Building Green

When you think of rivers, you probably don’t think of architects. But Derek Hoeferlin has made it his life’s work to prove why you should. As an architect, chair of Landscape Architecture, and author of Way Beyond Bigness , Derek advocates for a radical shift in how we design with water—not against it. He’s studied watersheds across the Mississippi, Mekong, and Rhine, learning how infrastructure,...

Ever wondered what makes a city truly great to live in—or why some places feel safer than others at night? In this episode, urban designers Karina and Aiswarya unpack how cities affect our everyday lives, from safety and loneliness to mobility and community connection.  You'll hear why simply building more apartments isn't enough, how places like Mumbai, Curitiba, and Atlanta shape the way...

What if your chair could last for generations and never end up in a landfill? THIS MOMENT IS A HIGHLIGHT FROM EPISODE #040.John Hamilton is the kind of designer who sees beyond just the object - he sees the story, the connection, and the legacy it can create. From his work with groundbreaking materials like carbon fiber and mycelium packaging to his belief that furniture should quietly support the...

What if the greenest building isn’t the one with the best tech - but the one people love the most? Award-winning designer William Dodge shares the story behind a powerful $50K flood memorial that’s changing how the world sees sustainability. It’s built on the same site where his childhood friend drowned and was finished 25 years to the day after his death. But this isn’t just a story about one pow...

If you're a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, you already know: cities were not built with you in mind. One third of all city trips are for caregiving - so why are we still designing cities around commuting? Ankita Chachra has spent her career asking questions like this - and designing better answers. From Delhi to The Hague to Brooklyn, she’s seen how small choices in city design - like wher...

What if your home could outsmart floods, reduce energy bills, and make you healthier - all at once?  Architect Nathalie Manzano walks us through the world’s first WELL-certified house in Miami, built for 100-year floods and designed to be fully taken apart, not torn down.  This isn’t your typical Miami home… This house might just be a living blueprint for the future of sustainable living.  It’s bu...

If you're careful about what you eat, why not care about what your house is made of? Nathalie and Ted didn’t just build a house - they created a whole new way of thinking. Instead of following the usual short-term approach that’s common in South Florida, they decided to do the opposite. Nathalie started in public health, researching how homes affect people’s well-being. Ted comes from an engin...

Our future depends on how we organize society. The question is: are we getting it right? David Auge argues that we’ve been looking at it all wrong. In his book “Man’s Search for Sustainability”, he explores how honeybees and desert locusts - two extreme insect societies - hold surprising lessons for how we build our own communities. In this episode, David reveals: why stress is essential for growt...

Why did six top firms get six very different answers - to be exact they varied by 34% -  when measuring the same building’s carbon footprint? Most architects want to design sustainable buildings, but the reality is - sustainability tools are often complicated, expensive, or come into the process too late to make a real impact. That’s exactly what Sheena Zhang is working to fix.  As a Sustainabilit...

This one shift in how you talk about your business could bring in massive growth.  Karl Feldman explains how. He helps architecture, engineering, and consulting firms turn their expertise into real business growth.  As a managing partner at Hinge Marketing, he uses research - not guesswork - to show companies how to stand out, attract the right clients, and prove their value without relying on emp...

Could AI and modular design be the future of architecture?  In this episode, we sit down with Ethnie Xu, an architect and real estate expert, to explore how technology, sustainability, and business intersect in the built world. From surviving a devastating earthquake at age 10 to designing resilient, AI-driven buildings, Ethnie shares how we can build smarter, greener, and more affordable cities....

Can buildings store electricity like a battery? Blaine Brownell is a leading voice in sustainable architecture and material innovation, with a career spanning over 20 years. Starting as an architect in Seattle during the rise of the LEED green building movement, he transitioned to academia, where he now directs the School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte. His research focuses on the future of sust...

Can AI design a better, greener future? Zak Kostura is the leader of the innovative team using AI and genetic algorithms to rethink sustainable architecture and urban planning at Arup. From designing New York’s NRDC headquarters with 3,000+ net-zero options, to optimizing entire transportation networks without building new roads, Zak shares how technology is transforming the built environment. Dis...

How can we design buildings centered only minimize environmental harm, but actively contribute to better world? That's exactly the mission of Re:Vision Architecture. Architects Scott Kelly and David Salamon reveal why true sustainability isn’t just about adding solar panels—it’s about designing smarter from the start. They share eye-opening lessons from decades of experience, including why beautif...

Why are so many buildings designed to shut out nature instead of working with it? Vivian Loftness has spent 50 years advancing sustainable architecture, focusing on climate-responsive design, energy efficiency, and healthier buildings. Her career began during the first energy crisis, leading her to research passive solar design and climate-adaptive architecture. She studied in Finland, where she l...

What if sustainability wasn’t just about saving the planet - but also the key to growing a successful business? Best-selling author of “ How to Build Sustainability into Your Business Strategy” , Lee Stewart has helped major companies turn climate challenges into business opportunities. From securing multi-million-dollar contracts through green initiatives to debunking the biggest myths about sust...

What if your chair could last for generations and never end up in a landfill? John Hamilton is the kind of designer who sees beyond just the object - he sees the story, the connection, and the legacy it can create. From his work with groundbreaking materials like carbon fiber and mycelium packaging to his belief that furniture should quietly support the people using it, John has spent decades push...

How can technology help us design buildings that stand the test of time?  🌍 Alfonso Hernandez is Sustainability Director at Gensler, the world’s largest architectural firm, where he focuses on decarbonization, resilience, and future-proofing buildings. Using computational tools like energy modeling and daylight optimization, Alfonso describes his work as creating a “cone of certainty” to guide de...

Could the cities of tomorrow thrive by reimagining the structures of today? Vinciane Albrecht talks about the mass timber buildings designed by her partner Anne Carcelen in France, showcasing their approach to sustainability and design. Together, they’ve developed concepts like hybrid city and inter-building - a three-step method to preserve existing structures, build smarter, and bridge the past...

Is your garden harming or helping the environment? Landscape architect Scott Bishop, founder of Bishop Land Design, uncovers why green roofs are so important, how microforests and de-lawning can revolutionize biodiversity, and what we can all do - even in small ways - to improve our neighborhoods.  From the hidden magic of soil to designing cities that work with the environment, Scott’s insights w...

How can the spaces we live in shape our mental health and well-being? Architect James Andrews shares how he teamed up with IKEA to design a tiny home that helps people recover from trauma and homelessness. Discover how architecture can heal, boost wellness, and challenge what we think we know about spaces - like why open-plan living might not be as great as it seems. Plus, learn why adding nature...

Can wood really replace steel and concrete in skyscrapers? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, Shay Kurzinski, Assistant Professor of Construction Management at Roger Williams University, talks about everything we need to know about the game-changing potential of mass timber. From its surprising strength to its ability to reduce carbon emissions and speed up construction timelines. Sha...

What can we learn from communities and ecosystems to create greener, safer cities? In this episode, Laia Bonet shares her inspiring journey from designing buildings in Switzerland to tackling climate resilience challenges across Africa. After moving to Cameroon and later Nairobi to work with UN-Habitat, Laia shifted her focus from architecture to creating solutions for rapidly growing urban areas...

What if real estate could help save the planet? 🌎 In this episode, Christiane Conrads, PwC's Global Real Estate ESG leader, joins the conversation to share how sustainability is influencing the future of buildings and cities. From her background in environmental law to leading global ESG initiatives, Christiane’s work is all about finding simple, powerful solutions - from solar-powered green spac...

Can sustainable buildings actually save you money? Paul Paterson, founder of Elevation Sustainable Building Solutions, explains how energy-efficient designs don’t have to cost more - and can even reduce both, building and operational expenses. With decades of experience in engineering and construction, Paul shares his journey from Scotland to Dubai and discusses how he’s closing the 'performance g...