Category Archives: Uncategorized

Formula 1 fervor! Today, my article takes a different turn, literally. Yep, F1! Last year on this date, I celebrated a milestone birthday and decided to spring for travel with my three children to my favorite city in the world: Salzburg, Austria. The trip included components that were professional (incredible tour of mafi – walkContinue reading “Let’s Talk Formula 1!”

“The Sydney Opera House!” Often, when people learn I am an architect, they quickly ask about my favorite building. My down-under response often surprises them. The Sydney Opera House was my top choice throughout my early career, based simply on photographs and images. However, once I saw the Opera House in person ten years agoContinue reading “My Favorite Piece of Architecture”

Congrats, Illya, Josh, and Matt! As we excitedly learned the election results for this new cycle of AIA leaders last week, I could not help but reflect on elections of the past. Following one particularly special vote years ago, I imagined how transformed our profession might be if all architects took a solemn pledge atContinue reading “AIA Conference on Architecture 2024”

Congratulations, 2024 architecture grads! In 2002 – when most of you were just born – the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) published an awesome study called “The Redesign of Studio Culture.” Through their impressive follow-up, AIAS changed the face of studio culture and pretty much transfigured certain aspects of architectural education. Since then, IContinue reading “Congrats 2024 Grads!”

“Women are the real architects of society,” wrote Harriett Beecher Stowe in “Household Papers and Stories” in 1896. With a firm belief in that statement, I would submit that, “Mothers are the real designers of humanity.” At its core, Ms. Stowe’s quotation means that women are the creators of culture, while mine suggests that ourContinue reading “Women are the Architects of Society”

Why “The Three Aspens?” Since I launched this consultancy, folks often inquire about the name, and hashtag#NationalArborDay seems the perfect date to offer an explanation. Some will already know this, but to many it will be a new story. The “Three” is easy; this honors my three children … my most cherished ‘designs’ … theContinue reading “Why “The Three Aspens?””

Applauding the ‘Elite Eight’ (and I don’t mean basketball)! Ten years now separate me from my AIA presidency, and I have remained rather silent in the decade since. Yet, a host of topics have stimulated my mind, stirred my soul, and touched my heart, reminding me that only by being involved, active, and engaged inContinue reading “Celebrating Women Leaders in Architecture”

Winter, I worry for you! Increasingly, winters are shorter than ever and warmer than ever, or feel like a perpetual fall as in this past season. For me, this seeming reality is one of the saddest consequences of climate change. (Yes, I genuinely love winter.) During a recent church event, an ice-breaker had everyone moveContinue reading “Worrying for Winter”