Blog

Women in Architecture Award-Winners for 2019

I was delighted to hear that two of my role models, architect Elizabeth (Liz) Diller and architectural photographer Hélène Binet, have won prestigious 2019 Women in Architecture awards. Women in Architecture Campaign The awards are part of a project that is near to my heart: The Women in Architecture campaign, a joint project of two

Church Design: Ideas for Creating Flexible Worship Spaces

Church design presents challenges and opportunities that both stretch the imagination and test an architect’s skills. The modern church is much more than a place of worship. It's a place for community, for education, for entertainment, for public service – so church design must be flexible enough to accommodate all these and more. A good

What Does It Take to Become a Professional Architect?

As a professional architect, I wear many hats. Designer, artist, draftsperson, construction manager, client advocate … It takes years of training to develop the skills an architect needs and years of experience to hone them. For me, it started in childhood, as I learned to really look at the structures around me and ask myself

Post-Frame Construction: A Flexible & Sustainable Choice

Post-frame construction has been around since humans first started building spaces to live in, but it is becoming a more popular option for new home and commercial construction, thanks to its flexibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness. What Is Post-Frame Construction Post-frame construction is an engineered-wood-frame building system that meets Uniform Building Code (UBC) and International Building

Being a Female Architect: Reflections from a Career

As a female architect, I was interested to see the New York Times address the dearth of women in architecture in their December 18 article “Where Are All the Female Architects?” A few important points from the article: Until 1972 (and Title IX), most U.S. architecture schools didn’t admit women. Currently, half of all American

How to Use Human-Centered Design in Your Retail Store

Human-centered design is a process that focuses on human needs and problem-solving. In the architecture field, it is a collaborative undertaking, a partnership between architect, client, and the client’s end-users that takes into account multiple perspectives to create spaces that are functional and inspiring. Benefits of Human-Centered Design A central goal of human-centered design is