Date:        August 5th, 2022
Location: 1011 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Led by:  Danielle Encela and Saakshi Terway
Session Sponsor:   Architectural Record, EYP, Patcraft, Chesapeake Lighting, Federated Lighting, Pella, Pella Mid-Atlantic Windows &Doors Commercial
Session Downloads:  Session Program

Overview

This session explored the importance of advocacy within the AEC profession, and how it shapes our practice. In this session we focused on three different topics that we believe are great examples of the impact of advocacy has on people, place, and policy. The areas of advocacy being discussed during this session are environment justice & resiliency (EJ&R), social justice, and technology. The scholars heard from experts of each area on their approaches to advocacy and how their mission translates in their professional work.

Presentation #1

Environmental Justice & Resiliency
Speakers: Ellen Dunham-Jones, Georgia Institute of Technology; Heather Jauregui, Perkins Eastman; Ryan Hand, District of Columbia Office of Planning

The four speakers, share their experience regarding environmental justice and resiliency. Elizabeth Blasius talked about the resilience of vernacular elements and her advocacy work at preservation futures. Ellen Dunham Jones presented case study as a tool for advocacy.  Her take on disrupting automobile and leveraging social capacity to co create with community sparked conversation amongst the scholars. Heather Jauregui shared Perkins Eastman tools kits on addressing environmental justice. She emphasized on data gathered from pre and post occupancy and leveraging that information for informed design decision. Ryan Hand from DC Office of Planning briefly talked about DC Cultural Plan and various initiative led by them to implement cultural scene in Washington DC.

Presentation #2

Social Justice
Speakers: Dayton Schroeter, SmithGroup; Yiselle Santos Rivera, HKS; Kavitha Matthew, KPF

In this part of the presentation, the speaker shared their personal journey and passion for JEDI initiative and how they navigated in their respective firms to be torch bearer of this important and much needed cause. .

Presentation #3

Panel + Workshop: Technology
Speakers: Ricardo Rodriguez, MBCC Group

The last presentation focused on technology impacts on the future of AEC industry. Ricardo shared a graphic compelling presentation using AI. In his presentation he questions the traditional way/dogmatic approach to architecture. He concludes his presentation by stating that the approach to keep up with technology is to reinvent the wheel using the tools available. It is not about making dramatic change but to add value and opportunity brought to us by technology. The way to move forward in the future of our profession is by increasing our agency, embracing failures, engaging life with meaning and passion.

Date:        July 8th, 2022
Location: MLK Library
                  901 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Led by:    Nicholas Knodt, RA & Janki Shah, Assoc. AIA, LEED GA
Session Sponsors:    SYNERGi, Shaw Contract, One Source Associates Inc, Lutron, MGS Global Group
Session Downloads: Session 5 Program

Overview

This session exposed CKLDP Scholars to the world of business development and marketing, sharing strategies and perspectives of individuals within the architecture and allied industry. Starting with a roundtable that demystified business development through the stratified lens of professionals in various stages of their careers, scholars learned about various methods and perspectives for gaining work and building a practice. This session also highlighted the importance of storytelling and how to build personal branding. These are critical components to communicating intent, sharing common values with potential clients and partners as well as refining the tools of communication to share our ‘why’ as architects and designers.

Presentation #1

Business Development Roundtable
Speakers: David Haresign, Pascal Molenat, Sarah Wahlgren Wingo

In the first session of the Business Development and Marketing roundtable, the CKLDP class was able to hear from three different professionals with a wide variety of experiences come together to share their views on how to start a firm and win work, how to network with clients, marketing and building industry relationships. The CKLDP class heard from Sarah Wingo, a young professional in the DC area who has recently started her own firm, on what some of the challenges and opportunities she has faced both building her brand and business here in the District, and lessons learned along her journey. The class also heard from two other panelists at mid and late points in their careers: Pascal Molenat who is currently a chief marketing lead at OTJ, and David Haresign, FAIA a seasoned principal and one of the founders of CKLDP. The three panelists tackled both the hard and soft skillsets associated with the development and answered questions on the topics of ethics, employee satisfaction, and building and marketing a portfolio.

Presentation #2

Branding Workshop
Speakers: Joann Lui

Joann Lui shared her inspiring story and the importance of building and understanding one’s personal narrative in order to define themselves in the profession. Her background in Architecture and passion for marketing yielded an interactive and engaging workshop centered around building a personal brand and how to use this mindset to strengthen relationships in the industry, promote yourself and your work as well as define perception. The class was able to reflect and write their own personal brand statement, as well as reflect on the values that drive them as leaders and designers in the industry.

Presentation #3

Storytelling in the World of Marketing
Speakers: Karen Robichaud

Karen Robichaud is a marketing and graphics professional who gave the scholar’s a deep dive session into the importance of storytelling in our work, both visually and by using narratives. By developing effective strategies that enable us to tell a story, we are able to reach new clients, share our work in exciting and meaningful ways, as well as frame our perspectives in new contexts. Karen shared her journey and personal ex experience building Payette’s website, blog, and ‘voice,’ and also shared various case studies on how to effectively codify experiences in order to document and communicate projects and stories. Finally, the group was able to hear about different strategies for marketing and graphics as well as have an open discussion identifying what areas and topics scholars are currently engaged with that could lead to greater visibility by using these tools.

Date:        June 3rd, 2022
Location: Knoll, Inc Showroom
                 1222 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Led by:  Eva Kodouskova, AIA, NCARB, NCIDQ, LEED AP B+C and Emily McGee, Associate AIA, LEED GA
Session Sponsor:  Herman Miller, MillerKnoll, Redbrick LMD, Spectrum, Inc., HOK, SmithGroup
Session Downloads:  Session Program

Overview

This session was a hybrid session held at Knoll Inc. Showroom focusing on the importance and impact of Research in the design world – from furniture, to materials, to buildings both existing and new. Research and Data can seem like an excessive use of time and money to some, but it is essential for us as designers and for clients to realize the importance to help make data-informed decisions. We heard from various professionals explaining how their own work has been and will be impacted by learning from past information. Session 4 also focused on how to communicate research and data effectively.

Presentation #1

Lunch and Learn with HermanMiller
Speakers: Sheri Hurley

Sheri introduced the newly formed MillerKnoll – the merger of furniture giants HermanMiller and Knoll. HermanMiller has done extensive research on how environments can impact human interaction and well-being. Sheri shared some of these resoureces with the group, most of which can be found here: https://www.hermanmiller.com/research/

Presentation #2

Innovation in Design: Research and Data in Practice
Speakers: Deborah Wingler, PhD, MSD-HHE, EDAC

Dr. Deboarh Wingler is Associate Director of Research at HKS. Joining us from Singapore, Dr. Wingler described the wide breadth of research that HKS does and the value they find that it brings. Dr. Wingler believes research can contribute to meaning value to design and such should be treated as a service to a client. HKS has several avenues for conducting research, including applied research that investigates matters directly for a project, a non-profit arm that teams with industry experts, as well as HKS incubators and accelerators that staff members can use to explore topics of interest. A constant challenge of how to disseminate knowledge acquired through data and research, HKS has tools and training guides to help the larger firm use this information in other projects.

Presentation #3

Sustainability in Practice
Speakers: Anica Landreneau, Assoc. AIA, HoK; Daniel McGee, PE, MBA, Redbrick LMD; Andrew Cronin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, KieranTimberlake

Anica, Daniel, and Andrew each have unique backgrounds that use data as a decision-making resource in sustainability. As leader of HoK’s global sustainable design practice, Anica tracks energy use of buildings, both designed by HoK and others, to understand how benchmarking can lead to less energy use. With this data, Anica has used this information to advocate for local, state, and federal policies that reduce building energy use. Daniel McGee uses data as a sustainability-focused real estate developer. Andrew Cronin gave insight on how KieranTimberlake uses data to make design decisions considering embodied carbon. These topics have and continue to help in the development of hybrid buildings, understanding the carbon levels of materials, the environmental impact of materials in a building and more. With these backgrounds, scholars participated in a robust conversation about energy benchmarking, building codes, and data driven design.

Presentation #4

Case Study: Integrating Tools and Data in BIM
Speakers: Mark Cichy, HOK

Mark Cichy joined us virtually from Toronto, where he shared all the ways HOK is using point cloud data in the renovation and restoration of the Canadian Parliamentary complex in Ottawa, Canada. As a high profile and historic building, it was essential that HOK and related partners document every existing detail during construction of the project. They did this through unprecedented use of 3D scanning, done footage, and point cloud data. Mark spoke to the importance of data coordination, data process, tool integration and the client’s commitment to the project.

Presentation #5

Data Visualization
Speakers: Tina Banach, SmithGroup

Graphics are useful in quickly conveying an important piece of information to a group of people – but not all graphics are created equal and the difference between a good graphic and a bad graphic can depend on a few seemingly small choices. Tina specializes in information analysis and data visualization for SmithGroup and shared ways to ensure graphics are clear, concise and accurate. Through examples, Tina showed how a graphic can relay incorrect information or be deceitful if close attention is not given. Asking questions like “what are you trying to convey?” and “who are you trying to tell?” can help designers make decisions that can make or break the success of a graphic.

Date:           March 4th, 2022
Location:    Zoom Virtual Meeting
Led by:       Malik Johnson-Williams, Assoc. AIA and Chen Zhao, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Session Downloads: Session Program

Overview

This event explored what leadership is and what impacts positive leadership can have on the individual, team and community with insights from various. The first session presented a general overview of the field of study.  The second session examined what it means to lead and how a collaboration can lead to lasting social change. Lastly panelists discussed the importance of diversity and equity within the design field and advocacy.

Presentation #1

An Introduction to Leadership
Speakers: Daniel Blair, AIA, NCARB & Sarah Wahlgren Wingo, AIA

Daniel and Sarah shared a combined presentation to give an introduction into leadership.  Daniel covered the physiological aspect of leadership by deconstruction and analyzing the qualities of other successful leaders.  Afterwards, Sarah built upon this analysis by discussing the difference between good leadership and bad leadership.

Presentation #2

Social Leadership Roundtable
Speakers: Ricco Hall & Melissa Rocco, PhD

Dr. Melissa Rocco and Professor Ricco Hall shared their perspectives on leadership from a psychological lens.  While their backgrounds are not in architecture, they spoke to the value that architects have in the community and the daily role we have as leaders.  To them, leadership is a multi-layered social construction with forces and factors outside of the leader’s control (ex. personality traits, circumstances and abilities).  Additionally, as we develop our identities, we also develop our capacity to understand, internalize and identify with more sophisticated perspectives on leadership.

We were also reminded as we continue to develop our leadership identities to start with our ‘WHY’ and move outwards.  Developing our ‘WHY’ gives us the motivation that ultimately leads to our ‘HOW’, which is the process in which we achieve our ‘WHAT’.  Leadership often takes being fluid and a positive mental attitude, not a particular personality.

Presentation #3

Leading in Practice Panel Discussion
Speakers: Fawzia Ahmedali, AIA, NOMA LEED AP, Filiz Basaran AIA, LEED AP, CDT & Courtney Rozelle

The final presentation was a panel discussion with well-established leaders from prominent firms and organizations in Washington, DC. Through personal experiences and knowledge gained over the years, the panelists provided the scholars with valuable insights into their views of leadership, how they got to where they are now and what they see as critical skills needed to advance in the world in which we live.