What happens when intersectional storytellers from different generations sit in a room together to connect their personal narratives and design a more inclusive future for architecture?

In this special episode of Practice Disrupted, the format shifts as host Evelyn Lee steps back to listen, handing the moderation over to Sarah Woynicz. This conversation marks the second of two episodes celebrating the release of Out in Architecture Volume 2 during Pride Month. Sarah sits down with three of the volume's authors, Gaby Espinosa, Lisa C. Henry, and Kody Chung, who share what happens when storytellers sit in the room together to connect their lived experiences.

The group reflects on the unique, vulnerable formats they chose to share their deeply personal histories. Gaby discusses her interview-style chapter, "Space to Be: A Conversation on Finding Ground," which features a dialogue with a close friend who witnessed her gradual coming-out process within a Dallas architecture office. Lisa reads an excerpt from her piece, "Topographies of Becoming," recounting how spatial experiences in New Orleans and Utah influenced her identity and her academic practice. Meanwhile, Kody returns to the project, having first met the Volume 1 authors as a student three years ago, to contribute "A Query on Space," reflecting his growth as an emerging designer.

The conversation also addresses the role of intersectionality and the importance of bringing one's full, embodied knowledge into the workplace and the classroom. Lisa shares a transformative positionality framework exercise she utilizes with her students to break down binaries and dismantle patterns of supremacy. Kody explains how his senior thesis leverages Chinese philosophy and the concept of yin and yang to explore the true essence of queer spaces. Ultimately, the authors emphasize that creating spaces for open dialogue allows individuals to realize they are not isolated, empowering the next generation to take up space entirely.

"Once you scratch that surface and you realize that no two experiences are the same, it opens your eyes to possibilities and what your future could be." - Gaby Espinosa

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that architecture is shaped not just by physical spaces, but by the diverse worlds of the people who navigate them. By honoring cultural heritage and sharing moments of resilience, this collective is actively expanding the endless possibilities of inclusivity across the AEC industry.

Guests:

Sarah Woynicz is a Project Manager at HKS who utilizes her cross-industry design experience to lead wellness-focused healthcare and mixed-use developments that blend client business goals with community health outcomes. She is deeply engaged in professional advocacy, currently chairing the AIA National Young Architects Forum and previously serving on the AIA Atlanta Board, where she spearheaded leadership initiatives to empower emerging professionals.

Kody Chung is a senior architecture design student at Drexel University whose work bridges queer and Asian identities. His senior thesis project investigates the intersectional relationships of space by leveraging Chinese folklore, philosophy, and intergenerational memory.

Gaby Espinosa is an architect at HKS who specializes in senior living design and is a contributor to Out in Architecture Volume 2. As a lesbian Latina architect who grew up in a conservative Catholic family in Mexico, she is passionate about representation and creating inclusive spaces where people can be free to be themselves.

Lisa C. Henry is an academic architectural practitioner and design educator who has spent 27 years teaching gender, race, and queer theory in architecture. Her pedagogy utilizes organizing and activism tools to foster liberatory practices, guide difficult conversations, and build community within academic and professional spaces.

This episode is especially for you if:

✅ You want to understand the profound impact of intersectional representation for LGBTQIA+ professionals in the AEC industry.

✅ You are curious about how unique storytelling formats like personal interviews and spoken excerpts can capture the vulnerability of becoming.

✅ You want to explore what it means to use positionality frameworks to dismantle patterns of supremacy in design education and practice.

✅ You want to look at how cultural heritage, philosophy, and concepts like yin and yang can be utilized to define the true essence of queer space.

✅ You believe that building community through continuous conversation is an indispensable tool for ensuring no architect feels isolated.

What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:

Explore Out in Architecture Publications
Follow Out in Architecture on Instagram
Buy the First Edition
Listen to the previous Practice Disrupted episode featuring Out in Architecture
Listen to Out in Architecture Volume I episode
Buy Lisa’s new book

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