Building the Future: Conversations with the Next Generation
June 11, 2026 @ 5:30PM — 7:00PM Pacific Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Jonathan Segal Architects: 2646 Newton Ave STE 100 San Diego, CA 92113 Get Directions
Who is shaping the future of architecture—and how do they get there?
Join us for an intimate Q&A panel featuring established voices in architecture and design alongside five Architects Foundation Next Generation Scholars. Representing a new generation of diverse talent entering the profession, these scholars bring a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences that are redefining what architecture can be and who it's for.
Together, they'll explore pathways into the profession, the realities of navigating a career in architecture today, and what the next generation needs from schools, firms, and the field at large to truly thrive.
The conversation will center personal stories, mentorship, and the values driving a more inclusive and expansive future for architecture.
Our Panelists
Michael Ford, NOMA, Assoc. AIA
Ford also known as The Hip Hop Architect, explores architecture and urban planning through the lens of hip hop culture. Ford is the founder of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp, an international, award-winning youth camp that positions hip hop culture as a catalyst to help youth underrepresented in design to understand, critique, and generate architecture.
Constance Lai, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Lai is the Historic Preservation Manager for Grunley Construction, where she bridges the worlds of architecture, preservation, sustainability, and construction. She has 20 years of experience in preservation and has worked on some of the most high-profile landmarks in Washington, DC, including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the White House, Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, Carnegie Library, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and multiple Smithsonian museums. In her career, Constance has led the preservation of 30 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and 13 National Historic Landmarks.
Avinash Rajagopal
Rajagopal is the editor-in-chief of METROPOLIS. He is an advocate for sustainable architecture and interior design, and a frequent speaker at industry events. Under his stewardship, METROPOLIS helped create the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design, a resource to bring awareness to the climate impact of interiors and to help designers decarbonize their work, as well as the Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact, which calls upon interior designers designers to address climate, health, and equity in their work.
Jonathan Segal, FAIA
Segal FAIA is a pioneering San Diego–based architect and developer whose firm has earned six national AIA Honor Awards and more than 40 local, state, and national design awards, with a portfolio of over 300 high‑density urban residential and mixed‑use projects. Over the past 20 years, Segal has modeled the innovative “Architect as Developer” practice—delivering award‑winning housing at lower cost—while also teaching this model through an online course and serving as an expert witness in development and construction litigation.
Moderated by Architects Foundation Board President Dan Kirby, FAIA
Our Scholars
Justin Chappell - Sherwin-Williams Scholar
Landon Hale
Kaleb Jenkins
Kamryon Johnson
Salma Rodriguez -Sherwin-Williams Scholar
Our Sponsor
Our five participating scholars are supported through Material Bank's annual sponsorship, which covers their travel and lodging to attend the AIA Conference on Architecture. Material Bank's commitment to advancing diversity in the design professions drives this partnership—ensuring that talented students from underrepresented backgrounds have access to the professional networks, learning opportunities, and national conversations shaping the discipline's future.
The Venue
Join us at Jonathan Segal's office, home of his car collection.
Admission & Registration
This event is free and open to all AIA Conference on Architecture attendees. Seating is limited; early registration and arrival are encouraged.
About the Next Generation Scholars Program
The Architects Foundation's Next Generation Scholars program invests in promising students with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing architecture degrees at NAAB-accredited institutions nationwide. Through scholarships, mentorship, and access to professional experiences, the program supports emerging leaders—particularly those from underrepresented communities—as they prepare to enter and shape the profession.
The program is supported annually by Material Bank.
Learn more at architectsfoundation.org/scholarships