AI & Architecture

In this special episode, we were fortunate to capture another candid conversation between Will Bruder, FAIA, and two passionate architecture students from The Design School at Arizona State University—Sophie Apropos-Kardos the co-president of the ASU AIAS chapter and Katie Le the president of the ASU USGBC. Throughout the discussion, Will shares his perspectives on a wide range of topics including design drivers, designing great architecture within budget, and how he listened to the context, program, client and all involved to develop his designs. Some of his personal reflections on the profession are timely and poignant. We extend our gratitude to the leadership at The Design School—Paola Sanguinetti, Claudio Vekstein, and Abigail Hoover—for their support in making this event possible. Special thanks also to Professor Marc Neveu for organizing this special event.

For many the first experience with Architecture is with an image, the Architectural Image. In this episode we sit down with two professionals generating the Architectural Image, Matt Winquist an Architectural Photographer and Austin Nikkel a Rendering an visualization specialist. Both of these gentlemen left behind the practice of Architecture to specialize in the crafting of the Architectural Image, and this is their perspective.

In this special episode, we were fortunate to capture an authentic and insightful conversation between Evelyn Lee, FAIA, and two passionate architecture students from The Design School at Arizona State University—Sophie Apropos-Kardos and Ivanna Selpuvuda Suarez—who currently serve as co-presidents of the AIAS chapter at ASU. Throughout the discussion, Evelyn shared her perspectives on a wide range of topics that are timely for emerging professionals. These included: Mentorship & Leadership: The importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and guiding others through example. Career Paths & Alternative Futures: Exploring nontraditional career paths in architecture and the value of interdisciplinary experiences. Equity, Diversity & Resilience: Addressing systemic challenges and fostering inclusive environments within the profession. Technology & Innovation: Embracing tech and its impact on design thinking and practice. Life-Centered Design & The Future of Practice: Reimagining architecture as a tool for human and ecological well-being. Personal Reflections & Advice: Evelyn’s candid thoughts on navigating the profession and staying true to her values. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the leadership at The Design School—Paola Sanguinetti, Claudio Vekstein, and Abigail Hoover—for their support in making this event possible. Special thanks also to AIA National for enabling us to record and share this meaningful exchange.

In this episode the microphone is manned by Dean José Gámez of College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte and incoming president of Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture to moderate a conversation with Dean Rene Cheng from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, Deputy Dean Phil Bernstein of Yale School of Architecture, and Dean Dan Pitera of University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture + Community Development. These prominent deans discuss the future of architectural education and its role in preparing students for the profession and the counter side of where practice picks up the preparation for the future generation of designers and architects.

Architects use technology on a daily basis and that technology is ever-evolving. Artificial Intelligence or AI is now becoming commonplace in our lives and it is quickly being adapted to use in the classroom and office. Join us as we gather for a discussion by professionals and educators leading the charge with this emerging technology and defining what the next generation is understanding what AI means and can do. We sit down and talk with Karl Daubmann, FAIA, Sara Codarin, and Brian Kelly, AIA to discuss AI and Architecture.

In our third installment of the Lessons From Abroad series, we share the stories of two individuals who’ve benefitted from the support of the Arizona Architecture Foundation – a group whose mission is to enhance the welfare of the Arizona community by promoting excellence in architecture and the built environment by supporting the education of future architects, supporting and promoting the profession of architecture, and preserving the legacy of Arizona architecture. In this special episode, we highlight the Foundation's support of our community in developing young professionals through exposure to unique experiences in travel worldwide. We are joined by Slade Sheaffer, AIA, winner of the 2024 Robert Saemisch Prize, and Kayla Gentry, winner of the 2024 Sean Murphy Prize, to learn how their lives were impacted by their experiences traveling around the world.

In this two-part series on Latino identity in architecture, Tracing Architecture dives into the profound ways the narrative of history and our own heritage shapes design. Part two is a more personal conversation between three practicing architectural professionals in the state of Arizona, all telling their perspectives of their Latino identity based on their personal upbringing and experiences and how those have shaped their professional and professional lives in this state. Every one of their stories is unique, and by sharing in a joyful conversation, they also find a lot of commonality. This series was done in collaboration with the AIA Phoenix Metro EDIB committee (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging).

In this two-part series on Latino identity in architecture, Tracing Architecture dives into the profound ways the narrative of history and our own heritage shapes design. Part one features a thought-provoking conversation between José Bernardi, Associate Professor at ASU and author and editor of Adaptive Reuse in Latin America, and Fernando Luiz Lara, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Spatial Theories for the Americas: Counterweights to Five Centuries of Eurocentrism. Together, they explore the historical narrative of the European "encounter with" or better identified as the invasion of the Americas, challenging the misconception of an "empty land" or "new world"; a world without a history or culture; and examining the lasting impact of this narrative on the urban fabric, and architectural identity of Latin America. This series was created in collaboration with the AIA Phoenix Metro EDIB Committee (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging).

Desert Talk: Urban Heat As city dwellers in the desert, Urban Heat is present in our lives daily. As architects, Urban Heat is an important part of the conversation when talking about responsible design. In this episode we turn the mics over to local leaders in the Urban Heat research and mitigation efforts. Local Architect and Educator Darren Petrucci moderates a panel conversation between Eric Iwersen, Maria Salenger and David Hondula as they discuss their efforts to mitigate this deadly issue affecting lives locally. Please join us they engage in a dialogue sharing ideas, opinions, and knowledge on this deadly topic of Urban Heat. Thank you to all of our guests that contributed to this episode, including Darren Petrucci, Eric Iwersen, Maria Salenger, and David Hondula. #sustainability #phoenix #architecture #urbanheat #aiaarizona #aia #arizona #desert #design #resiliency #ASU #cityofphoenix #tempe #cityoftempe #thedesignschool

In the ever-evolving landscape of architecture, mentorship serves as a guiding light, to remind us to nurture creativity and foster a passion for design. In this episode, we dive into the world of architecture through the lens of an accomplished architect, Angela Watson, President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch. We explore her inspiring career journey, from her early days as a student to her current role as a seasoned professional. Along the way, we uncover valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of the architectural industry, as well as the importance of mentorship in shaping the next generation of architects.