Join us at Lore Leimert Park on October 4th for a panel discussion with three folks who made the shift from an architecture education into careers in fields outside of architecture.

An Architecture education requires a considerable amount of discipline. It tends to be rigorous and demanding, covering a wide range of skills necessary to successfully design buildings and houses. Structures that need to provide safe shelter will need to comply with State and Local Building Codes, while using materials efficiently and creating work that contributes to the artistic dialogue that spans centuries.

We quickly learn that as our skills grow in architecture school, we can use the same skills in other fields. And the experimental spirit that drives us through deadlines, readings and presentations, can be extremely beneficial when we work on other activities we are passionate about.

L.A. Forum for Architecture and Urban Design have collaborated with Lore to bring together a trio of passionate former architecture students who are now living successful lives in fields that don’t require checking the Building Code every day. We look forward to spending time with the community that Lore has nurtured, as we learn about these unique journeys.

Our participants:

Kara Bartelt

Kara is design-trained executive, entrepreneur and hospitality leader whose career has moved between architecture, product, brand, experience and operations. The common thread has been building things -- places, products, teams and businesses that connect people to place. Kara worked at The Hoxton, Downtown LA. She was part of the hotel from pre-opening through five years as General Manager, translating a global lifestyle brand for Los Angeles while leading the full commercial and operating business.

Joe Brown

Joe is a choreographer, dancer, actor, model and educator. After studying Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and getting a Master of Architecture at SCI_Arc, Joe began his shift into Dance.

Joe is the founder of Stroll Groove, a high-energy immersive performance group whose performances range from classic, nostalgic hits of the 1970s-2000s to the culture & rhythms of Stepping, African, Dancehall, & more!

Stroll Groove’s projects have included competitions on NBC World of Dance (Season 1); feature choreography & dancers in Beyoncé’s Homecoming tour, and major commercial spots for companies including The Gap and Door Dash.

Lauren Rosenbloom

Lauren is a production designer for film and television, for experiences and activations — spaces built to carry story in their bones. After a BFA from the University of Oregon, Lauren earned a Master of Architecture at the SCI_Arc.

Lauren worked as an art director on projects like Apple TV +’s Fly Me to the Moon and Greyhound. Her current work focuses on production design for large-scale film and television projects such as The Gray Man, Electric State and others. She is able to translate story into built environments and deliver elevated, prestige-level design on budgets of every size — knowing exactly where to spend and where to imply.

Our panel will be moderated by L.A. Forum Board Member Roberto Paz, AIA.

Roberto also went through a career change, in the opposite direction. After becoming a Licensed Physician and Surgeon in Guatemala, Roberto moved to L.A. to attend SCI_Arc’ Master of Architecture program.

L.A. Forum is very grateful for the support we’ve received from Lore Leimert Park’s Dario Scolari and Grace Warren. We look forward to many more collaborations with Lore.

Life After Architecture: Lore Leimert Park