American Building

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 Carolina. Formerly a Ford manufacturing plant turned Army facility turned Rite Aid warehouse, ATCO Properties acquired the site in 2017. For decades, the entire campus was disconnected from the eight surrounding residential neighborhoods, completely paved over, and zoned industrial. Today, it's one of the most vibrant developments in the Southeast: 400,000 square feet of office, 75,000 square feet of retail, 300 apartments, and 1.1 million visitors this past year alone. This conversation unpacks the mechanics behind large-scale adaptive reuse: how to structure opportunity zone financing across multiple phases, ways to optimize brownfield remediation, and strategies for building community buy-in every step of the way. Tesho also walks through the three buckets of development work—project management, financial analysis, and capital raising—and shares how small teams can rise to the challenge of complex projects. Episode Outline (02:06) Tesho’s career as a professional soccer player and the leadership lessons he learned along the way (08:28) Tesho's transition from soccer to real estate, his passion for housing advocacy, and joining ATCO (13:05) Walking through Camp North End's site and the long-term vision for the neighborhood (23:42) Rezoning industrial land and negotiating over rail easements (31:23) What "legalize housing" means and why single-family-only zoning hurts cities (36:38) Affordable housing solutions that meet diverse community needs (39:16) Why opportunity zones encourage long-term thinking and better design choices (44:05) Building an internal team with community managers, placemakers, and 24/7 security (49:52) Practical advice for mixed-use developers Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Access resources from my panel discussion on Opportunity Zones at the Yale AREA Conference Connect with Tesho Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Website More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Connect with Atif...

"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 cultural institution. With art installations, concerts in the catacombs, and educational programming, the cemetery is preparing for a future when burial plots run out. Stephen Cassell and his team at Architecture Research Office (ARO) designed the Education & Welcome Center to support that transition. The project sits adjacent to a delicate 1890s greenhouse made of cast-iron and glass. ARO chose a deep burgundy terracotta with fine-grained baguette patterns, resulting in vertical fins that catch light differently depending on their angle. The design serves as an elegant backdrop, allowing the Weir Greenhouse to remain the focal point while providing exhibition space, classrooms, and offices for the cemetery's expanding cultural programming. This conversation explores the strategic decisions behind designing within a landmark, from research in Green-Wood's archives to collaboration with landscape architects. Stephen also reflects on lessons from his years at Steven Holl Architects, ARO's research-driven approach to practice, and how constraints can actually lead to better design solutions. Episode Outline (02:01) Early lessons from Steven Holl on craft and materiality (03:14) Meeting Adam Yarinsky at Princeton and starting ARO in the early 1990s (12:21) Green-Wood Cemetery's history, landscape, and transformation into a cultural institution (18:07) The Green-Wood RFP process and interview (22:40) Design details that tie into the historic greenhouse and cemetery grounds (31:17) When to contrast with historic context versus when to serve as backdrop (33:15) Navigating Landmarks Preservation Commission regulations Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Kim Yao of Architecture Research Office | Milgard Hall in Tacoma | A School for Everyone The Green-Wood Cemetery Education and Welcome Center Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc Green-Wood Cemetery T-Shirt Connect with Stephen Connect on LinkedIn Website More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the

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 design work and their efforts on Capitol Hill. In this second part of our conversation, Wayne and Jordan explain the technical strategy behind the Lahaina project. By engineering components to fit on standard flatbed trucks rather than expensive wide-load transport, they reduced shipping costs from $18 per mile to $2-3 per mile. Each unit arrives complete and can be installed in four hours, with finishes that include pre-finished birch plywood interiors and peaked roofs—features manufacturers repeatedly tried to eliminate, but made a huge difference for tenants. The conversation also explores how regional code standardization could save 30 cents on every housing dollar and current progress with bipartisan support for legislation extending HUD's manufactured housing authority. This would cut approval times from months to weeks while maintaining quality standards, potentially transforming how America responds to natural disasters and housing affordability. Episode Outline (01:01) Volumetric versus hybrid modular systems and the economics of shipping costs (04:31) Material choices that avoid institutional aesthetics and support permanent housing (11:05) Navigating FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, and Maui County building approvals (14:37) Where modular housing can have the highest impact beyond disaster relief (17:45) The case for regional building codes to unlock affordable housing at scale (21:30) Legislative solutions and bipartisan Congressional support for modular expansion (29:25) Connecting with state officials, nonprofits, and the UCLA cityLAB initiative Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Learn more about Liv-Connected Learn more about DXA Studio The Modular Construction Landscape by Atif Z. Qadir cityLAB - UCLA Modular Building Institute Sen. Tim Scott's ROAD to Housing Act Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Homes for All Act A New Take on Disaster Housing in Hawaiʻi (Part 1) Connect with Jordan Rogove Connect on LinkedIn Connect with Wayne Norbeck Connect on

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. Jordan Rogove and Wayne Norbeck, co-founders of DXA Studio and Liv-Connected, manufactured and delivered 109 homes to the Maui community in under two months. Their solution challenged conventional wisdom about disaster housing, demonstrating that speed and dignity can coexist. Their work on the Lahaina project reveals the tensions in disaster response: federal bureaucracy versus innovation, volumetric versus flat-pack construction, and how to maintain design integrity under tight deadlines. This conversation also traces their journey from Virginia Tech classmates to established architects running a New York City practice. Along the way, they discovered that adaptive reuse and architecture-as-activism weren't just design philosophies, but rather catalysts for creating Liv-Connected, their modular housing initiative focused on integrating health technology into factory-built homes. Episode Outline (02:17) Meeting at Virginia Tech and collaborating on design competitions post-grad (10:24) The Haiti competition approach: team building and community engagement (16:04) The inspiration behind integrating health technology into modular housing (18:46) Getting FEMA's attention through the Texas General Land Office RFP (24:09) Why Hawaiʻi rejected FEMA trailers and sought out permanent housing solutions (26:39) Design trade-offs for manufacturing at scale (29:56) Navigating FEMA's seven-layer decision-making structure Additional Resources Learn more about Liv-Connected Learn more about DXA Studio The New York Times article: In Lahaina, ‘Dignified’ Havens for Wildfire Survivors Episode 81 with Vishaan Chakrabarti Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama Connect with Jordan Rogove Connect on LinkedIn Connect with Wayne Norbeck Connect on LinkedIn More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Connect with Atif Qadir on

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 Bend, Oregon, Hiatus Homes builds 500-1,200 square foot homes specifically for this market, and since 2020, they've raised $8M from 60 local investors. Their Hiatus Ninth project demonstrates how small-scale infill development works in practice. On a half-acre lot that once held a single home, they subdivided the property into nine lots and built "twinhomes"—a main unit with an attached ADU that functions as both a primary residence and rental property. This approach allows middle-income buyers (80-120% AMI) to afford homeownership while generating rental income, using financing structures that treat the combined units as a primary residence rather than an investment property. This conversation also explores the policy changes enabling this housing type, the three-stage capitalization strategy they use, the construction process with guaranteed-price builders, and the barriers still preventing small-scale development from scaling nationally. Jesse and Ryan offer practical advice for developers navigating zoning codes, engaging local government, and creating housing that serves workforce needs while remaining financially viable. Episode Outline (03:59) Capital raising through the JOBS Act and community-based investors (08:52) Defining small-scale development and the housing types that qualify (13:49) Hiatus Ninth project overview: subdividing one lot into nine twin homes (21:06) Design and construction process with guaranteed-price builders (23:44) Pricing strategy and the importance of getting buyers into the physical space (27:50) Three-stage financing structures and end-user mortgages (33:23) How Freddie Mac allows rental income to offset mortgage qualification (39:47) Inventory challenges and building permit slowdowns (43:29) Barriers to scaling small-scale developments (53:50) How developers can engage local government and advocate for zoning reform Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Hiatus Homes General Contractor: Simplicity Homes Private Lender: Builders Capital Freddie Mac Tour of Homes 2025 Winners Abundance By Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Rep. Ilhan Omar's Housing for All Act (2022) Road to Housing Act (2025)...

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 approach office spaces with a hospitality mindset. Michael Kirchmann understood this shift before most developers even recognized the opportunity. As co-founder and CEO of GDSNY, Michael transformed the Met Tower from 20% to 84% leased in 15 months. His strategy includes offering a premium experience at $85-90 per square foot (versus $220+ for new Plaza District towers), hiring former Four Seasons concierges as building staff, and creating amenities like members-only clubs. This approach recognizes that employers now use office environments as recruitment and retention tools, making design quality a competitive necessity rather than a luxury. Beyond development, GDSNY operates GDS Brightstar, a lending platform that combines their construction and leasing expertise, creating unique opportunities to underwrite office deals that traditional lenders avoid. As both borrower and lender, they can identify promising assets and provide rescue capital, construction finance, and workout solutions. Their hands-on approach has saved borrowers tens of millions in construction costs by leveraging existing contractor relationships, making them valuable partners when deals need creative restructuring. Episode Outline (01:54) Growing up in a real estate family and the path from architecture to development (03:31) European development experience with SOM and Howard Ronson (09:15) GDSNY's mission of creating exceptional real estate through design differentiation (14:40) Assessment of Met Tower's condition and repositioning potential (19:12) Creating hospitality-inspired office experiences and targeting new tenant types (27:37) Walking through the transformed tenant experience from street to suite (31:02) Real estate debt market opportunities and GDSNY's lending platform (38:17) Key elements of successful loan workouts and preventing problems through relationships Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Learn more about Met Tower Fogarty Finger Architecture Ace Hotel Kyoto Kengo Kuma & Associates Commune Design Connect with Michael Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Website Email: studio@gdsny.com More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide:

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 preservation and community revitalization. In this episode, we talk through Medley Market, which exemplifies Jonathan's approach to adaptive reuse projects. The 24-unit mixed-use development with a market hall and rooftop pickleball courts required navigating investor fraud, underground drug operations, and a five-part capital stack including historic tax credits and C-PACE financing. Instead of walking away from the chaos, Jonathan saw a unique opportunity. The conversation reveals Jonathan's philosophy of transparent compensation and community relationships. He shows team members exactly how their contributions translate to development fees, pays consultants what they're actually worth, and gets the greenlight from neighborhood decision-makers before starting projects. This approach treats development as relationship-building rather than financial engineering, creating lasting value for both investors and the communities Pivot Project serves. Episode Outline (03:56) The workplace harassment incident that led to an entrepreneurial pivot (13:07) The legendary ping pong game that secured crucial construction financing (20:15) Acquiring Medley Market: uncovering investor fraud and recapping the deal (32:51) Managing construction costs and tariff impacts in today's development market (38:26) How to turn valued consultants into true partners (45:30) Upcoming hotel project fundraising and Medley Market expansion Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Learn more about Small Scale Developers Forum Vogue: Eating Your Way Through America’s Best Food Halls Newsweek: 2025 Best Food Hall Kate Kaufman Candace Baitz Matt Dean Meta Quest 3 Connect with Jonathan Connect on LinkedIn Website Email: jonathan@pivotproject.com More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing...

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 practice from a firm dependent on Michael Graves’ reputation into a diverse platform business with 165 employees across 10 offices. His approach combines strategic acquisitions with technology integration, creating what he describes as "a mile wide and an inch deep” approach. This conversation reveals the mechanics behind how a firm transitions, grows, and looks forward. Joe explains his evaluation criteria, integration process, and how he structures deals that benefit both buyers and sellers. He also discusses expanding into technology consulting through the acquisition of Parallax Team and opportunities to leverage AI within real estate development. Episode Outline (02:09) The biggest lessons from Fortune 500 consulting that informed his leadership philosophy (15:51) Joining Michael Graves at peak revenue and recognizing the succession planning gap (22:43) Mitigating the number one post-acquisition problem: Trust (32:34) The Parallax Team acquisition and turning Revit consulting into a revenue driver (36:10) The acquisition playbook for due-diligence and integration frameworks (46:09) Measuring success through KPIs, budgets, and earn-out structures (52:47) Economic adaptation and positioning the firm for long-term growth Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Dario Amodei and his essay in the social posts Trust: America's Best Chance by Pete Buttigieg Outsourced Connect with Joe Connect on LinkedIn Website Contact: jfurey@michaelgraves.com More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design Watch this...

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 into possible. Today, that same relentless, solutions-driven mindset defines her work at Aker, where she shows that determination applies just as much in multifamily value-add as it does in billion-dollar mixed-use developments. The Kinwood redevelopment in Rensselaer, New York exemplifies Aker's approach to value-add properties. What began as "Mansions at Technology Park" — a deteriorating 390-unit complex with 21 years of deferred maintenance—became a case study in strategic repositioning. Rather than chasing luxury branding, Aker focused on authentic values that brought a sense of community into a once transient neighborhood. By building a strong brand around values like dependability, authenticity, accessibility, and even playfulness, the Aker team laid the groundwork for more than just property upgrades — they set the stage for community impact. With a clear phasing strategy, Tina’s team addressed deferred maintenance, added connection-driven amenities, and refreshed apartments with smart, high-impact materials. The result shows how intentional branding, paired with strategic capital investment, can breathe new life into overlooked assets while building a genuine sense of community. Episode Outline (01:47) Early career lessons from Hudson Yards and exposure to large-scale development (04:40) Mentorship lessons in people management and problem-solving (12:05) Joining Aker, an employee-owned company focused on community building (19:13) Evaluating and repositioning Mansions at Technology Park (25:13) Unit renovation strategy based on Aker’s core values (34:41) Working with branding consultants and creating cohesive guidelines across assets (40:01) Current projects, including first fund launch and expansion closer to New York City Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Connect with Marianne Kwok Connect with Amelia Patt-Zamir Learn more about Method Develop Learn more about No Walls Studio Check out excerpts from the Kinwood brand guidelines Contact leasing for the Kinwood Connect with Tina Connect on LinkedIn Aker Website Email tina@akercompanies.com to get in touch with her regarding the fund mentioned in...

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 nine-foot drops and resulting in what was for a long time a standoffish, brutalist entrance Working with Lord Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, Michael Shvo's team spent three years on an authentic restoration that would make visitors believe the spaces had always existed exactly as they found them. They expanded the Redwood Park to surround rather than sit within the building complex, exposed the original concrete grid structure, and made meticulous decisions about materials—evaluating stone samples with minute grain variations to achieve perfect light reflection at different times of day. The most revealing insights from this conversation come from Shvo's navigation of San Francisco's entitlements process. When consultants warned that his proposed changes would waste months seeking impossible approvals, Shvo and Foster submitted their plans anyway. Their fast-track approval and subsequent leasing success—90% occupancy with tenants like Morgan Lewis—demonstrates how authentic design vision combined with strategic community engagement can overcome even the most challenging regulatory environments. Episode Outline (01:21) The $400 million budget breakdown and three-year remastering timeline (02:24) Transforming the brutalist concrete entrance into an inviting space for gathering (01:33) Remastering an iconic design with Foster + Partners (11:41) Shvo's community engagement philosophy that guides the entitlement process (17:31) What's next for Transamerica Pyramid Center, 2 Transamerica, and 3 Transamerica Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Missed part one with Michael Shvo? Listen here Learn more about Pyramid Dreams To Inquire about leasing, visit transamericapyramid.com/leasing Learn more about The Raleigh Listen to American Building episode with Vishaan Chakrabarti For the full episode show notes and property photos, visit americanbuildingpodcast.com Connect with Michael Shvo Connect on LinkedIn Website More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide:

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 story behind his $650 million acquisition and transformation of San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid Center—a deal that almost didn't happen due to the pandemic, 600 open building permits, and a lender backing out at the last minute. The building also carries profound personal significance: as an eight-year-old, Michael drew himself next to the pyramid as a symbol of the American Dream, only to discover this childhood drawing four decades later while becoming the building's steward. Michael offers tactical insights on customer understanding gained from his broker background, risk management during unprecedented market uncertainty, and the power of unwavering conviction rooted in core values. From opening the ground floor to the public to creating what became known as the Pyramid District, his transformation strategy demonstrates how deep market knowledge and authentic hospitality principles can revitalize both individual properties and entire neighborhoods. Episode Outline (01:49) What Michael's early career as a residential broker taught him about real estate development (06:43) Advice for building teams and attracting talent in real estate development (07:13) Applying hospitality principles to commercial real estate operations (11:25) Attracting and retaining capital: from friends and family to institutional investors (13:23) Green flags and red flags when evaluating potential investor partnerships (19:41) Opposition and challenges during the original construction of The Transatlantic Pyramid in the 1960s (17:52) Bidding against 44 competitors and winning based on brand stewardship (31:51) Financing challenges and the AIG lender backing out (35:22) The childhood connection: from eight-year-old's drawing to $650M acquisition (38:18) Inspiring the next generation of leaders through Pyramid Dreams Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Learn more about Pyramid Dreams For the full episode show notes, including Michael’s childhood sketch, visit americanbuildingpodcast.com Connect with Michael Shvo Connect on LinkedIn Website More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow...

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 setback, Jejon Yeung and Max Worrell, co-founders of Worrell Yeung, discovered that working with the existing horse stable structure resulted in a space with more character and historical layering than the big and bold remodel would have achieved. Their approach to transforming the barn demonstrates how adaptive reuse can honor what has value while breathing new life into a property. The material strategy exemplifies this even further: wrapping the entire structure in asphalt roofing sheets to create a unified envelope, maintaining the exposed timber frame and inserting plywood volumes for functional needs. Beyond Studio Barn, this conversation explores how Worrell Yeung draws inspiration from artists to inform architectural projects. From a Long Island glass house inspired by Sol LeWitt's grid sculptures to an upstate New York property that references Michael Heizer's "Double Negative," they demonstrate how art can provide formal and conceptual frameworks for residential architecture. Their approach to adaptive reuse extends across functions, from renovating MoMA's Founders Room to expanding a historic chapel for The Evergreens Cemetery, always guided by the philosophy that adaptive reuse should both preserve and innovate. Episode Outline (01:40) The collaborative studio environments that shaped their practice (08:16) Building a diverse team and trusted collaborator network (12:10) The Studio Barn project origins and working with artist clients (17:37) Creating flexible workspace for two different artistic practices (24:37) Solving infrastructure challenges while preserving the timber frame structure (32:19) Turning inspiration into tangible design (38:56) Common challenges in adaptive reuse and designing for future use cases (41:02) Three principles for successful adaptive reuse projects Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Learn more about Studio Barn Check out artists and Studio Barn owners Ari Marcopoulos and Kara Walker Learn more about Frame House Learn more about Ridge House Watch 6 Secrets Architects Use to Create a Calming Retreat with Worrell Yeung (Design Masterclass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkXhqrUh01s Listen to Episode 9 with Kim Yao Connect with Jejon and...

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 residential yacht that spends 365 days a year at sea. Michael discovered that designing for constant motion meant rethinking everything he knew about residential architecture. Bronze dining tables now required a piston system to fold safely into walls. Murphy beds replaced traditional frames to optimize space and showcase ocean views. Every material choice had to account for salt spray, UV exposure, and oxidation. Working with Austrian shipbuilders, Michael and his team developed prefabrication techniques that compressed a typical two-year renovation timeline into brief month-long dry dock periods. The results merge modernist design principles with maritime engineering requirements, creating spaces that feel both grounded and dream-like. Our conversation reveals Michael’s approach to craft as something that encompasses community engagement, sustainability, and social responsibility. He shares insights from teaching architecture thesis studios, the evolution of MKCA’s practice philosophy, and the founding of Design Advocatesーa nonprofit that has participated in 100+ projects serving the public good over the past five years. Episode Outline (07:48) Teaching thesis studios and the dozen student projects that shaped MKCA's approach (15:58) The client request that led to designing aboard MS The World (18:53) Construction challenges at sea and developing prefabrication solutions with Austrian partners (21:42) Engineering elegant and multifunctional furniture for life in constant motion (33:55) Material choices that embrace patina and the fingerprint of global travel (40:29) Navigating maritime building codes and the importance of expert collaborators (44:31) Design Advocates and the mission to promote equality in the built environment Additional Resources Learn more about MS The World Learn more about Pied-à-mer Connect with Michael Connect on LinkedIn Learn more on MKCA’s website Follow on Instagram Support and get involved with Design Advocates on their website Follow Design Advocates on Instagram More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on

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" methodology—starting as archaeologists to unearth a site's hidden history, then becoming seamstresses to reconnect fractured urban fabric. This approach led them to discover that I.M. Pei's original building was actually designed for a different site, explaining why the plaza never felt quite right. The conversation explores fundamental questions about balancing individual creativity with community responsibility, working within constraints, and understanding the role of apprenticeship within professional architectural development. As construction progresses in Cleveland, this episode offers insight into how contemporary architects grapple with legacy, community, and the evolving definition of American culture—including what it means when rock and roll represents "the spirit of young America" in an era of hip-hop and social change. Episode Outline (02:21) Understanding I.M. Pei's original design challenges and how the building evolved over time (09:08) Creating a 30-person firm with clear values and boundary conditions (22:20) Balancing individual creativity with community engagement in architectural practice (25:45) Understanding I.M. Pei's legacy through personal experience and historical research (32:58) Rock and roll and its evolving definition (36:23) Architecture as a manifestation of American contradictions and possibilities (39:43) How to honor architectural legacy while responding to contemporary needs Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. I.M. Pei’s MIT undergraduate thesis The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Connect with Vishaan Connect with Vishaan on LinkedIn Learn more about PAU More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design Watch this episode on

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 conversation with Vishaan feels more timely than ever: it’s a front-row seat to how great design can catalyze civic life and spur economic vitality. Vishaan Chakrabarti is a licensed architect and the founder of the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). His professional portfolio is diverse, expanding from creating a master plan for the surrounding area of Michigan Central Station in Detroit to creating a social housing neighborhood in East New York. In this conversation, we focus on how PAU is seamlessly iterating on the legendary I.M. Pei’s design and Vishaan’s broader vision for creating sustainable and equitable designs that result in accessible spaces. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located on Lake Erie and has been an essential driver for the local economy. It was no surprise that after securing a plot of land that the institution would immediately start looking towards expansion and renovation. From all across the world, 25 leading architects submitted their proposals and eventually, eight were shortlisted. Vishaan’s firm was selected as the winning design: a 50,000-square-foot triangular building made of steel, crafting a careful balance of the cutting-edge and the conservative. Episode Outline (02:03) Vishaan's unconventional path to architecture through engineering and art history at Cornell (11:47) "A Country of Cities" manifesto and stumbling into the culture war around urbanism (14:49) The design problem with density in transit-oriented development (22:36) Advice for mayors on the three pillars of "jobs, justice, and joy" (31:42) First impressions of Cleveland while working across the Rust Belt (34:24) The cultural significance of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (36:38) Understanding I.M. Pei's iconic Rock Hall building and its challenges (37:55) Winning the competition by creating an addition that expands on the Pei building Additional Resources Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email info@themirashoppe.com to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back. Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser The Architecture of Urbanity by Vishaan Chakrabarti A Country of Cities by Vishaan Chakrabarti The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Connect with Vishaan Connect with Vishaan on LinkedIn Learn more about

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 buildings into Brooklyn's largest mixed-use campus. As Managing Director and Partner at Industry City, Jim has overseen the $450 million transformation that now houses 650 businesses—from blacksmiths and vinyl record stores to biotech companies and AI startups. But the real innovation is in how they solved the challenge that many warehouse-to-mixed-use conversions face: pedestrian circulation. The buildings were designed for trucks, not people. Ground floors sat four feet above street level at loading dock height. Sawtooth loading docks forced trucks to back into streets at angles, creating safety hazards and blocking foot traffic. Jim's team had to completely reimagine how people move through industrial space. Their solution, aptly named Innovation Alley, creates a pedestrian spine that cuts through five buildings, connecting retail, offices, and creative studios while keeping visitor circulation separate from upper floors. Combined with raised sidewalks and reconfigured loading docks, it safely opens the entire campus for foot traffic and community life. Beyond the infrastructure, this conversation reveals how the relationship economy drives everything at Industry City. From fostering collaboration between tenants to creating experiences that attract visitors, Jim demonstrates why community is essential for competing with online retailers and Class A office buildings in Manhattan. Episode Outline (02:33) The "aha" moment at Chelsea Market that sparked a career in placemaking (11:45) The through-line of Jim’s leadership style from broker to community builder (19:12) Solving the loading dock problem (22:57) A walkthrough of Innovation Alley (25:21) Balancing vehicle circulation, parking, and pedestrian access across 16 buildings (27:58) Convincing investors that placemaking generates higher returns (30:24) Retail strategy beyond “location, location, location” (37:31) Designing experiences that attract corporate leasing (40:57) Jim advice for adaptive reuse in suburban office parks and industrial buildings Additional Resources Industry City Chelsea Market Ponce City Market Bell Works Laboratory Jamestown Connect with Jim Connect on LinkedIn Follow Industry City on LinkedIn More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on

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 Sustainability at Jamestown, Carrie Denning Jackson is leading projects that put the "healthy people, healthy planet" concept into action. Her path from IBM's Smart Cities division to Google's Sidewalk Labs and now her current role at Jamestown follows a consistent thread: exploring how technology and cities intersect to shape human experience. Through initiatives like urban tree canopy expansion, flame-retardant-free materials, and operable windows in 21-story buildings, she's demonstrating how conscious design can improve health outcomes while creating enjoyable spaces. Beyond the technical specs, this conversation reveals how major developers are grappling with a fundamental shift in what tenants, investors, and cities expect from the built environment. As Carrie explains through her work with Ponce City Market's three buildings—Scout, Signal House, and 619 Ponce—the industry is moving from "good enough" to exceeding expectations. For developers at any scale, her insights offer actionable strategies for creating healthier buildings. Episode Outline (02:31) How the rise of place-based technology is changing what people expect from buildings (07:16) Jamestown's approach to merging innovation with sustainability and setting 2030 targets (14:21) Launching Place as Medicine after discovering hidden health hazards in everyday materials (19:19) A walkthrough of Ponce City Market (25:58) Air quality innovations: operable windows, induction stoves, cork flooring, and mineral paint pilots (28:30) Using economies of scale and industry collaboration to drive down costs for healthier materials (31:42) Practical advice for developers attempting healthier building projects Additional Resources Ponce City Market University of Toronto Study - Are Sleeping Children Exposed to Plasticizers, Flame Retardants, and UV-Filters from Their Mattresses? Stanford University Study - Methane and NOx Emissions from Natural Gas Stoves, Cooktops, and Ovens in Residential Homes Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute - Trager MicroForest Project Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design The Donghia Healthier Materials Library at Parsons School of Design Habitable mindful MATERIALS Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University Connect with Carrie Connect on

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-rate rents. Nate Helbach believes that large-scale, sustainable development is possible when you’re willing to challenge every assumption about how buildings get financed, designed, and built. As founder and CEO of Neutral, Nate leads a vertically integrated development team that makes sustainability profitable. By bringing architecture, construction, carpentry, technology, and finance in-house, Neutral orchestrates the entire process. This structure enables them to deliver buildings that achieve 58% embodied carbon reduction and 72% operational carbon savings while hitting their return targets. The Edison, their flagship 378-unit high-rise in Milwaukee, represents this pragmatic approach to ambitious goals. When doors open in 2027, it will break three world records: tallest mass timber structure, tallest Passive House building, and tallest Living Building certified tower. It's also designed as a hospitality and wellness oasis. Residents get access to on-staff doctors, nutritionists, and Equinox-style facilities, transforming apartment living into an experience worth paying a premium for. Nate's perspective offers both inspiration and practical solutions. From navigating tariff risks to building an investor platform, this conversation illustrates how the industry's biggest challenges can become competitive advantages when you're willing to rethink everything from the ground up. Episode Outline (02:24) A fresh look at legacy development systems and how they lead to unnecessary risk (06:18) The four-part philosophy that guides every Neutral project: people, place, profit, and planet (19:16) Building a company across development, architecture, construction, and technology (25:58) Inside The Edison: redefining the standard for luxury apartment living (32:35) Why mass timber beats concrete and steel for both environmental impact and tenant experience (37:02) Managing development risk through phases and the latest news on tariffs affecting construction (44:09) Practical advice for developers who want to try mass timber and Passive House construction (46:52) Neutral’s way of democratizing and modernizing real estate investing Additional Resources The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet by Carlos Moreno Missing Middle Housing by Daniel Parolek The Birth of a Building: From Conception to Delivery by by Ben Stevens Neutral Webinar: Risk Mitigation with Jeff Klein Jenny Peysin of Jenny Peysin Architecture | Wilderness Drive in East Jewett | Passive House Design

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 subsidized low-income housing and luxury market-rate developments. The firm specializes in acquiring and remodeling naturally occurring affordable housing, which are properties that serve middle-income earners, such as teachers, healthcare workers, and young professionals. In other words, the demographic that’s often priced out of both ends of the housing spectrum. In this episode, Cecily outlines how her approach defies traditional development wisdom. She focuses on thoughtful remodeling over new construction, relationship-building over institutional marketing, and community stewardship over maximizing profit. From her background as a structural engineer to her current role acquiring properties like Trumbull Terrace, a 28-unit development in Detroit, Cecily demonstrates how targeted preservation can address America's missing middle-income housing crisis. What emerges from Cecily's experience is a fundamental challenge facing the industry. Most rental housing in America is owned by individual families and small partnerships, not corporations. Yet the capital needed to maintain these properties often flows only to institutional players. Her success in navigating this disconnect reveals both the barriers and breakthroughs that define community-level housing preservation. Episode Outline (02:34) Cecily’s evolution from structural engineer to decision-maker in real estate (06:01) Examples of how infrastructure creates lasting housing inequality across American cities (10:00) Serving the "missing middle" that's priced out of both affordable and luxury housing (18:37) Acquiring Trumbull Terrace, a half-finished renovation in Detroit's core (24:10) Why acquisition beats new construction for managing risk and tariff volatility (32:33) Relationship-building strategies to source deals off-market (37:15) Stacking public financing from HUD programs and local tax incentives (41:47) Raising private capital and scaling from friends-and-family to institutional investors Additional Resources Documentary - Back to Paradise: Detroit’s Historic District Reborn New York Times - Black and Latino Real Estate Developers Struggle to Get Funding Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) CDFI Fund Live6 Alliance CoStar PropertyShark Provident Bank Magyar Bank Connect with Cecily Connect on LinkedIn Learn more about

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 four-star resort experiences that honor local charm. Their approach defies conventional hospitality wisdom. Rather than imposing a rigid brand template, each Trailborn property celebrates its unique setting while elevating the standard of outdoor destinations. As founders in the “memory-making business,” they describe how they’ve leveraged demographic analysis and local relationships to create spaces where families return year after year. Beyond their $100M investment strategy and recent Marriott Bonvoy alliance, this conversation illustrates a larger story about America’s relationship with its outdoor spaces 一 how we experience them, honor them, and create lasting connections with them. For developers and investors, it offers an inside look into discovering value where others only see dated structures hidden off the beaten path. Episode Outline (6:06) The strategic separation and collaboration between Castle Peak Holdings and Trailborn (11:56) Why focusing on memory-making drives both guest loyalty and financial returns (15:10) How they acquired the Wrightsville Beach property through relationship-building (17:43) Using demographic data to identify markets with untapped potential (23:24) Trailborn Sound & Surf design decisions that transformed underperforming spaces into dynamic hubs (35:10) The Marriott Bonvoy partnership and its distribution advantages (44:54) The capital strategy and fundraising approach that has attracted $100M+ (48:26) A walkthrough of the four Trailborn properties and their unique market positioning Additional Resources Learn more about Castle Peak Holdings: LinkedIn Website Learn more about Trailborn: LinkedIn Website Connect with Ben Connect on LinkedIn Connect with Michael Connect on LinkedIn More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis Learn more on the American Building website Follow on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn Learn more about