Better Buildings For Humans

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Ayesha Batool, an esteemed architect and sustainability advisor. In this episode, Dr. Batool delves into the vital importance of window views and their impact on our health and well-being. With her rich experience in projects across Pakistan and the UK, she shares insights from constructing a school and a hospital. Dr. Batool also introduces us to...

This week, Joe Menchefski chats with Benjamin Markham, President of Acentech, about the crucial role of acoustics in building design. With over two decades of experience, Ben shares how noise impacts occupant comfort and explores strategies to control noise sources effectively. Joe and Ben dive into the balance between acoustic optimization and other design considerations like human-centered desig...

Join us as Debra Shepard, founder of RiverStone Sustainability, shares her journey in sustainability consulting. Discover the importance of integrating sustainability into organizations and influencing decision-makers to adopt greener practices. Debra explores how buildings can become living labs, promoting environmental responsibility. Learn about zero waste operations and practical steps to mini...

In this enlightening episode, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Dr. Glen Jeffery from University College London to explore the fascinating interplay between vision, light environments, and human health. Dr. Jeffery, an expert in experimental psychology, shares his groundbreaking research on how the shift from natural sunlight to LED lighting affects our biology, particularly our mitochondria—the...

In this episode of Better Buildings For Humans, host Joe Menchefski interviews Tony Bouquot, general manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA). They explore what defines metal buildings, their optimized engineering, and cost savings. Tony discusses the industry's shift towards high-end applications like offices and retail spaces, emphasizing occupant comfort. Tony highlights M...

Join host Joe Menchefski as he chats with Lone Feifer and Jens Christoffersen from VELUX, the world’s largest skylight manufacturer. Discover how skylights transform spaces by enhancing natural light, ventilation, and air quality. Learn about VELUX’s Living Places project, aiming for a three-time reduction in carbon footprint and healthier indoor climates, guided by principles of health, simplicit...

This week, we're joined by “The Light Doctor”, Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, director of the Circadian Light and Research Center, to explore the profound impact of light on our health and well-being. Dr. Moore-Ede shares his fascinating journey from being a surgeon to studying circadian rhythms and the effects of light on the human body. The dangers of blue light at night and the minimal amount of red lig...

Join host Joe Menchefski as he chats with Dr. Shelley James, the Light Lady, about the surprising ways light impacts our health and well-being. Dr. James shares her inspiring journey from a life-changing bicycle accident to becoming a top light advisor. Discover why our bodies are wired to respond to light, the importance of our circadian rhythm, and how natural light can boost our mood and focus....

The Passive House Network is the training and educational branch of Passive House in America.  In this episode, Joe sits down with Ken Levenson, the Executive Director of the Passive House Network. Joe and Ken explore the differences between the role of Passive House Network and PHIUS. Listeners will hear how the Passive House standards are driven by science and outcomes rather than prescriptive r...

In this episode of BBFH, host Joe Menchefski engages in a compelling conversation with Seth Warren Rose, founding director of Eneref Institute, on the profound impact of the built environment on human well-being. Seth, who transitioned from a background in physics to a passion for sustainable development, discusses the essential role of natural light in buildings, emphasizing it as a fundamental r...

This week, host Joe Menchefski explores the art of integrated and climate responsive design with Erik Olsen, Managing Partner at Transsolar KlimaEngineering. In this episode, Erik explains that "our world deserves better than building as usual," emphasizing the role of local climates in crafting dynamic, comfortable environments. Discover the impact of projects like the Karl Miller Center in Portl...

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Rashkin, self-proclaimed recovering architect, founder of Tru Home Facts, and the visionary behind the Housing 2.0 framework. Sam shares his invaluable insights on the pivotal role of programs like ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Home in advancing energy efficiency and sustainability in homes. Explore Housing 2.0, a groundbreaking framework developed by Sam...

Explore the intricacies of sustainable building design through the lens of daylight utilization and facade system control with esteemed researcher, Sahar Abdelwahab.  Sahar unravels the delicate balance between enhancing daylight intake and optimizing thermal performance using the groundbreaking Kaleidocycle Typology. Discover how cultural factors and visual privacy play pivotal roles in facade de...

In this episode, Julian Pastore from Volvo Car Canada and Bryce Jarman from RH Carter Architects Inc. discuss the Volvo Retail Sustainability Experience (VRSE) program, which focuses on creating sustainable and customer-centric dealerships.  They highlight the goals of VRSE, including providing a premium Scandinavian experience for customers and creating a comfortable and productive environment fo...

Pascale Sablan is an extraordinary person! She’s a brilliant architect, an activist, an advocate, and a passionate and engaging conversationalist. Pascale talks about the determination that was required for her to journey into a world where there were very few black female architects. She speaks in practical terms about the need for a diversity of opinions and experiences in community architecture...

Nick Bagatelos knows glass! Nick grew up in the glass industry and continues to be one of the most respected personalities in the industry. In this lively episode, Joe and Nick talk about: the promise of vacuum glass; the importance of retrofits and how to do it right; the technological and structural barriers that will ensure that some glass-based innovations will remain as novelty products; the...

Views and daylight are critical to occupant wellness, comfort, and productivity. Everyone who is familiar with commercial glazing knows that much of the energy loss occurs through the window framing system. This energy loss is putting pressure on architects to reduce glazed area, which isolates building occupants from the natural environment. In this episode, Joe goes on a deep dive with the peopl...

What is the connection between architecture and music? Can simple changes in a design improve the occupant’s dignity as well as their comfort? How did good design bring families of former prison inmates closer together and lower recidivism? In this extraordinary episode, Joe speaks with James Garrett Jr., an award-winning architect from 4RM+ULA in St. Paul, MN. James talks about his journey, his i...

Patrick Flannery is a journalist with Glass Canada Magazine. He has his finger on the pulse of the glass and glazing industry and he pulls no punches when he talks about the state of that industry. Joe and Patrick enjoy a lively discussion about topics like the 30% window to wall ratio and the general micromanagement of design through modern codes. Patrick also gets us up to speed on the many acti...

Nothing makes you appreciate natural light like removing a lot of it from your life! Paula Longato moved from Sao Paulo, Brasil to Berlin, Germany in 2006 to study architectural lighting design. The dramatic change in the amount of sunlight she experienced opened her eyes to the importance of daylight. She ended up doing her thesis on daylighting in office spaces. In this episode, Paula helps us t...

In this episode, Joe discusses the impact of natural and artificial light on human health and well-being with Jennifer Brons, the research director from the Mount Sinai Light and Health Center. She explains the importance of natural light for adolescents and provides strategies for improving lighting in schools. Jennifer also discusses the interplay between natural and artificial light and the res...

Lisa Heschong is a legend in the world of sustainable and human-centered design. She has been promoting the value of daylighting for more than 40 years and developed the now universally accepted “Spatial Daylight Autonomy” methodology. In this amazing episode, Lisa talks about her early years as one of the lone voices promoting human-centered design as well as energy efficiency. She talks about th...

In this episode, Joe interviews Megan Sykes, the energy manager for Sobeys, one of the largest grocery retailers in Canada. Megan shares her perspective on what makes a great building, and discusses her background and role within Sobeys, as well as, the company's commitment to reducing emissions and their comprehensive Climate Action Plan. She also highlights the importance of connecting shoppers...

Chris Ballard is the CEO of Passive House Canada. Chris helps us to understand Canada’s role in creating the modern passive house standards and how those standards were driven by logic and common sense. Listen to this episode to understand how Passive House standards provide design freedom while ensuring the creation of energy efficient, comfortable, healthy homes and buildings. You will also hear...

Christoph Reinhart is one of the most respected people in the world of building science. Dr. Reinhart leads the sustainable design lab at MIT. He is a managing member at Harvard Spinoff Solemma and co-founder of MIT spinoff mapdwell.  He is a physicist by training but holds a doctorate in Architecture from the University of Karlsruhe. In other words, he’s a building science rockstar! In this episo...