FORUM 2022
LISTEN. SPEAK. CHANGE
4:00PM - 6:30PM on March 16, 2021 @Reinsch-Pierce Auditorium
Architectural education varies across the world in terms of topics, emphasis, and outlook, but one thing nearly all architecture programs have in common is their format. Architecture school has a well-established reputation of being one of the most grueling majors one can undertake. In a rapidly advancing world, architecture has many opportunities to evolve. In the past, Equity in Architecture at Georgia Tech has hosted FORUM to talk about identity, power, inclusion, empowerment and the importance of community. These conversations aimed to push for radical change, a change that is relevant in our school culture today as we are envisioning the future. With opportunities found during the pandemic, universities and firms have discovered ways to adapt. We are looking for how these adaptations can inform the continuously developing architecture world, both the academic and professional.
At a time where topics such as creating architectural unions, striving for better work conditions, and advocating for mental health become more pertinent, FORUM 2022 asks what architecture education and practice can look like in the 21st century. In order to imagine what change can look like, we want to shed light on voices that strive for equity in their work environment and want to adapt to our new norm. We want to know what has worked in the last two years and how that can be applied to our course of study. We believe that education and the profession mirror each other. Equity can be achieved by reforming the rigid academic structure and tackling the disparities found in school and the workplace.
This year, we want to begin a dialogue that addresses challenges and successes in architecture school. We want to LISTEN in order to understand the issues students and professionals have faced over the years. We want to SPEAK about ways architecture culture has changed or refused to. Finally, we aim to find ways school format can CHANGE in order to revive the creative spirit of our profession.
FORUM 2022 SPEAKERS
Luoluo Hong | Keynote
VP of Student Engagement + Well-being
The eldest daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Luoluo (pronounced “lō-lō”) Hong is a passionate educator, courageous leader and energetic student advocate who joined Georgia Tech as the inaugural Vice President for Student Engagement & Well-Being in 2021.
Prior to this role, Luoluo served the California State University system for seven years. She holds a BA in Psychology from Amherst College, a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership & Research from LSU in Baton Rouge.
A nationally-sought after speaker and trainer in the areas of violence prevention, social justice, and leadership, Luoluo has delivered over 3,200 presentations, keynoted over 75 conferences and meetings, and authored several book chapters.
Luoluo is the proud parent of two rambunctious felines: a 14-year-old orange tabby named Phoenix and a four-year old flame point Siamese who loosely answers to Daario Naharis and believes he is a dog. Luoluo can occasionally be found masquerading as a max-level 60 human warlock in World of Warcraft.
Heather Potts
Architect + Instructor
Heather Potts, AIA, LEED AP Homes, is a studio instructor in the School of Architecture and a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology’s Master of Architecture program. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia’s Interior Design program in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, where she has since taught courses in drafting, rendering, and Building Information Modeling.
Heather is the founder and principal of Easy Tiger Architecture in Atlanta, Georgia. As a studio instructor, Heather is committed to fostering an environment for creative and exploratory thinking that is responsive to, but not restrained by, the boundaries and limitations of reality. As a practitioner, she tries to implement an inquisitive and curious design process to balance the stringent demands of the profession. As an architect, Heather strives to promote equity in the profession and advocates for advances in accessible education, and it is through her involvement in both academia and professional practice that she is able to find the necessary balance in her work.
Andrew Daley
Architect + Activist
Andrew is an organizer, activist, and licensed architect living and working in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently working with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) on organizing efforts within the architecture industry. Passionate about the implications of equity, privilege, and access as they relate to social structures, Andrew is interested in how organized labor can mitigate the gaps.
He has additionally worked extensively in prefabrication and off-site manufacturing. He was a Project Director at SHoP Architects in New York working on US embassies worldwide for 7 years. Prior to SHoP, he worked with Jason Fleming and Peter Muessig developing a prefabricated kitchen/bathroom unit for residential use called Mod Pod, and was a Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Michigan.
He received his Master of Architecture degree from Rice University and his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Virginia. He has practiced professionally in Virginia, Texas, Michigan, and New York for numerous firms, both traditional and not.
Kaleigh Sawyer
Architectural Designer
Kaleigh Sawyer is an architectural designer in the Historic Preservation Studio at Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS) in Atlanta. Inspired by the stories and humanist narratives of architecture, she is passionate about creating equitable and accessible community-driven design. She was a founding member of the Equity Subcommittee at LAS aimed at studying and bettering workplace practices.
Currently, she is the co-chair of the LAS Summer Internship Committee which has been working to create a more inclusive internship with intentionally increasing student outreach and recruitment from HBCU and HACU programs.
Prior to her professional work, she received her Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Outside of work, Kaleigh is an active Emerging Professional for ICOMOS ISC20C where she is part of a bureau of international preservationists, conservationists and architects, bringing recognition and protection to at-risk 20th Century Architecture of international significance as well as an Associate Member of US/ICOMOS.
Bianca Mers | Student Moderator
Graduate Student | Georgia Institute of Technology
Bianca Mers is a second-year Master of City and Regional Planning student and is passionate about land use, zoning and accessibility. She is also the President of the Georgia Tech Student Planning Association (SPA), which advocates for and supports students’ personal, professional, and academic well-being. Outside of school, Bianca enjoys cooking, gardening, and taking long walks. She is a native of Marietta, GA but is excited to move to Philadelphia after she graduates in May!
