Where the A+D practice of the past was top-down (think apprenticeship and mentorship), the firm of the present and the future is bottom-up (based on collaboration and cross-generational learning).

How are A+D practices evolving, as non-traditional and alternative professional paths continue to open up for established practitioners and those new to the practice alike? How are interpersonal dynamics and power structures impacted by the drive for more mutually beneficial arrangements? What’s the role of firm loyalty in the age of agency? What practitioner profiles might emerge as a result of the pandemic? How will these impact the profession?

Join Anesu Dhliwayo (Gould Evans), Bert deViterbo (Gensler), Christina Cho Yoo (Atelier Cho Thompson) and Christoper Wasney (CAW Architects) with moderator Lisa Boquiren (brand strategist, and former chair, AIASF Communications Committee), for an insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring conversation.

Thanks to generous Copper-level sponsorship of this program from Tipping Structural Engineers, the first 10 registrations were complimentary.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will learn about the evolution of the A+D practice over the past 30 years, and the impacts on the profession, from the standpoint of employee-employer relations at various size firms.
2. Participants will learn how to evolve their own practice through collaboration and cross-generational learning, whether they are an employee or an employer.
3. Participants will learn how new practitioner profiles, particularly those emerging as a result the pandemic, might impact the profession.
4. Participants will learn, in general terms, how the concept of “firm culture” is created and realized across various size firms.

About the Panelists

Bert deViterbo, AIA, IIDA, CDT, LEED AP is a Studio Director and Senior Associate at Gensler, where he leads a cross-discipline team focused on workplace projects for the tech industry. Bert is a master at leveraging his strategic design experience, management, and technical expertise to deliver outstanding design for clients globally. He also believes in making a difference in the local Bay Area community by leading efforts with organizations like PRC, DIFFA, and St. Anthony’s.

Anesu Dhliwayo is a designer and associate at Gould Evans where she predominantly works on education projects. Her approach is focused on how design can improve a student’s environment and lead to better learning outcomes. An alumna of Boston Architectural College, Anesu chairs the 800-member Bay Area Young Architects (BAYA) committee of the AIASF Chapter — the most active AIA committee for young architects nationwide.

Christina Cho Yoo, AIA, PE, LEED AP BD+C is co-founder of Atelier Cho Thompson, a multidisciplinary design firm that engages in architecture, interiors, branding, & design strategy. Christina received degrees in structural engineering, construction management, and architecture from Stanford & Harvard GSD. She was a structural engineer at Arup and went on to work at firms worldwide including SHoP Architects, Neri & Hu, and BCJ. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the CCA.

Christopher Wasney, FAIA is a Founding Principal at CAW Architects, directing the firm’s higher education and historic preservation work. Chris particularly relishes the challenges of finding appropriate and distinctive design responses within established contexts and campuses, with both renovations and new buildings. Chris is a faculty member of the Architectural Design Program at Stanford University, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the California Preservation Foundation.

About the Moderator

Lisa Boquiren brings insight, ideas and brand strategy to creative businesses. She oversaw rebranding initiatives, as director of marketing at San Francisco Design Center, and at EHDD. As chairperson for the AIASF Communications Committee (2009-2014), Lisa helped advance the chapter’s messaging goals, particularly for women in practice, through incubator events that enabled EQxD. Other events she’s created include “Brand Architect” (2012), “The Divergent Practice” (2014), “The Resilient Practice” (2018), and “Flight Path” (2020).