In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Gena Arthur, founder of Pure Paint, to explore the future of healthy, sustainable coatings. Gena debunks the myth that natural paints sacrifice performance or style, revealing how Pure Paint’s petroleum-free formulas deliver stunning results—without the toxins. They dig into the hidden dangers of microplastics, the limitations of current green certifications, and the systemic barriers startups face when challengin...
Jul 02, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 93
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Olympian and building science researcher Donna Vakalis for a conversation that spans architecture, AI, athletics, and the climate crisis. Donna shares how her Olympic background fuels her passion for sustainable design and her current postdoc work at MILA—Canada’s leading AI institute—where she’s exploring how machine learning can optimize building performance. From smarter energy models and feed-forward HVAC system...
Jun 25, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 92
In this illuminating episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes physicist and daylighting pioneer Marilyne Andersen for a conversation that sheds new light—literally—on how architecture affects our health, productivity, and sense of well-being. From the science of chronobiology to eye morphology and colored glazing, Marilyne explains how light exposure shapes everything from our mood to our sleep cycles. She shares insights from her groundbreaking research at EPFL and h...
Jun 18, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 91
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Bryan Eagle, founder of Glanris, to explore a groundbreaking innovation: carbon-neutral concrete made from rice hulls. Bryan shares how his team transforms agricultural waste into a pozzolanic biochar that can replace Portland cement—dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of concrete. They discuss challenges in scaling this technology, how regulations are driving adoption, and where sustainable building materi...
Jun 11, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 90
In this eye-opening episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Dr. Sandra Dedesko—engineer, indoor air expert, and healthy buildings researcher—for a compelling dive into how the air we breathe indoors is shaping our minds. From her work with Harvard’s COGFX studies to her current research in Switzerland, Sandra unpacks how even low levels of CO₂ can subtly impair cognitive function—especially creativity. She shares how indoor air acts as an invisible performance ...
Jun 04, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 89
In this eye-opening episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley from the Human Architecture and Planning Institute (HAPI.org) to explore the fascinating intersection of architecture, biology, and human emotion. Ann and Kelsey reveal how our brains are hardwired to respond to certain visual cues—like faces, fractals, and even the color red—and how this understanding can revolutionize the way we design buildings and cities. From eye-track...
May 28, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 88
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Philip Galway-Witham, Senior Associate and Resilience Leader at Gensler Toronto, for a powerful deep-dive into climate resilience in architecture. Philip shares his global upbringing, what drew him to sustainable design, and how resilience planning is becoming an essential response to our rapidly changing climate. From wildfires and urban heat islands to rising sea levels and failing power grids, this episode expl...
May 21, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 87
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Lauren Ferguson from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for a riveting deep dive into the unseen forces shaping our indoor environments. Lauren unpacks her journey from biochemistry to environmental engineering and her groundbreaking work modeling childhood pollution exposure in London. The conversation spans wildfire smoke infiltration, the silent threat of PM2.5, and why ventilation might just be our be...
May 14, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 86
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Tim Rossi, founder and CEO of Architectural Medicine, for a compelling conversation on how our buildings influence more than just our physical health—they shape our emotional and psychological well-being too. Tim shares his journey through sustainable design, the genesis of “architectural medicine,” and how this emerging field integrates concepts from architecture and healthcare to support human health in the built envi...
May 07, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 85
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski dives into the dynamic world of retail design with Eric Daniel, Design Principal and Creative Director at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, and Rich Glenny, Retail Design Leader at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. Together, they unravel the layered nuances of designing spaces where commerce meets culture—and how constraints breed creativity. Eric and Rich share their journeys through the high-stakes world...
Apr 30, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 84
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski welcomes Peter Pescatore, Global Commercial Lead at Cabot Corporation, for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating materials in building science: aerogel. Often called "frozen smoke," this super-light, ultra-insulating material has captivated engineers and designers for decades—but is still flying under the radar in mainstream construction. Peter breaks down how aerogel works on a microscopic level, its unique ability to d...
Apr 22, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 83
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Nathan Stadola, Chief Engineer at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), to unravel the mystery behind one of the world's fastest-growing building certifications: WELL. Nathan, a former street accordionist turned wellness standards pioneer, brings his vibrant energy and deep technical knowledge to a rapid-fire breakdown of the 10 core concepts behind WELL V2—from air quality to community connection. Tog...
Apr 16, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 82
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Shawn Houghtling and Bryce Jarman of RH Carter Architects—industry leaders in the art and science of automotive retail design. With a 40-year legacy and partnerships with 17 automotive brands, RH Carter has helped shape the modern dealership experience across Canada. Shawn and Bryce pull back the curtain on what makes a dealership not just functional, but unforgettable. They explore how architecture supports brand...
Apr 09, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 81
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes back Michael Kent from the Singapore University of Social Sciences. As the very first guest of the podcast, Michael’s groundbreaking work in building science helped inspire the show itself. Now, he returns to dive deep into an overlooked yet crucial aspect of building design: view clarity. Michael unpacks his latest research on how the quality of our view—beyond just having a window—affects our well-being, productivity,...
Apr 02, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 80
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski reconnects with Vicki Worden, CEO of the Green Building Initiative (GBI), to dive deep into their groundbreaking Journey to Net Zero program. With 2024 marking both her 10th year at GBI and one of the organization’s most impactful years, Vicki shares how their pilot program exceeded expectations—evaluating 154 buildings and delivering real, measurable reductions in site EUI and carbon emissions. Joe and Vicki explore the comple...
Mar 26, 2025•37 min
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski welcomes Jenna Mikus, founder of the Eudae Group, to explore the power of eudaemonic design —a transformative approach that moves beyond human-centric design to create spaces that foster true human flourishing. Jenna shares her unconventional journey from engineering and business strategy to pioneering research in sustainable design and well-being science. She dives into how adaptive comfort theory, smart building strategies, a...
Mar 19, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 78
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski welcomes Art Hance, founder of Hance Construction, to explore the evolving world of metal buildings and sustainable design. With 25 years in the industry, Art shares his journey from hands-on construction to strategic leadership, offering insights into how metal buildings have transformed in efficiency, sustainability, and aesthetics. Joe and Art discuss the role of contractors in promoting practical sustainability, the advance...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 77
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Gene Eidelman, co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, to explore how 3D printing is revolutionizing home construction. Gene shares his journey from real estate development to pioneering modular, 3D-printed homes made from recycled plastics, dramatically reducing costs, build time, and environmental impact. The conversation dives into the speed and efficiency of 3D printing, the structural resilience of these homes in extrem...
Mar 05, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 76
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski sits down with Garrett Herbst, an architect and computational design expert at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting , to tackle a pressing question: Is AI disrupting architecture—or saving it? Garrett shares his journey from designing football stadiums in his high school dream house to pioneering advanced computational techniques that are reshaping architecture. He dives deep into AI-driven design, parametric modeling, a...
Feb 26, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 75
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Dorit Aviv, architect, researcher, and founder of the Thermal Architecture Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Dorit shares her journey from designing passive cooling systems to pioneering new ways buildings can interact with their climate through material science and thermodynamics. The conversation explores how architecture can move beyond conventional air conditioning, using radiant cooling, adaptive materials, an...
Feb 19, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 74
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Marta Delgado, architect, researcher, and advocate for research-informed design. Marta shares her journey from studying environmental design at UC Berkeley to her role at the Center for Conscious Design, where she helps create healthier spaces through grassroots movements and interdisciplinary collaboration. The discussion delves into the philosophy behind her work, emphasizing the importance of designing spaces that pr...
Feb 12, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 73
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Peter Simmonds, a renowned mechanical engineer with a storied career in designing high-performance systems for some of the world’s tallest buildings. From his early days working on hospitals in the Netherlands to iconic projects like the Petronas Towers and Louis Vuitton Museum, Peter shares unparalleled insights into building physics, radiant heating and cooling, and the challenges of designing skyscrapers. The c...
Feb 06, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 72
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans , host Joe Menchefski is joined by co-host Dr. Doug Milburn, founder and chairman of Advanced Glazing, and the renowned architect Brian MacKay-Lyons, often celebrated as the "poet of place." Together, they explore the transformative power of architecture to harmonize with local landscapes while addressing universal human needs. Brian shares his journey from a small Nova Scotia village to becoming a global architectural icon, describing how his "crit...
Jan 29, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 72
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Roger Wilkerson, Healthcare Practice Leader at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. Together, they delve into the fascinating world of healthcare architecture, unpacking the unique challenges and transformative possibilities in designing spaces that heal. Roger shares insights from his rich career, including how healthcare facilities operate like "battleships," requiring intricate planning for safety, comple...
Jan 22, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 70
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Mahwish Syed—design visionary, neuroaesthetics expert, and author of Purgatory to Paradise. Together, they explore the intersection of beauty, biology, and building design to create spaces that heal, inspire, and restore balance. Mahwish shares her transformative journey from cancer survivor to design innovator, revealing how neuroaesthetics and biophilia can shift environments from “purgatory” to “paradise.” She ...
Jan 14, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 69
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Phillip Kuehne, a Sustainable Design Leader at HDR, for an illuminating conversation on adaptive reuse. Phillip shares his journey from architecture to sustainable design, highlighting his transformative experiences at Carnegie Mellon and his passion for performance-driven building solutions. Together, they explore adaptive reuse as a vital strategy for addressing climate challenges, emphasizing its ability to reimagine...
Jan 08, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 68
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Yohany Albornoz, a trailblazing neuroarchitect and founder of Discover Neuroarchitecture and Marketer Architect Agency. Together, they delve into the burgeoning field of neuroarchitecture—an interdisciplinary approach that integrates neuroscience and design to create spaces that align with human biology and behavior. Yohany shares compelling insights and case studies, from the healing power of nature views in hosp...
Dec 18, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 67
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes back Alejandra Menchaca of AIRLIT Studio for an insightful deep dive into TEDI—Thermal Energy Demand Intensity. As a repeat guest, Alejandra shares her expertise in sustainable and human-centric design, making complex concepts accessible. Together, they unpack the significance of TEDI, distinguishing it from metrics like Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and exploring how it informs passive building design. Alejandra explains ...
Dec 11, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 66
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski is joined by Craig Schiller, Executive Director of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHiPs). Together, they delve into the importance of creating high-performance schools that prioritize student and teacher well-being, productivity, and safety while addressing climate resilience. Craig shares his journey from environmental studies to leading CHiPs and explains the organization's mission to establish school-specific buil...
Dec 03, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski is joined by Scott Zimmerman, founder of Silas Inc., to explore how lighting impacts health in ways we often overlook. With over 30 years in lighting and optics, Scott dives into how modern LED lighting, with its narrow spectrum, may be compromising our well-being. He shares the importance of near-infrared light—a part of natural sunlight often missing indoors—and explains how this missing spectrum could influence sleep, immunity, an...
Nov 27, 2024•41 min
