Leslie Sydnor is an architect now working as a Director / Planning Project Manager at Cumming Corporation. Leslie grew up in New York City wanting to effect change in the built environment, and so she went on to study architecture at Yale and then UCLA. After about 20 years in architecture, having risen to the level of Associate Principal, Leslie left her traditional career in architecture to work on the other side of things in project, program, planning, and construction management. Throughout her career, she gained expertise in education projects, and we hear stories about her work, her experiences rising up in a firm and then leaving it, and why being an architect now helps her excel at her current job. As women of color, we also discuss issues of race and gender, and talk pretty candidly about our experiences as architects.
Margot Siegel was born in 1932 in Germany, and as a child, she went on to live in Paris and then New York, as her family fled from Nazi occupation. She describes herself as always being somewhat of an outsider, having experienced the shock of new countries and cultures, and then becoming an architect in a time where it was highly unusual to be a woman and an architect. She attended Pratt Institute, graduating with her architecture degree in 1955. Finding that others weren’t giving her the opportunities she desired, she formed her own practice in 1972 and volunteered her time to obtain a HUD grant to form the Los Angeles Community Design Center. After 14 years on her own, with clients like the YWCA and East 60th Street Community Center, Margot partnered with Kate Diamond and Norma Sklarek to form Siegel Sklarek Diamond, Architects which later became Siegel Diamond Architects until 1999. The firm was celebrated for being one of the largest women-owned architecture firms in the nation at the time. Margot also played a formative role in West Hollywood’s history as she formed a committee to draft its Community Plan, which was later adopted when the city was incorporated. If all that wasn’t enough, she was also in the ski patrol, was the first woman board member and officer of AIA|LA, was active with the AWA, and so much more.
Do you want to start your own practice, but aren’t sure how to go about getting work? Ginger Tanzmann knows how you feel, and she asked herself those same questions. In 1978, Ginger had $20,000, two rooms in the Bradbury Building, and the passion to pursue her dream of owning her own architecture business. In this interview with Virginia (better known as Ginger) Tanzmann, FAIA, we hear the stories of Ginger’s long and illustrious career, including how she built The Tanzmann Associates from 1978-1997. At its peak, Ginger had over 25 employees and work in all types of sectors. Work at the firm included projects like the Los Angeles Mission and the North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station. A graduate of Syracuse University, Ginger made her way to Los Angeles, working in various places including Dworsky Associates and Metro (formerly Southern California Rapid Transit District). After closing her firm, Ginger continued her career in architecture, working in large corporate environments such as Cal State and WSP (formerly Parsons Brinkerhoff), working on award-winning projects like the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). Ginger also brought passion to service work, volunteering in many non-profits like 211 Los Angeles, United Way, YWCA, AIA, AWA+D, and AWAF. She currently serves on the Taxpayer Oversight Committee for Measure M.
Today’s guest is Deborah Weintraub, Chief Deputy City Engineer for the Bureau of Engineering in the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Works. Deborah is the first architect and woman to hold the position, and in this role has overseen projects like the LA River Revitalization Master Plan and the 6th Street Viaduct, which is currently under construction. Through this work, she had made major contributions to the city and its future, applying her architectural background and training to engineering projects large and small. Her impact on the city we know today, and the city we will experience 30 years from now, is undeniable. Prior to her time with the City, Deborah also worked in private practice in New York and California, and she gained expertise in sustainability through her work with the Canadian Consulate and Southern California Edison. Deborah’s career is fascinating because of these varied experiences she’s had as an architect, and in each position, she really embraced the impact she could have.
Episode 10 features Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, Dean of the School of Architecture at Woodbury University and Director of WUHO (Woodbury University Hollywood) Gallery. Ingalill was elevated to the College of Fellows in the AIA this year, a high distinction awarded to only 3 percent of AIA members. She serves on the advisory board of the LA Forum for Architecture and Urban Design,* and previously was on the Board of the AIA|LA. Prior to her tenure at Woodbury, Ingalill taught at Cornell, Yale, the Bartlett, and Sci-Arc, and also worked as an architect, specializing in the building envelope and experimental use of glass. In this episode, Ingalill discusses the importance of diversity and the role of ethics in architecture and architecture education. Through her work at Woodbury, Ingalill has created multiple pathways for future architects, leading to a field that is more accessible and inclusive. She also talks openly about gender and the complexities of raising a daughter in this world, and shares strategies for being a thoughtful leader.
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.
This episode features Elizabeth Timme, founder and co-executive director of LA-Más with Helen Leung. LA-Más is a non-profit urban design organization that helps lower-income and underserved communities shape their future through policy and architecture. During this episode, Elizabeth talks about LA-Más, and some of the exciting work they are doing in our city. Elizabeth and Helen were just named Emerging Voices by the Architectural League of New York, and Elizabeth is also part of the Re:Code LA team. Elizabeth is a graduate of USC School of Architecture and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, and comes from a rich background immersed in architecture as daughter of the late Robert Timme, who was the dean of USC’s School of Architecture. Elizabeth talks about what it’s like to be a female third-generation architect, and her journey to LA-Más. We discuss some of LA-Más’ projects including work on backyard houses, or ADUs. I admire Elizabeth’s conviction, openness, and intellect. I love that she does not accept things for how they are, and challenges what they could be.
This episode features Wena Dows, a residential designer who had her own practice in Los Angeles for over 60 years, after graduating from UC Berkeley in 1950. She talks about what it was like to go to architecture school in the late 40s, how she found work and then went on to build a successful practice and raise three kids. I believe that Wena has made the world I entered into a better place, and I am thankful to share her stories here with you.
Sarah speaks about her education and background in architecture as an alumnus of Smith College, Atlanta College of Art (BFA), Georgia Tech (M.Arch), and SCI-Arc (M.Arch, MR+D) and took a one-year sabbatical at TU Delft in the Netherlands. She brings all these experiences in education to her teaching and practice, and was awarded Educator of the Year by AIA|LA in 2015. She talks about her various roles and accomplishments, such as guiding the semester conversion process in the architecture department, to opening the VDL House to regular tours, which raised funds for major restorations to the building. Sarah also speaks about her background in scenario planning and how that has helped her as a designer and leader. Sarah is a champion of feminism, and we discuss her role as an advocate in the industry.
Episode 5 of the XX|LA Architects Podcast features an interview with Nina Briggs, founding principal at THE FABRIC, award-winning educator, and creator of a documentary film “Practitioners”. “Practitioners” gives us a view into the diverse and extraordinary careers of women in and around the architecture community in Los Angeles, and sheds light onto these women’s undeniable impact upon our community.
During this episode, Nina tells us about the film and her goals for the project. She talks about her dedication to telling the unheard stories of female architects and designers through the film and through Wikipedia writing workshops through AWA+D. She also talks about her fascinating, unorthodox path into academia and teaching. Nina’s approach to design integrates ethnographic strategies to understand the wants and needs of the user, an approach that results in spaces that positively affect inhabitants psychologically, and illustrates a deep care for the people she designs for.
