Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

Episode 055: Architecture, And: MBA What is the value of an MBA paired with an education in architecture? This week’s episode is a group discussion between our co-hosts and two fellow MBAs in the profession. Each participant has a foundation in architecture education and training, and is at a different stage in the process of pursuing an MBA. Three of our guests are licensed architects, with the l...

Episode 054: Architecture, And: EDI+J What is the role of a firm leader focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice? As we continue to expand our exploration of diversity in practice, we’ve invited Yiselle Santos Rivera back to the podcast so she can share what she’s learned after two years of serving HKS as their Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Justice. What does it mean...

Episode 053: Immigrant Architects Leaders of the profession share diverse perspectives on equity and architecture. Expanding our diversity series, this week we learn about the lived experiences of individuals who immigrated to the United States. Guests: Originally from Colombia, Graciela Carrillo, AIA, LEED AP , immigrated to the United States in 2003. She recently joined Nassau BOCES Facilities S...

Episode 052: Managing a Virtual Practice What does it take to manage an architecture studio virtually? The pandemic has revealed three options for managing an architecture studio:  1. an entirely in-person operation;  2. the new and improved hybrid practice; 3. the entirely virtual operation We speak with two firm owners who have been managing their design studios in a 100% virtual capac...

Episode 051: Designing a Culture of Mentorship How can architects rethink studio culture through conversations on mentorship? In this week’s episode Evelyn Lee interviews Practice Disrupted co-host Je’Nen Chastain to learn more about her work on mentorship and leadership development at Apostrophe Consulting . Je’Nen shares her vision for helping her clients assess and redesign their talent develop...

Episode 050: TRXL Crossover: Calling on Architects to Embrace Change Why is change necessary in the practice of architecture? To celebrate our 50th episode of Practice Disrupted we’ve teamed up with fellow podcaster and Gābl Media content creator Evan Troxel to bring you a special crossover episode. Evan is an industry-leading design and technology expert and licensed architect in California. Sinc...

Episode 049: The Ultimate Building Configurator How are architects leveraging new technology to expedite the design process? This week we interview Clifton Harness, a former University of Texas at Austin architecture student turned CEO. Together with his college roommate, Clifton Harness and Ryan Griege co-founded TestFit in 2017. The team has been on a trajectory of growth ever since. TestFit’s p...

Episode 048: Architecture, Identity, & Culture How are architects exploring identity and culture through practice? An architect at Vines Architecture , Vershaé has dedicated her career to the exploration of culture in the built environment. A rising design leader in the southeast, Vershaé has contributed to major cultural projects including the National Museum of African American History and C...

Episode 047: Talent Development in Practice How are architects successfully bringing talent development into practice? Guest: Amy Perenchio, AIA, NCARB is a Principal at ZGF Architects and licensed architect in Portland, Oregon.  Dedicated to the professional growth and development of the design staff at ZGF, Amy oversees the staffing and recruiting efforts for a group of 130+ designers and a...

Episode 046: Building a Social Audience How do you create a community using social media? This week content creator Sana Tabassum joins us to discuss her growing social community for architecture students and emerging professionals :scale (to-scale) . Behind :scale is a growing group of creators that are all about sharing resources, ideas and techniques with the archi-community. The group has prod...

Episode 045: Architecture, And: Publishing How are individuals using their training in architecture to explore diverse career paths? This week we speak with Architect Lora Teagarden, the author of #AREsketches and The Little Architect’s Alphabet. Lora shares her story on what inspired her to create these educational books, as well as tips she’s learned from self publishing. Learn more about her pr...

Episode 044: Leveraging Tech to Solve Challenges in AEC How do technologists view the opportunities to disrupt the AEC industry? Last season we met with architects and designers who stepped into the world of tech to find solutions for the architecture industry. In today's episode, we flip the script and ask a technologist how they view these same opportunities. Jen Carlile, co-founder and CTO at O...

Episode 043: Architecture, And: Nonprofit Design Education 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 missio...

Episode 042: Building a Great Place to Work 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, unco...

Episode 041: Season 3 Launch 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 ampli...

Episode 040: Disruption and the Season 2 Finale 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....

Episode 039: Architecture, And: Customer Success 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...

Episode 038: Designing a Service-Based Practice 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 abili...

Episode 037: Lessons from the Class of 2020 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.  W...

Episode 036: Architecture, And: Robotics 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...

Episode 035: Asian American Architects 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 conversa...

Episode 034: Investing in What’s Next, the Spatial Syndicate 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, o...

Episode 033: Building & Running a Successful Hybrid Practice How can architects adapt their studios into a hybrid practice model? In the blink of an eye, the way firms worked changed overnight. Now there’s no snapping back, and people’s expectations around how and where they work have changed. Many firms are just beginning to navigate and understand what they need to create a successful practi...

Episode 032: Designing a Technology-First Architecture Practice How are architects redesigning practice to put technology at the forefront of their work? This week we look at New York City based Mancini Duffy as a case study for implementing change over the traditional architecture studio business model. From people, to process, and even technology, this 100 year old architecture practice is being...

Episode 031: Balancing Operations Management & Firm Culture What is operations management in a studio environment, and how does firm culture relate? We interview Michael Bernard, an architect, and management consultant who works with design-first architecture firms in the Bay Area. Michael shares his perspective on operations management and the evolving business model of architecture. Through...