FSDA’s 2025-2026 Lecture Series

The Friends of San Diego Architecture presents inspiring lectures on architecture, design, and the built environment by speakers who stimulate thoughtful, community-centered discussions. After more than 40 years, the conversations continue.

Join Us in Celebrating FSDA’s 40th Anniversary and Our Region’s Legacy as a World Design Capital!
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“I’ve never met a woman architect before…”

The POWER of WOMEN in ARCHITECTURE

911 Ninth St., Coronado, by Michele Grace Hottel, Architect: MGHarchitect (Ian Patzke)

A Portfolio and Panel Discussion
about
Women and Architecture in San Diego

Moderated by Michele Grace Hottel
with
Margit Whitlock, Kristi Byers, and Liz Carmichael

Saturday, May 16, 10:00 AM
San Diego History Center
Casa de Balboa
1649 El Prado
Balboa Park

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From early pioneers, like Lilian Rice, Jane Minshall, Louise Severn, Hazel Wood Waterman, Harriet Wimmer, and horticulturist Kate Sessions, to the present day, San Diego has always had a growing number of female architecture and design professionals. However, for years women had worked mostly behind the scenes in those male-dominated professions … and received little recognition.

Today, women have broken the glass ceilings and become a powerful force. They number 25 -50% of graduates and have diversified their expertise into many fields — commercial and civic building projects, land use and planning, interior design, construction management, etc. Women bring a different mindset to the table — a ready willingness to collaborate in a team effort. Some own firms and have won awards for outstanding projects. Many have had to learn to balance work and a family, a difficult task.

The four women on our panel are architects with their own Architecture and Design firms. They will be speaking about their personal stories, original concepts, and recent projects. The moderator is Michele Grace Hottel, Founder of MGHarchitect and the podcast: “I’ve never met a woman architect before….” Panelists are Margit Whitlock of Architectural Concepts; Kristi Byers of Kristi Byers, Architect, and Architects Mosher Drew; and, Liz Carmichael of The Lab SD.

(Photo: Kelley O’Leary)

Michele Grace Hottel has been drawing since she was very young. Before and after attending California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of Copenhagen, she began a career in architecture and design working in various firms in Southern California.  She has been practicing Architecture with her own firm, MGHarchitect: Michele Grace Hottel, Architect, since 1994 and is licensed in California and Arizona.  A past board member of AIA CRAN National and AIA San Diego, a Commissioner and Subject Matter Expert for the California Architects Board, and a City of La Mesa Planning Commissioner for twelve years, she stays active in the fields of Architecture, Design, and Art in the profession and the community.

One can read her blog, “I never met a woman architect before…” (the trials and tribulations of being a woman, architect, and mother) and listen to her podcast with guests who are Architects and others in the AEC Industry. And you can find her on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

Meridian Condominiums, San Diego (Margit E. Whitlock AIA)

Margit E. Whitlock AIA is Principal of Architectural Concepts Inc, a San Diego-based design firm.  Ms. Whitlock is responsible for creating the concepts that drive the creative process. Her professional experience includes all aspects of architecture and interior design, including space planning, custom FFE, art programs, construction documents, and construction administration. She is a licensed architect in the states of CA, AZ, NY, HI, TX, SC, and FL.

Her project list includes hospitality, commercial, retail, restaurants, civic, and timeshare resorts. For the past thirty years she has focused on resort/hospitality design and construction with projects nationally and internationally, being frequently published in magazines such as Developments, Resort Trades, Hotel Business, Hiatus, Vacation Industry Review, and Resort Management and Operations.

To foster her passion about the built environment and her community, Margit served as President of the San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF). Margit received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon with academic strengths in urban planning and design with extended studies in Art History and Architecture at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Wheeler Residence (Richard Wheeler, 1952) after restoration by Kristi Byers Architect and sklarSTUDIOS

Kristi Byers, AIA LEED AP BD&C, is a Senior Principal at Architects Mosher Drew, a 38-person architecture firm that has been serving San Diego for over 77 years.  Her design eye, technical expertise, and consensus-building leadership skills have been honed over her 27 years of project and community leadership experience throughout Southern California and the U.S.

As one of San Diego’s most esteemed design thought leaders, Kristi currently serves as Chair of the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board and has served on the AIA San Diego Chapter’s Board of Directors in roles that ranged from Public Advocacy Commissioner to President. She has taught as a visiting professor at San Diego State University (2014) and adjunct professor at Woodbury University (2009-2015).

Sustainable design and healthy buildings have always been a passion for Kristi. She became a LEED Accredited Professional in 2007 and has served as LEED Project Manager and Coordinator on several notable, sustainably-designed projects around the country. Government and corporate clients have sought her expertise for educating their personnel about sustainability, greening their building operations, strategizing for building and site purchases, and planning for future sustainable renovations.

Roosevelt, San Diego (The Lab SD)

Elizabeth Carmichael, AIA, LFA, GPRO, is a California-licensed architect and sustainability visionary with over 30 years of experience in architecture, planning, and complex entitlements. As the Chief Design and Development Officer of THE LAB SD (Living Adaptive Build Sustainable Developments), she leads innovative projects that prioritize biophilic principles, wellness-driven design, and long-term climate resilience. Elizabeth is a recognized expert in navigating the intricate regulatory landscapes of coastal and urban development, specializing in discretionary permitting and California Coastal Commission requirements.

Throughout her career, she has spearheaded a diverse portfolio of multi-family housing, boutique commercial projects, medical clinics, and affordable developments. Her work is characterized by the integration of technical innovation with a commitment to environmental justice, advancing a model of practice where sustainable design is a baseline for human well-being.

A dedicated advocate for sustainable policy and industry leadership, Elizabeth currently serves on the Board of Directors for USGBC-California. She is a frequent speaker at AIA National, The Living Future Conference, and various sustainability forums, where she shares insights on the intersection of regenerative development and urban policy. Beyond her practice, she is a committed mentor to emerging professionals helping to shape the next generation of leaders in the built environment.