Best Mass Timber Plus Podcasts (2026)

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Cutler Bay Legacy Park and Resilient Community Design 1:03:42

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7d ago1:03:42

1:03:42

We’ve officially reached 100 episodes of American Building, and to mark the milestone, I’m joined by Austin Crowley, Senior Associate, and Robert Blaser, Principal, of Michael Graves Architecture. We center the conversation on one of Austin and Robert’s current projects: Cutler Bay Legacy Park, a civic project that addresses how a Florida community…

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Building Small: Community and Coaching for Entrepreneurial Developers 1:02:50

15d ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Hundreds of real estate conferences happen every year, but very few address the tactical realities of small scale development. In 2012, Jim Heid, in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute, launched the first Small Scale Developers Forum (SSDF) with 20 people in San Francisco. What started as an "Island of Misfit Toys” now sells out within a week…

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Inside Amy Gutmann Hall: Philadelphia's First Urban Mass Timber Building 55:39

24d ago55:39

55:39

When most universities build research facilities for data science and AI, they create sleek, futuristic spaces that showcase technology. The University of Pennsylvanias School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering) took the opposite approach with Amy Gutmann Hall. The six-story building uses mass timber construction to bring natural …

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GAIA’s Multifamily Strategy in America’s Sun Belt 41:06

29d ago41:06

41:06

Danny Fishman co-founded GAIA Real Estate in 2009 when the financial crisis created distressed opportunities across multifamily markets. His approach centers on hands-on management rather than passive ownership. When evaluating properties, Danny and his team spend weekends on-site observing tenant behavior, testing neighborhood walkability, and und…

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The Making of Disney's Sustainable, All-Electric NYC Headquarters 1:07:20

1M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Disney's New York operations were scattered across the Upper West Side in aging facilities, including a former horse stable that housed ABC News broadcast sets. When the company set out to bring ABC, ESPN, Marvel, and its other divisions under one roof, the design prompt required upgrades for the next generation of broadcast technology and adherenc…

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Adaptive Reuse and Placemaking at Camp North End 56:47

2M ago56:47

56:47

There's a piece of conventional wisdom in real estate that almost every developer accepts: retail follows rooftops. Build the housing first, then the storefronts will follow. Tesho Akindele and the team at Camp North End did the opposite—and it’s paying off in a major way. Camp North End is a 76-acre adaptive reuse project in Charlotte, North Carol…

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Green-Wood Cemetery’s Next Act 39:50

2M ago39:50

39:50

"I'll plan anything a man wants, from a cathedral to a chicken coop," architect H.H. Richardson famously said. Stephen Cassell has done exactly that—designing a chicken coop, a synagogue, and now comes full circle with a cemetery welcome and education center in Brooklyn. Green-Wood Cemetery is transforming from an active burial ground into a cultur…

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A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 2) 35:14

3M ago35:14

35:14

There are over 2,000 different building codes across the United States, including 340 in Colorado alone. This fragmentation is one of the biggest barriers preventing modular housing from addressing America's affordability crisis. Wayne Norbeck and Jordan Rogove, co-founders of DXA Studio and Liv-Connected, are working to change that through their d…

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A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 1) 32:00

3M ago32:00

32:00

When the Lahaina wildfires devastated Maui in 2023, Hawaiʻi's governor did something unprecedented: he rejected FEMA trailers. The reason was simple一those trailers were designed to last three seasons but routinely became permanent housing for 10-plus years, bringing mold, formaldehyde, and health problems with them. Hawaiʻi wanted something better.…

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How Small-Scale Homes and Cottage Communities Address Middle-Income Housing Needs 1:00:05

3M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Most developers assume the housing crisis is about supply. Jesse Russell and Ryan Andrews of Hiatus Homes see it differently: it's about designing for households that most developers overlook. One to two-person households represent the largest and fastest-growing demographic in America, yet they're the least served by new construction. Based in Ben…

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Met Tower: Creating Five-Star Hotel Experiences in Office Buildings 44:39

3M ago44:39

44:39

The return-to-office policies have settled, but the real challenge has just begun. As companies bring employees back to their desks, the question isn't whether people will return—it's whether they'll want to stay. The office buildings succeeding in this new era aren't necessarily those with the best locations or lowest rents, but rather those who a…

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Adaptive Reuse and Community Revitalization in Oklahoma City 48:04

4M ago48:04

48:04

When's the last time a ping pong game determined whether you could close a $350,000 loan? For Jonathan Dodson, it happened during his first major development project after walking away from a banking career. His moral stand against workplace harassment led him to launch Pivot Project, an Oklahoma City-based development firm specializing in historic…

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How a Legendary Architecture Firm Transitions, Grows, and Looks Forward 1:04:12

4M ago1:04:12

1:04:12

Many architecture firm owners struggle with the same challenge: How do you build a sustainable business that can thrive beyond the founder? Joe Furey solved this problem by bringing his finance and technology background to Michael Graves Architecture & Design, one of America's most iconic firms. As CEO and President, Joe has transformed the practic…

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How Aker’s Core Values Drive Redevelopment and Community at Kinwood 42:01

4M ago42:01

42:01

Stephen Ross had an uncompromising vision for a transformational park built over a highway as part of an ambitious Detroit master plan. The challenge was cost. Tina Ladd has built her career remaining determined in the face of challenges. Through her work on both the Detroit master plan and Hudson Yards, she honed her skills to turn the impossible …

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Transforming the Transamerica Pyramid and Reshaping Downtown San Francisco | Part 2 20:26

4M ago20:26

20:26

SHVO's $400 million transformation of the Transamerica Pyramid required solving a fundamental problem: how do you renovate an iconic building without destroying what makes it unique? The building's original architect, William Pereira, created brilliant structural innovations but made unusual interior design decisions—hiding 17-foot ceilings behind …

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Transforming the Transamerica Pyramid and Reshaping Downtown San Francisco | Part 1 41:04

4M ago41:04

41:04

Michael Shvo, founder, chairman, and CEO of SHVO, has built a reputation for transforming iconic properties through hospitality-driven real estate development. From residential to commercial assets, his customer-first philosophy has created some of the most iconic properties across global markets. In this episode, Michael shares the remarkable stor…

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Studio Barn and Principles for Successful Adaptive Reuse 46:20

5M ago46:20

46:20

When the construction numbers came back for Worrell Yeung’s artist studio design in Westerly, Rhode Island, everyone had to pause and recalibrate. The ground-up approach they'd developed was simply too expensive for the clients' needs and lifestyle. This moment led them back to the initial design prompt and sketches. Rather than seeing this as a se…

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Building Aboard the World's Largest Residential Yacht 46:14

5M ago46:14

46:14

When architect Michael Chen, principal of MKCA, got a call about designing a 600-square foot apartment, the project brief was straightforward enough: renovate a 2-bedroom summer vacation home with multifunctional furniture. However, this wasn’t East Hampton or Miami Beach. In fact, there wasn’t an address at allーthe apartment floats on a luxury res…

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Bonus Replay: Improving the Work of a Legend | Part 2 43:43

5M ago43:43

43:43

In the continuation of our conversation with architect Vishaan Chakrabarti, we dive deeper into the philosophy and challenges behind PAU's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expansion. What emerges is a masterclass in honoring architectural legacy and a candid discussion about building a principled practice. Vishaan reveals PAU's "place needs connection" m…

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Bonus Replay: Improving the Work of a Legend | Part 1 40:18

5M ago40:18

40:18

Four years ago, we sat down with architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti to explore his vision for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion in Cleveland—then still on the drawing board. Today, that project is under construction, reshaping Cleveland’s lakefront with a bold new cultural landmark. As cranes rise and the tower takes form, our conversa…

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Adaptive Reuse and The Future of Retail 53:12

6M ago53:12

53:12

When Jim Somoza first walked through Chelsea Market in 1994, he was blown away by the adaptive reuse concept. Years later, through a series of real estate transactions, Jim met Irwin Cohen, the visionary behind the project. He spent four years as president there, and is now applying those lessons at Industry City, turning 16 abandoned waterfront bu…

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The Ponce City Market Approach to Sustainable Construction 36:36

6M ago36:36

36:36

When visitors walk into the Pottery Barn at 619 Ponce, they often ask about the amazing candle scent filling the space. But the smell isn't a candle at all—it's the building itself. The four-story mass timber structure is built from Southern Yellow Pine that developer Jamestown sourced from their own timber holdings. As Director of Innovation and S…

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Mass Timber and the Future of Sustainable Housing Development 50:30

6M ago50:30

50:30

What if the biggest barrier to carbon-neutral development isn't the technology or the materials, but actually the industry's resistance to change? Most developers know sustainable construction is the future, but translating those ideals into financially viable projects feels impossible when you're faced with premium construction costs and market-ra…

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The Housing Solution Hidden in Plain Sight 46:33

7M ago46:33

46:33

When's the last time you knocked on a stranger's door to ask for something? For most people, the answer is probably never—or at least not since Halloween as a kid. But Cecily King is building Kipling Development this way, sourcing deals by networking in underserved communities and connecting with retiring landlords. Kipling bridges the gap between …

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Why Trailborn is Betting On America’s Drive-To Destinations 50:40

7M ago50:40

50:40

Ben Weinberg and Michael Weiss, childhood friends turned business partners, are threading the needle between nostalgia and innovation with their hospitality ventures Castle Peak Holdings and Trailborn. From the beaches of Wrightsville, North Carolina to the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park, they’re transforming three-star properties into f…

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Introducing American Building Season 4 2:17

7M ago2:17

2:17

What's shaping the future of real estate development? The industry is facing some of its biggest challenges yet: Rising construction costs, tariffs, shifting investment trends, and an evolving residential market redefining how and where we live, work and stay. But with changes comes opportunity. Join us for season four of American Building as we di…

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Volumetric Building with Vaughan Buckley 23:08

2y ago23:08

23:08

Art Schmon, Managing Director IWBC, interviews Vaughan Buckley, CEO of Volumetric Building Companies to discuss the advantages offsite modular building.It's the orchestration of bringing together:-Technology-enabled design process-Precision-driven manufacturing capabilities-Project-proven volumetric set and construction expertiseEnsures faster deli…

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Keith Rand of Mill Creek Residential | The Future of Housing In America 49:08

2+ y ago49:08

49:08

What does the housing crisis actually entail? To wrap up Season 3 of American Building, I’m joined by Keith Rand, Vice President at Mill Creek Residential, to discuss the main housing production issues Americans face today and different solutions to address them. We look at limitations with local and state government policy and unpack the proposed …

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Matt Giammanco of AvalonBay Communities | Thanet Circle in Princeton | Suburbia Part II 50:24

2+ y ago50:24

50:24

Garden-style apartments offer residents the best of both worlds: green space and lower density living without the upkeep and price tag of a single-family home. In this episode, I trace back to the origins of garden-style apartments and highlight who lives in them now. I also revisit a conversation with developer Matt Giammanco of AvalonBay Communit…

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Arthi Krishnamoorthy of TenBerke | The Princeton Residential Colleges in Princeton | Dormitories, Then and Now 38:38

2+ y ago38:38

38:38

Dorm life is a quintessential part of the American university experience, but that wasn’t always the case. In this episode, I outline the history of dormitories and share an edited version of my conversation with Arthi Krishnamoorthy, Senior Principal at TenBerke, to discuss the firm’s residential college project on the Princeton campus. After thre…

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Peter Brosens of Stolar Capital Building | Chatham on Main in Chatham | What is Workforce Housing 41:41

2+ y ago41:41

41:41

Between the global financial crisis, tanking housing production, and rapid inflation, housing affordability for middle income workers has become increasingly out-of-reach. Workforce housing, a type of unregulated affordable housing, addresses the limitations that professionals like teachers, healthcare providers, and retail clerks are facing when i…

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Andrew Regenstreich, Formerly of Housing and Neighborhood Development Services | Gateway Project in Orange | Nonprofits and Housing 47:50

2+ y ago47:50

47:50

You can’t have a conversation about affordable housing without acknowledging the impact of rent regulation. Also known as rent control, rent stabilization or rent limits, these coveted units offer occupants a sense of stability by guaranteeing their monthly rent payment won’t skyrocket year after year. So, why is regulated affordable housing so har…

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Kirk Mitchell of AKT Designs | North Woodland Street in Englewood | Beyond McMansions 36:39

2+ y ago36:39

36:39

As the old adage goes, a man's home is his castle. That doesn't mean that every home is a castle or a mansion, but in this day and age, it could very well be a McMansion. In this episode, I explore the history of mansions and how the style has been interpreted by millions of suburban homeowners. I also revisit a conversation I had with Kirk Mitchel…

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Johanna Anderson of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services | Founders Way in Ithaca | Changing Needs, Changing Housing 43:27

2+ y ago43:27

43:27

The racially-charged NIMBY, or ‘not in my backyard’, phenomenon is at the core of zoning laws, particularly in the greater New York City area. In this episode, I take us back to the early 1900s to look at the nation’s first zoning resolution and examine how it continues to affect communities today. I also revisit a conversation with developer Johan…

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Jenny Peysin of Jenny Peysin Architecture | Wilderness Drive in East Jewett | Finding Refuge in Vacation Homes 34:25

2+ y ago34:25

34:25

Whether it’s called a shore house, weekend home or cottage, the concept remains the same: escape from the city. The cultural phenomenon of staying at a non-primary residence during the summer is especially pervasive in New York City. In this episode, I look into the history of vacation homes in the tri-state area and how the current work-from-home …

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Nick Falker of Cambridge Realty Partners | The Elm in New Haven | Living in a College Town 42:25

2+ y ago42:25

42:25

With Zoom school largely a thing of the past, college students are back to living on or near campus again. Between dormitories, apartments, and multifamily homes, there are an estimated 8.5 million student housing beds across the US with an projected increase to 9.2 million this decade. In this episode, I’m unpacking the factors contributing to the…

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Kenneth Namkung of Monument Office | Suburbanism Exhibit in New York City | The Origins of Mass Produced Housing 34:28

2+ y ago34:28

34:28

Due to the 1950 Federal Housing Authority and Veterans Administration loan programs, suburbs on Long Island and New Jersey were growing at 10 times the rate of downtown areas in New York City. Levittown in Nassau County is perhaps the most quintessential example of the outcome of those loan programs. Totaling 17,400 homes built on 4,000 acres of po…

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Rachel Loeb, Formerly of NYCEDC | Bronx Point in Bronx | When Governments Build Housing 34:31

2+ y ago34:31

34:31

Public housing is the oldest and one of the largest subsidy programs in the country. However, there hasn’t been any significant expansion of public housing spending since 1974 when President Nixon placed a moratorium on that budget. In this episode, I shine a light on the complicated history of government housing and the deep influence it has on se…

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Lea Cloud of CDR Studio Architects | Bushwick Townhouse in Brooklyn | Townhouses Then and Now 40:13

2+ y ago40:13

40:13

In this episode, we’re exploring the history of townhouses in New York City and unpacking how this housing type relates to gentrification, a hot-button issue at the intersection of race, class, and housing. We’re revisiting a conversation that I had with Lea Cloud, co-founder and partner of CDR Studio Architects, where she walks us through a though…

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Camila Crazut, Formerly of Spivak Architects | Central Park West in New York City | Who's Afraid of the Cooperative 32:47

2+ y ago32:47

32:47

Today I sit down with Camila Crazut, former architect and interior designer for Spivak Architects. Camila and I discuss her Central Park West project located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the benefits and challenges of projects in a cooperative structure, and the good & bad of client and designer relationships. Located in an upper class resi…

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Melissa Román Burch, Formerly of Lendlease Development | Claremont Hall in New York City | The History of Highrises 55:04

2+ y ago55:04

55:04

On today’s podcast, we sit down with Melissa Román Burch to learn more about her project with Lendlease Development, Claremont Hall. Located in the academic acropolis of New York City, Claremont Hall is a mixed-use building with modern neo-gothic architecture and sweeping views of the Hudson River. We also dive into some of Melissa’s other developm…

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MaryAnne Gilmartin of MAG Partners | 241 West 28th Street in New York City | Renting Today 29:00

2+ y ago29:00

29:00

Today we are speaking with the insightful MaryAnne Gilmartin, who discusses her experience getting into the real estate business, incorporating sustainability, and embracing wellness as it relates to creating new developments. MaryAnne is the CEO of MAG Partners and in this episode we dive into her project at 281 West 28th Street in the Chelsea nei…

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Sean Pichon of PGN Architects and Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures | 2220 MLK Avenue in Washington, D.C. | So, There is a Housing Crisis 47:33

2+ y ago47:33

47:33

To kick off Season 3 of American Building, I sit down with Sean Pichon of PGN Architects and Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures. We explore the projects they are working on together in D.C., such as 2220 MLK Avenue, while also diving into topics such as the nationwide housing shortage and home ownership for Black Americans. Sean and Omar go in depth a…

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Atif Qadir of Commonplace | Building for Impact 8:14

2+ y ago8:14

8:14

All good things either evolve or get left behind, that is why I have renamed REDIST to Commonplace. After speaking with over 250 real estate professionals, I found that developers working on affordable and workforce housing projects that support underserved communities often face the most difficulty in accessing funding. Operating at the intersecti…

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Introducing American Building Season 3 2:02

2+ y ago2:02

2:02

What does home mean to Americans today, particularly after a pandemic that transformed our society's relationship to the built environment? Over the past three years, we have had to redefine our homes, neighborhoods, towns and cities and restructure our lives as shared spaces became cut off. Now, broad-based issues such as social justice and divers…

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Lauren Popish of The Wave Podcasting | Season Recap 43:47

3+ y ago43:47

43:47

To round out season two, I’m pulling back the curtain and chatting with my producer about the behind-the-scenes of the show. Lauren Popish is the founder of The Wave Podcasting, an agency and recording studio based in Los Angeles that helps people tell their unique stories through podcasting by providing audio editing, educational resources, and a …

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Ron Schinik of New Blueprint Partners | Vancouver Innovation Center in Vancouver | Redeveloping Manufacturing 58:50

3+ y ago58:50

58:50

I’m joined by Ron Schinik, the CEO of New Blueprint Partners, a New York-based company focused on redeveloping manufacturing facilities into mixed-use assets. Ron has a solid foundation in auditing and grew into the role of CFO at three companies centered around operational efficiency. We discuss why he decided to take the leap from the corporate w…

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Bo Sundius of Bunch Design | Stop Making Sense ADU in Los Angeles | Designing Small Spaces 1:13:36

3+ y ago1:13:36

1:13:36

I’m joined by Bo Sundius, the owner of Bunch Design. His latest project, the Stop Making Sense Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), explores how you can make a small space feel big. ADUs are 1,200 square foot houses built on an existing single family home property. The space must include a kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom. Bo highlights that this format …

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Mark Gardner of Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects | Inwood Sacred Sites in New York City | Sacred Architecture 51:22

3+ y ago51:22

51:22

I’m joined by Mark Gardner, a Partner at Jaklitsch/Gardner and Professor at the Parsons School of Design. We discuss his work with the Inwood African Burial Ground & Lenape Ceremonial Site, also known as the Inwood Sacred Sites, and how colonization manifests itself in design and architecture across the US. When The Bowery Residents Committee learn…

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Devin McIntyre of REDIST | Next Gen Interview 11:56

3+ y ago11:56

11:56

Today, I’m joined by the Product Manager at REDIST, Devin McIntyre. Devin grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and has always been inspired by the city. We discuss how Detroit has transformed into a hub for creativity and technology in the past few years, and how the hustle culture of his hometown motivated him to pursue entrepreneurship from a young …