October Professional Member of the Month

Shannon McGee

INVISION Architects

Architect

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

For my position on the iaWia board co-chairing with Heidi we are pretty excited about the opportunities for this year’s Impact theme. We are excited to try to get more involved in the community and open up membership to some additional volunteer opportunities available to us in our community. At work, I love that I am given the opportunity to work on different project types - it lets me carry over lessons learned from project to project and keeps everyday interesting.

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

I’ll be honest, my reading habits ebb and flow with business of life so I’m having trouble remembering the last interesting book I finished. Currently I am reading The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America’s Most Famous Residence, which is a pretty interesting non-fiction book about White House’s nearly complete reconstruction due to years of alterations not intended in the original structure. As someone who is not usually a fan of non-fiction books or history I would highly recommend it.

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m pretty proud of completing my architectural license. Everyone that has or is going through that process knows that it requires a lot of work and dedication (going home from work to study is hard!) to complete. I am of course also proud of the projects I’ve had the opportunity to work on alongside team members. It’s always fun seeing months of hard work come to life.

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

Happy clients are a great measure of success for architecture. They’re the reason why we do what we do and without them we wouldn’t have work. Being able to meet and hopefully exceed their expectations is something I strive for. Many people we work with may not be familiar with the construction process and may only go through the process once during their careers so it’s important that as architects we make the process straightforward and clear so that they have a positive experience. I think success on this level can be measured through comments or feedback from them as we go through the process.

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

At INVISION, with over 50% of our staff being female, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great role models. I’ve worked closely with Tonia Householder and Becky Hansel on many healthcare projects so far and it has been great to be able to learn from them and observe how they handle different situations throughout the design process. Another female who is not in the field of architecture, but also a role model would be my mom. She was and continues to be a great role model growing up that instilled in my sister and me that anything is possible and not to limit ourselves.

September Professional Member of the Month

darci lorensen

Solum Lang Architects

architect & Project manager

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

I work in a smaller firm; there are only nine of us: two partners, four architects, two intern architects, and one interior designer. Because of our size, we all have the opportunity to manage projects start to finish, and typically multiple projects at a time. While things can get a little busy and hectic with being an architect, I love that no day is ever the same as the last! And, being involved at all stages of the project, you get a lot of interaction with the client and user groups, which I feel helps to create a more successful outcome. I also really enjoy being on the jobsite during the construction phase. So much can be learned from the folks in the field making you and your client’s dream a reality.

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

I am in the process of reading In the Middle Are Horsemen, by Tik Maynard. In my free time, my hobby (obsession) is my horse, so I tend to gravitate towards horse related things, and although this book is about the author’s journey as a young man working towards furthering his education in the horse world, many of his stories and lessons can be applied to everyday (non-horsey) life as well.

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Obtaining my license was a big goal for me. Now that I’ve been licensed for a few years, I’ve discovered it’s is only a starting point. Part of the reason I’ve gotten involved in iaWia is to gather additional resources and gain new skills that will help me achieve what I want next out of my career.

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

I think success is about the journey, and what you make of it. Everyone leads a busy life, and it’s easy to just get in a routine of just slogging through, but to me, success is as much about the path you take to get there, as it is the end result or goal. Everyday small victories keep me motivated to do more, and help lighten the load (at least mentally!) when working toward a monumental task

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

Obviously, the point of our group is to celebrate and promote women in the industry, and this is awesome, and why I’m apart of the group. But from a career perspective, there is nothing a man can do that a woman can’t. So really for me, the women that inspire me are the women I see every day in the industry, doing their thing, and getting it done, slowly shifting our male dominated industry to one that looks at us all as equals.

August Professional Member of the Month

Bethany Jordan

Martin Gardner Architecture

Project Architect

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

I really love being able to work on historic buildings and MGA has been very supportive of me going after the types of projects I want. Each historic building is unique, there are no two the same, so it is always interesting. I’m constantly coming across some unique feature that I haven’t seen before and I love to dig to find out more about it. I find it so inspiring to climb inside a courthouse dome and see a view most people don’t get to. I feel privileged to walk above a theater ceiling and see the inner workings - it’s one of the things I love about being an architect. 

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

While it’s probably a bit cliché, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I read the book shortly after it came out and it was such an eye opener for me. I had never thought about all the ways we, as girls, are unconsciously taught to not raise our hand or sit at the table. It’s one of those books that I want to read again and again to keep in the forefront of my mind.

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Besides getting my license, the other big accomplishment I’m proud of is getting my certification in historic preservation.  When my daughter was six months old, I started nights and weekend classes and the program took about a year to complete. It consumed a lot of my free time that would have normally been spent with her, but it was ultimately worth it. I’m happy I pushed through it and grateful that I had support from my family to do so. 

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

I think success is when you are happy with what you accomplish, whether it be big or small. Most things I set out to achieve, I do and when it’s done well I always feel a sense of pride that I’ve completed something I set my mind to do. Now that I have two kiddos I joke that success is getting to shower by myself, but I do think that scale of goals is important. I try to keep my goals attainable but challenging, so I feel proud that I pushed myself to do something, and do it well.

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

Absolutely, my mom. She taught me to be strong and independent – to always stand up for myself and what was right. 

I’ve also recently met Elizabeth Warren and it was an experience I got to share with my four year old daughter. When we met Senator Warren she told my daughter she that was running for president because that’s what girls do and did a pinky promise asking her to remember that. It was unexpected but inspiring because I understand the importance of girls seeing women in positions of power. Now every time my daughter sees her on TV or hears her name, she asks when we are going to go see her again. Strength, determination, and of course persistence are all things that have been passed down to me and I hope to pass them on to my daughter.

July Professional Member of the Month

Elizabeth Seiberling

OPN Architects

Project Architect

1.What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

Everyday is different than the previous day. One day I am in the trenches with the end users designing their space and the next I’m counting bricks on a 1923 building to perfectly place the existing windows. I love the variety and pace of what I do each day. 

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

I mostly read cookbooks; I think I’ll be a baker in my next life. I am currently reading “Tartine Bread”. It is interesting because it goes into a lot of the science of baking, so the reader really understands what it making the dough rise, for instance.  

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I honestly feel like each project is an accomplishment to be acknowledged, but if I had to choose one thing it would be passing the architectural exams. It was long enough ago that I don’t remember the pain of it, but I knew that when it was over I had basically done the architectural equivalent of climbing Everest, at least that’s what it felt like. 

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

I define success in my career as having made an impact on someone or some people for the better. I measure it by observing how those people as they use their space or even talk about the prospect of it. You can tell if it’s going to be successful long before it’s built just by how people interact and embrace the process.  

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you?

Other than my mom, it is a female architect that I previously worked with – I’m not sure if she would want to be named, she knows who she is. She is the matriarch of the architects that I once worked with as she was the first female architect in that office. I learned a lot about our practice from her, but also how to essentially have it all, career and family. I didn’t know any other female architects to really follow in the footsteps of, so I am glad I at least had her to observe. 

June Professional Member of the Month

Claudia Cackler

Iowa Architectural Foundation

Executive Director

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

I have loved architecture ever since my romp around Europe for independent studies in art history my last year of college.  I am driven to share that passion with others so they develop a sense of the value of architecture and design in creating great, livable communities. That is why being ED for Iowa Architectural Foundation is the perfect job for me. I like the marketing and promotion aspects most, and find excitement in developing creative strategies to spread knowledge of architecture, historic preservation and building. I also have an affinity for architects, which blossomed when working as the head of the Iowa Chapter AIA in the 80’s. In my current position, I am grateful to be doing something meaningful and for the opportunity to work with talented and creative people of all ages.

2. What was the last interesting book you read?

I am an avid reader, both fiction and non-fiction and usually have several books going at one time. One of my favorite recently-read novels is Eugen Rouge’s In Times of Fading Light. Which won the German Book Prize in 2011. This darkly humorous novel tells the story of East Germany through four generations of a family, focusing on Berlin. I am always fascinated by books about or by Eastern Europeans, especially those portraying life when it was “the Block.” It’s interesting to me to hear how they viewed their own government and affairs vs. the perspective on their lives taught to us in the US when I was a child.

In non-fiction, But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman is another great read. He speculates the likelihood that many universally accepted cultural and scientific beliefs of today will someday seem crazy – much like we think about the past in our present day.

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

My development work as Vice President, Philanthropic Funding for Twin Cities Public Television. Also writing the nomination to get Sherman Hill Historic District on the National Register back at the time there were fewer than ten homes being restored. At IAF, I was proud of our Mies en Scene event, and hope that this year’s Encore Gala will be even more successful.

4. How do you define success? And measure it?

I am not materialistic, so to me success is making a positive difference in the world, leaving it better than how you found it, moving arts and culture forward and not making someone else miserable by your own achievement. Success is exchanging knowledge, meeting change with flexibility and knowing I’ve given my best to others.

5.  We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you?

Elaine Estes, for her passion for historic houses, preservation and eccentric style. Linda Kerber, my professor at the U of Iowa, who was one of the first in the US to teach Women’s History, which was quite avant-garde at the time. Catherine Allen, a film producer for her grace, intelligence and her passion for history and the arts. Leslie Aisner, entrepreneur and artist who founded Howda Designs. Judy McClure, the second licensed female architect in Iowa, who taught me many building skills necessary for preserving old houses. Eli Goll, the fabulous young architect-in-training whose “joie de vivre” and energy inspires us all!

June Student Member of the Month

Deysy Cruz Escobar

Iowa State University

4th Year Architecture Student

1. Why did you choose the design/construction field?

In high school, I discovered I have a passion for art, and I view architecture as art with a function. A function to characterize cities. A function to help communities, foster healing environments, and principally improve the quality of life of others.

2. What is the most unusual medium you have used for a model, and what did it represent?

I used corrugated cardboard and explored the material quality by manipulating it and braiding it into a weaving. The weaving then shaped into the topography of a site I was working on. I hope to still continue exploring and discovering even more unusual medium in the future!

3. What has been your favorite studio trip so far?

My favorite studio trip was when we went to Chicago. This was the first time I visited a city with such rich skyscrapers and art everywhere you go!  

4. What is the best advice you have received from a professor or mentor?

“You have great ideas and designs; you just have to stop holding back and go for it; be confident that it will be great work.”  - Ayodele Lyanalu

5. How has Iowa Women in Architecture influenced you?

I have been able to connect with other students who also have the same interests and participate in events aiding to empower women. I feel comfortable going to professional development events because I know I will always get great feedback and advice!  

Vertical Suburbia  

This modular design aims to provide green space and high tech holograms amidst a crowded urban environment. The green spaces are composed of courtyards which serve as a method of water conservation to reduce flash flooding, as well as a space for program which is enhanced by customizable holograms.