BUILDINGS Podcast

American Nevada Company recently won its fifth consecutive local TOBY Award. Natalie Allred, vice president of property management, joins editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to talk about what it takes to win a TOBY and how listeners can position their own buildings for TOBY success.

Decarbonization is the logical next step for operating buildings sustainably. In our new In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) podcast feature, check out tips to help you start your journey.

COVID has exacerbated the phenomenon of “zombie offices”—underutilized office buildings that are sitting nearly empty. One potential solution is turning these structures into multifamily housing via adaptive reuse.

Spring storms are striking earlier this year due to the La Niña conditions. That means you need to prepare now to reduce the impact on your buildings. Join editor in chief Janelle Penny and Chuck Miccolis, managing director of commercial lines for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), for research-backed preparedness guidance that will empower you to prepare your properties before severe weather strikes.

Building occupants are concerned about the air they’re breathing, but how do you know what’s in the air? Learn about your solutions for correcting issues, from ventilation and filtration to air purifiers and more, with Sissi Liu, cofounder and CEO of Metalmark.

In this third and final episode in our three-part series on sustainable design, we hone in on the higher education market to learn how colleges and universities are meeting aggressive sustainability targets.

There is a myriad of ecolabels, third-party certification programs and green building rating systems on the market—enough to make an architect's or designer's head spin. In this episode, we sit down with a few industry experts to discuss the tools and programs that are available to help building professionals reduce their environmental footprints in the battle against climate change.

What’s on deck for HVAC in 2023? Join editor in chief Janelle Penny and Doug Bougher, director of applied sales for LG Electronics USA, to hear about 2023’s top commercial trends and learn which technologies will become more popular as the industry moves toward decarbonization and electrification.

In this first of a three-part series on sustainability, we assess where the A&D industry is in the fight against climate change and how we can accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality. In this episode, Chief Content Director Robert Nieminen sits down with Jay Valgora, principal and founder of STUDIO V, and Jonce Walker, global director of sustainability and wellness at HLW, for a lively conversation in which they shared their passion for and perspectives on how to design for the new climate reality.

Technology advancements and data analytics are making it possible to improve safety and efficiency in parking facilities to create a hassle-free parking experience. Josh Feinberg of ABM joins editor in chief Janelle Penny to explain how parking facility operators can find new ways to navigate parking challenges and capitalize on new opportunities.

The healthcare industry is in a season of rapid change. What do healthcare facility teams need to know? Join BUILDINGS editor in chief Janelle Penny and Minta Ferguson of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture to explore what healthcare facilities staffs can expect in the coming years.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains a major incentive for commercial building owners and managers in the form of changes to the 179D deduction. Learn about the new changes to 179D with editor in chief Janelle Penny and Chris O’Neal, a senior manager with Marcum LLP.

The Department of Energy recently published a notice of intent to provide $225 million for state and local governments to improve energy efficiency and resiliency in commercial buildings. At the same time, lawmakers in several major cities are enacting legislation to require more efficient buildings and lower carbon emissions. What do these critical developments mean for building owners and managers? Join editor in chief Janelle Penny and Nikki Mehta, director of energy and sustainability for Honeywell Building Technologies, to learn more.

In this episode of the Buildings podcast, guests Janet Pogue, principal and global workplace research leader for Gensler’s DC office and Natalie Engels, principal, work sector leader and design director in the firm’s San Jose office to talk about Gensler’s 2022 Design Forecast. In this insightful conversation, Pogue and Engels explore how "The Great Disruption" has impacted the way architects and designers are looking at space now and in what ways will it impact the office. They also answer questions about how we design for sustainability and health now, and how do we ensure the built environment is flexible enough to deal with the kind of ongoing change we’re seeing?

Need to specify a durable, corrosion-resistant solution to define perimeters, connect spaces or complement your existing design? Cable railings may be the solution for you. Join BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny and Ultra-tec marketing director Lindsey Fox to explore the benefits and opportunities of cable infill. This podcast was created in partnership with Ultra-tec.

Traveled lately? You may have seen information about hotels, convention centers or arenas pursuing GBAC STAR accreditation. Learn more about this designation and find out about an upcoming educational opportunity featuring actionable advice on keeping facilities clean. 

What’s trending in the world of HVAC? Listen in and find out! Steve Scarbrough, senior vice president of LG Electronics USA, Air Conditioning Technologies, joins BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny at the AHR Expo to chat about today’s HVAC trends. 

* This podcast was created in partnership with LG.

The manufacturing and consumption of widely used refrigerants known as hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, will be phased down over the next 15 years to reduce the refrigerants’ climate impact. How will that affect building owners and managers whose equipment relies on HFC refrigerants? Ken West, vice president and general manager of fluorine products for Honeywell, joins editor in chief Janelle Penny to discuss how the phasedown impacts existing equipment and what alternatives are on the market.

Businesses and consumers are increasingly prizing sustainability, and that demand for eco-friendly properties requires building owners to invest time in improving recycling programs. Learn how to create a robust recycling program with Jeff Roney, vice president of operations for RWS Facility Services, and BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny.

Fall is upon us, and with the change in seasons comes a transition from cooling equipment to heating equipment. Mark Orlovsky, the service, warranty and quality manager for Modine HVAC, joins editor in chief Janelle Penny to discuss the HVAC maintenance you need to do this fall and how to know your HVAC system isn’t performing as efficiently as it could.

What factors have the biggest impacts on indoor air quality in commercial buildings, and what can facilities managers do about them? BUILDINGS tackles this question and more with guest Dr. Jordan Peccia, who walks us through what causes poor IAQ, the biggest misconceptions people have about indoor air quality and red flags to watch for in commercial buildings.

In this episode, VP of Media Steven Sloan joins Chief Content Director Robert Nieminen to announce a brand new awards program: The Purpose Awards. Find out why we're launching this new program to celebrate and elevate the products, projects, designs, and spaces that contribute most to the Triple Bottom Line—People, Planet, Profit. The products and projects that not only do no harm, but best support the health and wellness of humans and the planet.

As more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine, employees are asking about returning to work—and whether a vaccine will be required to do so. Learn what building owners need to know about COVID-19 vaccination policies with employment attorney Brian Weinthal and editor-in-chief Janelle Penny.

With COVID-19 vaccines rolling out, companies are looking at the ways in which the post-COVID workplace needs to embrace health and wellness. Bob Wislow, chairman and CEO of Parkside Realty, Inc., joins editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to discuss how biophilic design can support health and wellness.

Nick Cooper, AIA, Citizen HKS, and Megan Rollins, president/CEO, Boaz & Ruth, talk about their collaboration on Benefield, a community based project that revitalizes the Highland Park corridor in Richmond, Virginia, that will become a place that anchors and supports the community’s youth, serving as a catalyst for change and hope.

Get to know Colin Rohlfing, director of sustainable development for HDR and a new member of the BUILDINGS advisory board.

Get to know Sean Ahrens, security market group leader for Affiliated Engineers and a member of the BUILDINGS advisory board.

Jennifer Ford-Smith, incoming chair of the EPDM Roofing Association, joins BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to discuss what the roofing industry will look like in 2021 and beyond.

What is the new WELL Health-Safety Rating and why are organizations like the New York Yankees earning it? 

Rachel Gutter, president of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), joins BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to explore why the new rating resonates with facilities professionals in the age of COVID-19.

Learn how you can easily deliver the benefits of natural light all while saving energy with the Natural Series of LED lighting products with innovative TruWave Technology from LEDVANCE LLC.

Mohawk Group’s Smart City carpet collection reinterprets transit maps into soft surfaces. Contributing editor Sarah Kloepple explores this sustainably created flooring system with Mark Page, Mohawk’s senior director, creative design and development.

Transira Window Solutions embeds a shade between panes of glass so that dust and germs can't stick to the shade. Editor in chief Janelle Penny explores the details with Gantt Miller IV, Winco’s sales representative for Northern California, and product specialist John Iffland.

Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) imposes new requirements on companies that collect biometric information. BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny and attorney Brian Weinthal break down what you need to know.

Buildings that have sat unoccupied or under-occupied while occupants worked from home are at risk for pest infestations. If you didn't continue your regular pest control service while people were out of the office, it might be time to look into extra mitigation measures. Dr. Brittany Campbell, staff entomologist and research scientist for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), discusses the risks with editor-in-chief Janelle Penny.

Meeting venues like the Javits Center have been pulled into service as field hospitals and other spaces for healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim Henry, healthcare sector leader at CallisonRTKL, walks us through what it takes to transform hospitality and meeting spaces into sophisticated healthcare facilities.

When closed buildings reopen, occupants may face contaminated drinking water. That's because piping is at risk for corrosion, as well as the growth of microorganisms that can happen when chlorine dissipates in stagnant water and becomes less effective. Erica Walker, director of environmental policy and programs for 120Water, chats with editor-in-chief Janelle Penny about the steps facilities professionals can take now and when facilities are ready to reopen.

Roofing is open for business, and roof projects can continue safely. That's the message roofing associations are emphasizing in these uncertain times. Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the EPDM Roofing Association, joins BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to discuss what facilities professionals should know if they need a roof repair or replacement during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also touch on the industry's letter to the White House asking President Trump to protect roofing as an essential industry.

Does a one-size-fits-all approach to acoustic comfort work for every occupant? What about people who are more sensitive to noise than others?  Guests Reetika Vijay and Grzegory Kosmal from IA Interior Architects join writer Robert Nieminen to discuss acoustics and how to tailor it to occupant comfort.

Privacy pods have been popping up all across open offices to help solve the problem of unwanted noise and lack of space for focus work. Join writer Robert Nieminen as he talks to Jim Abraham, Steelcase director for Orangebox Americas Business, and Adrian Welch, global key account manager with Orangebox, about this trend and whether it's just a bandage or a viable solution for workplace design.

What can hospitals do to prepare for current and future contagious disease outbreaks?

For this FM Friday episode, Jenny Han, director of healthcare design for Skender, joins editor Janelle Penny to explain what healthcare facilities can do to prepare for a rapid influx of people and discusses modular “pod” exam rooms for existing hospitals.

The conversation around vertical transportation and uninterruptible power supplies often centers around efficiency and resilience, but there’s much more at stake with both of those systems—namely, the risk of major loss. 

Bruce Peterson, the manager for the Pacific Northwest region in Mitsubishi Electric’s elevator/escalator division, and Aaron Schott, Mitsubishi Electric’s product manager for UPS solutions, join BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to talk about the risks for commercial buildings.

*This is a sponsored podcast, created in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.

One of the first cities to sign on to the Better Buildings Challenge, Atlanta recently met its 20% energy savings goal two years ahead of schedule. AJ Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, discusses the challenges Atlanta faced and the public-private partnership that helped deliver results in more than 450 buildings representing over 115 million square feet.

Reed Hitchcock, executive vice president of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) chats with BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny about cool roofing, California initiatives and the dialogue being had across the country about what’s happening in the industry.

*This podcast was created in partnership with the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association.

BUILDINGS associate editor Sarah Kloepple chats with Dana Reeves, commercial practice leader for national architecture, engineering and planning firm Bergmann, about the trends that are shaping today's brick-and-mortar commercial retail spaces, as online shopping steadily increases.

Live from the AHR Expo 2020, associate editor Sarah Kloepple sits down with Mike Ellis, chief customer and digital officer at Johnson Controls. Ellis discusses how Johnson Controls focuses on customer experience and implements digital tech into not only HVAC products, but security and fire protection as well.

BUILDINGS staff writer Adrian Thompson and design director Fatih Ergun of Marin Architects discuss how New York's new legislation requiring bird-friendly glass to be included on any new construction and major renovations will affect the future of construction.

Energy efficiency is good for the environment, your company’s brand and its bottom line, but few companies have set specific energy efficiency targets. BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny explores how facilities managers can turn the tide.

Editors Valerie Dennis Craven and Janelle Penny discuss the evolution of open offices, including solutions, considerations and what the future holds.

Janelle Penny discusses products that affect the bottom line by reducing the use of resources and cut down on time and labor investment. She chats about the annual Money-Saving Products program results from last year, a new toilet that is supposed to promote productivity and health, and more.

Editors Valerie Dennis Craven and Sarah Kloepple talk about color of the year announcements, how they expect to see the colors used, and what the colors mean for design and occupants in a space.

Editor-in-chief Janelle Penny and associate editor Sarah Kloepple dive deep into the stories that resonated most with readers this year, from VRF HVAC further assimilating into the North American market to interior design trends to gender-neutral restrooms. Listen now.

Helping people thrive is the key to achieving maximum productivity and ROI, but too many spaces aren’t flexible enough to do that. Learn how raceways help facilities managers reconfigure spaces to support users’ work needs.

*Podcast was created in partnership with Connectrac.

Sound can inspire or detract from a space, and shared spaces such as restaurants or open rooms can be difficult to control. Anthony Poon of Poon Design Inc. provides considerations and solutions for a positive experience in shared spaces.

As wildfire season continues in California, it's important to be aware of the less-obvious hazards of wildfires (and building fires in general). Buildings that end up being destroyed and burned can emit hazardous toxins from different kinds of materials when they burn, including insulation, carpeting and piping. 

This can create serious health concerns for occupants, first responders and even the surrounding community. Kathleen Hetrick, a senior sustainability engineer with BuroHappold, discusses her research into this topic, how to tell whether or not a material is toxic and the importance of lifecycle assessments. Listen now.

Every open office design is different, but they all have one thing in common: the need to drive productivity and ROI. Angie Lee, vice president of buildings and global workplace sector leader for Stantec, explains how to create open office spaces where people can thrive, using Stantec's new Portland, OR, office as an example.

The restroom is the one part of your facility that nearly everyone will see. It plays an outsized role in how people perceive your building. Darin Squires, GP Pro’s general sales manager for commercial real state, and director of segment insights Abhijeet Jadhav discuss common restroom pain points, transformation tips and what to expect from the restroom of the future.

*This podcast was created in partnership with GP Pro.

You don't have to live in a large city or be in the middle of summer to experience the heat island effect. Janelle Penny, editor-in-chief of Buildings, shares what this is and what you can do to lower the impact it has on your facility.

Generation Z—people born after 1996—is entering the workforce, and with it comes a major shift in the way offices operate. This generation prizes flexibility, amenities and a premium experience. 

Darin Squires, general sales manager of the commercial real estate vertical for Georgia Pacific Professional, and Justin Silver, associate category manager for GP Pro’s tissue and wiper category, dive into Generation Z’s impact on commercial office space.

*Podcast was created in partnership with GP Pro.

The elevator industry is going through some exciting innovations, including fitting more elevators into fewer shafts that operate independently from each other. Janelle Penny talks about advancements like these and more trends we're seeing.

Christoph Trappe chats with Scandinavian Spaces about how they use color to inspire productivity at NeoCon 2019. Plus, check out the 360 degree VR video of their showroom. 

Janelle Penny chats about trending smart building innovative products, such as wayfinding apps, occupant-centered technology, sensors, access control and more.

Christoph Trappe usually likes it quiet in his work space. One day a meeting was interrupted by loud external noise and he thought: What a great starting point to learn about noise reductions in commercial buildings.

In this episode, Christoph chats with three professionals about the topic: Stan Gatland,  John Hauenstein and  Alex Morales.

In this Weekly Roundup, senior writer Janelle Penny talks about March Madness brackets and high-stakes athletic facilities. Plus: a preview of our BOMA conference coverage next week. 

From an interview about the Sandy Hook redesign to recruiting millennial talent to BOMA 2019 highlights to human-centric lighting, Janelle Penny chats about the week it’s been during this new weekly roundup BUILDINGS podcast.

Senior writer Janelle Penny introduces a new BUILDINGS feature - a weekly live broadcast on social media where BUILDINGS editors review the week's top stories and offer a sneak peek into upcoming facilities management content. 

Based off a research report conducted by Georgia Tech and UL Chemical Safety, Sarah Kloepple and Christoph Trappe chat about the rising popularity of 3D printers for businesses, schools and personal use.

They discuss topics like the health risks associated with these printers as well as some tips to keep everyone safe.

Active shooter training, tunable lighting, living walls, glass envelopes, Heat Island Effect and the next generation: writers share insight into their favorite articles of the year. Interestingly, these are also trending topics in 2019.

Privately owned Omni Hotels & Resorts places a premium on design, art and surrounding historic architectural offerings in its properties.

We sat down with Laura Trussel McKoy, Omni’s creative director and vice president of interior design, and senior VP of sales and marketing Dan Surette to get the skinny on the brand standard of the rapidly growing company.

Hurricane Irma was the costliest storm in Florida’s history and devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands. The investigative teams examining both places after the storm discovered design issues that have wide-ranging implications for building codes and design strategies.

Learn what did and didn’t stand up to the storm with structural engineer William L. Coulbourne.

A. Razzak Memon thrives on ever-changing technology, providing a total solution for current and future needs. He also has been a frequent flyer at 300,000 miles every year. Needless to say, he spends more time in airport lounges than anywhere else.

Christoph Trappe and Adrian Thompson discuss some of his favorite lounges over the years.