Hacking Growth through Connections and Culture

About the Series

This session is the third in the AIA Pennsylvania Small Firm Exchange (SFxPA) volume 1 of the small firm seminar series (following with topics that span the business, art, and science that is the everyday reality of practice for the small firm “archipreneur” balancing it all. Attendees will walk away with tangible resources and insights to optimize their workflows and inspire their practices courtesy of experienced practitioners who have their pulse on the challenges and opportunities of small firms.

Attendance is not limited to members that fall into the small firm category but session content is geared to small firm leaders and aspiring leaders.

Catch the on-demand recording of the first session of the series, “Financial Management for a Design-First Culture” featuring Douglas Teiger, AIA. All on-demand registrants will have access to the recording and resources provided during the session. The live session received rave reviews from attendees.

About the Session

Looking to grow, start-up, or pivot your small firm in uncertain times? Get ready to build connections and culture from the inside out.

Christian Jordan, AIA, Principal of PJA Architecture, a small firm out of Philadelphia, will join us to share how the JAMB Collective is working to connect small to mid-size firms to a network of resources and partners to expand their practices.

Then meet Karin Liljegren, FAIA, Founder and Principal of Omgivning, and a recognized leader in downtown LA’s adaptive reuse projects and urban revitalization. Karin will share lessons learned from starting her firm during the last economic downturn, the role culture played in growing her firm to a team of 40, and how her firm is innovating to adapt to what’s on the horizon.

Learning Objectives:

• • Identify [how the JAMB Collective is creating] opportunities for small-mid size firms to connect, collaborate, and innovate.
  • Pinpoint the measures/systems/operations that must be established for a firm to consider growth.
  • Evaluate and pace where and when it makes sense for your firm to expand.
  • Discover the “”small-but-mighty”” internal practices that boost firm culture, morale, and ultimately growth.

1 AIA LU Pending

Cost

AIA Member: FREE
AIA members receive complimentary registration with member id # and discount code AIAPA. Once discount code is applied no credit card payment information is required.

Non-Member: $20

REGISTER HERE

Meet the Speakers

Karin Liljegren, FAIA
Founder and Principal of Omgivning

Across 20 years, Karin Liljegren, FAIA, IIDA, has become synonymous with the resurgence of Los Angeles’ urban core. Her work has elevated the architect’s role in urban revitalization, creating a nationally applicable model for the practice of adaptive reuse by driving citywide policy innovations, strengthening industry expertise, and empowering community growth.

Liljegren is especially known for the creative conversion of historic structures, starting in 1999 when she worked on the first projects under L.A.’s pioneering Adaptive Reuse Ordinance. She worked for 15 years with Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA), where she led the conversion of 12 historic high-rise buildings (totaling over 3,000 units) in Downtown L.A. and Hollywood.

Liljegren founded architecture and interiors firm Omgivning in 2009, as the recession was threatening to halt downtown’s resurgence. Today, she and her 40-person staff have touched 400+ buildings, drawing on a rich existing landscape to create programmatically and technically complex hotels, multi-family housing, restaurants, bars, creative offices and theaters, often with custom furniture to match.

Liljegren is a thought leader in the downtown community and is active with city and county officials in crafting policies that ease the challenges of working on existing buildings.

Christian Jordan, AIA
Principal, PJA Architecture
Co-Founder of the JAMB Collective
Jefferson University Faculty

Christian Jordan, AIA is an architect practicing in Philadelphia, PA. As a principal at PJA Architecture, founded by his father, Phillip, he continues to be a tireless advocate for emerging architects and the profession. Having graduated from Jefferson University with a B.Arch in 2005, he has been an adjunct at the university’s College of Architecture since 2006. He is currently teaching a course on innovation and professional practice. He was awarded the AIA Pennsylvania’s Emerging Professional award in 2017. In 2018, he ended a three-year term as the AIA Young Architect Regional Director for Pennsylvania, during which time he established the Firms Fostering Emerging Professional recognition award for firms in Pennsylvania. In 2017, he co-founded the JAMB Collective with five colleagues during the AIA’s Practice Innovation Lab. As a managing partner, Christian continues to further JAMB’s mission to help small firms stay small, act big, and do good.