Interview with Ena Dubnoff – XX|LA Episode 009

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This episode features Ena Dubnoff, an architect and artist who had a diverse career since graduating at the top of her class, and as the only woman in her class, from USC in 1960. Ena has her Masters of Architecture from Columbia, and throughout her career taught at Penn State, Sci-Arc and USC, and worked at the offices of William Pereira, A. Quincy Jones, and Skidmore, Owings, & Merril. She established her own practice specializing in projects for non-profit organizations, such as W.O.R.K.S. , with a focus on affordable housing.  What I find really interesting is that Ena was able to work on large projects with a small flexible office, and she did this through the strong partnerships and relationships that she built during her career, such as with Fernando Vazquez. Many of her projects have won awards, including from the AIA|LA, Los Angeles Conservancy, and AIACC. Ena talks specifically about her work at Pisgah Village, Willowbrook Green, Planned Parenthood, and El Centro del Pueblo, in addition to other projects. During this episode, Ena speaks honestly and openly about lessons learned over her long and varied career. I admire her unpretentious nature as she talks about her major accomplishments, and the way she fluidly navigated her own path through architecture.

For more information about Ena, and to see her woodturning work, visit: http://www.enadubnoff.com/

Ena participated in a Women in Architecture Panel at Sci-Arc in 1976  which you can watch on YouTube.  Ena presents her work at 43:23