Tangible Remnants Nakita Reed // Gābl Media

This episode features fun conversation with Cory Rouillard of Henson Architecture. Much of her work has been in Demystifying how to work with historic buildings. More recently she’s been studying physical climate adaptations and how various cultures have been able to design for climate and stay comfortable around the world.
We jump right in because its always a joy to nerd out on the intersection of Sustainability, Preservation and Advocacy with her. This conversation was a good reminder that we need to share our expertise in the built environment with politicians to help them create and support better policies.
 Links:
Henson ArchitectureThe Association for Preservation Technology (APT)APT Technical Committee on Sustainable Preservation (TCSP)OSCAR - Online Sustainable Conservation Assistance ResourcePresentation to the ZNCC, 1/18/24Tangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Cory Rouillard, AIA, APT RP, LEED AP is a Preservation Architect at Henson Architecture and an active advocate for climate leadership through preservation. Her award-winning work has included the restoration of significant historic buildings, new construction in historic contexts, and work in unusual circumstances, including full building relocation and reassembly from previously disassembled components. In the office and in her professional outreach, she promotes technical guidance for the appropriate care of existing buildings to both protect our cultural heritage and meet our carbon mitigation targets. 
Cory is a Co-Chair of the Association for Preservation Technology’s Technical Committee on Sustainable Preservation. Since 2011 she has spearheaded the development of the Committee’s Online Sustainable Conservation Assistance Resource (OSCAR). Other initiatives during her tenure include the development of the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings (ZNCC) and the expansion of the Sustainable Preservation Bibliography. She is a frequent speaker on topics including tools for sustainable preservation and the embodied wisdom of vernacular design, and the urgent need for the continued use of our built heritage.
**Some of the links above may be Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

This episode features a conversation with a friend and former mentee, Tiffany James. She shares more of her story with me and discusses her journey from UVA to Baltimore, her work in the nonprofit sector, and her passion for writing. She shares her excitement for writing a novel that incorporates architectural elements and explores the impact of the built environment on storytelling.
Links:
Rebuilding TogetherRoberta WashingtonInsurrection by Rion Amilcar ScottThe Shining by Steven KingTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Tiffany James is a writer and content marketer who brings a storytelling approach to the strategic marketing collaborations she forms with nonprofits and cause-driven social entrepreneurs. Since graduating from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s in architecture, Tiffany served three years as an AmeriCorps volunteer, tackling issues in the home improvement sector and early literacy development. With more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, she currently works as an associate director of strategic communications for a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., and earned a master’s in writing from Johns Hopkins, where she was awarded the 2021 Women’s Voices are Important Fellowship. 
 
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

This episode features a fun conversation with Melvalean McLemore.  As you'll hear, we are at a similar point in our careers and I was so excited to be talking with her since she's one of the Black women architects I didn't know well before this episode.  We shout out a number of  black women architects and designers that have influenced our careers as well as talk about her journey into the profession, some of the biases and design challenges that we've seen in the profession as well as the frustration we feel when people try to approach black architects to just serve the role of checking a box.
Links:
Moody NolanMissing 32%: Equity by DesignHUBZone Small Business programTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Melvalean McLemore, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP is a Senior Associate, project manager and Texas studio design leader at Moody Nolan, the country's largest African-American owned and operated architecture firm. She was one of the first 500 licensed Black women architects in the U.S and is the 16th licensed black woman architect in the state of Texas. 
She is a champion for diversity in the profession, including co-founding AIA Houston's Women in Architecture committee and NOMA National's HBCU Professional Development Program (PDP).
Melvalean is the recipient of multiple awards, including both the Texas Society of Architects Caudill Young Architect Award and AIA Houston's Ben Brewer Young Architect Award, and most recently the 2024 Young Architects Award from AIA National. Her achievements mark a progressive milestone within the architectural community.
She was honored by the City of Houston for her historic achievement as the first Black female president of the AIA Houston chapter, which prompted the Mayor to officially proclaim November 28th: “Melvalean McLemore Day.
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

This week's episode features a insightful conversation with the trailblazing Ariana Makau. She shares her journey into the field of stained glass conservation and the challenges she faces as a Black woman in a predominantly white industry. She discusses the importance of honoring heritage and the founding of her own company, Nzilani Glass Conservation. Ariana also highlights the unique position of stained glass conservation in the preservation field and the need for proper health and safety practices.  She talks about so many things I never considered - like the importance of blood lead level testing, the responsibility of employers in preserving the health of their workers, and the safe preservation of stained glass windows. As she points out the main components of stained glass are lead and glass - so it was fascinating to learn more about safety protocol. 
Instagram Highlights: Ariana's stained glass work
Links:
Nzilani Glass ConservationNzilani Safety ArticlesArticle: The Art of Health and Safety: Protecting Stained Glass Workers from Lead Exposure by Ariana Makau & David HicksTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Ariana Makau is the founder, principal conservator of Nzilani Glass Conservation, and current Interim Collections C.A.R.E. Director of Destination Crenshaw. She holds a MA in Stained Glass Conservation from the V&A/RCA, in London, England; and has been involved in preservation for 30 years. She has worked at numerous museums in the States and abroad including the V&A, the Met, SFMoMA and Getty Museum. Ariana has served on the Board of the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA), is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), and a current board member of the Western Chapter of the Association of Preservation Technology (APT). Makau’s work is most fulfilling when at the intersection of equity, preservation and art.
 
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 
**This episode is sponsored by www.Smartsheet4architects.com, a better way to manage architecture projects.**
Mentioned in this episode:
Gabl Continuing Education Podcasts
She Builds
a...

This episode features a conversation between Nakita and Lauren McHale, President and CEO of the L'Enfant Trust. They talk about the organization's work in historic preservation and affordable housing in Washington, DC and delve into preservation easements, the redevelopment of the Big Green property in Anacostia, and the importance of community engagement and collaboration in affordable housing projects.
Building Highlight: The Big Green property in Anacostia is being rehabilitated as workforce housing, with a focus on engaging the existing community and preserving the neighborhood's history. Head over to our Instagram page to see historic and current photos.
Links:
The L'Enfant Trust websiteManna HomesNakita Reed's upcoming keynotesTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Lauren McHale Lauren was appointed President of The L'Enfant Trust in 2017, after serving as Executive Director and Director of Preservation. In 2012, she initiated the Trust’s Historic Properties Redevelopment Program. Lauren has a B.A. in Art History and Historic Preservation & Community Planning from the College of Charleston and a M.S. in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is the past Chair of the Preservation Action Foundation and Past President of the Latrobe Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. Lauren currently serves as an ACE DC Mentor Program board member and a citizen member of the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee of Washington, DC's Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C.
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 
Mentioned in this episode:
Emerging
Unstruct
Gabl Continuing Education Podcasts
She Builds

This week's episode features a fun conversation with the very energetic Jordan Taylor. This episode left me fired up about solar and excited about the future.  Jordan definitely is a reminder of how important it is to follow your interests because they can lead you to your life's work.  By the end of this episode you may pick up some new lingo #bananasandwiches and have a better understanding of what Jordan means when he says that "while money doesn't grow on trees, it does fall from the sky"
Building Highlights: Sharswood in Gretna, VA. These are former plantation homes owned by Jordan's family.
Links:
SynergyGrid60 Minutes: Man unknowingly buy former plantation house where his ancestors were enslavedTangible Remnants on InstagramTangible Remnants WebsiteLinkedTr.ee for resourcesEarn CEUs for listening to this podcastSignup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita ReedGabl Media NetworkSarah Gilberg's Music
Bio: Jordan Taylor isn't just building buildings. He's building a better future, brick by sustainable brick. As a seasoned veteran in both the renewable energy and real estate development worlds, Jordan brings over a decade of experience to the table, blending technical expertise with visionary thinking.  
Jordan's journey began in the dynamic world of renewable energy systems. He's navigated the intricacies of technical sales, engineered innovative solutions, and managed multi-million dollar projects with a focus on efficiency and impact. His leadership at SynergyGrid Developments, where he steered a $130 million portfolio, speaks volumes about his financial acumen and strategic vision.
Jordan doesn't just understand renewable energy, he understands how it integrates into the built environment. He's adept at navigating the complex landscape of real estate development, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, and finding creative solutions to integrate clean energy into the fabric of our communities. His experience at Montgomery Co. Green Bank, where he led business development and secured vital funding for green projects, showcases his ability to bridge the gap between ambition and reality.
 Jordan's passion extends beyond the technical. He's a problem-solver, a collaborator, and a tireless advocate for a more sustainable future. His background in mechanical and robotics engineering, coupled with his proficiency in various software and programming languages, adds a unique dimension to his skillset, allowing him to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to complex challenges.
 Jordan is more than just a leader in renewable energy and real estate development. He's a visionary, a builder, and a champion for a greener tomorrow. His dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit make him a driving force in the fight for a sustainable future. Every...