224: The Architecture of Systems: Building a Self-Running Firm

Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture · Feb 26, 2026 · 1h

How can better business systems protect your firm's profitability, and your sanity?

In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Darguin Fortuna, founding principal of Flow Design Architects and chair of the AIA Small Firm Exchange. Darguin shares his incredible journey from moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2010, learning English while working night shifts at Wendy's, to passing all six ARE exams in just over a year and earning his license the same day his daughter was born.

Darguin's frustration with traditional architecture practice didn't stem…