Tracing Architecture

The Will Bruder Conversation

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:02:39 +0000

In this special episode, we were fortunate to capture another candid conversation between Will Bruder, FAIA, and two passionate architecture students from The Design School at Arizona State University—Sophie Apropos-Kardos the co-president of the ASU AIAS chapter and Katie Le the president of the ASU USGBC. Throughout the discussion, Will shares his perspectives on a wide range of topics including design drivers, designing great architecture within budget, and how he listened to the context, program, client and all involved to develop his designs. Some of his personal reflections on the profession are timely and poignant. We extend our gratitude to the leadership at The Design School—Paola Sanguinetti, Claudio Vekstein, and Abigail Hoover—for their support in making this event possible. Special thanks also to Professor Marc Neveu for organizing this special event.

The Architectural Image

Thu, 8 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

For many the first experience with Architecture is with an image, the Architectural Image. In this episode we sit down with two professionals generating the Architectural Image, Matt Winquist an Architectural Photographer and Austin Nikkel a Rendering an visualization specialist. Both of these gentlemen left behind the practice of Architecture to specialize in the crafting of the Architectural Image, and this is their perspective.

A Conversation with Evelyn Lee at The Design School

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In this special episode, we were fortunate to capture an authentic and insightful conversation between Evelyn Lee, FAIA, and two passionate architecture students from The Design School at Arizona State University—Sophie Apropos-Kardos and Ivanna Selpuvuda Suarez—who currently serve as co-presidents of the AIAS chapter at ASU. Throughout the discussion, Evelyn shared her perspectives on a wide range of topics that are timely for emerging professionals. These included: Mentorship & Leadership: The importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and guiding others through example. Career Paths & Alternative Futures: Exploring nontraditional career paths in architecture and the value of interdisciplinary experiences. Equity, Diversity & Resilience: Addressing systemic challenges and fostering inclusive environments within the profession. Technology & Innovation: Embracing tech and its impact on design thinking and practice. Life-Centered Design & The Future of Practice: Reimagining architecture as a tool for human and ecological well-being. Personal Reflections & Advice: Evelyn’s candid thoughts on navigating the profession and staying true to her values. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the leadership at The Design School—Paola Sanguinetti, Claudio Vekstein, and Abigail Hoover—for their support in making this event possible. Special thanks also to AIA National for enabling us to record and share this meaningful exchange.

The Future of Architectural Education: The Dean's Perspective

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode the microphone is manned by Dean José Gámez of College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte and incoming president of Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture to moderate a conversation with Dean Rene Cheng from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, Deputy Dean Phil Bernstein of Yale School of Architecture, and Dean Dan Pitera of University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture + Community Development. These prominent deans discuss the future of architectural education and its role in preparing students for the profession and the counter side of where practice picks up the preparation for the future generation of designers and architects.

AI & Architecture

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Architects use technology on a daily basis and that technology is ever-evolving. Artificial Intelligence or AI is now becoming commonplace in our lives and it is quickly being adapted to use in the classroom and office. Join us as we gather for a discussion by professionals and educators leading the charge with this emerging technology and defining what the next generation is understanding what AI means and can do. We sit down and talk with Karl Daubmann, FAIA, Sara Codarin, and Brian Kelly, AIA to discuss AI and Architecture.

Lessons From Abroad III

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In our third installment of the Lessons From Abroad series, we share the stories of two individuals who’ve benefitted from the support of the Arizona Architecture Foundation – a group whose mission is to enhance the welfare of the Arizona community by promoting excellence in architecture and the built environment by supporting the education of future architects, supporting and promoting the profession of architecture, and preserving the legacy of Arizona architecture. In this special episode, we highlight the Foundation's support of our community in developing young professionals through exposure to unique experiences in travel worldwide. We are joined by Slade Sheaffer, AIA, winner of the 2024 Robert Saemisch Prize, and Kayla Gentry, winner of the 2024 Sean Murphy Prize, to learn how their lives were impacted by their experiences traveling around the world.

Latino Identity in Architecture - Part 2

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In this two-part series on Latino identity in architecture, Tracing Architecture dives into the profound ways the narrative of history and our own heritage shapes design. Part two is a more personal conversation between three practicing architectural professionals in the state of Arizona, all telling their perspectives of their Latino identity based on their personal upbringing and experiences and how those have shaped their professional and professional lives in this state. Every one of their stories is unique, and by sharing in a joyful conversation, they also find a lot of commonality. This series was done in collaboration with the AIA Phoenix Metro EDIB committee (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging).

Latino Identity in Architecture - Part 1

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

In this two-part series on Latino identity in architecture, Tracing Architecture dives into the profound ways the narrative of history and our own heritage shapes design. Part one features a thought-provoking conversation between José Bernardi, Associate Professor at ASU and author and editor of Adaptive Reuse in Latin America, and Fernando Luiz Lara, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Spatial Theories for the Americas: Counterweights to Five Centuries of Eurocentrism. Together, they explore the historical narrative of the European "encounter with" or better identified as the invasion of the Americas, challenging the misconception of an "empty land" or "new world"; a world without a history or culture; and examining the lasting impact of this narrative on the urban fabric, and architectural identity of Latin America. This series was created in collaboration with the AIA Phoenix Metro EDIB Committee (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging).

Desert Talks: Urban Heat

Wed, 2 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Desert Talk: Urban Heat As city dwellers in the desert, Urban Heat is present in our lives daily. As architects, Urban Heat is an important part of the conversation when talking about responsible design. In this episode we turn the mics over to local leaders in the Urban Heat research and mitigation efforts. Local Architect and Educator Darren Petrucci moderates a panel conversation between Eric Iwersen, Maria Salenger and David Hondula as they discuss their efforts to mitigate this deadly issue affecting lives locally. Please join us they engage in a dialogue sharing ideas, opinions, and knowledge on this deadly topic of Urban Heat. Thank you to all of our guests that contributed to this episode, including Darren Petrucci, Eric Iwersen, Maria Salenger, and David Hondula. #sustainability #phoenix #architecture #urbanheat #aiaarizona #aia #arizona #desert #design #resiliency #ASU #cityofphoenix #tempe #cityoftempe #thedesignschool

Guiding Lines: Mentorship in Architecture

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In the ever-evolving landscape of architecture, mentorship serves as a guiding light, to remind us to nurture creativity and foster a passion for design. In this episode, we dive into the world of architecture through the lens of an accomplished architect, Angela Watson, President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch. We explore her inspiring career journey, from her early days as a student to her current role as a seasoned professional. Along the way, we uncover valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of the architectural industry, as well as the importance of mentorship in shaping the next generation of architects.

The Business of Architecture

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

The Business of Architecture: Designing your own firm. The dream of many ambitious designers and architects is to be their own boss. Have complete creative freedom, control the finances, and have a greater professional flexibility, work when they want where they want. But starting an architecture firm is very different from working in the profession. We sit down and talk with three local firm owners: Aaron Bass of Stance Architecture, Caroline Lobo of Suoll Architects, and Tommy Suchart and Patricia Chen of Chen+Suchart, about their journey to being firm owners.

Lessons From Abroad II

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Tracing Architecture was again awarded a grant in the fall of 2023 to share the stories of two individuals who’ve benefitted from the support of the Arizona Architecture Foundation – a group whose mission is to enhance the welfare of the Arizona community by promoting excellence in architecture and the built environment by supporting the education of future architects, supporting and promoting the profession of architecture, and preserving the legacy of Arizona architecture. In this special episode, we highlight the Foundation's support of our community in developing young professionals, through exposure to unique experiences in travel across the world. We are joined by Karl Eicher, AIA and Mia Austin, who both traveled to Japan as recipients of the 2020 Robert Saemisch Prize and the 2023 Sean Murphy Prize, respectively, and learn how their lives were impacted by the experience.

Desert Talks: Water - Part 3

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

As desert dwellers, water is always on our minds. As architects, water is an important part of the conversation when talking about responsible design. The final portion of the episode Desert Talks: Water was recorded live on October 25th, 2023. Four of our guests, Grady Gammage Jr., Erika Lynne Hanson, Stefanie Smallhouse, and Enrique Vivoni engaged in a dialogue sharing ideas, opinions, and knowledge on the topic of water, and other related issues that impact our desert living.

AAF 40 Years On

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Celebrating 40 years of the Arizona Architecture Foundation, this special episode features an interview moderated by James Trahan AIA and Caroline Lobo AIA with some of the founding members of the organization: Dave Scheatzle FAIA, James Abell FAIA, Ron Peters AIA, and Chip Shay AIA. As the Rio Salado Architecture Foundation merges with the Central Arizona Architecture Foundation to forge the new AAF, we'll hear how this group started, how it has supported the architecture community in Arizona throughout its history, and how the legacy of the foundation will carry on into the future.

Desert Talks: Water - Part 2

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000

As desert dwellers, water is always on our minds. As architects, water is an important part of the conversation when talking about responsible design. In this second part of the two-part episode, we discuss the current tools and strategies for managing this precious resource and how we can positively affect changes to help manage our water situation. Several perspectives are included: agricultural, hydrological, legal, and societal, discussing how the future might look.

Desert Talks: Water - Part 1

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000

As desert dwellers, water is always on our minds. As architects, water is an important part of the conversation when talking about responsible design. More recently, the topic of water (or the lack of) in the Southwest has been covered in the national and international media. In this first part of the two-part episode, we explore how this precious resource has shaped our society, economics, our cities, and the State of Arizona in general. With several perspectives including: agricultural, hydrological, legal, and societal, we take a look at the past and present, in an effort to understand how the future might look. In the second episode, we delve into strategies and solutions to address the future of water in Arizona.

Water Series Sneak Peek

Thu, 3 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000

This trailer is a sneak peek of an upcoming series about the future of water in Arizona. During the episode series, we will engage in conversations not only on how the future of water looks in our state but its history and present, from policies and regulations to design responses and cultural shifts. The sneak peek covers just part of that conversation, focusing on the news released on June 1st, 2023 by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs about the moratorium on new housing developments that do not have an assured 100-year supply of groundwater. Enrique Vivoni PhD, PE, and land use Lawyer Grady Gammage, Jr. share their perspectives on the announcement and talk about its meaning and effects.

Future of Architecture with AIAS

Thu, 8 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0000

The Great Recession Generation III

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000

This episode is the third in our ongoing Great Recession Generation series. It has been over a decade since the Great Recession, the most severe economic and financial meltdown since the Great Depression, but the impact of that period still affects us today. An entire generation of architecture and construction professionals felt the impact, and several professionals left the profession altogether. Considering another global, earth-shattering event, we want to take a moment to reflect on those times and tribulations. In this episode, we interview two people who briefly left the profession to become educators but ultimately returned to the profession - though one came back to work on the “other side” as a contractor. James Wesala interviews two of his previous coworkers and continued friends: Douglas Strom of Layton Construction (at Concord General Contracting when recorded) and Patrick McGee, an architect at EMC2.

Leading Through Design with WLG

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:30:00 +0000

Lessons from Abroad

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Tracing Architecture was awarded a grant in the fall of 2022 to share the stories of two individuals who’ve benefitted from the support of the Arizona Architecture Foundation – a group whose mission is to enhance the welfare of the Arizona community by promoting excellence in architecture and the built environment by supporting the education of future architects, supporting and promoting the profession of architecture, and preserving the legacy of Arizona architecture. In this special episode, we highlight the Foundation's support of our community in developing young professionals, through exposure to unique experiences in travel across the world. We are joined by Andrew Marriott, who traveled to Morocco as the 2021 Recipient of the Robert Saemisch Prize, and by Paola Perdomo, who traveled to Barcelona and Colombia as the 2022 Recipient of the Sean Murphy Prize, and learn from them how their lives were impacted by the experience.

About Rick Joy

shawn.m.swisher@gmail.com (Rick Joy, Shawn Swisher) — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Twenty years ago, Architecture magazine released a special issue titled "The Arizona School," featuring some of the most prominent architects that redefined architecture in the desert southwest. This was remarkable not only for bringing national notoriety to this group but also for acknowledging the impact of the extraordinary work coming from this state that continues today. In this new interview series, we'll speak with a few of the architects making Arizona special. For this episode, we sit down with Rick Joy, founder of his eponymous Studio Rick Joy, to learn how he's crafted a collaborative design in his studio for almost 30 years.

The Great Recession Generation II

shawn.m.swisher@gmail.com (Margaret Tides, Taylor Donsker, Shawn Swisher) — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This episode is the second in our ongoing Great Recession Generation series. It's been more than a decade since the Great Recession, the most severe economic and financial meltdown since the Great Depression, but the impact of that period in time can still be felt today. An entire generation in the architecture and construction industries was affected, some leaving the profession altogether. In light of another global, earth-shattering event, we want to take a moment to reflect on the last. This episode, we interview two people who found themselves on paths that led them away from architecture. Shawn Swisher interviews two of his fellow graduates from the University of Southern California School of Architecture: Taylor Donsker of Taylor Donsker Design (taylordonsker.com), and Margaret Tides, an attorney in the counsel's office for Placer County, California.

Inspire: 2022 AIA AZ State Conference Special Episode 2

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Tracing Architecture again is teaming up with the AIA Arizona State Conference to create a special set of episodes around the conference theme: Inspire. During the conference, local leaders of the design community will be leading conversations with each of the conference speakers, and Tracing Architecture is sitting down with a few of them to learn more about who they are and catch a glimpse at what they'll be thinking about at this year's conference. In this episode, the second of two special episodes for the conference, we'll be speaking with Stephanie Lin, dean of The School of Architecture and principal of Present Forms, and Ronald Rael, principal of Rael San Fratello and professor of architecture and art practice at UC Berkeley.

Inspire: 2022 AIA AZ State Conference Special Episode 1

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Tracing Architecture again is teaming up with the AIA Arizona State Conference to create a special set of episodes around the conference theme: Inspire. During the conference, local leaders of the design community will be leading conversations with each of the conference speakers, and Tracing Architecture is sitting down with a few of them to learn more about who they are and catch a glimpse at what they'll be thinking about at this year's conference. In this episode, the first of two special episodes for the conference, we'll be speaking with Maurita Harris, current President of NOMA Arizona and architect at PHX Architecture, and Ryan Smith, the new director at the School of Architecture at the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona.

Decolonizing Architecture

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In the spring of 2022, Tracing Architecture was awarded an Emerging Professionals Component Grant by the AIA College of Fellows. This grant has allowed us to partner with groups in our community that would otherwise not have access to a media platform such as our podcast, and allow those groups to have critical conversations that can engage our profession and local community more broadly. For this special episode, we collaborated with the Arizona chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) to host a live podcast recording event at their monthly chapter meeting. NOMA Arizona organized and curated a conversation to better understand the concept of decolonizing architecture, inviting panelists of various backgrounds and expertise on the subject from the local community and around the country to explore this topic in depth. The panel included Wanda Dalla Costa, AIA, of Arizona State University, Nicholl Hubbell, Assoc. IIDA, of Shepley Bulfinch, and Luis Cruz-Martinez, AIA, also from Shepley Bulfinch. NOMA Arizona also invited Rubin Quarcoopome and Christopher Locke of Designing in Color, and Shundana Yusaf, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Utah, to join the panel through video recordings to introduce and elucidate key principles of decolonization. Please visit NOMA Arizona's website for more information on the panelists and their organization here: https://nomaarizona.org/event/chapter-meeting-august-2022/

The Great Recession Generation I

shawn.m.swisher@gmail.com (Matthew Tehan, James Wesala, Shawn Swisher) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 16:00:00 +0000

It's been more than a decade since the Great Recession, the most severe economic and financial meltdown since the Great Depression, but the impact of that period in time can still be felt today. An entire generation in the architecture and construction industries was affected, some leaving the profession altogether. In the light of another global, earth-shattering event, we want to take a moment to reflect on the last. This episode is the first in a new, ongoing series, where we interview people to hear their stories of how their lives and careers were forever changed. We start by interviewing the hosts of the show: Shawn Swisher, Matthew Tehan, and James Wesala.

Advocacy by Design

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Does an architect have a responsibility to advocate for their community? In this episode we hear more from community leaders Gary Nelson, Katherine Dudzik Smith, and Arizona State Representative Christian Solorio on their inspirations and aspirations for advocacy in their communities, whether that responsibility is shared by the profession, and how others can get involved. Links discussed during this episode: AIA Arizona PAC: https://www.aia.org/articles/194151-arizona-archipac , https://aia-arizona-archipac.square.site/ AIA National ArchiPAC: https://www.aia.org/pages/3541-archipac Representative Christian Solorio: https://christiansolorio.com/ NOMA Arizona: https://www.nomaarizona.org/ This episode sponsored in part by Pella Windows & Doors

Master Builder

Tue, 7 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

The architect as the master builder, that myth best scene historically in Frank Lloyd Wright, has seemingly gone away from today’s mainstream practice. Today, architecture is as much about communicating and collaborating as it is about designing or building. However, some architects continue this tradition, albeit in a different way: these practices are focused primarily as general contractors, who also happen to build their own designs. In this episode we sat down at the AIA office and spoke with three individuals keeping this tradition alive; Benjamin Hall (of Benjamin Hall Design), Zach Burns (of Local Studio), and James Trahan (of 180 Degrees).

All Together Now (AIA AZ State Conf SE 3)

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 14:00:00 +0000

This year, Tracing Architecture is teaming up with the AIA Arizona State Conference to create a special set of episodes. During the conference, local members of the design community will be leading conversations with each of the conference speakers, and Tracing Architecture is sitting down with those members of our design community to learn more about them and how they are connected with their respective conference speakers. This is the final of three special episodes for the conference, and we'll be speaking with: Diane Jacobs, FAIA, founder and principal of Holly Street Studio; Damon Leverett, AIA, architect and senior lecturer at the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) at the University of Arizona; and Rob Miller, AIA, director of the School of Architecture at CAPLA.

In a Different Light (AIA AZ State Conf SE 2)

Wed, 6 Oct 2021 14:00:00 +0000

This year, Tracing Architecture is teaming up with the AIA Arizona State Conference to create a special set of episodes. During the conference, local leaders of the design community will be leading conversations with each of the conference speakers, and Tracing Architecture is sitting down with those members of our design community to learn more about them and how they are connected with their respective conference speakers. In this episode, the second of three special episodes for the conference, we'll be speaking with: Darren Pettrucci, AIA, founder and principal of AIR (Architecture-Infrastructure-Research) and professor in The Design School at Arizona State University; and Claudia Kappl Joy, co-founder, creative director and managing director of CLL . Concept Lighting Lab, an architectural lighting design studio in Tucson.

New in Town (AIA AZ State Conf SE 1)

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

This year, Tracing Architecture is teaming up with the AIA Arizona State Conference to create a special set of episodes. During the conference, local leaders of the design community will be leading conversations with each of the conference speakers, and Tracing Architecture is sitting down with those members of our design community to learn more about them and how they are connected with their respective conference speakers. In this episode, the first of three special episodes for the conference, we'll be speaking with two of the newest members of our community: Dr. Paola Sanguinetti, recently named as the Director of The Design School at Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University; and John Czarnecki, Assoc. AIA, the new Executive Director of AIA Arizona.

On Justice and Equity

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Various facets of the architectural profession in the United States are not flattering, and some of the most difficult to address is the lack of racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in the industry and policies that reinforce equity in the workplace. For this episode, we are building on the discussions from the joint NOMA Arizona and AIA Phoenix Metro panels held throughout the spring by inviting guests Shannon Rodriquez (of New York-based FX Collaborative) and Yiselle Santos Rivera (of HKS Architects in Washington DC) to share the progress they’ve made and the pitfalls they’ve experienced in their ongoing development of practices that strive for equity and justice.

Life/Work Out of Balance (Part 2)

Mon, 24 May 2021 14:00:00 +0000

There is a common theme amongst young architects—perhaps even a culture or shared honor—of long hours and grueling work. Even moreso, early stages of one’s career can be accompanied with feelings of being lost or inexperienced, creating greater stress and spending more time to compensate. This episode (part 2 of 2 on this topic) will look at strategies of the important but all-too-fleeting nature of life/work balance, and how COVID-19 has changed how people are approaching this issue. In part 2, we speak with Carlos Murietta, AIA, of Merge Architectural Group.

Life/Work Out of Balance (Part 1)

Tue, 6 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

There is a common theme amongst young architects—perhaps even a culture or shared honor—of long hours and grueling work. Even moreso, early stages of one’s career can be accompanied with feelings of being lost or inexperienced, creating greater stress and spending more time to compensate. This episode (part 1 of 2 on this topic) will look at strategies of the important but all-too-fleeting nature of life/work balance, and how COVID-19 has changed how people are approaching this issue. In part 2, we speak with Ashley Mulhall of Orcutt|Winslow.

Craft: Digital & Analog

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 07:00:00 +0000

Paradigms of architectural practice have shifted dramatically relative to the long history of the profession. History is rooted in the analog - paper and parallel bars - while the current trends and future of the profession lie in the digital, rapidly advancing what is possible in the built world. But this dichotomy often also represents a major cultural schism - one that is centered around the role and definition of an architect in the past, present, and beyond.

Origin Story and COVID Check-in

Fri, 7 Aug 2020 15:00:16 +0000

As we all acclimate to the world post-COVID-19, we check in with the Tracing Architecture team to see how everyone is adjusting to their new realities and dig into the origins of the Tracing Architecture podcast. We also sit down with AIA Phoenix Metro AIA10 Director Mandel McDonnell to see what's going on locally.

Passion: Within + Without Architecture

Mon, 25 May 2020 22:51:54 +0000

Being an architect is a job at the end of the day, and architects are people with lives and passions beyond the profession. Some of these passions are directly tied to what makes people want to be architects, and others are complete releases from the profession entirely. We’ll talk about all of the things people do when they’re not in the studio in this live recording from February 2020.