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 mobility. In this episode we’ll learn more about Spot, Boston Dynamics, and how Brian’s passion for technology and architecture led him to this innovative company.

Guest:

Brian Ringley is a construction technologist at Boston Dynamics where he promotes new value-add autonomous capabilities for construction project delivery and works to expand the construction application ecosystem with the Spot SDK. Prior to Boston Dynamics, he was a Senior Construction Automation Researcher at WeWork where he managed the construction robotics research program and contributed to initiatives in design automation, unitized prefabrication, and construction site progress monitoring. He has also taught architecture courses for many years, most recently at Pratt GAUD where he led seminars in computational fabrication and industrial robotic automation for industrialized construction.

Show Links:

Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics, 'Do You Love Me?'

Meet Spot

‘Beyond the Master Builder: How Robots Can Really Transform the Role of the Architect’ by Brian Ringley, published in Architect

‘Boston Dynamics: Inside the workshop where robots of the future are being built’, 60 Minutes

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Guest:

Rebekah Bukhbinder

Rebekah Bukbinder is an Art Director working in film and television. She has collaborated on notable productions including The Mandalorian, Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. A graduate of SciArc with a Master of Architecture, Rebekah’s background in architecture and fascination with the ephemeral has led her into the world of filmmaking and ultimately has informed a career in set design and world building. Her work in television and film transports audiences into imaginary worlds for people to experience. She believes her career has been a balance of taking risks, and serendipitous moments that led her to where she was meant to be.

You can see more of Rebekah’s work on October 30 when Season 2 of The Mandalorian airs.

Show Links:

https://tinyurl.com/disneyplusTheMandalorian

https://tinyurl.com/disneyplusTheRiseofSkywalker

https://tinyurl.com/netflixTheDarkCrystal

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 Nima Balasubramanian, Director of Architecture at the AISC Architecture Center, and Parke MacDowell, an Associate Principal and the Director of Fabrication at Payette Architects. Nima details the Center's mission to be a resource "for architects, by architects," bridging the gap between design and fabrication by making technical information more accessible and fostering connections with the fabrication industry.

Parke offers a compelling perspective from the world of practice, sharing how Payette's in-house fabrication group uses physical models and prototypes to foster shared agency, accelerate decision-making, and expand the role of the architect. He argues that embedding fabrication into a firm's process starts not with expensive tools, but with a cultural shift and by building direct relationships with specialty trade fabricators.

"For me the architecture center is all about forging connections, and that’s connections between the designer and the builders who execute their ideas. It’s about establishing a common language and a common knowledge base. It’s that shared territory which accelerates innovation." - Parke MacDowell

The conversation also touches on practical concerns, including steel supply chains and project costs, and explores the future of the profession. Nima shares the Architecture Center's upcoming initiatives, such as hands-on welding workshops and steel mill tours, designed to give architects tangible experience with the material they specify. Parke concludes with a powerful call for architects to recognize the agency they have to shape a more equitable built environment for everyone.

Guests:

Nima Balasubramanian is the Director of Architecture at the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), where she leads the Architecture Center. A former practicing architect, she is now focused on building out the center's mission to provide architects with the resources, knowledge, and support they need to work more effectively and efficiently with structural steel, bridging the gap between design and fabrication.

Parke MacDowell is an Associate Principal and the Director of Fabrication at Payette Architects in Boston. As both a licensed architect and a fabricator with a background in welding, his work sits at the intersection of craft and community. He uses fabrication to drive design excellence, foster shared agency among project teams, and broaden the role of the architect in the building process.

Is This Episode for You?

This episode is for you if:

✅ You want to learn about the resources the AISC Architecture Center provides for architects.

✅ You are interested in how to better integrate fabrication and making into your design process.

✅ You are a small firm owner wondering how to collaborate more effectively with builders and fabricators.

✅ You are curious about hybrid steel-timber structural systems.

✅ You believe architects have a responsibility to broaden their agency and reclaim territory in the building process.

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Learn more about AISC Architecture...

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 than ever.

Since stepping away from the microphone, Je’Nen has been building Apostrophe Consulting, a practice dedicated to helping AEC firms implement the real, substantial change they often only talk about. She shares how her work focuses on treating firm evolution as a design problem, addressing critical challenges like leadership transition, knowledge transfer, and the immense pressure on the "stretched thin" middle managers holding the gap between senior leaders and emerging staff.

The conversation goes deep into the core issues plaguing the profession, from the "hollowing out" of the talent pipeline due to multiple recessions to the ongoing debate about where business education fits into an architect's training. Je’Nen and Evelyn also get personal, sharing candid reflections on identity, belonging, and the emotional toll of diverging from the traditional career path, and why they are each tackling the industry's problems from their unique perspectives.

“Essentially at the core of it, what I'm really trying to change is the culture of how we develop and cultivate architecture firms. One of the things we argued on this podcast over and over again was that the business model was outdated. And I think the reason it's outdated is because culture was never taken into consideration as a design variable in building it." - Je’Nen Chastain

The episode concludes with a look at how Evelyn is leveraging AI as a "teammate" to streamline operations, and a heartfelt congratulations on 200 episodes of creating a platform for the voices shaping the future of practice.

Guest:

Je’Nen Chastain is the original co-creator and former co-host of the Practice Disrupted podcast. She is the founder of Apostrophe Consulting, where she works with AEC firms to navigate complex challenges including leadership transitions, organizational design, knowledge transfer, and culture change. With a background in architecture and an MBA, Je’Nen combines design thinking with business strategy to help leaders implement meaningful and lasting transformation within their practices. Her mission is to help firms build healthier, more resilient business models where people can thrive.

Is This Episode for You?

This episode is for you if:

✅ You're a long-time listener curious about the origins of the podcast

✅ You are navigating a non-traditional career path in architecture

✅ You are a firm leader or middle manager dealing with talent gaps and knowledge transfer

✅ You believe firm culture is a critical component of a healthy business model

✅ You are wrestling with your own sense of identity and belonging within the profession

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Connect with Je’Nen on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apostrophe Consulting
• Follow Apostrophe Consulting on

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 workflows, Niknaz shares a career defined by persistence, creativity, and service.

Niknaz reflects on the formative role of her underground architectural education in Iran, where she was denied access to public universities due to her religious beliefs. After pursuing graduate studies at UC Berkeley, she worked in Bay Area firms and became increasingly interested in the inefficiencies she saw in traditional design practice. That curiosity led her to create AEC+Tech, a community-centered innovation platform built to democratize access to AEC tools, surface real-world case studies, and connect isolated parts of the industry.

Evelyn and Niknaz discuss how small firms can navigate emerging technologies, why inclusive innovation matters, and how AEC+Tech has evolved from a simple database into a growing network of architects, engineers, and builders who are ready to experiment. They also touch on mentorship, knowledge sharing, and why Niknaz believes firm culture, and ultimately, the industry, can be transformed through collective learning.

“Once you have a vision and you believe in a project or a goal, you don’t need to know what the final product is going to be. But with perseverance, consistency, and belief, you will make it work.”

- Niknaz Aftahi

The episode concludes with a reflection on rethinking career paths in architecture and the power of showing up with intention, even when the route ahead is uncertain.

Niknaz Aftahi is the CEO and founder of AEC+Tech, an innovation platform that helps connect AEC professionals with emerging tools and technologies. Trained as an architect, she previously led design and technology initiatives at ELS Architecture and Urban Design and co-founded their internal Design Technology Committee. She currently serves on AIA San Francisco’s Design Technology Committee and teaches online architecture courses to Baha’i students in Iran through the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education. Her work centers equity, access, and knowledge sharing in the built environment.

This episode is for you if:

✅ You’re curious about the intersection of architecture and technology

✅ You want to explore alternative career paths beyond firm life

✅ You’re passionate about building community and sharing knowledge

✅ You’re navigating how to introduce innovation inside (or outside) traditional systems

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Connect with Niknaz on LinkedIn
• Follow Niknaz on Instagram
• Learn more about AEC+Tech

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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 creative business.

Henry shares his journey from sketching historical buildings as a child in China to navigating a traditional architecture education in Canada and the U.S., and eventually stepping away from firm life after realizing it didn’t align with his values. Along the way, he experimented with freelance renderings, ran an Etsy shop, studied architectural photography, and slowly built an ecosystem of content that now supports a global audience of designers.

Together, Evelyn and Henry explore the challenges of leaving the traditional architecture path, the role of mentors and paid coaching, and what it takes to build a sustainable business around content, courses, and community. They also discuss Henry’s evolution from side hustles to a full-time educational platform, the power of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and why he believes teaching is a form of service that architects are well-equipped to offer.

“When I stopped trying to fit into traditional architecture roles, I started to see all the ways my training could serve people. Teaching, drawing, storytelling, those are still architectural skills. But now I use them to empower others, and in doing so, I’ve built a business that’s both creative and sustainable.”

- Henry Gao

The episode concludes with a reflection on ikigai - the Japanese concept of purpose, and how Henry’s work sits at the intersection of what he loves, what he’s good at, what people need, and what can be monetized. It’s a conversation about reimagining the future of architecture as something broader than buildings - something designed to fit the life you want to live.

Henry Gao is a designer, educator, and the founder of Draw With Gao, an online platform offering courses, tools, and coaching for architects and creatives interested in mastering digital hand drawing. Trained in architecture at Carleton University and Cornell, Henry transitioned from working in design firms to building a business rooted in teaching and storytelling. His work focuses on helping creatives turn their skills into impactful, scalable offerings in the creator economy.

This episode is for you if:

✅ You’re an architect curious about alternative career paths

✅ You want to learn how to monetize creative skills beyond the billable hour

✅ You’ve considered launching an online course, product, or content platform

✅ You’re exploring ways to build freedom and sustainability into your design career

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Connect with Henry on LinkedIn
• Follow Henry on Instagram
• Learn more about Draw with Gao
• Subscribe to Henry’s Youtube Channel

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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, live streaming, and spatial storytelling.

Dubbed the “Godfather of Architecture Memes” by Architectural Digest, Scav’s journey is anything but traditional. After training at the University of Cincinnati and working internationally at firms like Coop Himmelb(l)au, he pivoted to academia and new media, exploring how digital space can be as meaningful and architectural as physical buildings. He shares how Twitch streaming, immersive crit sessions, and real-time collaboration have reshaped his understanding of design and pedagogy.

Evelyn and Scav explore the implications of this new degree program and what it means for the future of practice. They discuss how architecture has historically overlooked virtual space, how the profession might embrace new tools without losing its critical rigor, and how graduates of this program might expand into careers in game design, XR, storytelling, and tech, while still thinking like architects. The episode also examines the deeper cultural implications of space in games and film, and how architects can reclaim authorship in those expanding frontiers.

“To me, this is still just architecture. We’re reaching a new medium of space, one that lives on screens, through headsets, inside games - and we have the tools to shape that with the same intentionality and care we bring to buildings.” - Ryan Scavnicky

The episode concludes with a reflection on accessibility, immersion, and how virtual environments can be both technically and emotionally meaningful. Scav offers insight into how the profession can evolve, starting in the studio, and why it’s time to take digital spatial design seriously as a legitimate architectural practice.

Ryan Scavnicky (Scav) is a designer, educator, content creator, and Assistant Professor at Marywood University, where he leads the newly launched Bachelor of Virtual Architecture program. With a background spanning traditional architecture, theory, memes, and digital media, Scav is known for translating architectural thinking into new formats, including Twitch, TikTok, and game engines. His work reclaims virtual environments as spaces for critical design, connection, and immersive storytelling.

This episode is for you if:

✅ You’re curious about the intersection of architecture and video games

✅ You’re an educator thinking about how to evolve studio culture

✅ You’re wondering what the future of licensure, pedagogy, or spatial experience might look like

✅ You believe architecture should expand beyond buildings and engage new mediums

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Connect with Scav on LinkedIn
• Follow Scav on Instagram
• Learn more about Marywood’s Virtual Architecture Program

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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, but for memory, meaning, and delight.

Kate opens up about her nonlinear journey, starting with a degree in textile design, before eventually returning to her lifelong goal of becoming an architect. Along the way, she worked in galleries, lived abroad, and built a foundation in public and nonprofit spaces. Her deep love for fine art and interpretive design led her back to the Dallas Museum of Art as Head of Exhibition Design, fulfilling a long-held dream. But after four years, she realized the bureaucracy of nonprofit work wasn’t a long-term fit. What came next was a leap into co-founding Golden Egg, a firm focused on designing transformative experiences rooted in cultural storytelling and visitor connection.

Evelyn and Kate discuss what it takes to launch a niche practice, how to build authentic partnerships with architects and civic institutions, and why experience design is growing in relevance across sectors. Whether developing mobile exhibits for aerospace education or reimagining museum installations, Kate brings a holistic and thoughtful approach to every detail, from lighting and circulation to the words on the wall.

“This felt like putting on a pair of shoes that fit perfectly. It’s the kind of work I’ve always been meant to do - blending fine art, architecture, and storytelling into experiences that connect people to something larger than themselves.”

– Kate Aoki

The episode concludes with reflections on growth, creative courage, and how designers can prototype career pivots by following their curiosity and leaning into interdisciplinary collaboration.

Kate Aoki, AIA, NOMA, is an architect and founding partner at Golden Egg Creative, a design firm specializing in exhibition and experience design. With a background in fine arts, architecture, and interpretive planning, Kate’s work bridges storytelling, culture, and space. She previously served as Head of Exhibition Design at the Dallas Museum of Art and has over a decade of experience working across firms and institutions. Her practice centers on community engagement, accessible design, and building memorable experiences for public audiences.

This episode is for you if:

✅ You’re a designer interested in museum, exhibition, or experience design

✅ You’re navigating a nonlinear or interdisciplinary career path

✅ You want to integrate storytelling and interpretation into your design work

✅ You’re thinking about starting a small practice aligned with your values

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

• Connect with Kate on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Golden Egg

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