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Archispeak
PodcastKunstDesignEnglisch

Archispeak

von Evan Troxel & Cormac Phalen

Neu#397 - Drafting Was Never the Job12.10.2026 · 52 Min.
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396
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monatlich
Letzte Folge
12. Okt. 2026
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Über den Podcast

Archispeak is one of architecture's longest-running podcasts — 383 episodes of honest, unfiltered conversation about what it's actually like to work in the profession. Since 2012, architects Evan Troxel and Cormac Phalen have been exploring design, career, firm culture, tools, work/life balance, mentoring, generational differences, and job hunting — everything that comes with building a life in architecture. This isn't a highlight reel. It's the conversation architects actually have — about the hard parts of practice, the moments that define a career, and the things no one tells you in architecture school. Built for architecture students, emerging architects, and seasoned professionals who want honest perspective on the profession. Topics include architecture career and job searching, design process and critique, firm culture, work/life balance in architecture, architecture tools and software, mentoring and professional development, generational differences in architecture firms, and candid interviews with architects and industry leaders. 375+ episodes. Since 2012. Visit archispeakpodcast.com for more.

Folgen 396

  1. #397 - Drafting Was Never the Job

    52 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 397

    A look back at the '90s, from Nirvana and Napster to car stereos worth more than the car, turns into a look forward at what AI leaves for architects to do. Evan, back from Autodesk University in Las Vegas …

    Shownotes

    A look back at the '90s, from Nirvana and Napster to car stereos worth more than the car, turns into a look forward at what AI leaves for architects to do. Evan, back from Autodesk University in Las Vegas, walks through the capability, alignment, and accountability framework from his workshop on building a firm's AI adoption plan. He and Cormac get into why drawings and models are the results of decisions rather than the decisions themselves, what happens to drafting, and how Cormac already uses AI as a tool on real projects.

    This episode is especially relevant for practicing architects and firm leaders who can't decide whether AI is a crutch or a way to spend more time on the work that matters. It pushes back on waiting for permission and asks why you chose architecture in the first place.

    Episode Links:

    • Autodesk University — https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/
    • Carlo Scarpa — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Scarpa
    • TRXL — https://trxl.co

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  2. #396 - Don't Judge Yourself by the Wrapper

    49 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 396

    Evan and Cormac dig into how Lawrence Tech's architecture studio is evolving its comprehensive design curriculum in real time, and why buildability still beats a flashy final presentation. They explore a new …

    Shownotes

    Evan and Cormac dig into how Lawrence Tech's architecture studio is evolving its comprehensive design curriculum in real time, and why buildability still beats a flashy final presentation. They explore a new semester experiment forcing quiet students into leadership roles, a real Habitat for Humanity adaptive-reuse project in Flint that gives students an actual client and a messy existing building, and a field trip to IIT that turned into a lesson about not confusing polished renderings with substance.

    This episode is especially relevant for studio professors and emerging architects navigating group projects and comparison anxiety in school. It's a look at how one program is closing the gap between what school teaches and what firms actually need, and a reminder that the coordination nobody photographs is what makes architecture architecture.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  3. #395 - Thermal Reactive Umbrella

    48 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 395

    Some weeks the conversation just goes where it goes. Evan and Cormac spend this one reading Wikipedia and AI overviews at each other in real time — the AIA convention ping-ponging from Philadelphia to Los …

    Shownotes

    Some weeks the conversation just goes where it goes. Evan and Cormac spend this one reading Wikipedia and AI overviews at each other in real time — the AIA convention ping-ponging from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium sunk 100 feet into the ground for the LAX flight path, its cable-net roof that expands and contracts like a tennis racket until Cormac christens it a "thermal reactive umbrella." Along the way: stadiums built as war memorials, U2 tours, and Public Enemy's opening statement in Birmingham.

    Underneath the tangents is a real question for the profession. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has sat below 50 for a year, job confidence is low, and the flagship AIA convention costs each attendee around $1,500 before tours and CEUs. This episode is especially relevant for architects deciding whether that show is still worth attending when the economy is soft — and anyone who's quietly started reading the convention as an expense instead of an investment. It's a loose, funny episode that lands somewhere honest.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  4. #394 - Your Architecture Degree Isn't A Dead End

    51 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 394

    What do you do when you finish six years of architecture school, land in the profession, and realize none of it speaks to you? Evan and Cormac start with a former student on a Detroit construction tour who says …

    Shownotes

    What do you do when you finish six years of architecture school, land in the profession, and realize none of it speaks to you? Evan and Cormac start with a former student on a Detroit construction tour who says the buildings around her are falling on deaf ears, and they take the question seriously instead of waving it off. They dig into the difference between dreading the work and feeling nothing for it, why the degree opens far more doors than the traditional path, and how meaning has to be found before happiness can follow it.

    From there the conversation widens into attitude and its contagious effect on a team, the collapse of the mentorship that used to teach young architects why a single line matters, and a misplaced fire department connection that reveals how coordination breaks down when nobody asks the question. This episode is especially relevant for emerging professionals second-guessing the path they chose, and for the people managing them. You'll leave with a harder, more honest frame: the situation is yours to change, and no one else is going to do it for you.

    Episode Links:

    • Out of Architecture — the community and book Cormac points the disillusioned grad toward, for architects finding a life in, around, and outside the profession
    • TRXL Podcast — Evan's AEC tech podcast, recommended alongside Out of Architecture

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  5. #393 - We Ceded This to the Contractors

    55 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 393

    Evan and Cormac dig into why architects deliberately stop detailing at "design intent" instead of shop-drawing level, and how that decision has handed constructability over to contractors and manufacturers …

    Shownotes

    Evan and Cormac dig into why architects deliberately stop detailing at "design intent" instead of shop-drawing level, and how that decision has handed constructability over to contractors and manufacturers. They explore the level of detail (LOD) gap between US and overseas practice, a real design-assist story about pushing a terracotta fin cantilever further with a manufacturer, and why competitive bidding punishes architects who over-detail their own work.

    That leads into a wider conversation about why so much new construction feels generic and developer-driven, and why "breaking the mass" isn't the daring move it's marketed as. Using Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian houses and Sam Mockbee's Rural Studio as examples, they make the case that affordability is a design tool, not a constraint that kills architecture.

    This episode is especially relevant for project architects and BIM managers navigating construction documentation expectations, and for anyone frustrated by how mundane the built environment has become. It's a push to treat understanding construction and materials as the real path to bold, affordable design.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  6. #392 - Your Favorite Building Looks Like a Parking Garage

    1 Std. 36 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 392

    Evan and Cormac catch up on Cormac's 6,800-mile road trip from Detroit to the AIA National Convention in San Diego with his daughter, built around a bucket list of architectural pilgrimage stops. They explore …

    Shownotes

    Evan and Cormac catch up on Cormac's 6,800-mile road trip from Detroit to the AIA National Convention in San Diego with his daughter, built around a bucket list of architectural pilgrimage stops. They explore what happens when a non-architect finally sees a building that lands emotionally (Thorncrown Chapel), what happens when a canonical masterpiece doesn't (the Salk Institute reads as "a parking garage"), and what the 2026 AIA National Convention got right and wrong.

    This episode is especially relevant for architects who've ever tried to get a non-architect family member excited about a building they love, and for anyone curious what 18 states and 10 national parks look like when the itinerary is built around Route 66 gas stations, Louis Sullivan bank buildings, and a soda shop with a 66-foot bottle out front. Expect a reminder that the buildings people love most aren't always the ones architects were taught to revere.

    Buildings & Projects Mentioned


    Context: AIA National Convention


    Related Work


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  7. #391 - A Builder’s Life Done Well with David Prutting

    1 Std. 24 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 391

    David Prutting joins Evan and Cormac to talk about what 50 years of building high-end contemporary homes has taught him about the relationship between architects, owners, and builders. They explore the trust …

    Shownotes

    David Prutting joins Evan and Cormac to talk about what 50 years of building high-end contemporary homes has taught him about the relationship between architects, owners, and builders. They explore the trust triangle that makes or breaks a custom project, why David actively steers clients away from design-build, and the floor plan theory he's developed over decades: the stranger the plan, the better the architect was listening.

    This episode is especially relevant for architects at any career stage who want to understand how their work lands with the people who actually build it. David's perspective is rare — a builder who has spent five decades alongside Steven Holl, Toshiko Mori, Olson Kundig, and KieranTimberlake, who hires architects into his own construction firm, and who has been on both sides of the client chair. His book, A Builder's Life Done Well, is available on Amazon (link below).

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  8. #390 - From Idea to Execution: Heliomorphism

    1 Std. 12 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 390

    Sven Shockey, FAIA joins Evan and Cormac to talk about Virginia Tech Academic Building One — a 300,000-square-foot computer science and computer engineering building on a new campus in Alexandria, Virginia …

    Shownotes

    Sven Shockey, FAIA joins Evan and Cormac to talk about Virginia Tech Academic Building One — a 300,000-square-foot computer science and computer engineering building on a new campus in Alexandria, Virginia whose faceted, photovoltaic-integrated form was derived through 1,400 computational iterations. They explore what it means to design a building's exterior before the interior program is finalized, how three distinct types of building-integrated photovoltaics get assigned to 17 different facades based on orientation and performance data, and what a sewage wastewater energy exchange system has to do with a tunnel under a parking lot.

    This episode is especially relevant for design architects and architecture students who want to understand how computational tools actually interact with design judgment — and for anyone who's ever wondered what it looks and feels like to sit inside a building where the facade is doing real work. The shadows move. The light is soft. The algorithm found a non-intuitive answer, and then the real design work began.

    Episode Links

    Guest


    SmithGroup


    Virginia Tech Academic Building One


    Awards


    Context: Virginia Tech & Amazon HQ2


    Related Work: DC Water Headquarters


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  9. #389 - I Want To See Tears

    36 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 389

    A van conversion project that was supposed to take three days is now four months in and an eighth of the way done. Evan and Cormac dig into what actually happened and why an architect's brain might be the …

    Shownotes

    A van conversion project that was supposed to take three days is now four months in and an eighth of the way done. Evan and Cormac dig into what actually happened and why an architect's brain might be the single biggest obstacle to finishing a personal fabrication project on time. They cover the scope creep hiding in "wouldn't you do it differently?", why one wrong cut forces every subsequent piece to compensate, and the design-build logic that makes real-time problem-solving both efficient and indefinitely slow.

    This episode is especially relevant for architects and designers who've ever started a hands-on project with a realistic-sounding timeline and found themselves months later still fitting cedar lining around corners that aren't quite 90 degrees, holding a saw, and refusing to call it good enough.

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  10. #388 - Frank Lloyd Wright Lemonade

    39 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 388

    Cormac spent last week driving from Detroit to Baltimore for a punch review, then north to a factory two hours outside Toronto to inspect replacement vestibule glass — only to reject it for the second time …

    Shownotes

    Cormac spent last week driving from Detroit to Baltimore for a punch review, then north to a factory two hours outside Toronto to inspect replacement vestibule glass — only to reject it for the second time because the print scale was still wrong.

    Along the way, he squeezed in an unplanned tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, ended up teaching the docents, and toured AGNORA's glass factory, where he found something almost no other manufacturer will attempt: a fully miterless, corner-glazed insulated glazing unit. He also saw a project where a developer printed the image of a demolished historic building onto the glass facade of its replacement.

    Evan and Cormac dig into what "punch ready" is supposed to mean, whether we can still build at the level of FLW's Prairie homes, and what it costs (in time, travel, and patience) to hold a project to the standard it was designed to. This episode is especially relevant for project architects and CA practitioners who know the exhaustion of traveling to a site review only to walk away with another rejection, and who still find genuine awe in what the industry is technically capable of building, even when the job itself won't let you use it.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  11. #387 - The Walmart Greeter of Architecture

    56 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 387

    Five years into one project. Ten into another. Three principals retired before the second one wrapped. Evan and Cormac dig into what long-duration architecture projects reveal about career identity, why the …

    Shownotes

    Five years into one project. Ten into another. Three principals retired before the second one wrapped. Evan and Cormac dig into what long-duration architecture projects reveal about career identity, why the profession has always romanticized the architect who works until death, and what retirement actually looks like when architecture is all you've ever done. They also get into the slow erosion of architectural vocabulary, why Cormac put a massive "WHY" at the center of his studio board, and the design decisions that unravel when nobody stops to ask the most basic question.

    This episode is especially relevant for mid-career and senior architects who are quietly wondering where the work fits in the rest of their life — and for educators and mentors in the profession who want to give students the reasoning skills, not just the technical ones.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  12. #386 - If not me, then who?

    33 Min.Staffel 13 · Folge 386

    Ten years into a $600M research laboratory project, Cormac reflects on what it actually means to see a complex build through to the end — the COVID-era redesign, the permit battles across three code cycles, and …

    Shownotes

    Ten years into a $600M research laboratory project, Cormac reflects on what it actually means to see a complex build through to the end — the COVID-era redesign, the permit battles across three code cycles, and the people who've been on site since day one. He and Evan unpack the case for continuity: why the architects who know every decision that was ever made are essentially irreplaceable, and why the grinding sameness of long construction administration is also the kind of rare, compacted education that most architects never get in an entire career.

    This episode is especially relevant for project architects and CA teams who've ever wondered whether staying on a long, demanding project is actually worth it — and for anyone who's adopted someone else's mid-stream project and immediately felt the weight of not knowing why.

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  13. #385 - Why Architects Can't Say No

    38 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 385

    Cormac spent twelve hours trying to send one email. Evan has seventeen apps open at all times. This week they trace the architecture of modern distraction — from "you're on mute" killing the flow of real-time …

    Shownotes

    Cormac spent twelve hours trying to send one email. Evan has seventeen apps open at all times. This week they trace the architecture of modern distraction — from "you're on mute" killing the flow of real-time thinking, to AI making it easier to do more of the wrong things faster, to the structural reason architects keep saying yes when they should say no. The profession runs on availability, responsiveness, and service, and those instincts are now at war with the deep, focused work that good architecture actually requires. This episode is especially relevant for architects who recognize the gap between how busy they feel and how much actual work they can point to at the end of the day — and who are starting to wonder whether the answer is less technology, better boundaries, or just learning to say no.

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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  14. #384 - The AI and Expertise Paradox, with Chris Parsons

    1 Std. 19 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 384

    Architecture firms are adopting AI faster than they're building the expertise to judge it.In this episode, we explore the AI and expertise paradox with Christopher Parsons, Founder and CEO of Knowledge …

    Shownotes

    Architecture firms are adopting AI faster than they're building the expertise to judge it.

    In this episode, we explore the AI and expertise paradox with Christopher Parsons, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, the firm behind Synthesis — a knowledge and learning platform built for AEC firms — digging into what happens when the tools your firm is counting on require more institutional knowledge to evaluate than the people on staff actually have.

    AI tools for technical work in architecture — code checking, quality assurance, documentation review — don't run themselves. They require experienced practitioners who can distinguish a real error from a flagged decision, catch what the model missed, and exercise judgment the model can't replicate. The problem is that the people who can do this are retiring. And the emerging professionals now entering firms are, in many cases, actively avoiding the deep technical tracks that build that kind of expertise. The knowledge gap is structural, and most firms aren't naming it yet.

    Meanwhile, the apprenticeship model that used to transfer institutional knowledge quietly — through proximity, repetition, and mentorship — has eroded. Young professionals aren't getting the reps on site visits, project management calls, and technical coordination that used to form the foundation of good judgment. Architecture's feedback loop compounds this: a decision made today may not be visible in a finished building for four or five years, and by then the people who made it may not be at the firm. Organizational learning is nearly impossible without systems designed to accelerate it.

    This conversation is essential listening for architects, firm leaders, and AEC educators who want to understand what it actually takes to build expertise in a profession that keeps adding tools faster than it builds the judgment to use them.

    What you'll learn in this episode:

    • Why AI tools for architecture QA and code-checking require senior technical oversight — and what happens when that oversight retires

    • How the knowledge management crisis in AEC firms is structural, not just a staffing problem

    • Why emerging professionals in architecture are increasingly skipping deep technical tracks — and what that means for AI adoption

    • How architecture's long project feedback loop makes organizational learning harder than in almost any other industry

    • What intentional mentorship looks like in practice — including "desirable difficulty" and how one firm rebuilt its approach to professional development

    • Why expertise functions more like a verb than a noun, and what that means for how firms should think about training and retention

    #AIinArchitecture #KnowledgeManagement #ArchitecturePractice #AEC #ArchitectureEducation #DesignTechnology

    Episode Links:

    1. ’The AI and Expertise Paradox’ by Chris Parsons

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  15. #383 - Why We Still Love This Profession

    54 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 383

    In this episode of Archispeak, we catch up after Evan’s trip to New York City and the AECtech conference, where he moderated a panel with design technology leaders who’ve climbed all the way into firm …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we catch up after Evan’s trip to New York City and the AECtech conference, where he moderated a panel with design technology leaders who’ve climbed all the way into firm leadership. We also talk about the continuing education grind it takes just to keep our licenses alive, why there’s really no such thing as “architecture without technology” anymore, and how technologists are quietly becoming some of the most strategic voices in practice. From the culture and community around AECtech’s workshops and hackathon, to studio juries that ask students whether they actually had fun, to wandering Heatherwick’s Little Island and wrestling with the idea that architecture is allowed to be whimsical and purely experiential, we connect the dots between career paths, culture-building, and remembering why we fell in love with this profession in the first place.

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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  16. #382 - AI, Meetings, and the Architecture Grind

    53 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 382

    In this episode of Archispeak, we pull back the curtain on what modern practice actually feels like when AI, meetings, and the architecture grind all collide. We talk about coming back from travel feeling not …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we pull back the curtain on what modern practice actually feels like when AI, meetings, and the architecture grind all collide. We talk about coming back from travel feeling not three weeks behind but three months, calendars that look like Tetris played on hard mode, and what happens when you join a call and realize you’re the only human in a grid full of AI note-takers. Cormac and Evan dig into how AI meeting companions, transcripts, and recordings change the way we think, remember, and take responsibility for decisions—and why it’s getting harder to even know where the “real” record of a project lives when it’s scattered across Zoom chats, email, Revit, and shared drives.

    From there, we zoom out to the bigger question: what this nonstop communication and tool-stack chaos is doing to actual design work, mentorship, and the next generation coming up inside firms. We wrestle with whether AI is really relieving the grind or quietly raising expectations so everyone is “on” all the time, and we talk honestly about boundaries, attention, and how to carve out space for deep work in the middle of the mess.

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  17. #381 - Anthony Laney on Craft, Clarity, and the Definition of Home

    54 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 381

    In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with architect Anthony Laney to explore the ideas behind his new book, Poetics of Home. We talk about what it really takes to design spaces that feel deeply human and …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with architect Anthony Laney to explore the ideas behind his new book, Poetics of Home. We talk about what it really takes to design spaces that feel deeply human and how his team at Laney LA has built a practice around clarity, rigor, and emotional resonance.

    We dig into the invisible forces that shape a great project: the trust between architects and builders, the discipline required to strip a design down to its essentials, and the humility it takes to let a home reveal what it wants to become. Anthony shares stories from the field, from working with an extraordinary build team to navigating the inevitable surprises that show up during construction, and how those moments often lead to the most beautiful outcomes.

    Across generations in our profession, there’s a hunger for meaning in the work. This conversation gets right to the heart of that. Whether you’re just entering architecture or you’ve been at it for decades, Anthony’s perspective is a powerful reminder of why we do this in the first place: to create places where people can live well.

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  18. #380 - The Vibe

    52 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 380

    In this episode of Archispeak, we talk about that elusive quality that aligns people with great art (and spaces)—but this time through the lens of a real-world architectural field trip. Evan shares his recent …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we talk about that elusive quality that aligns people with great art (and spaces)—but this time through the lens of a real-world architectural field trip. Evan shares his recent trip to Iowa, where he spent time touring projects and hanging out with the folks at OPN Architects. We dive into why the atmosphere of a place, both in architecture and in practice, matters more than most people realize.

    Episode Links:


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  19. #379 - Step Back to Move the Work Forward

    55 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 379

    In this episode we discuss how taking a step back from work leads to better architecture. We talk about concrete ways to break free from constant busyness, when to pause instead of charging ahead, and how …

    Shownotes

    In this episode we discuss how taking a step back from work leads to better architecture. We talk about concrete ways to break free from constant busyness, when to pause instead of charging ahead, and how technology can both help and hurt creative solutions. We offer clear, practical advice on finding the right balance between thinking things through and getting work done.

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  20. #378 - Misalignments of Rigor

    42 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 378

    In this episode of Archispeak, we trade fresh field notes from Cormac’s latest midwestern architecture road trip and wrestle with the title theme: Misalignments of Rigor. Cormac stands in the rain in Toledo to …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we trade fresh field notes from Cormac’s latest midwestern architecture road trip and wrestle with the title theme: Misalignments of Rigor. Cormac stands in the rain in Toledo to watch a Gehry facade actually perform, peek at SANAA’s elegant double-skin glass and its (imperfect) parapet detail, and then compare all of it to a new addition grafted onto a Louis Kahn building that seems to ignore his relentless order. Along the way, we unpack preservation vs. recreation, how committees and clients steer “of-our-time” interventions, and why tiny choices like material transitions, door proportions, and device locations (aka wall warts) make or break the whole. For students, emerging pros, and firm leaders alike, we turn on-the-ground observations into practical takeaways: where rigor matters, when to prototype, how to collaborate with manufacturers, and how to keep design intent aligned with construction reality so your next addition reads as deliberate, not accidental.

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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  21. #377 - The Disconnect Between Academia and Practice

    53 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 377

    In this episode of Archispeak, we dive into the tough reality of how the architecture profession often fails its own. From the way firms accelerate project timelines while under-developing young talent, to the …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we dive into the tough reality of how the architecture profession often fails its own. From the way firms accelerate project timelines while under-developing young talent, to the disconnect between academia and practice, we ask hard questions about why architects feel overworked, underprepared, and sometimes completely betrayed by the system they’ve dedicated their careers to. We explore how the industry’s obsession with speed and efficiency robs emerging professionals of essential learning opportunities, and why bad leadership and broken processes keep compounding the problem. Through real-world stories—from 52-minute model load times to lessons learned only through hard-earned experience—we grapple with whether the profession can change course, or if it’s destined to keep “eating its young.”

    Episode Links:


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    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  22. #376 - Across the Street from Genius: Yale’s A&A and Art Gallery

    56 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 376

    In this episode of Archispeak, we walk across the street in New Haven—literally and figuratively—to explore two masterworks by Paul Rudolph and Louis Kahn. These buildings, separated by time but connected by …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we walk across the street in New Haven—literally and figuratively—to explore two masterworks by Paul Rudolph and Louis Kahn. These buildings, separated by time but connected by place and purpose, offer a rare opportunity to see two giants of architecture in conversation across the street.

    We kick things off outside Paul Rudolph’s brutalist Art and Architecture Building, a six-story monument to concrete, shadow play (which is Cormac’s favorite), and interlocking geometries. From rough textures to zigzagging stair sequences, we unpack how Rudolph’s massing, detail, and bold restraint create an intensely dynamic corner in the city.

    Then, just steps away, we head into Louis Kahn’s Yale University Art Gallery. Built 20 years prior, it’s a study in geometric discipline, restrained materiality, and the classic served-and-servant spatial philosophy. From triangular waffle slabs and coffered ceilings to floating stair treads, we peel back the layers of this early Kahn work and talk about how it set the stage for what came later in his career.

    We also announce a new series: What Makes This Building Great?, available exclusively on our YouTube channel, where we take our conversations further by sketching over photos and plans to peel back the onion of master works of architecture. These are the kinds of deep, nerdy dives we’ve always wanted to do—and we’d love your feedback as we build this series out.

    Head to our YouTube channel to watch the first episode featuring Kahn’s Yale Center for British Art. And let us know what buildings you think are worthy of the title.

    -----

    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  23. #375 - Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn

    1 Std. 6 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 375

    In this episode of Archispeak, we walk through the Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn and reflect on what makes this building truly great. From its masterful use of natural light and honest materials to …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we walk through the Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn and reflect on what makes this building truly great. From its masterful use of natural light and honest materials to the clarity of its spatial organization, Kahn’s final building is both a work of art and a place for art. We discuss what it feels like to experience the space firsthand, how it invites contemplation, and why it continues to resonate with architects decades later. Along the way, we explore timeless questions about authorship, permanence, and what architecture has the power to communicate.

    Episode Links:


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  24. #374 - 2025 Summer of Architecture, Part 1

    1 Std. 22 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 374

    In part 1 of our summer series centered on the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture, we discuss Evan's first visit to Boston and share his and Cormac's impressions of the city.Rather than focusing on CEUs or …

    Shownotes

    In part 1 of our summer series centered on the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture, we discuss Evan's first visit to Boston and share his and Cormac's impressions of the city.

    Rather than focusing on CEUs or presentations, we explore how the AIA Conference continues to serve as a powerful gathering place for the profession. The serendipity of in-person meetups, the nuance of hallway conversations, and the inspiration found in real-world architecture make it a unique moment in the calendar year.

    Whether you made it to Boston or not, this episode captures the essence of what makes architectural travel and community engagement so energizing. It's a reminder that often the most meaningful aspects of being an architect happen outside the office—walking the streets of a great city or reconnecting with colleagues over drinks after years apart.

    Episode Links:


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  25. #373 - ‘Slowing Down to Speed Up’, with Carla Johnson

    1 Std. 18 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 373

    In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Carla Johnson—author, speaker, and innovation strategist—for a conversation that’s both energizing and reflective. We dive into the idea of “slowing down to speed …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Carla Johnson—author, speaker, and innovation strategist—for a conversation that’s both energizing and reflective. We dive into the idea of “slowing down to speed up” and how reconnecting with our innate curiosity might be the most important skill for architects and creative professionals today.

    Carla shares her journey from engineering to architecture marketing to helping AEC firms rediscover the lost art of asking better questions. We explore how our industrial-era systems stripped us of critical thinking and why now—thanks to tools like AI—we have a new opportunity to reawaken our creativity.

    Together, we talk about reframing failure, why safe ideas might be the riskiest ones, and how even a simple breath can change the way we approach problem-solving. Whether you’re a student staring down deadlines or a project manager caught in the machine, this one’s a reminder to pause, stretch, and let your curiosity lead the way.

    Episode Links:


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  26. #372 - AU - The Future of Home Automation

    1 Std. 3 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 372

    In this episode of Archispeak, we explore the evolving frontier of home automation with Jeff Thomas of Control4 and Michael Smith of Bromic Heating. Together, we unpack the layered relationship between …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we explore the evolving frontier of home automation with Jeff Thomas of Control4 and Michael Smith of Bromic Heating. Together, we unpack the layered relationship between architecture and integrated technology—why it’s critical to bring smart home specialists in early, how lighting, heating, and sound are blending into seamless user experiences, and where the real opportunities lie for residential architects.

    We dig into the nitty-gritty: from the difference between Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi protocols, to the challenges of retrofitting systems in older homes. Along the way, we highlight how smart tech isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about extending comfort, enhancing ambiance, and making homes safer, more energy-efficient, and more enjoyable to live in.

    If you’ve ever felt out of your depth when a client asks about smart thermostats, color-tunable lighting, or voice-controlled heating, this one’s for you. We’re asking the questions you didn’t know you needed to ask—so you can deliver better outcomes and stay ahead of what’s coming next.

    This episode has been made possible with the generous support of Bromic Heating.

    Episode Links:


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  27. #371 - Genius Loci

    57 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 371

    What makes architecture memorable? Why do some spaces hit you in the chest while others feel hollow? In this episode of Archispeak, we explore a concept that’s rarely taught but deeply felt. Genius loci. The …

    Shownotes

    What makes architecture memorable? Why do some spaces hit you in the chest while others feel hollow? In this episode of Archispeak, we explore a concept that’s rarely taught but deeply felt. Genius loci. The spirit of the place.

    From volunteering as a docent at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio to taking a group of recent grads on an architectural pilgrimage through Chicago, Cormac shares stories that tie memory, mentorship, and emotion to design. Along the way, we discuss how the demands of modern practice often push this spirit aside in favor of speed, budgets, and repeatability.

    Together, we wrestle with what it means to create architecture that belongs—architecture that understands its context, uplifts the human experience, and becomes part of the emotional fabric of our lives. If you’ve ever stood in a space and simply felt something you couldn’t explain, this one’s for you.

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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  28. #370 - Rebuilding After The LA Fires

    39 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 370

    In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Jessica Orlando, Vice President and President-Elect of the AIA Pasadena Foothill chapter, to explore how architects are stepping up in the aftermath of the recent …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Jessica Orlando, Vice President and President-Elect of the AIA Pasadena Foothill chapter, to explore how architects are stepping up in the aftermath of the recent Altadena and Palisades wildfires in Southern California. Jessica shares how the AIA’s volunteer-led “Ask an Architect” initiative is connecting displaced residents with licensed professionals to help guide them through the overwhelming process of rebuilding—many for the first time.

    We discuss the powerful role architects can play in disaster response, the challenges of balancing speed with resilience in permitting and design, and the implications of relaxed regulations in the name of urgency. Jessica also walks us through what’s happening on the ground, including policy shifts, modular and prefab strategies, bulk material purchasing efforts, and the surprising silver linings some homeowners are finding in being able to reimagine what “home” means.

    This conversation highlights the profession’s unique ability to lead with empathy, share knowledge, and organize in the face of crisis—and why this moment is an opportunity for all of us to do better, together.

    Episode Links:


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  29. #369 - Salary Transparency in Architecture

    58 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 369

    In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with Robert Yuen, CEO and co-founder of Monograph, to dive into the findings from their latest Architecture and Engineering Salary and Business Benchmarks Report 2025 …

    Shownotes

    In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with Robert Yuen, CEO and co-founder of Monograph, to dive into the findings from their latest Architecture and Engineering Salary and Business Benchmarks Report 2025. We discuss how Monograph’s anonymized real-world data provides a clearer picture of salaries, utilization, and realization rates across the industry—without relying on traditional survey methods. Together, we unpack why project managers and engineers are out-earning architects, the crucial role of financial literacy, and how radical transparency can shape a more sustainable and prosperous future for the profession.

    Episode Links:


    TRXL Podcast episodes featuring Robert Yuen


    Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek


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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

  30. #368 - Architectural Ratchet Straps

    49 Min.Staffel 12 · Folge 368

    In this episode we explore the intersection of structural engineering, adaptive reuse, and creative problem-solving in architecture. From a lighthearted discussion about ratchet straps as unconventional …

    Shownotes

    In this episode we explore the intersection of structural engineering, adaptive reuse, and creative problem-solving in architecture. From a lighthearted discussion about ratchet straps as unconventional structural solutions to a deep dive into the challenges of modernizing existing buildings, this episode showcases how architects and engineers tackle complex design problems with ingenuity.

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    Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.com

    Thank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.

    Support Archispeak by making a donation.

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