I’m bringing you a set of mini-stories that were taped live at the AWA 100th Building Our Legacy event on September 10, 2022 at the HenryBuilt showroom in LA’s art district. This event not only celebrated AWA+D’s 100 year anniversary, but also focused on how we can preserve the legacies of women in architecture—especially our own legacies. As we know, too often women’s work was historically unrecognized, erased, and forgotten, and we lose so much by not being able to access this information. We can’t keep repeating this mistake! For example, Christina Morris from the National Trust for Histori ..read more

This special episode is released in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Association for Women in Architecture and Design.  In today’s episode, I’m joined by Barbara Elwood, who served three terms as madame president of AWA+D (which was then named AWA-LA) in 1960, 1962, and 1996.  Barbara enrolled in USC Architecture’s Industrial Design program in 1952, and by the end of her first semester, was the only woman in her class. It’s so fascinating to hear about Barbara’s experiences and also hear about the evolution of AWA through her recollections. Please support AWA+D by becoming ..read more

Today’s episode is going to be a little bit of a different one, because the roles are reversed! Annie Chu of Chu+Gooding Architects, who is featured in Episode 31, graciously offered to interview me for this episode. I am an architect and president of Sato Architects, Inc., a podcast host, and past president of the Association for Women in Architecture + Design (AWA+D). I previously taught architecture at Cal Poly Pomona, my alma mater. I have a new role to add to my list, which is that I’m going to become a mother in a couple of months. I’ll have my hands full keeping a little human and small ..read more

Karin Liljegren is founder and principal of Omgivning, an architecture and interior design firm whose practice is rooted in a love for the extraordinary urban fabric of downtown Los Angeles. Karin is an architect and interior designer, and founded Omgivning in 2009, just as the recession was threatening to halt downtown’s resurgence. To date, she and her staff have worked on almost 350 projects in Los Angeles, seeking to restore downtown’s purpose while helping to define its new identity. I’m constantly impressed by Karin’s go-getter attitude and entrepreneurial talents, which you’ll hear more ..read more

Today’s guests are Tracy Stone, principle of Tracy A Stone Architect, and designer Abbi Naylor. Tracy is the founder of The Elysian Valley Arts Collective, a 501c3 non-profit that manages the biennial Frogtown Artwalk, and supports a variety of programming to the youth and neighbors of Elysian Valley. Tracy received a BA from Cornell University and a Masters in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. She spent five years working for award-winning architects Ray and Finn Kappe before receiving her architectural license in 1989 and subsequently started her own firm, Tracy A. Stone A ..read more

Eera Babtiwale is Vice President of Sustainability at HMC Architects, a mother of 3, a board member of Designing Futures Foundation, Chair of USGBC-Inland Empire, and an active member with USGBC-Los Angeles. Eera was nominated to be a guest on the show by her co-worker, Lance Hosey. Even though I had never met Eera, as I started researching in order to prepare for our interview, I realized that we had a lot of really awesome people in common! When asked about Eera, her co-workers talk about how she is “genuinely passionate”, “wonderful” and “a champion of sustainability”. After getting to know ..read more

Annie Chu is an architect, interior designer, educator, and a founding principal of the award-winning firm Chu+Gooding Architects.  Annie is an alumnus of Sci-Arc and Columbia, and trained for 11 years with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects in New York and Frank Israel in Beverly Hills before starting her own practice in 1996.  Chu+Gooding Architects works on projects of many scales, from design of objects to residential homes, to exhibition design, and world-class arts, cultural, and higher education projects.  LA locals will be familiar with the Hollywood Bowl Concession st ..read more

After a pandemic-induced break, it’s a pleasure to kick off new episodes of the podcast with guest Lise Bornstein, architect and partner at KFA Architecture.  I feel like this interview is long-overdue, because Lise is someone who I have a ton of respect for, and feel lucky to call a mentor and a friend.  Lise graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture and received her Masters of Architecture from Sci-Arc.  Lise joined KFA in 2001, and was elevated to the role of partner in 2016.  Lise gives back to her community i ..read more

Helena Arahuete started working for John Lautner in 1971 and rose to the role of Chief Architect in his office.  She continues today as Principal of Lautner Associates, most recently completing the restoration of the Bob and Dolores Hope House in Palm Springs.  This is a very unique two-part episode featuring conversations with Helena Arahuete.  I first met Helena at Palm Springs Modernism Week in February.  Part 1 is an edited recording of interviews she did with eighth graders Abrianna Pingleton, Shelomith Hoy, Tyler Bloomer, Santiago Garza, and Julia Fidel from Ms. Patto ..read more

Kishani DeSilva has worked in the architecture and design industries for over twenty years in the project and major program management arena. Prior to her current appointment in local government, she worked as a management consultant following her time as a project manager at Foster + Partners in London. Her current work as an Executive Advisor with the executive office of the Los Angeles County Development Authority focuses on homelessness and the affordable housing shortfall in Los Angeles. Additionally, as adjunct faculty at Woodbury University, she taught a graduate level practice class fo ..read more