In this episode of the Archispeak podcast, Je’Nen Chastain, founder of Apostrophe Consulting, joins us to discuss the shifts and challenges in the realm of architectural practice and running a successful firm, emphasizing leadership, business management, mentorship, and the need for adaptability within organizations. Je’Nen also touches on her personal challenges and professional evolution, the impact of the economic downturn on her generation, and the crucial role of mentorship and internal communication in fostering a supportive and engaging workspace. Episode Links: Je’Nen on LinkedIn Apo ..read more

The Archispeak University (AU) series provides educational content for architects and designers. In this episode of the Archispeak podcast, Primo Orpilla, Principal and Owner of O+A Architecture, shares his extensive experience in workplace design, tracing his experiences in the evolution of office spaces over the last 30 years. Starting his career during a challenging period, Primo talks about how he adapted to the needs of tech companies in Silicon Valley, contributing to the transformation from traditional cubicle setups to dynamic, agile work environments. Today he discusses the shift towa ..read more

In this episode, Michael Ermann of Amber Book and Virginia Tech joins us as we tackle the topic of architectural internships – both for those seeking and for the firms providing them. We kick off by sharing our early internship experiences and comparing them to modern practices. We discuss the treatment of internships as a scarce resource by many architectural firms and its impact on the industry and transition from education to professional roles. We also reveal essential tips for students seeking summer internships and provide advice for firms on how to create a meaningful internship progra ..read more

In this episode, podcaster Enoch Sears joins us to do a deep dive into the evolution of architectural podcasting over the last 12 years, the challenges and triumphs of running an architecture practice, and the importance of adopting a business mindset in order to run a successful practice. Episode Links: Enoch on LinkedIn Enoch on Instagram Business of Architecture website ----- Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com. Support Archispeak by making a donation ..read more

We discuss Australia's 'Right to Disconnect' law, which aims to protect employees from having to engage in work-related communications outside of work hours, and the implications for both workers and companies. We get into the challenges and inefficiencies of modern work environments, including constant connectivity, the impact of email, and how technology has both helped and worsened work-life balance. We conclude with reflections on potential solutions for managing workloads and maintaining boundaries in the digital age. Episode Links: Australia Introduces Workers’ ‘Right to Disconnect’&nb ..read more

The Archispeak University (AU) series provides educational content for architects and designers. In this episode, Sara Schneider of TCA Architects joins us to talk about design trends in multi-family and mixed use project types. Sara is a veteran in the interior design field with a 20-year background, predominantly in hospitality, now focusing on multifamily residential projects with a mixed-use aspect at TCA. Located in Irvine, California, with offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Honolulu, TCA specializes in creating multifamily residential spaces that offer a blend of luxury, functionality ..read more

In this episode, Cormac reflects on the challenges, memories, and learnings from his most successful and intense project. He shares the story of the EO Wilson Biophilia Center in Florida which he compares to 'jazz' due to the ensemble of different ideas, skills, and experiences that came together to create something harmonious. We also explore our experiences with difficult projects, budgets, and client relationships that still resulted in remarkable outcomes. Episode Sponsor Chaos For a limited time, get a 20% discount on Fixed and Floating Annual License of Enscape. Head to https://chaos-ens ..read more

In this episode of Archispeak, we discuss the overwhelming volume of emails we receive and the culture of "ASAP" that often accompanies it. We reflect on the time-consuming nature of emails and question how firm leadership would react if they knew how much time their employees spend managing their inboxes. The conversation then shifts to the topic of boundaries in the workplace and the struggle to maintain a work-life balance in the face of constant communication and demands. We also explore the potential of AI and emerging technology in the architecture field. We discuss how these advancemen ..read more

In this episode, Cormac tells us a story from the Army which sparks a discussion of various experiences on renovation and remodel projects which brings to light the meaning of the term “unforeseen conditions”.  Episode Sponsor Chaos Enscape is soon launching something special that will make your 3D workflow the best 3D workflow for a special price. In the meantime, you can experience it for yourself for free at https://chaos-enscape.com/trial-14 or simply by Googling “try Enscape”. ----- Get the show notes and links for this episode at https://archispeakpodcast.com/episodes/325 ----- Tha ..read more

In this episode we start off by acknowledging the 12th birthday of the Archispeak podcast. Our first episode titled “That Ah-ha Moment” was published on February 3, 2013 and we don’t recommend listening to it! Then we explore the potential of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in architectural practices and talk about how these technologies could revolutionize the way architects work. We cover real-time rendering, immersive experiences of building designs, and enhanced client presentations. We also touch on the need for privacy and security considerations regarding the u ..read more