What’s driving architects to rethink their role in a tech-driven world?

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, shares her journey from traditional architecture to tech leadership, offering insights on how architects can adapt and thrive. Discover how she blends design thinking with business strategy to redefine the profession’s future.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

architecture innovation, Evelyn Lee, tech in architecture, design thinking, architectural practice, business strategy, Practice of Architecture, diversity in design, future of architecture

Chapters

00:00 Defining the Role of the Architect Today

04:46 Expanding Traditional Practices in Architecture

07:38 Challenges Facing New Architects

10:42 Transitioning from Architecture School to Practice

13:46 The Value of Studio Experience

16:41 Innovation and Risk in Architectural Practice

19:32 The Shift Towards Product-Based Architecture

22:56 Emerging Trends in Modular and 3D Printed Architecture

25:41Consulting and Advising in Architecture

31:00 The Future of Architecture and Its Boundaries

32:44 The Architect's Identity Crisis

40:00 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Architecture

48:33 Understanding Value in Architecture

55:07 The Future of Architecture and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Links

Evelyn Lee: evelynlee.com

Practice of Architecture: practiceofarchitecture.com

Evelyn Lee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evelynlee

Mighty Buildings: https://www.mightybuildings.com/

Intelligent City: https://intelligent-city.com/

What if the bricks and mortar of tomorrow existed first as pixels? Discover how Manwen Li turned physical fabrics, tiles, and surfaces into ultra‑realistic digital twins—fueling faster iterations, richer creativity, and sampling. From pioneering Under Armour’s first virtual material library, she reveals the tech, the standards, and the surprising human challenges behind making “the physical digital.”

Links:

Manwen Li: https://www.manwenli.com

Under Amrour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Armour

Material Bank: https://www.materialbank.com/

Swatchbook: https://www.swatchbook.us/

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Digital Material Mission

00:25 Why Pixel‑Perfect Materials Matter

01:38 Beyond Renderings: Fashion & Footwear

02:43 Material Bank’s Sampling Revolution

05:27 Anatomy of a PBR Data Package

08:04 Chasing Realism: Fidelity vs. Cost

10:11 Photogrammetry vs. Procedural Workflows

14:10 Everyday Digital Twins: Cars to Homes

17:24 Economics of Digital vs. Physical

19:04 Capturing Imperfection & Beating the Uncanny

25:30 Speed vs. Depth in Creative Feedback

28:22 Industry Fragmentation & the Library Gap

33:16 Fashion Lessons for AEC Professionals

39:41 Birth of the Digital‑Physical Co‑Twin

47:33 Characterizing Today’s Information Era

Why is zoning so opaque, and what if making it more accessible could unlock the future of our cities?

Quang Truong, architect and founder of UrbanForm, joins Most Podern to unpack how zoning works, why it became so complex, and what it will take to make it transparent, legible, and collaborative. From trophy architecture in New York to building tools in Portland, Quang shares his journey from chasing prestige to reshaping the systems that shape our neighborhoods. He explains why zoning isn't neutral, how bad actors weaponize complexity, and why he believes the built environment needs a new alliance between architects, planners, and developers.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

zoning, urban development, architecture, community, Urban Form, zoning codes, housing, city planning, collaboration, urban planning,

Chapters

00:00 The Journey from New York to Portland

09:24 Understanding Zoning and Its Impact on Architecture

12:25 The Evolution of Client Relationships in Architecture

15:26 Navigating the Challenges of Urban Development

18:34 The Role of Technology in Modern Architecture

24:30 The Shift in Development Dynamics

27:33 Zoning as a Common Language

30:41 Understanding the Complexity of Zoning

35:05 The Power Dynamics in Zoning

37:36 Urban Form: Decoding Zoning

42:21 Who Benefits from Zoning?

45:36 Opening Zoning to the Public

49:41 The Ideal Zoning System

55:41 Navigating Zoning Challenges

57:56 The Role of Zoning in Community Development

01:01:30 Architects and the Design Conversation

01:06:55 The Complexity of Zoning Regulations

01:10:55 The Future of Urban Development

01:25:00 A Post-Rational Era in Urban Planning

Links

UrbanForm

Quang Truong, AIA

Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DSR)

The Broad

NBCUniversal

The Economics of Zoning Laws - William A. Fischel

Hugh Ferriss

SummaryScott Key, CEO of Every Shelter, joins Most Podern to unpack how a simple design—a clean, insulated floor—sparked a global movement to improve life in refugee camps. From launching refugee-run hardware stores to embedding architecture studios inside settlements, Scott shares how design, policy, and persistence collide in one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises.

LinksDonate to Support Every Shelter’s WorkEvery ShelterAn Endless War

Keywords

Every Shelter, Scott Key, humanitarian design, insulated flooring, refugee support, architecture, disaster relief, innovation, safety, dignity, housing, construction, modular,

Chapters

00:00 The Birth of Every Shelter

03:41 Understanding the Need for Insulated Flooring

08:53 The Journey from Concept to Implementation

14:22 Navigating the Humanitarian Landscape

19:38 The Role of Organizations in Refugee Relief

21:37 Transitioning to a Whole Systems Approach

24:24 Understanding Shelter Needs and Solutions

28:50 Community Engagement in Refugee Architecture

30:34 Scaling Solutions Across Different Contexts

34:32 The Role of Community in Design

37:43 Challenges of Running a Nonprofit Organization

41:37 Perseverance in the Face of Adversity

46:48 Reimagining Refugee Support Systems

49:21 The Impact of Policy Changes on Refugee Aid

51:58 Future Aspirations for Every Shelter

53:26 Getting Involved and Supporting Refugee Initiatives

54:55 Defining the Current Era of Complexity

For more on the future of the Built Environment, subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Summary

Urban scientist and Aretian co-founder Ramon Gras joins Most Podern to unpack the design principles and data insights behind high-performing cities. Drawing from global research and on-the-ground practice, Gras reveals how fractal urban form, network connectivity, and balanced density lead to healthier, more dynamic urban environments. He explains why some neighborhoods foster social interaction and economic opportunity, while others fall flat—and how cities can use tools like digital twins to guide smarter, more human-centered development. From Cold War planning to innovation districts, this conversation offers a compelling framework for shaping the future of cities.

Keywords

urban design, city planning, smart cities, digital twins, urban analytics, network science, innovation districts, fractal urbanism, sustainable cities, walkable cities, data-driven planning, future of cities, mixed-use development, urban form, knowledge economy

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Cities and Urban Performance

05:41 The Role of Data in Urban Planning

19:23 Ramon's Journey to City Science

30:07 The Importance of Network Science

49:15 Economic vs. Social Aspects of Cities

01:03:32 Identifying Successful Cities

01:12:45 Engaging Stakeholders for City Improvement

01:22:42 Current Projects and Future Outlook

Links

Aretian Urban Analytics and DesignRamon Gras

City Science: Performance Follows Form

Atlas of Innovation

"Can AI transform construction’s sluggish pace?" In this episode, Dr. Murat Melek, Director of Design AI at Suffolk, explores how AI could reshape the $6B construction giant and the broader AEC industry. From predictive modeling to tackling inefficiencies, Murat shares his journey from structural engineering to leading AI innovation.

Key Points

• AI in Construction: how AI can streamline design and pre-construction phases.
• Efficiency Gains: Predictive analytics cuts rework, saving time and costs.
• Data Power: Suffolk’s data lake with half a million PDFs drives smarter decisions.
• Future Outlook: We’re in a “pre-iPhone era” of construction tech—connectivity is key.

Quotes

• “The design team carries this huge boulder over a hill, only for the contractor to climb it again.”
• “AI isn’t a cheap intern; it’s a precise tool for specific problems.”
• “We’re at a point where building costs match the value generated—something has to change.”

AI in construction, construction technology, predictive modeling, Suffolk construction, AEC industry, data-driven design, building efficiency.

Links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/muratmelek/
• https://www.suffolk.com/
• http://genia.design/
• https://trunktools.com/

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction: Meet Dr. Murat Melek, AI pioneer at Suffolk.
• 00:27 - Context: Construction’s digital lag and Murat’s background.
• 01:21 - Early Career: From Arup to predictive modeling with Python.
• 02:20 - Why Predictive Models?: Speeding up early design decisions.
• 04:11 - Collaboration: How Arup bridged architect-engineer gaps.
• 05:51 - Master’s Journey: Diving into data science at UC Berkeley.
• 09:40 - Industry Stagnation: Why construction lags despite tech waves.
• 16:11 - Suffolk’s Role: Leveraging data as a $6B contractor.
• 22:14 - Structured vs. Unstructured Data: Decoding RFIs and BIM.
• 34:04 - AI in Action: Scoring designs and flagging issues.
• 41:18 - AI’s New Possibilities: Guide rails and creative solutions.
• 48:51 - Business Model Disruption: Outcome-based fees over hourly rates.
• 52:48 - Future Costs: Can AI reverse rising construction costs?
• 58:50 - Advice for Young Pros: Code, learn BIM, seize opportunities.
• 1:03:36 - Defining Our Era: A “pre-iPhone” moment for AEC tech.