Architect | Shepley Bulfinch
Annelise Pitts, AIA, is a passionate designer, researcher and advocate for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the built environment. Working as an architect with Sheply Bulfinch, she draws upon her experience in architecture and management consulting to develop creative, evidence-based solutions to challenges at the intersections of culture, strategy, and design. As Research Chair for Equity by Design, she has built a body of research on the issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the culture of of architectural practice, leading the Equity in Architecture Research Project since 2013. She applied this research in her work with Cameron MacAllister Group, conducting J.E.D.I. assessments within firms and advising clients as they develop strategies to advance J.E.D.I. within their practices. Her work has been published widely, including recent papers on gender in architectural practice in the Plan Journal and Women [re]Build: Stories, Polemics, Futures (Applied Research and Design: 2019).
Courses
Tackling Mental Health in Architectural Practice
To achieve a state of positive mental and physical wellbeing, the architecture industry must evaluate its culture of work, which historically has demanded creative perfectionism, employs tough critical reviews, and requires long hours. In a 2021 study of the architecture industry by Monograph, 96.9% of the respondents indicated that they experience burnout. Working overtime, inefficient processes, inflexible work options, and lack of support are just some of the reasons outlined for causes of burnout. To add, women have added challenges outside of work that were only exacerbated by the pandemic and resulted in heightened levels of stress and exhaustion. Join us in a discussion with our panelists who will outline ways that employees can achieve greater rejuvenation and satisfaction with work, and how employers can implement more supportive systems.
Hosted by the AIA Women's Leadership Summit. Recorded live on June 15, 2022.
Course expires 6/13/2025