Better Buildings For Humans

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with Guy Geier, Senior Partner at FXCollaborative, for a fascinating conversation about how architecture can shape the way people work, interact, and experience the spaces around them. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Guy brings a wealth of experience in architectural design, workplace strategy, sustainabilit...

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Mark Loudermilk of Mark Loudermilk Architecture for a fascinating conversation about why great architecture begins with understanding people rather than simply designing beautiful buildings. With more than three decades of experience across workplaces, healthcare facilities, churches, fire stations, and residential...

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect Eliza Engle of MTFA Architecture for a fascinating conversation about how the spaces we inhabit influence our comfort, emotions, and overall well-being. With a background in sociology, mental health, and sustainable architecture, Eliza brings a uniquely human perspective to design—one that looks beyond aes...

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski welcomes Lona Rerick and Jesce Walz of Perkins&Will to explore regenerative design, circularity, and rethinking buildings and materials as valuable resources rather than disposable products. The conversation examines the shift away from construction’s traditional take-make-waste model, why usable materials are discarded durin...

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with architects Cristina Ballester and Mitchell Ramseur for a lively conversation about the subtle ways architecture shapes how we feel, move, interact, and experience everyday life. Coming to architecture from very different backgrounds—Cristina originally studied biology, while Mitchell’s path began with music and art...

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Dr. George Guszcza, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), for a thought-provoking conversation about innovation, resilience, technology, and the systems shaping the future of our built environment. Drawing on a career spanning military healthcare facilities, federal service, engine...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with Eric Waller of VitalSpace to explore how modular construction is changing the way healthcare environments are designed and delivered. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in healthcare operations, facilities, and construction strategy, Eric shares why speed, safety, and the human experience don’t have to be comp...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect and sustainability expert Gunnar Hubbard, co-founder of Solenworks, for a fascinating exploration of what it means to move beyond sustainable buildings toward buildings that actively make the world better. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Gunnar shares how growing up in a self-built log cabin i...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with builder, building biologist, and Synergy 360 founder Brian Johnson for a fascinating exploration of what it really means to create a home that supports human health. Drawing on a unique journey through construction, athletics, biohacking, and human optimization, Brian explains how those worlds eventually came together aro...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with science journalist and author Lynne Peeples for a fascinating exploration of our internal clocks—and the profound role that light and the built environment play in human health. Drawing from her book The Inner Clock , Lynne explains how circadian rhythms coordinate nearly every system in the body, why our biology depends...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with daylighting expert and architect Paul Rogers of ACC for a deep dive into the science, design, and human experience of natural light. Drawing on more than 15 years of specialized work and over a thousand daylight projects, Paul shares how a lifelong fascination with the sun evolved into a career focused on understanding ho...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Will Gridley of Robert A.M. Stern Architects for a fascinating conversation about higher education design and the powerful ways classrooms shape how students learn. Drawing on his experience designing academic buildings—and a unique residency at Southern Methodist University—Will explains why there is no single “perfect c...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes back architect, sustainability leader, author, and Cannon Design principal Eric Corey Freed for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges many of the assumptions driving sustainable design today. Drawing on decades of experience helping clients embrace innovation, Eric explains why the biggest obstacle to better building...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect, industrial designer, and artist Hamid Mohammadi, founder of Good Place Design, for an inspiring conversation about the intersection of architecture, creativity, and human experience. Drawing on his unique background across industrial design, architecture, and contemporary art, Hamid shares why great design isn&...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Sarah Gudeman, mechanical engineer at BranchPattern, for a thought-provoking conversation about building science, indoor environmental quality, and why truly great buildings are designed around human outcomes—not just mechanical systems. Drawing on her expertise in sustainability, healthy buildings, and building performan...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Denise Martin, founder of BEO Science, for an engaging conversation about building science, Passive House design, and why healthier buildings begin with understanding the invisible forces that shape them. Drawing on her experience in Germany and New Zealand, Denise explains how air tightness, ventilation, moisture control...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Alana Pinckley, Chief Engagement Officer of the American Coalition for Educational Environments (ACE) and host of the Empowered K-12 Podcast, for an insightful conversation about the critical connection between school facilities, student wellbeing, and the future of educational environments. Drawing on her unique journey from i...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect, researcher, educator, and design leader Isun Kazerani for a fascinating conversation that explores architecture far beyond buildings themselves. Drawing on her international experience across Australia and the United States, Isun shares how architecture intersects with fashion, culture, politics, mindfulness, a...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes architect, builder, real estate broker, and entrepreneur Jonathan Wolk, founder and CEO of WOLK360, for a thought-provoking conversation about reimagining the way buildings are designed, purchased, and constructed. Drawing on decades of experience across architecture, construction, and real estate, Jonathan explains why the tra...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes architect, entrepreneur, and provocateur Alexander Josephson for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of architecture, city-building, sustainability, and the role of design in shaping culture. Drawing on his journey from rebellious young designer to co-founder of the internationally recognized architecture firm Partisan...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Ryan Mikita of Ricca Design Studios for a fascinating conversation about the hidden world of foodservice design and the critical role it plays in shaping the restaurants, hotels, schools, arenas, and hospitality spaces we experience every day. Drawing on his unique journey from restaurant operations to leading large-scale...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Brian Bucher of WD Partners for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of architecture, branding, operations, and human experience in retail design. Drawing from decades of experience creating immersive spaces for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, Brian shares how thoughtful design can shape custome...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Emily McGee of Meadows & Ohly for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of healthcare design, public health, and the future of healing environments. With a unique background spanning architecture, global health, and healthcare real estate strategy, Emily shares how thoughtful design decisions can directly influe...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with interior designer Molly Polehna of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting for a wide-ranging conversation about the powerful role interior design plays in human health, sustainability, and authentic building experiences. From her unexpected path into design through themed entertainment and storytelling, Molly shares...

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Sarah Heppinstall, Vice President of Design, Construction, and Maintenance at Canadian Tire, to explore what it really takes to deliver human-centered retail at scale. From her journey across the UK and Canada to leading national building strategies, Sarah shares how customer experience, employee well-being, and operation...