
228: Architecture, Innovation, and What the Built Environment Needs to Learn
From Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture by Evelyn Lee
March 26, 2026 · 56 min · Season 12 · Episode 228
About this episode
The episode discusses the intersection of architecture and startups, exploring the innovation gap in the built environment and the need for a shift in architectural education.
Are architects going to figure out startups first, or will startups figure out architecture first? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by Bryan Boyer, founding director of the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology at the University of Michigan's Taubman College and Faculty Director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, and Larry Fabbroni, architect and innovator, to discuss the critical crossroads facing the built environment. With roughly 165 companies currently vying to sell technology into the AECO supply chain, Bryan and Larry explore the innovation gap in an industry that remains significantly under-innovated compared to analogous sectors. They advocate for a radical shift in architectural education and practice, one that equips architects with the entrepreneurial vocabulary and venture design skills needed to lead the companies of the future. The conversation delves into the rise of Urban Technology and why it is essential for architects to understand the startup and capital landscape. Bryan shares the mission behind his first-of-its-kind degree program, which prepares students to manage the complexity of cities…
People in this episode
Host: Evelyn Lee
Guests: Bryan Boyer, Larry Fabbroni
Topics covered
- architecture
- innovation
- urban technology
- entrepreneurship
- education
- AECO supply chain
Keywords
- architecture
- startups
- innovation
- urban technology
- entrepreneurial skills
- AECO
- education
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Michigan, Taubman College, University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit
Places: Detroit
More episodes of Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture
- 239: AIA Architecture Firm Award Winners: The Next Generation at LPA · June 11, 2026 · 54 min
- 238: Out In Architecture Volume II: Gestures of Love · June 4, 2026 · 1h 5m
- 237: Out In Architecture Volume I: Gestures of Love · May 28, 2026 · 54 min
- 236: The Blueprint of Apparel: Applying Architectural Thinking to Fashion · May 21, 2026 · 40 min
- 235: From Trash to Power: Diverting Construction Waste at Industrial Scale · May 14, 2026 · 35 min
- 234: Build the Future You Want: A Builder's Path with German Aparicio · May 7, 2026 · 42 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture podcast page.