S5 Launch: AIA Conference on Architecture Recap

A I'm Evelyn Lee. And I'm Janine Chastain.

B We're collaborating on curated conversations to explore how the industry of architecture is changing.

A Together, we'll find ways to create new solutions to current challenges while elevating the value of architects. Welcome to Practice Disrupted. Hello, listeners. Hello, Jeanine. Hi, Evelyn. Hi, disruptors. Welcome to season 5 of Practice Disrupted. So we've spent the last 2 years designing and building a podcast series that documents and supports this pivotal moment of industry change.

A Before the pandemic hit, we knew the field of architecture was transforming, or I would alternatively say Janine and I were desperately trying to transform the profession. But through the pandemic, we've seen things continue to adapt and shift.

B Each season, we handpick speakers with varied backgrounds to help us frame a larger narrative about change while also supporting specific themes we're exploring on the show. So some of those include business operations, technology, cultural shifts, entrepreneurship, and more. But today marks the start of the next series of conversations, and we're really excited to roll this next season out.

A Our lineup for season 5 is already a long and growing list, but we're excited to introduce you to this new group of disruptors, and we welcome any new disruptors that you are interested in sending our way to.

B And something I've been thinking about for a while is testing out some new experimental audio on the show in support of doing things in innovative and new ways. I personally enjoy thinking of different ways to tell stories each season. So today's episode is gonna be the first pass at that attempt.

A Yes. I think, you know, like we talk about with business, like we talk about even within our own practices, we are constantly pivoting and transforming and changing, and I think this podcast, this practice disrupted, should be no different. So let's set the stage so our listeners know where they're heading.

B Yes. And in today's episode, you're gonna be traveling with us to Chicago where we're gonna join over 11,000 architects and designers.

A This episode is a recap, an experiential audio of attending the AIA's largest conference. And this year, we were finally back in person.

B And, Evelyn, it's something that you and I have been both looking forward to for some time. So I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to bring our listeners along to experience what participating in an event like this is like. And I'm sure there are many folks out there who've never been to an AI event at this scale.

A Yes. And this is also a wonderful way to exercise, our sound editor and see what he can do with these clips. So thank you, Stace.

B Indeed. Thanks, Stace. So let's jump into it.

A So we tracked down a good friend of mine, Taneal Bentonhausen. And, Taneal, just wanted to ask you, what are you thinking about the conference right now?

C I think it's awesome. I love being back in person and just enjoying to get getting to see old friends and making new friends. I think it's been really, really fun.

A So they just supposedly did a little bit of a revamp on the expo floor this year. Love to get your perspective. I have my own thoughts, but go for it.

C I think from the exhibitor side, it's kinda neat to have all of your specialty together. Uh-huh. So if you're looking for software we do software. So if you're looking for software, software, you don't have to find you know, go over here and find this person, or go over there and find this person. So I think it's kinda nice that we're grouped together Yeah. To be able to have that synergy. There's a lot of our products that we actually rep that we sell that are also in the area. So when we're talking to people and they ask a question about kinship or an you know, another like, SketchUp, they're just here.

C So it's not, like, having to send people around. So I like the synergy. It's a big conference floor, so easy to get lost. But I think it's, it's neat that we're stuck. We're all together.

A Did you go to the vlog party last night?

C I did. I did. How

A was that?

C It was awesome. I think it was really cool. I loved all the entertainment. I loved the balloon lady tray pass, you know, snacks, and they had a drum line. I thought it was great energy to bring into the conference floor.

A Yeah. So one great thing about Tenille, she is a host of Death by Architecture and she has new episodes that come out the 1st Tuesday of every month. So if you are a real crime, true crime listener fan, and you love architecture, here's like a very unique overlap. And, she finds stories that I did not know exist existed in this profession, and yet they are there.

C Yeah. We're we're more murderous than you think.

A So I am here with Alex from the American Institute of Steel Construction, and he is also an associate director for AIA Houston. So, Alex, have you've been to multiple conferences?

D Yes.

A How many what what conference number is this for you?

E This is actually my 4th conference after the pandemic. So

A Oh, after the pandemic?

E Well, we had the whole pandemic. Now we're back in person, and so it's it's been it's been pretty

A A total of 4, though.

D 4. Yeah.

A Yeah. So how is how does this one rank to previous conferences for you?

E Well, I think it's definitely different because, there was a long pause. Right. But, I think, it's probably one of the most appropriate places to host the architecture conference because of the architecture in Chicago.

F Mhmm.

E I think for me, it has

D a special place because I consider this one

E of the steel cities. And of course, I'm a fanatic for steel architecture. But it's been it's been great to run into folks, that sort of push the envelope in traditional and non traditional architecture. So that's been pretty fantastic.

A So you've been spending a lot of time on the expo floor. Have you gone to any sessions?

E I have. I've been to the carbon neutral sessions and some

D of the educator sessions as well for sort of the EP, emerging professionals, contingent.

A Yeah. So as a younger architect, or as associate member, what do you think the younger professionals can get out of conference if you were to encourage them to go next year?

E Well, definitely, collaborating with, even allied, industries. There's a little bit of collaborating with, even allied, industries. There's lots of structural engineers that actually attend the conference as well. There's also product vendors that maybe would inspire some sort of inquisitively and try to figure out how you could really push the envelope of design itself. So I think it's very overwhelming because there's a lot happening, but it can be really fun, especially for for folks who haven't attended the conference

F in the past.

B So we're in a, cab driving back to the hotel. I've got Ilya Azaroff and Britt Lindberg with me and Evelyn Lee. We are, just catching up on the day from the first, day of programming. So what do you guys think so far? What stood out to you at the event?

F We're just coming away from the first keynote session, and it was just really wonderful to see architecture and AIA's purpose highlighted on the big stage at the AIA conference here in Chicago. Lakisha Woods, Dan Hart, Lee Bey, Jamie, Molina. Is that right? Gabolina? In conversation together about, you know, how do we work together as an organization of 94,000 individuals to do what we say we're gonna do to progress climate action and equity in the world through our work in architecture. So, seeing colleagues in person through this venue is super inspirational, and I'm excited to see what will come as well in the next few days.

G Wow. That was a lot. You go,

A Brit. That was amazing.

B Great deal then.

A Yeah. I

H mean, holy cow.

E I mean,

G what what strikes me is, I have not been in 3 years in a venue that has a lot of people. And seeing a lot of people, that's very striking. Very, very just striking. And to see all these architects. And then, you know, the reassessing, scale. I've met so many people in the last 3 years that are defined by a 2 inch by 2 inch box on my screen and now seeing them live saying Oh, crap, that person's 10 times taller than I thought. There's another person that's shorter than I thought. And just kind of readjusting, the actual real world is very striking.

G So it's really that humanistic experience, that's quite quite amazing to experience once again. So I I really think that's amazing.

F I met a gentleman last night that I've only ever seen on screen, and to see him in 3 dimensions was just the most amazing experience. And have, you know, in person conversation. It really just is special and, makes you remember how important that is to connect in person.

B So we are here at the AIA Expo floor, and

H I AIA 22.

B I just bumped into Evantroxell, and so I thought it would be fun to just get a sound bite from him to hear how it's how the conference is going for you so far.

H It's been a whirlwind for us. This is the first time exhibiting. I I'm normally come to these conferences just to meet the people and maybe hit a keynote or 2. I never do CEs. I can get those anytime, and then walk the expo floor a little bit. And, so this time is flipped. Right? I the script has been flipped. I'm at a booth.

H The AIA brought us here to partner with us to do this. And so having setting this up. Hi, Brenda. I'll say hi in a minute.

A Hi. It's Vincent.

H Good to see you. Yeah.

A It's good to

H see you. Okay. So so we're setting up we set up the booth. It's been it's been a total whirlwind. It's, like, just getting like, approaching it from a completely different angle. You don't just get to, like, land and show up. It's like all of this prep. Everything has to be dialed.

H Right? And and you know what it's like to create presentations for a user group or other architects in a firm. It's like you want you're you're we're a control freak. Right? We wanna control every bit of it, and that's, like, amplified times a 100 for us here because we are we're trying to bridge the gap between product manufacturers and architects early on in the design phases when architects could use the most help but are the most reluctant to ask. You got that. And building product manufacturers don't know how to address architects because they're always selling stuff, and we don't buy it. Right? So our goal is to help kinda mend that relationship so that we can address these issues early in design and get our design intent realized. That's our goal. And so here, we're just trying to say, hey.

H We exist.

F Yeah.

H And we're gonna fully launch next year at 823 in San Francisco.

B Yes. That's a great way to fly.

H Like, yeah. I mean, it's in our backyard. We live in California. Yeah. And, I mean, it's we're we're we're trying to build some momentum for that. So we're hoping everybody here just is becomes aware of what we're doing and has a great show. You know, it it's a it's so awesome to be back in person.

B It is. I know. I honestly I got really emotional yesterday at my presentation. I was on stage and I was real people. Sitting there going, oh my gosh. In the dark days of the pandemic, I was, like, this felt so far away and it was just, like, okay. We're here. We're doing this.

I It was really nice.

H And and, like, it's it's here. It's, like, really here. Right? And and unlike Zoom, people are you can't not turn your camera on here. Like, we're we're here in the flesh. Right? So I think that's fantastic too. It's like I a lot of people have gotten emotional about this kinda thing and it's just, like, it's amazing. Yeah. The power like, that's this the power of being face to face, connecting with real people, like, that's what we're trying to do with text, but it's also what we're trying to do with the people first podcast and just, like, show that relationships trump everything else.

H They trump the Google searches and the data and the PDFs and the cut sheets. It's like no. Like, there's so much wisdom in people. Mhmm. And that's why we got into this business was to, like, be the experts that we are Yeah. And share that with other people.

A Love some.

H And architects can't know everything about everything. Mhmm. Right? And so it's like, man, you if you could just tap the right person at the right time, that's that's really what that's like I think we all know this as architects, but we've all kind of, like you know, it's like boiling the frog. We've slowly gotten to this point where, okay, we just go straight to the the Google search. Like, I think it actually is, like, no, you just you have some experts that you can call on, and you just pick up the phone and learn more in 20 minutes than you could in a 3 hour long Internet search. Right?

B Yeah. I mean, I think that's really well said. I think convention for me has always and I've been coming for a very long time. It's always been about relationships. It's always about been about meeting people in person, getting to know them, understanding what they have to offer in the space of the AAC built environment, and then, like, continuing to foster those relationships and find partnership.

H You've built this audience on your podcast. Right? And it's like, this is the place where those people show up to. Right. It's like the there's maybe 2 or 3 of these a year and most people can't get to all of them. Right? So, like, this is the one Yeah. Exactly. To get those connections together and really build that relationship because it is more than just, like, over the computer. So

B Exactly. Well, I will be so pumped to come to San Francisco and Right. See whatever booth design that you're gonna have. But this one It'd be way bigger than this one. This looks great. You've got, like, all kinds of you have a massive TV and it's populated with, like, a dashboard of all kinds of different things.

H It is. This is my tech, like, I'm show we're showing off a little bit.

B I can see. There's actually a camera pointing back at me. I can see myself on the screen Yeah. In addition to different angles.

H Right.

B And then, of course, they're demoing some products and information.

F Yep.

B And then, it looks like what's on this what's on the stand over there?

H We got some iPads here showing, you know, just basically some talking points about the gap that exists. Yeah. And then, yeah, that's it. I mean, we're gonna be recording here in the booth. So Absolutely. We that's why we've got this set up. It's like a conversational setting for some short, audio, video grabs that we're gonna then take and edit

B and Okay.

H Produce content from throughout the next year Yeah. Capturing the thoughts of both sides

F Awesome.

H Because we're we're actually here together. Right? Yeah. So

B That's awesome. Yeah. I was just by the ArcCAD booth and they said, Mark's recording tomorrow with Entre Arceneck.

F Yeah.

B So I think the Gable Media team is, like, definitely showing up.

F Yep. Yep.

B Full force. Awesome.

F Awesome. Yeah. It's gonna be

H a great show.

B Well, thanks, Kevin.

H Thank you.

B I'm here with, Ben Kasdan and Grace Kemp. They're 2 architects that been involved with the AIU for quite a long time, and I, I just wanted to capture, their perspective on why they've remained so involved with the AIU for so long.

D So there's a lot of organizations in the world, but there's really only one that's for architects, and it's this one. And it's easy for people to sort of criticize it, but I always felt like it's my duty because I am an architect and I love architecture that I have to do my best to give back to the profession and leave it better than when I found it.

I And to add to that, I would just say that if we don't get together and collaborate to further issues that we all feel passionate about, our strength is diminished. So when we can collaborate with others to, further our message about advocacy or further a mess message about, health safety and welfare, that is amplified by the, you know, whatever, not a 100,000, members that we have. And it's a different voice than if you're speaking from just Grace Kim as an individual architect from Seattle, Washington. Right?

D That's totally true. Yeah. I agree to that wholeheartedly. Yeah.

B What has being involved in an organization at scale done for your professional career?

D This organization has laid the foundation for bike.

F I

D know people think about it in the opposite, but that's not how it was for me. Before my firm saw me as a leader, this organization gave me those opportunities to learn how to lead in this profession, and I brought that back the other way to become a leader member.

I That's interesting. And I think about I I definitely see that as well for myself, but I also feel like I have been able to, as a small, owner of a small practice, been able to push at the profession. When the bigger firms say, oh, we can't do that because of x, y, and z, I I always say, well, we can. And we're 12 people. We're 15 people. And I feel like that push that push and pull that we have for at the at the institute is is great and healthy. Right? If we were just working in these little silos of only the large firms or only the small firms, only firms of, you know, doing certain types, that dialogue doesn't happen. And when we can, as an institute, look together and stop naval gazing, but really asking questions about, like, how are we influencing the built environment, you know, in different ways and and built environment within our community, our own offices and in our own culture.

I Like, I think those are healthy discussions to have.

B Alright. So I'm here with Benjamin Ward, and he is joining me with Matt Dumich and Angela Mazzi Mazzi? Mazzi. Mazzi. And Angela Mazzi. And we're at the end of the convention. We've made it successfully through our, conference. So I wanted to get a debrief from them on how the conference went. What's it out to you?

J I think it's been an amazing experience because we're finally back together. It feels so good to see friends and to and to hug them again. I think that's, been the most uplifting thing for me. You know, the the COVID pandemic kind of put us in a bit of a funk maybe in our careers, and this was, very rejuvenating.

B Excellent. Thank you so much, Ben. How about for you, Matt?

F I

K agree with Ben. It's great to be back together and see folks and, I think that the themes for me are things that I've been talking about a lot lately, but thinking about, equity and equitable development, as well as sustainability and resilience. And that ranges from things that President Obama shared with the group to, I just went to a session on low carbon concrete. So, it was really great to be back together in person with both.

B Also, this isn't your this is your home turf. You're from Chicago. So how was that for you?

K This time, I committed to being here at the conference rather than trying to pretend to to work. So it was, a worthwhile investment of time, but it's so gratifying to, kinda share our city with, with architects. It's the epicenter of architecture.

B Excellent. Thank you. And we're gonna turn to Angela who's a fellow podcaster and, runs the show architecting. So how about for you, Angela?

L Janine, for me, it was this idea that success doesn't ask permission. That we just all need to be advocates for the power of design and really help people understand how architects can help them build a better world.

B Excellent. Thank you. You heard it live from the convention floor as we close out the conference. Hi, disruptors. If you like the content from today's show, you can find all of our past episodes over on practice of architecture dot com/podcast.

F Be a

A part of the conversation by joining us, our speakers, and others in our community at practice of architecture.com/community. Our social media handle is at practice of arch. That's at practice of a r c h. We love to hear from you. Drop us a note to say hello.

B This show is part of Gable Media. You can learn more about other podcasts and video channels in our community by visiting gablmedia.com.

A Thank you for joining us on Practice Disrupted, a podcast by Practice Architecture. Tune in next week for a new conversation on change in the profession.