How can a deeper understanding of materials and a closer collaboration with builders reshape the way we design? In this special episode of Practice Disrupted, we spotlight a hidden gem for architects: the Architecture Center at the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). While AISC has long been a technical hub for engineers, the Architecture Center is working to change that perception, offering architects the tools, knowledge, and support to innovate with steel. Evelyn is joined by Nim...
Jun 26, 2025•42 min
What happens when the disruptors pause to reflect on the disruption? For the 200th episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee welcomes back a very special guest: her original co-creator and former co-host, Je’Nen Chastain. Five years after they launched the podcast to challenge the conventions of architectural practice, they reunite for a milestone conversation about how their paths have evolved, the inflection points facing the profession, and why the work of changing the industry is more urgent...
Jun 19, 2025•55 min•Season 10Ep. 200
How can architects build more equitable, accessible, and tech-forward tools for the profession? This week on Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with Niknaz Aftahi, architect, technologist, and founder of AEC+Tech, to explore how design and technology intersect, and how a background in architecture can lead to reimagining the future of AEC innovation. From early experiences with educational inequality in Iran to launching a platform that connects professionals with emerging tools and workfl...
Jun 12, 2025•44 min•Season 10Ep. 199
How can architects build creative careers in the creator economy? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee speaks with Henry Gao, architect turned digital creator, educator, and founder of Draw With Gao, a platform that teaches architects and designers how to leverage iPad sketching as both a creative outlet and a new revenue stream. Henry’s path offers a rare glimpse into how an architectural background can evolve beyond the profession into entrepreneurship, storytelling, and scalable ...
Jun 05, 2025•49 min•Season 10Ep. 198
How can virtual architecture expand the role of the architect? In this week’s episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee talks with Ryan Scavnicky, better known as Scav, about the future of architectural education, immersive digital environments, and redefining what it means to design space. As the Assistant Professor at Marywood University and creator of its new Bachelor of Virtual Architecture (BVA) program, Scav is imagining an architectural education rooted in video games, virtual reality, li...
May 29, 2025•42 min•Season 10Ep. 197
How can architects redefine experience through storytelling and space? This week on Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee talks with Kate Aoki, architect, educator, and founding partner of Golden Egg Creative, to explore how designers can blend architecture, storytelling, and community to create immersive, intentional experiences. With a career path that’s taken her through fine arts, museum design, architecture firms, and now entrepreneurship, Kate shares what it means to craft spaces not just for use...
May 22, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 196
How does a personal passion project become the world's largest archive for modernist residential design? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with George Smart, founder and CEO of USModernist, to explore how a personal interest blossomed into a vital national resource for architecture enthusiasts and professionals alike. George's journey takes us from a late-night internet search inspired by his own house hunt to leading a nonprofit that documents, preserves, and promotes ...
May 15, 2025•35 min•Season 10Ep. 195
How can architects build better relationships with materials - and each other? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Nima Balasubramanian, Director of Architecture at the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), to explore how architects can deepen their material knowledge, challenge industry norms, and find joy in alternative career paths. Nima’s story takes us from long nights at overworked firms to welding workshops and global entrepreneurship, and along th...
May 08, 2025•31 min•Season 10Ep. 194
How can architecture build dignity, belonging, and home? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with Rochelle Mills, President and CEO of Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO), to explore how architecture and development intersect with justice, memory, and transformation. Rochelle’s story weaves together the worlds of design, cultural tourism, housing equity, and personal grit. From running a groundbreaking architecture tour company to leading one of California’s most creat...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 10Ep. 193
How can radical transparency redefine leadership in architecture? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee reconnects with Robert Yuen, CEO and co-founder of Monograph, to explore what he calls radical transparency - a bold leadership approach that challenges firm owners to rethink how they share information, build trust, and lead with clarity. Drawing on his experience building a tech company tailored for architecture firms, Robert brings a refreshingly candid perspective on money, man...
Apr 24, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 192
How can mid-career architects redesign their lives around joy and curiosity? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee talks with Clarence Kwan, an architect-turned-entrepreneur who spent three decades building a career in architecture and tech before pivoting to launch his own lifestyle concierge business, CK Curated. Together, they explore Clarence’s transition from corporate life to creative independence, and what it means to embrace reinvention with intention. Clarence shares his pe...
Apr 17, 2025•46 min•Season 10Ep. 191
What does it truly mean to run a regenerative business, not just design regenerative buildings? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Matthew Broderick, President and CEO of Ashley McGraw Architects, Susanne Angarano, Principal at Ashley McGraw and Founder of Vaysen Studio, and Josie Plaut, Associate Director of the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University. They delve into the concept of building an architectural practice that is itself alive, ...
Apr 10, 2025•56 min•Season 10Ep. 190
How can architects shape cities through public service? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Rico Quirindongo, Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development for the City of Seattle. After spending 27 years in architectural practice, Rico transitioned into civic leadership, where he now influences urban policy and planning at a citywide scale. His journey highlights the vital role architects can play in shaping more equitable and resilient communities. ...
Apr 03, 2025•40 min•Season 10Ep. 189
How can storytelling empower women in architecture? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee talks with Jadyn Anderson about the power of storytelling and advocacy in architecture. As a Master of Architecture student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and junior designer at Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Jadyn is deeply invested in fostering community and representation within the profession. She is the creator of When in Doubt , a self-published zine that brings visibility to ...
Mar 27, 2025•29 min•Season 10Ep. 188
How a non-technical founder built a tech solution to transform material selection for architects. In the latest episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Vardhan Mehta, co-founder of AceLab, an AI-powered platform transforming how architects research and specify building materials. Vardhan shares his journey from practicing architect to tech entrepreneur, the inefficiencies he saw in traditional material selection, and how AceLab is helping firms make faster, data-driven product ...
Mar 20, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 187
How can AI transform knowledge sharing and efficiency in architecture? In the latest episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping workflows in architecture firms. She is joined by Emily Lotterer, National Marketing Operations Leader at CannonDesign, and Joel Yow, Director of Digital Products, to discuss the firm’s AI-powered tool, Billie. Designed as an internal AI companion, Billie helps streamline knowledge sharing, improve efficiency, and enhanc...
Mar 13, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 186
How can hip hop and architecture create a more inclusive future? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Michael Ford, architect, entrepreneur, and founder of the Hip Hop Architecture Camp. Known as "The Hip Hop Architect," Michael has dedicated his career to increasing diversity in architecture by using hip-hop as a tool for education, storytelling, and activism. The conversation begins with Michael’s journey into architecture and the origins of the Hip Hop Architectur...
Mar 06, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 185
How can firms rethink leadership to create more equitable career paths? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , we explore a new approach to leadership development in architecture with the team from FIFTEEN Architecture & Design. Firm founders and team members share how they’ve challenged traditional hierarchies by implementing a flexible, inclusive leadership model that prioritizes mentorship, career growth, and impact-driven design. The conversation begins with Ximena Valle, AIA, LEED AP, ...
Feb 27, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 184
How does an architectural background shape a career in creative direction? Architecture teaches more than just how to design buildings—it shapes the way we see, think, and create. In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee sits down with Obiekwe "Obi" Okolo, a Nigerian-American photographer, multimedia artist, and creative director at Bittersweet Creative, to explore how his design education continues to influence his work in storytelling, strategy, and cultural advocacy.Together, they e...
Feb 20, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 183
How can small architecture firms innovate for a sustainable future? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Carina Coel, Founder and Principal Architect of Restructure Studio, and Alexandra Chaves, Project Manager at the firm. Together, they share how their firm balances custom and pre-designed home offerings, embraces flexible work models, and fosters leadership in architecture. We explore Carina’s journey in launching Restructure Studio, a firm recognized for sustainable reside...
Feb 13, 2025•56 min•Season 10Ep. 182
Reflections on podcasting, leadership, and the future of the profession. Season 10 of Practice Disrupted begins with a twist as host Evelyn Lee shares the microphone with special guest Michele Grace Hottel, architect, advocate, and host of I’ve Never Met a Woman Architect Before . Together, they reflect on the growth of their podcasts, the evolving profession, and the personal stories that shaped their careers. In this candid discussion, Evelyn and Michele discuss their respective journeys into ...
Feb 06, 2025•45 min•Season 10Ep. 181
How do you rethink a career in architecture to get unstuck? Guest: Laura Weiss Founder at Design Diplomacy As a professional coach, facilitator, mediator, and consultant, Laura Weiss helps creative leaders engage in powerful conversations that drive change. A former licensed architect, Laura spent a decade with the global design firm IDEO as a Practice Director and Associate Partner. An expert in service design, she subsequently assumed leadership roles inside a variety of enterprises seeking to...
Jan 30, 2025•49 min
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we begin to explore technology as a disruptor to the industry of architectural practice. Guest: Nels Long, Co-Founding Director of RotoLab Nels Long (SCI-Arc ’14) is a designer, strategist and educator with a passion for projects that seek to improve the world through a relationship between technology and the built environment. As an Associate Principal at RoTo Architects , Nels has worked on projects at numerous scales from single family homes and commerci...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 22 min
How are architects thinking outside of the box of the traditional practice model? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we explore lessons from the Practice Innovation Lab and meet a team of architect entrepreneurs who are building a business. Guests: Christian Jordan, Co-Founder of Jamb Collective Abi Brown, Co-Founder Jamb Collective Christian Jordan is an architect practicing in Philadelphia, PA. As a principal at PJA Architecture , founded by his father, Phillip, he continues to be a tirele...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min
How does organizational design support an innovative firm culture? Guest: Andrew Cronin, Principal at KieranTimberlake In over 15 years as an architect, Andrew has focused on a variety of project types including award winning renovations for university clients, an addition and renovation at a local religious institution, a private home in rural Northern California, and an innovative new education center at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Andrew is currently working on a student residential planning ...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to the launch of Practice Disrupted! Meet hosts Evelyn Lee and Je’Nen Chastain who will begin to discuss the changing nature of architectural practice. Hosts: Evelyn Lee, Founder of Practice of Architecture & Senior Experience Designer for Slack Technologies Je’Nen Chastain, Founder of Apostrophe Consulting Evelyn M. Lee, AIA, 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 reshap...
Jan 02, 2025•48 min
How Can Architects Redefine Leadership and Success in a Changing Profession? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee takes the guest chair as Caitlin Brady, AIA, flips the script for a reflective and thought-provoking season finale. Caitlin, a Project Architect, inclusion advocate, and host of the podcast Architectette, leads this candid discussion about the evolution of career paths in architecture. Together, they explore lessons in leadership, generational dynamics in the workplace, ...
Dec 19, 2024•48 min•Season 9Ep. 180
How Can Architects Use Data and Technology to Build Sustainably? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Sandeep Ahuja, Co-Founder & CEO of CoveTool and co-author of Build Like It’s the End of the World. Known for her innovative contributions to the architecture and sustainability space, Sandeep shares her journey from licensed architect to tech entrepreneur. Together, we explore how data, AI, and a shift in business models are reshaping the architecture, engineering, and con...
Dec 12, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 179
How can architects use their skills to pivot into tech design and UX strategy successfully? On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we chat with Emily Privot McNamara, a design strategist and researcher at Amazon’s Device Design Group. From designing buildings to designing tech products at Amazon, Emily demonstrates how architects can successfully transition into non-traditional roles. In our conversation, she shares how her architectural background has shaped her approach to the tech world and h...
Dec 05, 2024•43 min•Season 9Ep. 178
How can architecture firms successfully transition to a hybrid work model that balances flexibility, connection, and structure? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we explore hybrid work models in architecture firms, using the firm Shepley Bulfinch as an example. We’re joined by three leaders from Shepley Bulfinch: Jenn Zagarella, Vice President of Administration; Jim Martin, Vice President and CIO; and Jim Chambers, Vice President of Practice Management. Together, they discuss how architectu...
Nov 21, 2024•44 min•Season 9Ep. 177
