EPISODE 4

Building Sustainable Spaces that Matter

Featuring Lisa Sauve of Synecdoche

Architect, entrepreneur, and community advocate Lisa Sauve shares her journey from early drafting classes to founding Synecdoche. As CEO, she blends architecture, policy, and placemaking to shape urban spaces, local policies, and community culture. Through projects like Do Good Work, she supports creatives and fosters civic impact. This episode explores how design intersects with responsibility, offering insights for architects, designers, and changemakers.

"We think design solutions are about simple materials and details and accessible space. That's a design problem in itself to design that process across multiple projects. And that's what I get to do.”
-Lisa Sauve

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Building a Career Through Experimentation

  • Lisa knew from a young age that she wanted to be an architect, inspired by a love for creative spaces.

  • Instead of following a traditional path, she co-founded Synecdoche during the 2009 recession, working on small-scale projects and learning on the job.

  • The firm committed to one built project a year, growing organically without traditional firm experience.

2. Collaboration Over Competition

  • Lisa shares how the architecture community helped her navigate licensing, contracts, and safety regulations.

  • She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and creating opportunities for others rather than gatekeeping.

  • Synecdoche embraces an open-source mindset, often referring clients to other firms that may be a better fit.

3. The Role of Architecture in Community Building

  • Design is not just about aesthetics but about accessibility, sustainability, and supporting local economies.

  • Small businesses benefit from practical, budget-friendly design solutions that are beautiful yet functional.

  • Community-driven design, including murals and public art, shapes the cultural fabric of a city.

4. The Intersection of Architecture and Policy

  • Lisa recently joined the Michigan League for Public Policy board, advocating for policies that support equitable housing and urban development.

  • She believes policy is a design problem—removing bureaucratic barriers can lead to innovative, impactful architecture.

  • Architects should engage in civic conversations to influence regulations that shape the built environment.

5. Finding Success Without Following a Linear Path

  • Lisa never worked at a traditional architecture firm; instead, she built her expertise through hands-on experience.

  • She advises emerging designers to define their own "how" instead of rigidly following industry norms.

  • Many successful entrepreneurs started in architecture but pivoted into other industries, proving that a creative foundation is adaptable.

Show Notes & Resources