Better Buildings For Humans

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Yiselle Santos Rivera—architect, educator, and the incoming president of the AIA—to explore how buildings can become tools for healing, justice, and joy. Yiselle shares her journey from genetics labs in Puerto Rico to the forefront of neuroarchitecture and design leadership. She unpacks how architecture intersects with public health, economic mobility, and climate resilience, and why design excellence is inherently about people. From tropical modernism to the power of culturally responsive spaces, Yiselle reveals why the future of architecture must be collaborative, community-rooted, and deeply human. Whether you're an architect, planner, or policy-maker, this episode will reignite your passion for the built environment as a force for good.

More About Yiselle Santos Rivera

Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, SHRM-SCP, is a healthcare architect, medical planner, educator, and organizational leadership strategist whose work sits at the intersection of architecture, neuroscience, culture, and human well-being. She serves as the 2026 President-Elect of the American Institute of Architects, where she is shaping a national agenda focused on community health, professional joy, and a future-ready architectural workforce.

Yiselle is the Founder and CEO of YSR, LLC, a consultancy that blends healthcare design, neuroarchitecture, leadership psychology, and intercultural experience design. Her work centers on creating environments that elevate dignity, belonging, and wellness for diverse communities. She also teaches at Howard University, where she encourages emerging designers to lead with empathy, cultural awareness, and an understanding of how the built environment shapes human potential.

Her leadership journey includes service on the AIA Strategic Council, the AIA Board of Directors, and multiple national task forces advancing public health, resilience, and equity. She is the creator of WIELD, a storytelling platform for women in design, and co-founder of LA.IDEA, the first Latinx-focused committee at AIA DC.

Yiselle is a published author, national speaker, and advocate for redefining design excellence through the lens of people, purpose, and impact.

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski explores the fascinating science of light and health with Jan Denneman, founder of the Good Light Group and a 45-year veteran of the lighting industry. Jan unpacks the critical—yet often overlooked—role of light in regulating our circadian rhythms, boosting sleep quality, enhancing mood, and even reducing national healthcare costs. From the newly discovered “spheres” in our eyes to the magic of 500 lux, Jan explains how most indoor environments fall into what he calls a “twilight zone,” biologically speaking. He also dives into why natural light trumps artificial, and how healthier buildings could be our biggest untapped wellness tool. If you care about human-centered design, lighting innovation, and boosting occupant performance, this episode is a must-listen.

More About Jan Denneman

Jan Denneman is the founder and chairman of the Good Light Group and ambassador of the Global Lighting Association. The Good Light Group is a non-profit organization promoting good indoor lighting — either natural daylight or electric light with comparable positive effects on health and well-being. Good light helps synchronize the biological clock, improves sleep quality, increases daytime energy, and supports a better mood and long-term health. With more than 45 years of experience in lighting, 

Jan has developed deep expertise in how light affects human health. He served as Vice President at Philips Lighting (now Signify) and held leadership roles in innovation, product development, marketing, and sustainability. Jan co-founded several leading international consortia, including: Global Lighting Association (Chairman 2007–2017), Zhaga Consortium, The Connected Lighting Alliance, LightingEurope (Chairman 2013–2017), Good Light Group (Chairman since 2019) Jan shares his expertise on healthy lighting and sleep through short videos on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski dives into a real-world case study with David Leinbach of Kaiser Martin Group and Terry MacGillivary from Advanced Glazings. The spotlight? A high-profile U.S. government project where cutting-edge daylighting met energy efficiency demands head-on. David and Terry unpack how SoleraWall—a revolutionary glass-based translucent wall system—replaced traditional materials to solve tough design challenges, including heat loss, glare, and longevity. Together, they reveal how thoughtful engineering and collaboration turned a spec rejection into a design triumph, delivering R5 insulation performance (U-Value 0.2) and lasting visual impact. From the installation process to the "quiet wow" of natural light done right, this episode shines a light on how buildings can be both beautiful and brilliantly functional. If you care about smart daylighting, occupant comfort, and better buildings—don’t miss this one.

More About David K. Leinbach and Terry MacGillivary

David K. Leinbach is President and founder of Kaiser Construction. He then acquired Martin Construction Company of Denver, Pa., a commercial contractor in 2010. In 2017 the companies merged into Kaiser-Martin Group thereby creating a General Contracting company suited for future growth.  David also has majority ownership of Kaiser Investment, which is a Property Management firm.   With over 39 years of experience in the construction industry, David has hands-on expertise in all areas of operating a construction firm.  A BS in Business Management and Course work for a Master of Management has helped to enhance the skills needs to meet today’s marketplace.  David has the practical experience in the governmental sector; having served 18 years as an Elected Township Supervisor and as the Chairman for ABC SEPA, BIE and the TCACC Legislative Committees.  His community service extends from working with his church, holding a national soccer coaching and referee license, serving on boards for ABC Insurance Trust, PAID, and Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, Steel River Performing Arts Center and other local organizations. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of MBCEA and served on Nucor Building Group’s “Business Advisory Team”. 

Terry MacGillivary joined Advanced Glazings Ltd (AGL) in 2017 to oversee and manage the development, marketing and deployment of the SoleraWall System - the world's only translucent wall assembly system made of long-lasting glass.   Mr. MacGillivary's wide array of work and life experiences - applied sciences, technical sales, construction management, research and development - have been key in forging a path for the SoleraWall System in new building markets - like the metal building industry.  Mr. MacGillivary is also directly involved in new business development with AGL. This includes program-based corporate projects, special projects as well as international/overseas projects and programs.

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski connects with Georg Molzer, Austrian tech visionary and creator of Shadowmap—a groundbreaking platform that’s redefining our relationship with sunlight. From early engineering dreams to burnout recovery and a brilliant balcony epiphany, Georg shares how a dark Viennese winter inspired him to illuminate how we understand solar exposure in cities, homes, and beyond. In this episode, Georg and Joe explore how Shadowmap’s intuitive 4D visualization tool is empowering architects, real estate developers, and everyday users to design healthier, more sun-filled environments. They dig into the rising global awareness of sunlight’s impact on health and productivity, and how data-rich simulations can prevent costly design mistakes. Whether you’re an architect, planner, or sunlight enthusiast, this conversation will make you think differently about how—and where—we build.

More About Georg Molzer

At the age of 16, while still attending high school, Georg Molzer had his first job as a programmer and designer for a Viennese health startup. Four years later, while studying visual computing at TU Wien, he founded his first consulting company. In 2015, he became co-founder and CTO of kiweno, an Austrian health tech startup, where he gained important entrepreneurial experience and went through the typical (and perhaps also less typical) founder’s journey.

His subsequent burnout and his love of the sun led him to follow his heart and work on an idea he had had six years earlier during a dark Viennese winter: an app that reconnects people with the sun: Shadowmap. Georg is convinced that the sensible use of solar energy – and the power of the sun in general – would solve many global problems in no time: better architecture, more livable living space, healthier and happier lives, higher, sustainable energy yields. Putting humanity first. His passion for the topic has turned Shadowmap into a globally leading product within a few years, which is used by hundreds of thousand people worldwide every month and is now also integrated into large real estate portals, reaching more humans than ever before.

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski explores the evolving world of K-12 design with Cory Boudreau, architect at SLAM Collaborative. From a Lego-loving kid to a leader in educational design, Cory shares how his winding career path—from healthcare megaprojects to transformative school campuses—shaped his belief in architecture’s power to influence learning and well-being. In this episode, Cory dives into how modern school design embraces daylighting, outdoor learning, flexible spaces, and even VR labs to create environments where students thrive. He also unpacks how sustainability goals, trauma-informed design, and community needs are reshaping the way we think about the places where our kids learn and grow. Whether you're a designer, educator, or parent, this episode will make you see schools—and architecture—in a whole new light.

More About Cory Boudreau

Cory Boudreau is a Project Architect and Associate at the SLAM Collaborative in Providence, RI. He has over 12 years of experience designing educational, civic, and community-focused spaces. He is licensed in RI, MA, NC, and SC.  Cory began his design career in Rhode Island, earning his undergraduate degree from the New England Institute of Technology. He then earned his Master of Architecture at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where he was part of an interdisciplinary  art community that broadened his creative perspective.

After working at a few firms in Rhode Island, Cory sought larger, more complex projects and relocated to Charlotte, NC. There, he joined McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, where he was involved in projects of significant scale and complexity across various practice areas. K-12 design became a particular passion of his, and he later became a thought leader and lead designer for the K-12 Team in Charlotte.

Cory is also committed to advancing the architectural profession. He contributes through mentorship, technical leadership, and active involvement in organizations such as A4LE, AIA, NCARB, and the ACE Mentor Program. After nearly six years in the Carolinas, he returned to Rhode Island to be closer to his family. Now part of SLAM’s Providence team, continuing to work on K-12 schools throughout New England.

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