Episode 103: ‘Innovation and Wonder’ with Aileen Fuchs
In this episode:
Co-hosts Angela Gardner and Christi Powell welcome Aileen Fuchs, the President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum. They discuss the museum's role in celebrating and teaching about the built environment, its significance as a national landmark, and its offerings that engage people across age groups. Aileen shares her journey to leading the museum, highlighting the pillars of equity, environment, innovation, and wonder that guide its missions. The conversation covers the museum's collaborative efforts with other organizations, youth engagement strategies, and the potential impact of these initiatives on attracting more women to the construction industry. Furthermore, Aileen details upcoming projects and expresses her vision for the museum to gain national prominence by making architecture and construction more accessible and relevant to all. Thank you for listening!
Supported by: 84 Lumber and Tealhaus Strategies
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Welcome to Women Talk Construction
00:19 Introducing Aileen and the National Building Museum
02:28 Aileen's Favorite Memories and Role at the Museum
04:44 The Impact and Vision of the National Building Museum
07:56 Engaging the Next Generation and Industry Collaborations
22:25 The Future of the National Building Museum and How to Support
28:56 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
About Aileen:
Aileen Fuchs is the President & Executive Director of the National Building Museum, where she started her role in May 2021. For over a decade, Aileen has been working at the intersection of site-specific historic interpretation, adaptive-reuse activations, and cultural destination-making. A former lifelong New Yorker, Aileen served as President and CEO of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden from 2017-2021.
She oversaw the property management and cultural programming of the historic 83-acre site which includes 26 buildings, 14 botanical gardens, 10 acres of wetlands, and a production farm. Before that, she served as Executive Director of Exhibits & Programs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she established and ran the Museum and Visitor Center, BLDG 92. She spearheaded programs, curated gallery exhibitions, designed immersive experiences, and established public art initiatives that celebrated the past, present, and future of the former naval shipbuilding facility turned renowned industrial manufacturing hub.
Prior to these endeavors, she worked in exhibition development with the American History Workshop. Aileen holds an M.A. and an Advanced Certificate in Public History from New York University. She currently serves on the Boards of the Washington DC Economic Partnership and the Downtown DC BID.
