Tangible Remnants Nakita Reed // Gābl Media

In this weeks episode I talk with Regan Shields Ives and Rebecca Berry of Finegold Alexander Architects about some of the interesting institutional projects they’re working on.  It was fun to chat with them to learn more about what got them to the profession and to hear their experiences of working with existing buildings. We talk about helping clients get the biggest Bang for their buck on renovations. We touch on the impact of comfort on how people experience existing buildings and how often that comfort is achieved by things that aren’t flashy - like better insulation and improved accessibility.
Links:
Finegold Alexander Architects websiteTangible 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
Bios:
Regan Shields Ives AIA, ALEP, LEED AP, MCPPO, NCARB – Principal, SecretaryRegan is a Principal and studio leader for Finegold Alexander’s educational and cultural projects. She is passionate about design for education and creating spaces that are welcoming, safe, and inspiring. She is also an advocate and thought leader in restoring and preserving our historic buildings, including adapting them for new, contemporary uses. Regan is a long-time member of the Boston Preservation Alliance where she serves as President of the Board of Directors. She is actively involved with the New England Chapter of the Association for Learning Environments. Regan serves as a mentor through the Boston Society of Architecture’s Women in Design Mid-Career mentoring program and is a member of the BSA Women’s Principal Group. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Architecture and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Lehigh University.
 
Rebecca Berry AIA, LEED AP – Principal, President, Director of SustainabilityRebecca leads Finegold Alexander’s higher education, institutional and religious practice areas. She is also Finegold Alexander’s Director of Sustainability, promoting sustainable design practices, conversations and reviews firm wide. Rebecca’s long history of volunteerism and civic engagement attests to her passion for serving people and their greater communities, whether they be mission-driven organizations, schools, or other entities. She earned a BS in Art & Design, a BS in Political Science and Master of Architecture, all from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she received the Alpha Rho Chi medal, a national award in recognition for service. In each of her endeavors, Rebecca focuses on client service and on providing the best possible design solutions that adhere to the budget and schedule concerns of each client. When not in Finegold Alexander’s offices, meeting with clients or on a job site, you might find Rebecca on the ski slopes with her family, either here or out West.
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will...

This week's episode features an insightful conversation with Jacqui Hogans.  I learned a number of interesting things throughout this episode. Things I'd never thought of - like how salty is fog. And how does that salt impact building materials. This conversation was a good time and helped me understand more about the policy and façade inspections in place to help keep us safe as we're walking around cities.
Check out our Instagram (@tangibleremnants) for some snapshots of Jacqui's photos from her Masonry Monday posts.
Links:
Mather High School, Preservation High School in NYC#MasonryMonday Cesar Chavez Resource Study, describing the various sites relevant to Cesar Chavez's lifeTangible 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: Jacqui Hogans, AIA, RIBA, CSI , with nearly 20 years of experience in historic restoration and building envelope space, Jacqui Hogans knows facades. She cut her teeth working in New York City, on projects ranging from the Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History to inspection and repair of numerous office buildings and high-rise residential buildings. A decade ago, Jacqui headed West to San Francisco, where she now serves as a Project Manager at McGinnis Chen Associates (MCA), consulting on remedial and historic repair programs in addition to consulting on new construction projects.
Jacqui managed the mosaic restoration of Oakland’s storied Paramount Theatre, which won several awards, including the Governor’s Historic Preservation Award and the California Preservation Design Award. Jacqui manages and designs historic preservation projects and remedial façade repair projects, leading a team of architects, engineers, and technical staff she has affectionately dubbed the “Façade Squad.” She also directs the inspection of historic buildings as part of San Francisco’s new Façade Inspection and Maintenance Ordinance, if that wasn’t enough, she heads up MCA’s East Coast presence from her new home base in the New York City area. She has a special interest in historic brick and stone, and shares her love of masonry each Monday on LinkedIn.
Jacqui is a Registered Architect in both California and New York State, and holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She earned her BA in Architectural Studies from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. When she’s not hanging off buildings, Jacqui enjoys running (she's run 3 marathons!), indoor cycling, reading about historic architecture, traveling...

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.** 
Mentioned in this episode:
a...

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.** 
Mentioned in this episode:
She Builds
Spaces
EntreArctitect

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.** 
Mentioned in this episode:
EntreArctitect
She Builds
Spaces

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:
She Builds
Spaces
a...