067: Robin Raines: An Architect Helping Rebuild Asheville, NC with Respect and Resilience
Today we’re chatting with Robin Raines. Robin brings over 30 years of architectural expertise to Rowhouse Architects, focusing on affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. Today she resides in Asheville, NC but is originally from Grundy, Virginia, Robin proudly calls herself “a coal miner’s daughter,” embracing her Appalachian roots.She discovered her passion for architecture at Virginia Tech, where she earned her degree and began her mission to design spaces that truly make a difference.We talk about: - Robin Raines shares her experience in Asheville during and after Hurricane Helene, including the loss of historic buildings in the River Arts District and the challenges of rebuilding.- We discuss the architectural community’s role in recovery, from zoning changes to master planning and what are the opportunities to shape a more resilient future.- We then talk about Robin’s work as an architect in Asheville and how context-sensitive infill projects and missing middle housing can provide more affordable, livable options.- Robin shares how her journey to becoming majority owner at Rowhouse Architects started with a plate of spaghetti and she also shares the importance of support from her peer networks as she has risen in leadership in her career. ____Links:Rowhouse on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rowhouse_arch/Rowhouse Architects Website: https://rowhouse-architects.com/Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-raines-b0057135/Robin/ Asheville/ Hurricane Helene: https://styleblueprint.com/everyday/robin-raines-rowhouse-architects/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKgPRJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3NFM4UUU2dXFJOXJDeEN0AR41fSr49iojMgPPc-PbOrZqz7mFS6jVRuQwFM7FZPMyDmnF0erpDunNVTDGTQ_aem_m8BbaGQTGvWKQoh7lmKnrgConnect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
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066: Bethany Lundell Garver: Rethinking Architectural Education with Practice-Based Learning and a Reimagined Studio Culture
On today’s episode we welcome Bethany Lundell Garver. Beth is Dean of Practice at the Boston Architectural College, where she oversees college-wide courses and career programs that connect academic knowledge to real-world challenges. She directs the Gateway Office BAC, an innovative "community-based design uncenter" that expands design agency through civic engagement. Before joining the BAC in 2014, she spent many years with Rafael Viñoly Architects, working on significant laboratory and healthcare projects. She was recently recognized with the 2025 AIA/ACSA Practice and Leadership Award and the 2024 AIA Young Architects Award. Beth also maintains a Somerville-based design studio focused on architectural research and practice.We talk about:- The importance of pairing an education in architecture with real-world experience and how the BAC has designed and built a robust curriculum that balances academics with required hours in areas of practice.- We make comparisons to NCARB’s AXP program and Beth shares what her peers in education are thinking regarding licensure pathways and accreditation to broaden access to the profession.- We discuss the current state of studio culture, encouraging “good enough” design over perfectionism, and how Beth, as an educator, prepares students to manage their time effectively while maintaining work-life balance.- We end by talking about a growing emphasis on designing for material reuse and how the BAC challenges traditional “infinite materials” assumptions, teaches adaptive, resource-conscious design practices, and collaborates with community partners. ____Links:Connect with Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-lundell-garver/Learn about the BAC: go-bac.orgMore about the BAC: https://www.acsa-arch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BLG-AT-MS-TMB-PL-2025Awards-5.pdfConnect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
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(B014) Entry-Level to Established - Architectette Guests' Advice at 1 Year/ 10 Years
Welcome to a special bonus episode of Architectette!In this compilation episode, our 2025 Architectette guests share the advice they would give themselves at two pivotal points in their careers: just starting out, and after a decade of experience. Whether you're fresh out of school or navigating your mid-career chapter, this episode offers honest insights, lessons learned, and encouragement from women who’ve been there. Tune in for a thoughtful reflection on growth, grit, and what really matters in the long arc of an architecture career.Connect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
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065: Catherine Meng: Parenthood, Podcasting, and Project Leadership
On today’s episode of Architectette we’re chatting with fellow architect and podcaster, Catherine Meng, AIA. Catherine is an architect and project manager at DLR Group in San Francisco. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University, and previously worked in both Shanghai and New York City. She has built a career designing and leading projects ranging from high-end single-family residences to multi-family housing, as well as workplace and commercial design. She is also the host and founder of the Design Voice Podcast which was active from 2018 through 2022. We talk about: - Catherine’s unusual solution to finding work during the 2009 recession and how landing a job in China helped her to level up her CA experience and helped to boost her career once she returned to the US.- We also chat about the Design Voice Podcast; the importance of being intentional when making guest selections and insights she learned over 80 episodes.- We next reflect on her experiences balancing career growth with motherhood- what it was like to return after parental leave and how she successfully advocated for a workplace wellness room her office’s renovation.- Most importantly, Catherine shares actionable strategies for cultivating mentorship. We talk about her mentors, how she plans for her career, and how she applies lessons learned from her mentors to her own role as a mentor to help elevate future leaders at her firm.____Links:Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinewmeng/Design Voice Podcast: https://www.designvoicepodcast.com/Connect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
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064: Evon Calabrese: Translating Design Research into Healthcare Architecture
Evon Calabrese, Assoc. AIA, EDAC, is a healthcare designer at NBBJ with a focus on evidence-based and trauma-informed design. Throughout her career, she has specialized in environmental psychology, inclusive design, design justice, and research. Her professional work includes notable contributions to substance use disorder facilities, college counseling centers, and health clinics, all focused on enhancing patient care and supporting mental health services. Evon is part of the Trauma-informed Design Society Research team and has an evidence-based design certification from the Center for Healthcare Design.We talk about: - The decision process for the selection of her dual degrees in architecture, the challenges she faced finding the right fit in the workforce after graduating, and the balance of mental health and studying for the AREs. - Her experiences working in healthcare architecture and Evon shares stories about smoking policies, shelter and exposure in healthcare spaces, AI inspiration images, and the best ways to solicit user feedback. - The power of selecting a specialty early in her career and how she has leaned into involvement with professional organizations such as AIA, the Oregon Design Conference, and the Trauma-informed design society and how they have helped her build leadership skills and connect her to other experts in the field.____Links:Connect with Evon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evon-calabrese-edac-23225b54/Connect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
Architectette inspires, elevates, and connects women+ in Architecture, Design, Engineering, and Construction.
Every other Monday, host Caitlin Brady features a new podcast guest to share their unique stories and experiences as women in AEC. We encourage and inspire more women and minorities to become licensed architects, promoted to leadership positions, connected in a strong community, and champion equality and inclusion. This podcast is your mentor on-the-go!
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