Description

The Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council invites BIA Hawaii members to an educational workshop introducing the Pacific Academy of Building Design (PABD).

PABD was created to address a critical need in Hawai‘i’s building industry: developing more accessible and affordable pathways to careers in architecture, design, and the construction industry. Traditional degree programs often require years of study, high tuition costs, and rigid schedules that can discourage aspiring professionals. PABD’s innovative approach lowers these barriers by offering flexible online coursework paired with compensated, real-world field experience.

Through its PRAXIS model, students gain practical, project-based training while earning income and progressing toward professional credentials. This model not only supports students, but also strengthens the industry by preparing a new generation of architects and designers with hands-on skills and real-world readiness.

Featured Speaker

Dr. Liza Lockard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of PABD, will lead the workshop.

• Former tenured professor at Chaminade University and assistant professor at the UH School of Architecture

• Holds a Master’s in Architecture from Yale and a PhD in Futures Studies from UH Mānoa

• Author of Human Migration to Space and numerous articles on architecture, design, and sustainability

• Brings 30+ years of professional practice in architectural and interior design across the U.S., Europe, and Asia

• Experienced educator, builder, and researcher, blending design theory with hands-on construction expertise

In this workshop, attendees will learn:

• PABD’s mission to expand opportunity and strengthen the building design workforce in Hawai‘i

• How the PRAXIS approach works, blending online education with field experience

• The role of industry partners, including how BIA members can connect with and benefit from PABD’s pipeline of emerging professionals

• Collaboration opportunities with PWB and PABD to support education, mentorship, and workforce development

By participating, you’ll gain insight into a program designed to grow Hawai‘i’s talent pool and support the future of our industry.

Register today to reserve your spot and receive updates on time and location.

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Dr. Liza Lockard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of PABD

Dr. Liza Lockard is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Pacific Academy of Building Design, formerly a tenured Professor at Chaminade University and an Assistant Professor at University of Hawai'i School of Architecture.

Dr. Lockard holds a master's degree in Architecture from Yale and a PhD in Futures Studies from the University of Hawai'i, where her interdisciplinary dissertation on human habitation in Space examined how the design of the habitat interior can facilitate or undermine psycho-physiological adaptation to extraterrestrial environments.

As a graduate student, Liza took advantage of opportunities to learn construction through the Yale Building Project—first as a selected member of the construction crew, then as a Teaching Assistant, and later as the On-site Supervisor. She also spent three semesters studying metal machining and welding, while serving as woodshop monitor where she trained fellow students in safe machine use.

She is the author of the book titled, Human Migration to Space: Alternative Technological Approaches for Long-Term Adaptation to Extraterrestrial Environments and the Implications for Evolution, which was published by Springer as part of their Outstanding Doctoral Research series. She has written numerous articles, including "The Evolution of Space Architecture and Its Potential to Inspire New Paradigms for Inhabiting Earth," in the anthology, Ecological Design Thinking: Healthful Ecotopian Visions for Architecture and Urbanism, published by Routledge.

In addition to her experience as an educator and scholar, Dr. Lockard has over 30 years of professional work experience. She has completed numerous architectural and interior design projects in Boston, New York, New Haven, Hawai'i, Costa Rica, Switzerland, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Việt Nam (where she designed the new satellite US Consulate offices in Ho Chi Minh City). Alongside design practice, she has often worked on the construction side of her smaller independent projects.

She was awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Art and Architecture to study post-urban development in Hanoi, and a Soroptimist Fellowship for her groundbreaking dissertation research on living in space.