I Hear Design: the i+s podcast

ICYMI: Adaptive Furnishings and Fixtures Deliver Fully Inclusive Hotels

Have you ever considered how hotels can incorporate adaptive design elements to proactively meet their guests’ needs? Listen to this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article read mini-episode in which we revisit an article titled, "Adaptive Furnishings and Fixtures Deliver Fully Inclusive Hotels," written by Evelyn Long and published on the i+s website on April 8, 2025. You'll learn:
Why inclusive design is becoming a business imperative
How to enhance accessibility in common areas
How to go beyond ADA in creating thoughtful guestroom features
Why proactive and empathetic hospitality is so important
How to future proof through inclusive design principles

How Economic Pressures, Wellness Design, and Carbon Data Are Reshaping Architecture & Construction

In this edition of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen delivers a wide-angle view of the current architecture, design, and construction landscape in 2025. Drawing from recent reports and economic indicators—including the AIA Billings Index, Sherwin-Williams' Construction Insights survey, and research from firms like Gensler, Perkins&Will, and Corgan—this episode unpacks the forces reshaping the built environment.
We explore the lingering impact of economic uncertainty, new tariffs, and supply chain delays, as well as emerging opportunities in wellness real estate, experience-driven placemaking, and carbon transparency. Plus, you'll learn how new tools like mass timber carbon calculators and healthier materials lists are helping design teams make smarter, more sustainable choices.
Topics Covered:
What’s driving delays and cautious investment in construction and architecture
How wellness and experiential design are commanding premium value
Why carbon benchmarking and healthier material standards are becoming essential
The Gen Z effect on urban design and multifamily development
Whether you’re navigating tough market conditions or planning your next project with performance and impact in mind, this episode is packed with insights to help you lead with purpose and resilience.
Show Notes:
Associated Builders & Contractors Monthly Construction Economic Survey Shows Tariff Impacts Emerge
AIA Architecture Billings Downward Trajectory Continues
Sherwin-Williams Finds 9 in 10 Construction Pros Face Costly Delays
Corgan Unveils CO2e Emissions Calculator for Mass Timber
The Rise of the Experiential Economy | US – Cushman & Wakefield
Uncovering Growth: Wellness Real Estate Across the Market – Gensler
Perkins&Will Releases Advanced Guidance on Material Health and Embodied Carbon

ICYMI: What Does a Healthy Showroom Look Like?

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article read mini-episode, we revisit an article titled, "What Does a Healthy Showroom Look Like?" published on the interiors+sources website on Feb. 18, 2025. Listen in to discover how Kimball International’s Boston showroom recently achieved WELL certification at the Platinum level, becoming the fifth of the company’s facilities to do so, as well as what the certification means for interior designers. Learn how the new space incorporates design features aligned with WELL's 10 core concepts, as well as how the furniture brand's corporate headquarters and showrooms have earned the WELL Equity Rating and the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which underscore the company's dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and health and safety protocols. 

Material Intelligence at NeoCon 2025: Reshaping Sustainable Design Conversations with Kenn Busch

In this special NeoCon 2025 preview episode, host Robert Nieminen chats with sustainability journalist and educator Kenn Busch, founder of Material Intelligence and Climate Positive Now. Together, they explore what’s in store at this year’s Material Intelligence Destination: NeoCon Pavilion—a hands-on, narrative-driven space that reframes how designers and specifiers engage with sustainable materials.
Kenn shares how the pavilion evolved from its “materials petting zoo” roots to a vibrant hub for carbon-smart design, including the debut of eco-conscious display tables made from repurposed shipping pallets. From thermally treated wood and 3D laminates to composite panels with negative carbon footprints, this episode unpacks the stories, systems, and synergies behind climate-positive design.
Whether you're headed to Chicago or following from afar, this conversation will inspire you to rethink the role of materials in shaping healthier, smarter, and more sustainable interiors.

ICYMI: ASID Explores the Influence of Joy, Wellness, and Sustainability on 2025 Interior Design Trends

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) mini article-read episode, we revisit an article published on the i+s website titled, "ASID Explores the Influence of Joy, Wellness, and Sustainability on 2025 Interior Design Trends," in which ASID's Lindsey Koren discusses how interior design is adapting to reflect emerging priorities that emphasize joy, wellness, and sustainability. Based on findings from the Association's recently released 2025 Trends Outlook, discover how these evolving influences offer insights into the ways consumers and designers alike are redefining their spaces to align with deeper personal and societal values as you listen in to this episode.

Marketing Building Products: Storytelling, Sustainability, and AI Insights with Susan Fernandez

Marketing building products to architects and designers is more complicated than ever. In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen talks with Susan Fernandez, founder of Cast Carbon and partner at UpSpring, about what it really takes to break through the noise and connect with today’s A&D professionals.
From her early days branding pavers to launching circular materials at Cast Carbon, Susan shares why storytelling is crucial—even for the most utilitarian products—and how to craft a narrative that resonates with specifiers. She explains why Gen Z staffers, not firm principals, are driving product research, how AI is changing the way designers source and compare materials, and why transparency beats perfection when it comes to sustainability claims.
Plus, learn how something as simple as color branding (think: pink insulation) can make all the difference in standing out to overworked design professionals.

ICYMI: Creating a Climate-Resilient Blueprint for Schools

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article-read mini-episode, we commemorate Earth Day 2025 by revisiting an article published on the i+s website titled, "Creating a Climate-Resilient Blueprint for Schools," which explores the risks educational institutions face due to extreme weather-related events and the important role that resilient educational facilities can play in safely serving the community, inspiring key changes in building design and on-site energy resources. Listen in as we highlight how these future-ready facilities are helping shape a climate-resilient tomorrow—for students and entire communities.

From Cubicles to Condos: Exploring the Office to Residential Trend with Mark Oberholzer and Marissa Kasdan

With office vacancies rising and housing shortages mounting, the commercial real estate industry is at a tipping point. In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Marissa Kasdan and Mark Oberholzer of KTGY to explore how adaptive reuse—and their bold Upcycle Tower concept—could reshape our cities.
They discuss the real-world challenges of converting steel-framed office towers into viable residential buildings, the role of city incentives, and how thoughtful design can balance livability, cost, and sustainability. Learn how phased conversions, mixed-use flexibility, and embodied carbon savings are making adaptive reuse a compelling path forward for developers and municipalities alike.
🔑 Topics covered:
Economic and environmental case for adaptive reuse
KTGY’s Upcycle Tower design concept
Zoning and policy changes in cities like Los Angeles
Structural and cost considerations
Strategies for integrating office and residential spaces
Urban resilience and sustainable development

ICYMI: Drake/Anderson Harmonizes Luxury and Sustainability with Transition to /AND Design

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article read episode, we look back at an interview i+s Editor in Chief Carrie Meadows conducted with Principal Caleb Anderson of /AND Design (formerly Drake/Anderson), originally published online on Feb. 5, 2025, in which he talks about an approach for wider industry collaboration that harmonizes design concepts and values for business with purpose. Discover how Anderson plans to advance the firm’s sustainability initiatives in a way that aligns his passion for creating what supports clients while subverting their expectations of luxury design.

Fractal Futures: Designing Wellness with Nature’s Geometry with Andrea Keller

In the final installment of our Women’s History Month series, we're honored to host Andrea Keller on this episode of I Hear Design. Andrea is a visionary architect and partner/designer of Star Tile who's redefining how we perceive design and its impact on human well-being. In this episode, we explore how incorporating these natural geometries into our built environments can trigger a calming neurological response, reducing stress and enhancing overall wellness. Andrea shares her insights on the difference between biophilia and biomimicry, and how architects and designers can move beyond simply adding plants to creating spaces that truly resonate with our innate connection to nature.
Join us as we dive into the science behind fractal design, its practical applications, and the transformative power of aligning our spaces with nature’s inherent wisdom. This conversation is not just about design; it’s about creating a future where our environments actively contribute to our health and happiness.