Better Buildings For Humans

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski sits down with Frances Anderton, former host of KCRW’s Design and Architecture and author of Common Ground: Multifamily Housing in Los Angeles. Frances shares her journey from growing up in England’s architecturally rich city of Bath to her impactful work in Los Angeles, where she champions housing that balances personal and communal spaces.

Frances and Joe dive into the history and future of multifamily housing in LA, discussing the role of density, design, and the “social condenser” of courtyard living in creating vibrant communities. They also explore challenges like zoning and community resistance to higher density, revealing how thoughtful design can benefit the environment and social cohesion.

Tune in to discover Frances’s vision for human-centered, environmentally sensitive housing that prioritizes connection and well-being.

About Frances Anderton

Frances Anderton is the author of Common Ground: Multifamily Housing in Los Angeles, published by Angel City Press, and winner of a Gold award for best Regional Nonfiction from Foreword Reviews. She has co-produced short films for the nonprofit housing developers Community Corporation of Santa Monica and Venice Community Housing. She is currently researching “Awesome and Affordable” housing as a Fellow of Friends of Residential Treasures: Los Angeles (FORT: LA). She writes a regular newsletter on design and architecture for KCRW public radio station, for which she previously hosted the show DnA: Design and Architecture, and produced the current affairs shows Which Way, LA? and To The Point. She also supports the creation of programming at Helms Bakery District. Honors include the Esther McCoy Award, from the Architectural Guild of USC School of Architecture, for her work educating the public about architecture and urbanism.. She serves on the boards of AIA/LA, Community Corp, and Palm Springs Modernism Week.

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Dean Lewis, Director of Mass Timber for the U.S. market at Skanska. Dean shares his journey from a construction-focused upbringing to leading mass timber innovations at Skanska, including his work on groundbreaking projects and involvement with Sidewalk Labs. The conversation highlights the rapid growth of mass timber, its sustainability benefits, and the industry’s challenges, such as supply chain issues and code adoption.

Dean discusses Skanska’s approach to navigating these challenges and expanding mass timber projects across the U.S., focusing on responsibly sourced timber and the potential for reusing building materials. Joe and Dean explore why mass timber is gaining popularity among developers and architects for its biophilic and environmental qualities.

Tune in for insights into the evolving world of mass timber construction and Skanska’s dedication to sustainable practices that benefit communities.

About Dean Lewis

Dean Lewis is the Director of Mass Timber and Prefabrication at Skanska USA, a position he was hired for in March 2023. Lewis is based in Seattle and is responsible for overseeing mass timber and prefabrication projects across the United States. Before joining Skanska, Lewis was with Alphabet-funded Sidewalk Labs for two years, working on new construction technologies in the mass timber space. He has also worked for Swinerton Mass Timber (Timberlab) (2019-2021), DCI Engineers (2010-2019) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2009-2010).

During his career, Lewis has overseen multiple mass timber construction projects including office buildings, campus dorms, multi-family developments, and hotels. He has an extensive experience with design and fabrication, project management and delivery, logistics, and procurement, among other aspects of the construction process. He has also been part of published research projects within the mass timber space.

Lewis graduated from Washington State University (WSU) where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering. At WSU, he studied under Dr. J. Daniel Dolan, P.E., a premier figure in the mass timber industry, who inspired him to pursue a career in the field. Lewis is following a similar career path to his father, who worked in construction, and his grandfather, an architect.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-lewis-96362445/

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Minjia Yang, Vice President of Investing for Health at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). With an impressive background spanning law, economics, and sustainable finance, Minjia discusses her role in advancing social sustainability and sustainable finance initiatives at IWBI. She shares insights on how WELL standards integrate human health, well-being, and equity into building design and operations across the globe. The conversation covers a range of topics, from sustainable finance innovations and ESG initiatives to balancing energy efficiency with occupant wellness. Minjia also highlights IWBI's work in aligning WELL standards with global sustainability reporting regulations, emphasizing the need for a people-first approach to building design. Tune in for a deep dive into the evolving world of healthy buildings and social sustainability.

More About Minjia Yang:

Minjia Yang is the Vice President of Investing for Health at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) where she leads the thought leadership platform to elevate the meaning of health, wellbeing and equity to organizations, communities and the investment landscape at scale. Minjia brings her interdisciplinary background in law, economics, finance and insights of global markets to partnership building, sustainable finance and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Prior to joining IWBI, Minjia worked with Delos, a wellness technology company, to establish over 10 subsidiaries and joint ventures in Asia as well as the first venture capital fund focusing on wellness technology for the built environment. Minjia has extensive professional experience across public, private and nonprofit sectors in Asia, Africa and North America. She worked with Inter-American Development Bank, Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, social enterprises in Lesotho, nonprofit organizations in Haiti, Malaysia Prime Minister’s office and consulting firms in Asia.

Minjia holds her Bachelor of Laws degree from Sun Yat-sen University in China. She was elected as a Chinese youth representative to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) and also as a W. T. Chan Fellow to participate in the Social Entrepreneurship Program at University of California in Los Angeles. Minjia received the Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration on economics and finance from Cornell University.

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Liz McCormick, an assistant professor of architecture at UNC Charlotte, to explore the critical connection between human health and building design. Liz shares her fascinating journey from practicing architecture to becoming a professor, delving into her research on sustainable design and climate-resistant architecture. They discuss her book, Inside Out: Human Health and the Air-Conditioning Era, which questions the modern disconnect between buildings and nature, and makes a case for designing healthier environments. Liz also highlights her innovative malaria-resistant housing project in Tanzania, her forward-thinking courses at UNC Charlotte, and her approach to creating dynamic spaces that enhance occupant well-being. This episode is packed with insights on the future of building design and its impact on human health.

About Liz McCormick 

Assistant Professor of Architecture at UNC Charlotte, Liz McCormick is a licensed architect, educator, and researcher whose work explores healthy, climatically sensitive, and contextually appropriate building design strategies that connect occupants to the outdoors while also reducing the dependence on mechanical conditioning technologies. She is currently working on her first book, Inside OUT (Routledge), which brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts of the indoors, including scientists, anthropologists, engineers and architects, to discuss the future of human habitation with a dominant focus on human health in a post-pandemic world. Inside OUT will share a rich story of both the social and technological drivers of the conditioned indoors while making an argument for thoughtful interventions in the built environment. This book was inspired by the Inside l OUT Symposium that McCormick organized and moderated in Charlotte in March 2022.  

McCormick is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Passive House Consultant. With more than 10 years of experience as a practicing architect, she has worked on a variety of project scales from single-family passive houses to LEED-certified commercial office buildings and campuses. In addition to teaching, McCormick is also pursuing a PhD in Design at North Carolina State University. She completed her MS in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as BAs in architecture and fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.

CONTACT:

https://idrl.charlotte.edu/liz-mccormick/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-mccormick-5a447512

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Heidi J. Ellsworth, a roofing industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. Heidi is the president of RoofersCoffeeShop® and founder of HJE Consulting, and a driving force behind National Women in Roofing (NWIR). Together, they explore Heidi’s journey, from working with major companies like Malarkey Roofing and EagleView Technologies to shaping the future of the roofing industry through innovative digital platforms. Heidi discusses the evolution of Roofers Coffee Shop, which provides contractors with education, forums, and classified ads, and shares insights into sustainability, the roofing industry's adaptation to energy codes, and her passion for collaboration and networking. This episode offers valuable lessons on roofing, sustainability, and the power of community for anyone interested in the built environment.

Tune in to learn how Heidi’s work is influencing both the roofing world and broader building design trends!

About Heidi Ellsworth

Heidi J. Ellsworth has worked in the roofing industry since 1993 and has held positions with Malarkey Roofing, Carlisle Construction Materials and EagleView Technologies.  She is currently a partner and president of RoofersCoffeeShop® and owner of HJE Consulting. She is also one of the founders of National Women in Roofing (NWIR).  She served as chairperson for the first two years of the association and in 2020 was awarded the WORLD Award.

Working with both RoofersCoffeeShop and HJE Consulting, she currently focuses on supporting overall marketing strategies, sales success and content development for companies and associations within the roofing and metal construction industries.  With a passion for networking and win-win-win scenarios, she continues to provide consulting and progressive digital advertising opportunities for companies and associations building strong collaborations for business profitability and success.  

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