Patricia Rhee, FAIA, DBIA on The Culver Steps

Building LA

Today, I'm joined by Patricia Rhee, FAIA, DBIA, a partner at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC), to discuss The Culver Steps project. The once underutilized triangular site in Culver City was transformed into an open-air gathering place for the community with fully leased creative office and retail space. In our conversation, we dive into the challenges faced during the design process, the future of Culver City, and Patricia's role as a founding co-chair of the AIA Los Angeles Women in Architecture Committee.

We touch on how the project evolved throughout the design process, the ways EYRC successfully approaches every urban site, and the potential of The Culver Steps project to serve as a model for developers in Los Angeles by showcasing the value of activated public spaces.

Patricia also shares her background growing up on the east coast and what led her to architecture. She highlights the goals of the AIA Women in Architecture committee and how it evolved into a very popular conference. Plus, she offers advice for women pursuing a career in architecture, encouraging them to embrace diverse paths, share their stories, and release any shame around asking for help.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• The different design iterations and the project’s key partnerships
• An overview of EYRC Architects, based in Culver City
• The challenges and solutions encountered throughout the design process
• Patricia’s hopes and vision for the future of Culver City over the next 20 years
• Patricia’s background at Penn and Harvard GSD, moving to LA, and her initial interests in architecture
• The goals, founding members, and origin of the AIA Los Angeles Women in Architecture Committee
• Advice for early-career architects

Guest Info:

• Connect with Patricia on LinkedIn
• Learn more about EYRC on eyrc.com
• Read about EYRC’s team on eyrc.com/studio

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