Archinect - News

How the Toilet Can Be an Icon of Social Justice, Sustainability, and Wellness

2021-03-08T18:10:00-05:00

Located at the intersection of sculpture and architecture, TOLO's XYYXXY Accessible Restroom is designed as a counterpoint to the “normative” bathroom. The plan takes the shape of a disfigured cross with a “non-gendered” toilet or urinal stall located at the end of each spoke. The impetus for the project was North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” HB2, which sought to restrict the bathroom transgender people can use. XYYXXY emblematizes the cultural issues at play in these so-called “Potty Laws,” as well as other historic civil rights laws, that have sought to define how restrooms are designed and used.

Join us as we talk to the designers of the XYYXXY Accessible Restroom, TOLO Architecture partners Sarah Lorenzen and Peter Tolkin, for a presentation and discussion Monday, March 15th, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST, looking at the potential of the toilet.

To RSVP for this virtual panel, please click the "reserve" button at this link. Space is limited and registration is required to attend....

A panel discussion on buying and selling architecture/design products during COVID-19

2020-11-30T18:02:00-05:00

Commercial interiors product manufacturers are struggling to understand the best way to reach their customers with the product information they need to make recommendations and execute on solutions that support the health, safety and welfare of employees returning to the office. Design practices across much of the US remain closed to local sales representatives, the traditional source of product information. The inability to travel has curtailed access for designers who depend on trade shows or other industry events to gain important product knowledge. Many furniture showrooms are operating on reduced schedules, making it difficult for designers and their clients to “kick the tires” on new products and evaluate mockups. This session will feature a panel of industry experts offering guidelines for communicating product information to the market during the pandemic and managing the specification process during this unprecedented time.

Join us as we talk to leaders in this space during...

The Importance of Positive Leadership and Mentorship in Architecture

2020-11-10T14:51:00-05:00

The architecture and design industries are complex and multi-disciplinary. While a degree provides a solid basis for practice, recent graduates and junior designers are still years away from obtaining a full understanding of the skills required to be competent professionals. This panel will take a look at the importance of mentorship in the profession, providing an insightful discussion with experienced mentors about what it takes to help steer the next generation of leaders.

How does a young designer find a mentor?

Should your mentor come from a similar background?

What does a mentorship look like during the work-from-home world that the pandemic has brought us?

Join us as we look at these questions and more during our special discussion tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST, featuring a panel of industry leaders and mentors.

Distinguished panelists include Alan Maskin, Principal / Owner at Olson Kundig; Jonathan Moody, CEO at Moody Nolan; Donna Sink, A...

Join Archinect for an important panel discussion, "Creating a More Diverse Future in A&D"

2020-11-04T15:46:00-05:00

Do the architecture and design industries represent the same diversity as the population it serves? This panel takes a look at this critical issue, and will address ways to make positive changes to ensure we push towards justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in A&D.

We invite you to join us for a special discussion this upcoming Monday, November 9th, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST, featuring a panel of industry leaders that have dedicated their work towards reshaping our industry into one that better represents the communities at large.

Distinguished panelists include Karen Compton, Principal at A3K; Kimberly Dowdell, President at NOMA; Julia Gamolina, Founder at Madame Architect; Todd Heiser, Managing Director at Gensler; & Ann Rolland, Partner at FXCollaborative. The panel will be moderated by Paul Petrunia, Archinect's Founder/Director.

To RSVP for this virtual panel, please click the "reserve" button at this link. Space is limited and registration is required to attend.

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Evolving with Social: New Strategies for Marketing

2020-11-03T13:29:00-05:00

2020 has emerged as a year that will change all of our lives, whether it’s the current and ongoing health pandemic, social justice reform, economic unrest, and more. Against this backdrop, businesses are trying to find their voice and best manage how their brands are meant to respond to all this change. This panel will call on marketing and communications experts in the industry to talk about lessons learned and best practices for the future of storytelling for your business.

We invite you to join us for a a panel discussion tomorrow, November 4th, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST.

Panelists include Christine Abbate, President at Novità PR; Samantha Chastang, Marketing Director, Steinberg Hart; Daria Pahhota, Global Communications Leader at SOM; and John Stephens, VP Marketing at Shaw Contract. The panel will be moderated by Paul Petrunia, Founder/Director of Archinect.

To RSVP for this virtual panel, please click the "reserve" button at this link. Space is limited and registration is...

How Designers Can Leverage Technology to Increase the Bottomline

2020-10-20T18:33:00-04:00

In most recent years, architecture & design firms have invested more and more money into technology. Though the consensus amongst the industry is that these investments are necessary, questions often arise: Am I do I making good use of my investment? How do I measure ROI? And certainly, how do I improve ROI? This panel conversation will feature industry leading technology experts to discuss how they’ve leveraged technology to increase productivity and efficiency across their firms’ design teams.

We invite you to join us for a a panel discussion this Thursday, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST,

Panelists include Bill Carney, Design Technology Leader at DLR Group; Philip Chan, BIM Manager at The Beck Group; Galen Hoeflinger, BIM Technologist at SmithGroup; and Angela Palmer, Design Technology Specialist at Gensler. The panel will be moderated by Westin Conahan, Product Director at Designer Pages PRO.

To RSVP for this virtual panel, please click the "reserve" button at this link. Space i...

What will the future of architectural education look like?

2020-10-15T14:47:00-04:00

It's safe to say that nobody knows what the future of architectural education will be. These days it's hard to know what next month will bring us. Few people would argue, however, that academia is ripe for change, as are many facets of modern life that have not evolved at the pace the world has changed in recent decades.

To address this necessary change, we invite you to join us for a special discussion this upcoming Monday, from 1-2 pm EST / 10-11 am PST, featuring a distinguished panel of leaders of architectural education. Deans from across the country will be addressing, head-on, the change they hope to see, and the challenges they currently face to make that change.

To RSVP for this virtual panel, please click the "reserve" button at this link. Space is limited and registration is required to attend.

The Panelists

Hernán Díaz Alonso has been the director of the Southern California Institute of Architecture since 2015, where is held the position of distinguished faculty membe...

Get to know the panelists for Monday's panel on getting through a recession

2020-10-10T13:42:00-04:00

While it's easy to see a recession as nothing but challenge and hardship, a downturn in the economy has historically provided opportunities to make positive change, for both individuals and businesses.

On Monday we'll be (virtually) hosting an important discussion with a group of panelists that have a lot of valuable insight for architects and firm owners about how to best get through a recession. The panel, Lessons on Surviving, and Even Thriving Through a Recession, will take place on Monday, October 12th, from 1-2pm EST (10-11am PST).

How does the current recession compare to previous recessions? Why is architecture so vulnerable to changes in the economy? Should firms scale back or push forward and spend during a recession? How can a firm take advantage of opportunities a recession brings? What's the best approach to leading a team through a challenging time? These are just a few of the questions we plan to address during the panel.

RSVP here to reserve your spot. Our audienc...

The Inevitable Balancing Act of the Post-Pandemic Workplace

2020-10-02T08:18:00-04:00

The commercial design industry—real estate professionals, architects, interior designers and furniture manufacturers alike—is optimistic that boredom, discomfort and a craving for workplace culture will soon drive the U.S. workforce back to their physical offices so things can get “back to normal”.

The reality is likely far more complex, as employees leverage technology to become increasingly productive with remote work and exhibit a reluctance to go back to the way things were before. Employers are now grappling with how to re-build trust in real estate assets, how to support the 30-40% of workers expected to work from home a majority of the time, and their responsibilities and costs associated with either scenario.

Will real estate firms soon be helping their clients right-size their footprints for a reduced onsite workforce? What will be the new normal for corporate culture? Will design firms soon be hired to help retrofit employees’ home offices so they feel part of that corpo...

How is climate change affected by the products you specify?

2020-09-30T16:09:00-04:00

Interior designers and architects are often left out of the embodied carbon conversation, but the impact and opportunity with interior materials is huge–especially when you account for cyclical renovations over the building’s life. There are many ways to reduce the carbon footprint of a TI project, but doing that requires a shift in mindset.

This is the focus of an upcoming panel, the first of Parade's month+ long series of panels addressing critical issues for architects and designers, entitled "How Your Specs Can Solve the Climate Crisis."

The Interface-sponsored event will be moderated by Nadav Malin, President at BuildingGreen, with panelists Jennifer Chen, Interiors Associate at LMN, and Brent Ehrlich, Products & Materials Specialist at BuildingGreen. The virtual panel will take place via Zoom next next Tuesday, October 5th, from 1-2pm EST.

Click here for more info and to RSVP. Space will be limited so sign up soon to book you spot.

About Parade
Parade is a product launch cele...

Lessons on Surviving, and Even Thriving Through a Recession

2020-09-15T14:54:00-04:00

Recessions are hard for everyone, but the architecture industry has a history of being especially impacted by downturns in the economy. This panel, one of Archinect's many upcoming virtual events, will share insights from architects who have successfully worked through previous recessions, or even started up during a recession.

From L-R: Gregg Pasquarelli, Carie Penabad, David Gensler, Patrick Macleamy

The panel will bring together seasoned industry experts: David Gensler, Former Co-CEO at Gensler; Carie Penabad, Principal at CURE & PENABAD; Patrick Macleamy, Former CEO at HOK; and Gregg Pasquarelli, Founding Principal at SHoP Architects. The panel will be moderated by Paul Petrunia, Archinect's Founder/Director.

The conversation will focus on ways firms have pivoted in response to changing economic landscapes, team restructuring, strategic hiring, and other approaches to not only make it through a challenging time, but to come out stronger during the recovery.

To reserve your spot...