LPA CEO Wendy Rogers will virtually join AIA Los Angeles for a panel discussion, Design, Incorporated — Reinventing Contemporary Practice and Workplace Culture on Wednesday, June 8.
The panel discussion will serve as a forum to discuss “best-practices in managing a profitable, purposeful and diverse architecture and design firm.” Topics are expected to include inclusive hiring protocols, paid internships, attracting and retaining top talent and how to increase the value of the architecture firms “instruments of service.”
Rogers started at LPA as an intern in 1987 and was named CEO in 2017. She is one of a handful of women leading national architecture firms, and oversees more than 400 architects, engineers, landscape architects and interior designers focused on a collaborative, research-driven sustainable design process across sectors, including education, civic, health care and corporate projects. She has helped maintain LPA as an independent, integrated firm through wars, economic crashes and a global pandemic.
Rogers also serves as Chief Talent Officer, working to create a diverse, inclusive firm. Last year LPA committed to sharing its workplace practices through the International Living Future Institute’s JUST Program, an initiative to promote social equity and enhance engagement in the workplace.
“As architects, we must develop firms that reflect the communities we serve,” Rogers said. “We are stronger when we have more voices at the table, and we must work to attract and retain that talent.”
In 2021, LPA was honored with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) California’s Firm Award, the state’s highest industry honor, recognizing its contribution to architecture, industry-leading work on energy performance and its inclusive firm culture.
LPA CEO Headlines AIA-LA Discussion on Workplace Culture, Design
We’re combating climate change and a fierce labor market — we need the best and brightest talent to stay in this industry and help us solve big problems with design,” Rogers said.
AIA Los Angeles said the time is now for this conversation. The panel will include AIA Los Angeles President Mitra Memari, AIA Los Angeles Vice President, President-elect Leslie Sydnor and NAC Architecture Design Director Michael Pinto.
“We have arrived at a moment in which significant changes need to urgently happen in direct response to several issues,” Will Wright, AIA Director of Government Affairs said, referencing workplace culture, low salaries for young designers, a pervasive school and studio culture that promotes unhealthy behavior, and clients not valuing the work of architects and asking firms to work for free.
Rogers insists that there isn’t a choice between good design and good business. She said, “we must do both.”
“We’re combating climate change and a fierce labor market — we need the best and brightest talent to stay in this industry and help us solve big problems with design,” Rogers said.
The panel discussion is step one to a larger conversation with AIA Los Angeles planning a community town hall in order to engage and gain more insight and input from local architects, designers, emerging professionals and students about “proactive next steps and policy initiatives that will deliver measurable outcomes.”
The AIA LA present… Design, Incorporated — Reinventing Contemporary Practice and Workplace Culture will take place on Wednesday, June 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST via Zoom, and is open and available to the public.