users of technology to the master builders leading the next wave of industry innovation? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with German Aparicio , a licensed architect who operates at the intersection of architecture, software development, and venture capital. As the lead for early innovation and partner development at Trimb...

How do we manage the rapid transformation of the AECO industry without losing the human systems that make the work possible? In this first-ever live recording of Practice Disrupted, captured at the NASCC Steel Conference in Atlanta, Evelyn Lee is joined by Shelby Morris and Emily Schickner to discuss the "methods and mindsets" required to lead through industry-wide change. From the dramatic shift...

Why does the architecture profession’s investment in human capital development still lag so far behind its investment in technology and tools? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by Laura Weiss , an architect who stepped away from traditional practice thirty years ago to focus on the human systems that make design possible. With a decade-long tenure at IDEO as a practi...

If workplace culture is failing, are we brave enough to use Gen Z as the prototype for what comes next? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Amanda Schneider , the founder and president of ThinkLab, joins host Evelyn Lee to discuss her transition from a "designer by degree" to a leading researcher in the built environment. As the author of the upcoming book Work for What’s Next , Amanda explores...

How much of what architects claim they value actually shows up in how they practice, especially when it comes to community engagement? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by the leadership team from Architects Fora: Leah Alissa Bayer (President), Kate Conley and Sarah Vaccaro (Principals), and Nicole Little (Community Engagement Lead). Together, they pull back the curt...

What happens when an architect’s greatest professional success is making themselves completely irrelevant to their own firm? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by William H Dodge , founder and design principal at p-u-b-l-i-k, whose career trajectory defies every standard industry norm. From moving to the island nation of Malta at 19 to escape the perceived threat of Y...

Are architects going to figure out startups first, or will startups figure out architecture first? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by Bryan Boyer, founding director of the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology at the University of Michigan's Taubman College and Faculty Director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, and Larry Fabbroni, ar...

Why does the architecture profession have a technology adoption problem that has almost nothing to do with technology? This week on Practice Disrupted, Evelyn sits down with Melvin Williams III , a Digital Practice Leader at HKS, to explore the underlying machinery of firm transformation. Melvin shares his unconventional path from being a trainee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, w...

How can architects move beyond the traditional service model and embrace a future where they build products instead of just selling hours? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Larry Sass , a Professor of Architecture at MIT and lead of the Design Fabrication Group. Larry reflects on a 30-year journey that began with a desire to remain in traditional practice but shifted w...

What does it look like when a firm stops just talking about diversity and starts building a tangible pathway for the next generation of architects? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Leah Alissa Bayer , founding principal of Architects Fora, and Gabriella Vaz de Freitas , the firm’s Technology Lead and a former recipient of the "FORAship." Leah shares how her fully remo...

How can better business systems protect your firm's profitability, and your sanity? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee is joined by Darguin Fortuna , founding principal of Flow Design Architects and chair of the AIA Small Firm Exchange. Darguin shares his incredible journey from moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2010, learning English while working night sh...

Can You Be an Architect, a Tech Marketer, and a Business Owner All at Once? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Joann Lui , an architect-turned-entrepreneur who is redefining what a career in architecture can look like. Joann shares her journey from traditional practice at Gensler to content marketing for tech startups like Monograph and Testfit, and reveals her lates...

Can a 60-Second video change who enters the architecture profession? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Gabriella Bermea , a Senior Associate at Perkins Eastman and the voice behind the growing social media platform "Architect Big Sis." Together, they explore the power of storytelling outside traditional portfolios, discussing how short-form video and personal narrat...

How Can Architects Ditch the 'Starving Artist' Mentality and Design a More Profitable Future? To kick off Season 12 of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee returns from her term as AIA President with a special episode, turning the tables to be interviewed by Tyler Suomala , founder of Growthitect. In this candid conversation, they reflect on Evelyn's year of travel and leadership, discussing the often...

How can technology, innovation, and sustainable practices transform the architecture, engineering, and construction industry? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, I chat with Dave Lemont, the past CEO of Revit and the Executive Chairman of Acelab with over 30 years of experience in high-tech startup companies. In our conversation, Dave shares his invaluable insights on scaling software companies...

Episode 117: Towards an Equitable and Inclusive Future: LGBTQIA+ Architects What would an equitable future for LGBTQIA+ people look like? What’s the role of architecture in designing an equitable future? Expanding our equity, diversity, and inclusion series, episode 117 explores the perspectives of LGBTQIA+ architects and designers working to create a more equitable future for all. One of the earl...