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PODCAST

Archispeak

Evan Troxel & Cormac Phalen

Archispeak is one of architecture"s longest-running podcasts — 383 episodes of honest, unfiltered conversation about what it"s actually like to work in the profession. Since 2012, architects Evan Troxel and Cormac Phalen have been exploring design, career, firm culture, tools, work/life balance, mentoring, generational differences, and job hunting — everything that comes with building a life in architecture. This isn"t a highlight reel. It"s the conversation architects actually have — about the

arts design

All Episodes

48:50

#396 - Don't Judge Yourself by the Wrapper

Archispeak ·

2026/09/22

Evan and Cormac dig into how Lawrence Tech's architecture studio is evolving its comprehensive design curriculum in real time, and why buildability still beats a flashy final presentation. They explore a new semester experiment forcing quiet students into leadership roles, a real Habitat for Humanity adaptive-reuse project in Flint that gives students an actual client and a messy existing building, and a field trip to IIT that turned into a lesson about not confusing polished renderings with

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48:23

#395 - Thermal Reactive Umbrella

Archispeak ·

2026/08/17

Some weeks the conversation just goes where it goes. Evan and Cormac spend this one reading Wikipedia and AI overviews at each other in real time — the AIA convention ping-ponging from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium sunk 100 feet into the ground for the LAX flight path, its cable-net roof that expands and contracts like a tennis racket until Cormac christens it a "thermal reactive umbrella." Along the way: stadiums built as war memorials, U2 tours, and Public Enemy's opening statement in

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54:52

#393 - We Ceded This to the Contractors

Archispeak ·

2026/07/21

Evan and Cormac dig into why architects deliberately stop detailing at "design intent" instead of shop-drawing level, and how that decision has handed constructability over to contractors and manufacturers. They explore the level of detail (LOD) gap between US and overseas practice, a real design-assist story about pushing a terracotta fin cantilever further with a manufacturer, and why competitive bidding punishes architects who over-detail their own work. That leads into a wider conversation about

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01:35:47

#392 - Your Favorite Building Looks Like a Parking...

Archispeak ·

2026/07/14

Evan and Cormac catch up on Cormac's 6,800-mile road trip from Detroit to the AIA National Convention in San Diego with his daughter, built around a bucket list of architectural pilgrimage stops. They explore what happens when a non-architect finally sees a building that lands emotionally (Thorncrown Chapel), what happens when a canonical masterpiece doesn't (the Salk Institute reads as "a parking garage"), and what the 2026 AIA National Convention got right and wrong. This episode is especially

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33:08

#386 - If not me, then who?

Archispeak ·

2026/04/03

Ten years into a $600M research laboratory project, Cormac reflects on what it actually means to see a complex build through to the end — the COVID-era redesign, the permit battles across three code cycles, and the people who've been on site since day one. He and Evan unpack the case for continuity: why the architects who know every decision that was ever made are essentially irreplaceable, and why the grinding sameness of long construction administration is also the kind of rare, compacted

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54:04

#383 - Why We Still Love This Profession

Archispeak ·

2026/03/13

In this episode of Archispeak, we catch up after Evan’s trip to New York City and the AECtech conference, where he moderated a panel with design technology leaders who’ve climbed all the way into firm leadership. We also talk about the continuing education grind it takes just to keep our licenses alive, why there’s really no such thing as “architecture without technology” anymore, and how technologists are quietly becoming some of the most strategic voices in practice. From the culture and community

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53:28

#382 - AI, Meetings, and the Architecture Grind

Archispeak ·

2025/12/01

In this episode of Archispeak, we pull back the curtain on what modern practice actually feels like when AI, meetings, and the architecture grind all collide. We talk about coming back from travel feeling not three weeks behind but three months, calendars that look like Tetris played on hard mode, and what happens when you join a call and realize you’re the only human in a grid full of AI note-takers. Cormac and Evan dig into how AI meeting companions, transcripts, and recordings change the way we

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51:30

#380 - The Vibe

Archispeak ·

2025/11/17

In this episode of Archispeak, we talk about that elusive quality that aligns people with great art (and spaces)—but this time through the lens of a real-world architectural field trip. Evan shares his recent trip to Iowa, where he spent time touring projects and hanging out with the folks at OPN Architects. We dive into why the atmosphere of a place, both in architecture and in practice, matters more than most people realize.Episode Links:Watch this episode on YouTube (with all the pictures that

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55:21

#379 - Step Back to Move the Work Forward

Archispeak ·

2025/10/01

In this episode we discuss how taking a step back from work leads to better architecture. We talk about concrete ways to break free from constant busyness, when to pause instead of charging ahead, and how technology can both help and hurt creative solutions. We offer clear, practical advice on finding the right balance between thinking things through and getting work done.-----Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.comThank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please

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42:03

#378 - Misalignments of Rigor

Archispeak ·

2025/09/16

In this episode of Archispeak, we trade fresh field notes from Cormac’s latest midwestern architecture road trip and wrestle with the title theme: Misalignments of Rigor. Cormac stands in the rain in Toledo to watch a Gehry facade actually perform, peek at SANAA’s elegant double-skin glass and its (imperfect) parapet detail, and then compare all of it to a new addition grafted onto a Louis Kahn building that seems to ignore his relentless order. Along the way, we unpack preservation vs. recreation,

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56:12

#376 - Across the Street from Genius: Yale’s A&A and...

Archispeak ·

2025/08/25

In this episode of Archispeak, we walk across the street in New Haven—literally and figuratively—to explore two masterworks by Paul Rudolph and Louis Kahn. These buildings, separated by time but connected by place and purpose, offer a rare opportunity to see two giants of architecture in conversation across the street.We kick things off outside Paul Rudolph’s brutalist Art and Architecture Building, a six-story monument to concrete, shadow play (which is Cormac’s favorite), and interlocking

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01:06:22

#375 - Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn

Archispeak ·

2025/07/29

In this episode of Archispeak, we walk through the Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn and reflect on what makes this building truly great. From its masterful use of natural light and honest materials to the clarity of its spatial organization, Kahn’s final building is both a work of art and a place for art. We discuss what it feels like to experience the space firsthand, how it invites contemplation, and why it continues to resonate with architects decades later. Along the way, we explore

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01:21:55

#374 - 2025 Summer of Architecture, Part 1

Archispeak ·

2025/07/08

In part 1 of our summer series centered on the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture, we discuss Evan's first visit to Boston and share his and Cormac's impressions of the city.Rather than focusing on CEUs or presentations, we explore how the AIA Conference continues to serve as a powerful gathering place for the profession. The serendipity of in-person meetups, the nuance of hallway conversations, and the inspiration found in real-world architecture make it a unique moment in the calendar

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01:02:46

#372 - AU - The Future of Home Automation

Archispeak ·

2025/06/09

In this episode of Archispeak, we explore the evolving frontier of home automation with Jeff Thomas of Control4 and Michael Smith of Bromic Heating. Together, we unpack the layered relationship between architecture and integrated technology—why it’s critical to bring smart home specialists in early, how lighting, heating, and sound are blending into seamless user experiences, and where the real opportunities lie for residential architects.We dig into the nitty-gritty: from the difference between

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39:25

#370 - Rebuilding After The LA Fires

Archispeak ·

2025/05/19

In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Jessica Orlando, Vice President and President-Elect of the AIA Pasadena Foothill chapter, to explore how architects are stepping up in the aftermath of the recent Altadena and Palisades wildfires in Southern California. Jessica shares how the AIA’s volunteer-led “Ask an Architect” initiative is connecting displaced residents with licensed professionals to help guide them through the overwhelming process of rebuilding—many for the first time.We discuss

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48:44

#368 - Architectural Ratchet Straps

Archispeak ·

2025/04/22

In this episode we explore the intersection of structural engineering, adaptive reuse, and creative problem-solving in architecture. From a lighthearted discussion about ratchet straps as unconventional structural solutions to a deep dive into the challenges of modernizing existing buildings, this episode showcases how architects and engineers tackle complex design problems with ingenuity.-----Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.comThank you for listening to Archispeak. For more

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01:19:15

#367 - Level of Expected Standard of Care

Archispeak ·

2025/04/14

Join us for an engaging discussion with Chad Clary where we explore how architectural projects differ from movies and video games in terms of crediting contributors. We talk about whether the industry needs a better system for recognizing all those involved in building projects. The conversation also covers the critical importance of specificity in architectural documentation, examining how evolving professional roles affect design intent preservation while meeting contractor expectations.Episode

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55:15

#366 - Why Architects MUST Question Everything to...

Archispeak ·

2025/04/07

In this episode, we have a discussion about the value of sketching for idea development, the importance of questioning everything in architecture, the impact of architecture on people's memories and experiences, and the need for architects to engage with users and understand the spaces they create.Episode Links:The Art Museums of Louis I. Kahn (Amazon Link)-----Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.comThank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit

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01:19:48

#365 - Why Architects MUST Reimagine the Profession

Archispeak ·

2025/03/31

William Dodge joins the podcast to discuss his latest article the integration of AI in architecture, its impact on creativity, the evolving role of architects, and the shift towards innovative practices and micro studios, highlighting the future of the profession.Click here for images that William shared during the conversation.Episode Links:William Dodge on LinkedInWilliam’s article on Fast Company - The architecture industry may soon be unrecognizablea gang of threep-u-b-l-i-cRichard England

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01:08:11

#361 - ‘Does the Profession Value Specifiers?’, with...

Archispeak ·

2025/02/12

In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked role of architectural specifiers. Our special guest, Jeff Potter, shares his unconventional path to becoming a spec writer and discusses the challenges and triumphs along the way. We use this opportunity to address a listener's question about the perception and value of the specifier role within firms.From personal experiences to industry trends and evolving technologies, this discussion highlights the importance of specifications in

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