Buildings Podcast

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 …

Learn how you can easily deliver the benefits of natural light all while saving energy with the Natural Series of LED lighting products with …

Mohawk Group’s Smart City carpet collection reinterprets transit maps into soft surfaces. Contributing editor Sarah Kloepple explores this …

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 …

Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) imposes new requirements on companies that collect biometric information. BUILDINGS …

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 …

Meeting venues like the Javits Center have been pulled into service as field hospitals and other spaces for healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 …

Coronavirus has crippled the U.S. and global economy, with the hospitality industry especially hard hit. Estimates predict that 4 million hospitality …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

This HVAC product was one of just three products to win the Editors’ Choice Designation out of the 45 winners in 2020’s Money-Saving Products …

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 …

This mass notification tool was one of just three products to win the Editors’ Choice designation out of the 45 Money-Saving Product winners. Learn …

Ceilume’s innovative ceiling panels were one of just three products to win the Editors’ Choice designation out of the 45 Money-Saving Product winners. See why these thermoplastic panels wowed our judges. 

See transcript …

Personal hygiene has been in the news lately, and the winter illness season is still winding down. What steps can managers of individual buildings take to help reduce the risk of illness? 

Amna Handley, director of …

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 …

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. …

The flu, norovirus and other contagious illnesses cost businesses roughly $10.4 billion in sick days and lost productivity each year. This flu season also saw the arrival of another contagious illness – COVID-19, a …

Reed Hitchcock, executive vice president of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) chats with BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny …

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 …

Live from the AHR Expo 2020, associate editor Sarah Kloepple sits down with Mike Ellis, chief customer and digital officer at Johnson Controls. Ellis …

Live from the AHR Expo 2020, associate editor Sarah Kloepple sits down with Donald Decker, director of owner sales for LG Air Conditioning …

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 …

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 …

In this FM Friday Buildings Podcast, associate editor Sarah Kloepple explains what scientists say is causing the unprecedented bushfires in …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Straight from the IFMA World Workplace floor in Phoenix, Janelle Penny speaks with Roger King, international rep in business development for NECA [National Electrical Contractors Association] and IBEW [International …

Live from the IFMA World Workplace convention in Phoenix, Janelle Penny speaks with Alyssa Chapman from Gordian about their solutions for the full …

In this episode, Janelle Penny talks about our shared spaces features as well as some tangible ways you can showcase how you're elevating your building if you choose to enter your facility for consideration for a TOBY …

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 …

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 …

Solar panels look much like they always have, but their consistent appearance belies big improvements in efficiency and affordability. 

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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 …

Experts who work with security issues all day, every day, Alan Butler of HSS and Sean Ahrens of Affiliated Engineers Inc., share their insights with Janelle Penny, editor-in-chief of BUILDINGS, who shares them with you …

What are your amenities saying about your business? Suzanne Maynard and Darin Squires of GP Pro explore what tenants and employees are looking for in the 21st Century workplace, including how to keep your expenses under …

Slips, trips and falls are three things any facility manager wants to avoid within their building. New Pig Corporation created the world’s first proven adhesive-backed mat—the Grippy Mat—which can lower slip, trip and …

Searching for ways to upgrade your facilities knowledge on a low- to no-funded budget? Janelle Penny shares these free or low-cost educational resources that help you keep up with the latest industry trends while …

Smart building technology continues to evolve, but it’s not a thing of the future. Chances are you’re already using it in your facility. There are …

You don’t always need a bucket of adhesives to attach a single-ply roof. In the third installment of the Carlisle Roofing Series, we explore two alternative methods - RapidLock hook and loop attachment and VacuSeal …

Is your building connected? If not, Trevor Palmer from Acuity Brands talks with Janelle Penny about what happens when it is. He sheds light on the …

BUILDINGS staff writer Sarah Kloepple chats with Bill Gagnon, vice president of sales and marketing with Excel Dryers, about all things hand dryers—including maintenance, ADA compliance, misconceptions and new …

Move from a respond-and-react to a predict-and-prevent type of scenario using artificial intelligence to notice trends and stay ahead of the issues that might occur at your building site. I met with Brian Wilson and …

Architectural and interior design and strategic planning firm Oculus recently worked on renovating the St. Louis Arc Office and Community Center. Ron …

How clean is your building?  Deb Mazzuca, an expert from Essity, explains why tenants are more aware of hygiene in public spaces—and how you can improve cleanliness in your facility.

Manage your water irrigation system from your phone using weather data to more accurately determine how much water to use. Some property managers have cut costs by about 35%. Christoph Trappe talks with Jake Bryan from …

Water efficiency expert Mike Orlando from T&S Brass shares tips on how to be green and efficient with water use. He shares some eye-opening stats about water usage and what each building can do to help sustain this …

Showcased at NeoCon 2019, Relaxing Floors collection from Mohawk is a kind of experiment between art, science and human-centered design based on …

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

Straight from the NeoCon 2019 showroom, Christoph Trappe chats with Cia Mooney from Watson about their open office floor plan overhaul, which birthed …

Christoph Trappe sat down with NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong at AIA in Las Vegas 2019 and got an update on what’s happening in the industry, the history of architectural codes and education as well as who the key players …

Everyone loves the look and feel of real wood. But wood is not without its issues. Christoph Trappe speaks with Lisa Thornton from Egger Wood Products at the AIA Conference about the many benefits of using laminate …

Security is one of the top items on the minds of facility managers and owners—and your occupants. Christoph Trappe talks to Adrienne Reitz from Cornell Cookson about the latest security trends in parking garages, retail …

SaaS subscriptions tend to be month-to-month and if it lapses, designers and architects lose access to their projects. Go from concept to completion all in one BIM software with Vectorworks and keep what’s yours.

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Christoph Trappe spoke with Mark Brink from VELUX about their skylight products. During this conversation, they chat about the multi-level benefits …

CertainTeed created an acoustical solution that enables architects to create aesthetically pleasing, functional designs that can be tailored to suit …

In this podcast from the AIA conference in Las Vegas, Christoph Trappe speaks with Ron Schumacher of LG Electronics about their new air condition unit used in commercial buildings that is functional and also has the …

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

In this podcast, Christoph Trappe chats with David Antar, president at IPVideo, about how the company’s product—Halo Smart Sensors—helps with …

At LIGHTFAIR International 2019 in Philadelphia, PA, Sarah Kloepple spoke with David Korow, senior lighting specialist with Current by GE about the …

Preventative maintenance is a crucial component to your facilities systems. Taking this one step further is prescriptive maintenance—or RxM.

Joel Wheatley from C&W Services speaks with Janelle Penny about how this …

Vegetated roofs aren’t just beautiful—they’re valuable tools for managing stormwater, reducing the urban heat island effect, and providing more …

Resilience starts with a roof you can trust to protect your building.

Ron Goodman, EPDM product manager for Carlisle SynTec Systems, and BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny discuss EPDM’s resistance against …

Valerie Dennis Craven speaks with Gabe Clark, principal for data centers with Corgan. They discuss the changing relationship between people and data centers, looking at edge data centers and those in an urban footprint.

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.

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Looking for tips on how to finance your building upgrades with rebates and tax incentives?

Janelle Penny speaks with Emily Naden, director of federal affairs, and John Bryant, vice president of advocacy and building …

Janelle Penny, editor-in-chief of BUILDINGS, talks about the National Roofing Contractors Association’s (NRCA) meeting with the White House chief of staff to discuss the shortage of qualified roofers. This was the first …

Kenall Lighting’s Retrofit Kit with Indigo-Clean Technology is targeted toward any lighting products you already use that have florescent fixtures. …

REHAU’s System 4500 windows and doors are an affordable way to let in daylight and fresh air without the potentially costly pitfalls posed by other window materials.

REHAU was recently honored as a Money-Saving …

Clockworks automated buildings analytics brings automated fault detection and diagnostics to empower facilities teams to make their operations …

Emma Hughes, project manager for LEED, speaks with Janelle Penny about how project teams pursuing LEED certification for buildings now have a new option: LEED Zero.

Learn more about this designation, including the …

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 …

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 …

Janelle Penny speaks with Mike East from REHAU about hydronic snow and ice melting systems and how they benefit commercial buildings.

Rather read the transcript? Here you go: Important Considerations for Hydronic SIMS …

Christoph Trappe and Janelle Penny discuss the tenant amenities they’ve seen at industry trade shows like BOMA International Conference & Expo.

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How can you be sure a product will save you money?

Mick Metzger, vice president for Pepper Construction Group, explains smart strategies for vetting vendors.

From the IRE trade show floor, Jason Dark from Duro-Last discusses with Janelle Penny how their labor-saving roofing solutions benefit buildings …

Jason Wigboldly, from TRUFAST roofing fasteners, chats with Janelle Penny at IRE 2019. Jason talks about providing fasteners to the entire building …

Janelle Penny speaks with Mike DuCharme, of the EDPM Roofing Association (ERA), at the IRE Expo 2019. Mike talks about the many changes he’s seen over his 35 years in the industry, as well as current trends that have …

TURF Design in Chicago provides customizable acoustics solutions for open-offices and school environments.

Christoph Trappe of interiors+sources and …

BUILDINGS’ senior staff writer Janelle Penny talks to Doug Pierce, director of Perkins+Will Resilience Research Lab, about the Building Resilience Standard RELi.

Doug explains the requisites and credits for RELi that …

Sean Ahrens, a leader in the field of security and resilience, as well as a project manager for Affiliated Engineers, Inc., shares insights with Janelle Penny into the security threats of tailgating and piggybacking in …

Getting through TSA security can already present challenges for travelers. Add in a government shutdown with workers who aren’t getting paid and it …

BUILDINGS’ Sarah Kloepple speaks with Susan Kaufman from Daikin Applied about their Next Generation Event they hosted at AHR Expo 2019 in Atlanta.

The event, created exclusively for engineering and technical trade …

Christoph Trappe and Dan Jones, president of UV Resources, chat about the benefits of using UV to clean coils. These can include better IAQ, less spending on energy costs and sometimes an ROI of six months. 

Read the …

Christoph Trappe speaks with Mark Menzer, director of public affairs with Danfoss, about what facility managers and building owners should know about …

Christoph Trappe speaks with Sudhi Sinha, VP & GM, Data Enabled Business, from Johnson Controls about the dynamically changing environment in …

Based off a research report conducted by Georgia Tech and UL Chemical Safety, Sarah Kloepple and Christoph Trappe chat about the rising popularity of …

Do your occupants know how to evacuate your building during an emergency? Where will they go once they leave? Mariah Obiedzinski, BUILDINGS’ director of content services, chats with senior writer Janelle Penny about …

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 …

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 …

 From children’s hospitals to outpatient facilities, the challenges and opportunities in healthcare design are uncovered by interiors+sources editor-in-chief Kadie Yale. She speaks with expert designer Rebecca Donner, …

Mass shootings are unfortunately becoming more common across the United States. Does your building have a plan?

Christoph Trappe and Janelle Penny discuss the eye-opening lessons learned from their company active …

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 …

Christoph Trappe and Valerie Dennis Craven sit at the outside bar at the Moxy Hotel in Minneapolis and do an impromptu review.

Like to hang out in …

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 …

This maker creates art from salvaged materials.

What happens to the buildings that aren’t in good enough shape to upgrade? Empty, decaying buildings …

Wellness programs at workplaces are becoming more common, as are other ways of getting there, like on a bicycle. With this comes the need for facilities managers and building owners to provide adequate parking for these …

Employee wellness in commercial buildings is trending for facilities managers and building owners. Christoph Trappe is on the frontlines at the 2018 BOMA International Expo in San Antonio, Texas. He is seeing this …