Hello Reader,
Last week, I had the incredible honor of presenting the 2025 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education to someone who’s shaped my thinking for over two decades—Tom Fisher. We met at an ArchVoices retreat in the late '90s, and from that first conversation, Tom pushed me to stay curious, critical, and deeply engaged in rethinking how architecture serves society. To recognize his contributions now felt like a full-circle moment—one rooted in personal gratitude as much as professional admiration.
That theme—of influence, mentorship, and personal evolution—also runs through this week’s podcast episode with Jadyn Anderson, a Master of Architecture student who’s leading with heart, courage, and craft. After a difficult experience early in her studies, Jadyn turned doubt into action, creating When in Doubt, a self-published zine that elevates women’s voices in architecture. Her story is an inspiring reminder of how design can become a tool for healing, storytelling, and advocacy.
If you’ve ever questioned your place in this profession—or used your work to process something bigger—you’ll connect with her journey.
Next week, I’ll be taking a little spring break downtime (a reminder I hope you take for yourself too). Rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s part of how we sustain creative, thoughtful work over the long run.
As we shift more intentionally toward building an AI-first business, you’ll begin to see subtle changes in this newsletter. I’ll be transparent about where AI shows up and how I’m using it—so if you're curious, you’ll have tools to experiment with too.
In the meantime, I’d love to know—who helped shape your path? What stories have stayed with you?
Keep learning and growing,
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Evelyn M Lee, FAIA | NOMA
Founder, Practice of Architecture
Host, Practice Disrupted & Fractional COO
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/// PoA Podcast - Practice Disrupted ///
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Amplifying Women’s Stories in Architecture with Jadyn Anderson
How can storytelling empower women in architecture?
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/// Practice Community + LAB /// What we're reading and sharing ///
Can Bots Teach Empathy? - While AI lacks genuine empathy, it can be trained to detect and respond to human emotions, thereby enhancing customer interactions.
Architects always say that our industry is based on relationships. Here’s one way to leverage AI to improve relationships.
All-Electric Master Plan Homes to Redfine Community Living - Braden, a visionary 2,667-acre master-planned community in California's Central Valley, aims to redefine sustainable living with all-electric homes, extensive green spaces, and a design that minimizes car dependency.
World Happiness Report - The World Happiness Report 2025 centers on the transformative power of caring and sharing — showing how benevolence, social connections, and perceptions of kindness dramatically impact wellbeing. The report highlights that people often underestimate others’ goodwill, and that fostering empathy and social trust is key to societal and personal happiness.
Every article we share in our newsletter can be found in the Practice Community + Lab.