Alexis Townsend, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP
Partner & President, Lombard/Conrad Architects
Women in architecture are a dynamic and influential force. Idaho women architects have been breaking barriers and making significant contributions to the field for decades.
In recent years, some have risen to leading positions in their firms, managing successful practices and designing major projects that shape our state’s built environment.
In this edition of Idaho Architecture, we are celebrating women architects, their work, leadership, and the pathways to equity they are building for the next generation. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Alexis Townsend and learn more about the challenges that women architects face in their personal and professional lives. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we did.
Please tell us about yourself.
Upon graduation from the University of Idaho, I moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to begin my career at an integrated architecture and engineering firm. I moved back to Idaho in the early 2000s and started working at Lombard/Conrad Architects. I started as an intern, and nearly 20 years later, I am a Partner and President of the firm.
In my personal life, my husband, John, is my true partner in life. We support each other’s careers and dreams, and together, we are raising our three daughters (one age 11 and 9-year-old twins).
What led you to architecture?
A high school career aptitude test suggested my career matches were 1) trash collector and 2) architect. Architecture seemed more up my alley. I set out to learn more about the profession and being an architect became my career aspiration.
What are your architectural specialties?
Most of my experience is centered in healthcare and education. That said, Lombard/Conrad does work in nearly all public sectors, giving me the opportunity to work on a huge range of projects.
What challenges have you faced in the field?
Navigating my early days through the profession was difficult as a young woman. The firm’s owners — and all the architects for that matter — were men. Without a female mentor who could relate to my personal experiences, I often felt isolated and frustrated. It was especially difficult to navigate the AEC field when the physical and mental demands of pregnancy and being a new mom came into play. No one had done it before me at the firm, so the support (and just basic awareness of what I was experiencing) wasn’t in place.
What is the greatest accomplishment of your professional career? Favorite project?
While my greatest accomplishment is hopefully yet to come, I’m proud of several things from the past decade or so:
With my fellow partners, I’ve built a culture and created new policies that actively support women at Lombard/Conrad. My goal is that these culture shifts and policies trickle out into the greater architectural community and help lead change on a more global level. As architects, we can do better to promote women, diversity, and inclusivity in our profession. Why? According to NCARB, white women are the second most represented group of architects at only 19% (trailing behind white men). All other racial/ethnic and gender groups make up less than 4% of the NCARB Certificate holder population (for more information, visit https://www.ncarb.org/nbtn2022/demographics). Nothing good comes from an entire profession that is dominated by a singular demographic of people. There’s a lot of work to do to change this, and I believe critical policies like paid parental and family leave, flexible work hours, and mentorship are great places to start. I’m proud that we’ve implemented that in our firm … we’re already seeing the impact!
As far as project accomplishments go, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Right now, I’m excited to be leading the design for the new Construction Management Building at Boise State University. Women represent less than 10% of the construction industry, so we made a point to gather an all-women design team of architects and engineers. The design of this building will play a critical role in educating the future of the construction industry, so we felt it was paramount for women to be visible leaders in the process. It is likely the only building of its kind in the state of Idaho.
Have you had important mentors during your career so far? Who were they, and what was the most important lesson you learned from them?
The role of an architect is to continually learn, especially from your peers. I’ve had some great teachers, all giving me an equal education in what to do and what not to do. What I’ve gathered from countless experiences — both when encountering obstacles or celebrating success — is that you can’t do it alone. It’s important to find someone who believes in you, and when you find yourself able to help someone else reach their full potential, DO IT.
What three recommendations would you have for someone starting off in the industry?
- Learn. From everyone. The seasoned drafter sitting next to you can often teach you more than a principal architect.
- Advocate for yourself. Speak up to protect your own well-being. A 50+ hour work week is not the only way to get ahead in the profession. Pumping breast milk in a bathroom (or a closet) is not acceptable.
- Be open-minded. You might discover you love the technical aspects of design. Or maybe Excel is as exciting to you as Revit. Never close your mind to learning new skills and concepts.
Do you have any last words that summarize your thoughts for anyone reading your article?
Balance is something you have to define and defend yourself — in all facets of this profession.
Photos courtesy of Lombard/Conrad Architects
