Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

Episode 078: Leading on Climate Action for a Positive Future How can architects address the challenge of global warming? Planetary warming is one of the biggest disruptions of our time. In this special crossover episode focused on climate action, our friends from Design the Future podcast will join us to discuss the evolution of the sustainable design movement and where it is heading. What can arc...

Episode 113: 2023 AIA Gold Medal Award Winner Carol Ross Barney What can we learn from 2023 AIA Gold Medal Award Winner Carol Ross Barney? Join us this week as we speak with Carol Ross Barney, the 2023 AIA Gold Medal winner. Ryan Gann, a former employee of Carol's and one of her students, will be our facilitator. Get ready to be inspired by a unique conversation that only happens between two indiv...

Episode 068: 2022 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Winners: RIDING THE VORTEX What lessons on architecture, practice, and change can we learn from AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Recipients Kathryn Prigmore, Kathy Dixon, Katherine Williams, and Melissa Daniel? Named for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., the AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award distinguishes an architect or archite...

How can the next generation of architects lead us toward a more human profession? In a special episode marking the end of her term as AIA President, Evelyn Lee hosts a candid conversation about the future of architectural leadership with two emerging voices: Gilberto Lozada Baez, the 69th president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and Jordan Luther, the immediate past pre...

What does it mean to design for the greater good? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee steps back to listen as two remarkable architects have a thoughtful, candid, and deeply human conversation. You will hear from Deborah Berke, FAIA , architect, educator, founder of TenBerke, Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, and the 2025 recipient of the AIA Gold Medal. You will also hear fro...

How can artificial intelligence reduce administrative burden, simplify compliance, and help architects reclaim time for the design work they love?  This week, we are joined by Brandon Levey, the founder and CEO of Ichi, a promising young company building AI tools for the built environment. Brandon brings a unique blend of two decades in technology leadership and a lifelong connection to const...

How can designers build intentional businesses while embracing an AI-powered practice? This week, we're joined by Jessica Nelson and Stephanie Lindsay, the co-founders of Etch Design Group and the new venture AI for Interiors. They share their 10-year journey of building Etch into a celebrated Austin-based studio, driven by a "yin and yang" partnership and a desire to create a firm culture centere...

How do you build a tech company that champions, rather than replaces, the analog craft of drawing?  This week, we explore the intersection of design and digital innovation with Mark Collins, architect, educator, and co-founder of Morfolio. Mark's journey has taken him from the early days of paperless studios at Columbia's Cloud Lab to co-founding a bootstrapped company that now serves over a...

What does it really mean for an architecture firm to be transparent?  This week, we dive into the operations of Work Program Architects (WPA), an award-winning practice known for its community-driven design and radically open culture, with Associate Principal Erin Agdinaoay. Erin shares her journey to WPA, drawn initially by their community-focused work and then captivated by their commitment...

What does a career path look like when it’s guided by necessity, unconventional experiences, and a deep respect for place?  This week, we're joined by David Sellers, founder of Hawaii Off-Grid Architecture and Engineering and Surf Block, whose journey embodies designing within limits to create smarter, self-sustaining systems. David shares his non-traditional path, from working as a mechanic...

What happens when a tech leader with a background in democratizing design at companies like Figma turns their attention to architecture?  This week, we're joined by Radhika Parashar Narain, Head of Marketing at Arcol, a software company reimagining how architects design and collaborate. Coming from the world of Software as a Service (SaaS), Radhika offers a fresh and insightful perspective on...

What does it take to build and fund the companies that are truly transforming the built environment?  This week, we are joined by Jesse Devitte, co-founder and General Partner of Building Ventures and a pioneer who has spent over three decades at the intersection of architecture, construction, and technology. Jesse shares his remarkable journey, from co-founding SoftDesk, the company that lai...

How do you build a career with intention, navigate unsupportive environments, and find the mentors who will champion your growth?  This week, we are joined by Leslie Sydnor, an architect and design manager whose journey offers a masterclass in resilience, self-advocacy, and the power of networks. Leslie shares her story, from being inspired by New York City construction sites as a child to fi...

How can architects remain relevant in a world where cities are as digital as they are physical? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Bryan Boyer, Co-Founder of Dash Marshall and Faculty Director of the Urban Technology Program at the University of Michigan. Bryan’s career bridges technology, design, and urbanism - and through his leadership, he is training the next gen...

What happens when a public servant becomes a tech founder to solve the problems they face every day?  This week, we're joined by Nichole Sterling, the Mayor Pro Tem of Nederland, Colorado, and the founder of MyTownAI. Her journey offers a unique perspective on how technology can reshape civic decision-making from the inside out. Nichole shares the origin story of MyTownAI, a venture born from...

How can a career in architecture be more than a single path, but a foundation for a multifaceted professional life?  This week, we welcome back Mikael Avery, a designer, educator, and healthcare professional, for a deep dive into his own remarkable journey. Mikael’s story is one of continuous exploration, starting with a degree in landscape architecture before moving through urban design, a t...

What happens when an architect’s skillset is applied not just to buildings, but to the complex systems that shape our cities, policies, and climate?  This week, Evelyn is joined by co-host Larry Fabbroni and his longtime friend and Carnegie Mellon classmate, Mark Chambers, an environmental policy leader and architect who has taken his training from design studios to city halls and the White H...

What happens when you reach the pinnacle of a successful architecture career and realize you’re no longer working toward the next thing?  This week, we are joined by Laura Sachtleben, a leader who spent two decades in practice, rising to Vice President and Global Sector Leader at Stantec, before making the courageous decision to step away and redefine her path. Laura shares her journey from k...

What happens when a software startup becomes a full-service, AI-powered architecture firm? This week on Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee is joined by Patrick Chopson, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cove Architecture (formerly Cove Tool). What began as a mission to provide architects with performance analysis tools has evolved into Cove Architecture, the first AI-driven practice reimagining...

What happens when innovation isn’t just a lofty ideal, but an everyday discipline accessible to everyone in an organization? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee is joined by Dr. Simone Ahuja, keynote speaker, innovation strategist, bestselling author, and founder of Blood Orange. Simone’s path from dentistry to advising Fortune 500 companies on frugal innovation is anything but ordi...

How can architecture firms move beyond the traditional consultant model to foster truly deep, interdisciplinary collaboration?  This week, we welcome Ximena Valle, founder of the Philadelphia-based architecture firm FIFTEEN, and one of her longtime collaborators, Mikael Avery. Ximena founded FIFTEEN to address the gaps she observed in the profession, from talent leaving the industry to a disc...

What does it look like when advocacy is embedded into the DNA of how one practices? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Pascale Sablan, architect, activist, and the 2023-2024 President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). As the founder and Executive Director of Beyond the Built Environment, Pascale has spent her career not only designing spaces, b...

What does it mean to be an architect today, and is the traditional path still the most valuable one? To kick off Season 11, we welcome the three hosts of the Most Podern Podcast: Alex Yuen, Minkoo Kang, and Libo Li. They are three friends who, since their architectural education, have forged distinct, non-traditional careers that challenge the conventional definition of practice. The episode delve...

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 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...