SHVO's $400 million transformation of the Transamerica Pyramid required solving a fundamental problem: how do you renovate an iconic building without destroying what makes it unique? The building's original architect, William Pereira, created brilliant structural innovations but made unusual interior design decisions—hiding 17-foot ceilings behind nine-foot drops and resulting in what was for a long time a standoffish, brutalist entrance

Working with Lord Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, Michael Shvo's team spent three years on an authentic restoration that would make visitors believe the spaces had always existed exactly as they found them. They expanded the Redwood Park to surround rather than sit within the building complex, exposed the original concrete grid structure, and made meticulous decisions about materials—evaluating stone samples with minute grain variations to achieve perfect light reflection at different times of day. 

The most revealing insights from this conversation come from Shvo's navigation of San Francisco's entitlements process. When consultants warned that his proposed changes would waste months seeking impossible approvals, Shvo and Foster submitted their plans anyway. Their fast-track approval and subsequent leasing success—90% occupancy with tenants like Morgan Lewis—demonstrates how authentic design vision combined with strategic community engagement can overcome even the most challenging regulatory environments.

Episode Outline

(01:21) The $400 million budget breakdown and three-year remastering timeline

(02:24) Transforming the brutalist concrete entrance into an inviting space for gathering

(01:33) Remastering an iconic design with Foster + Partners

(11:41) Shvo's community engagement philosophy that guides the entitlement process

(17:31) What's next for Transamerica Pyramid Center, 2 Transamerica, and 3 Transamerica

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Missed part one with Michael Shvo? Listen here

Learn more about Pyramid Dreams

To Inquire about leasing, visit transamericapyramid.com/leasing 

Learn more about The Raleigh 

Listen to American Building episode with Vishaan Chakrabarti 

For the full episode show notes and property photos, visit americanbuildingpodcast.com 

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Michael Shvo, founder, chairman, and CEO of SHVO, has built a reputation for transforming iconic properties through hospitality-driven real estate development. From residential to commercial assets, his customer-first philosophy has created some of the most iconic properties across global markets.

In this episode, Michael shares the remarkable story behind his $650 million acquisition and transformation of San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid Center—a deal that almost didn't happen due to the pandemic, 600 open building permits, and a lender backing out at the last minute. The building also carries profound personal significance: as an eight-year-old, Michael drew himself next to the pyramid as a symbol of the American Dream, only to discover this childhood drawing four decades later while becoming the building's steward. 

Michael offers tactical insights on customer understanding gained from his broker background, risk management during unprecedented market uncertainty, and the power of unwavering conviction rooted in core values. From opening the ground floor to the public to creating what became known as the Pyramid District, his transformation strategy demonstrates how deep market knowledge and authentic hospitality principles can revitalize both individual properties and entire neighborhoods. 

Episode Outline

(01:49) What Michael's early career as a residential broker taught him about real estate development

(06:43) Advice for building teams and attracting talent in real estate development

(07:13) Applying hospitality principles to commercial real estate operations

(11:25) Attracting and retaining capital: from friends and family to institutional investors

(13:23) Green flags and red flags when evaluating potential investor partnerships

(19:41) Opposition and challenges during the original construction of The Transatlantic Pyramid in the 1960s

(17:52) Bidding against 44 competitors and winning based on brand stewardship

(31:51) Financing challenges and the AIG lender backing out

(35:22) The childhood connection: from eight-year-old's drawing to $650M acquisition

(38:18) Inspiring the next generation of leaders through Pyramid Dreams

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Learn more about Pyramid Dreams

For the full episode show notes, including Michael’s childhood sketch, visit americanbuildingpodcast.com

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When the construction numbers came back for Worrell Yeung’s artist studio design in Westerly, Rhode Island, everyone had to pause and recalibrate. The ground-up approach they'd developed was simply too expensive for the clients' needs and lifestyle. This moment led them back to the initial design prompt and sketches. 

Rather than seeing this as a setback, Jejon Yeung and Max Worrell, co-founders of Worrell Yeung, discovered that working with the existing horse stable structure resulted in a space with more character and historical layering than the big and bold remodel would have achieved. 

Their approach to transforming the barn demonstrates how adaptive reuse can honor what has value while breathing new life into a property. The material strategy exemplifies this even further: wrapping the entire structure in asphalt roofing sheets to create a unified envelope, maintaining the exposed timber frame and inserting plywood volumes for functional needs.

Beyond Studio Barn, this conversation explores how Worrell Yeung draws inspiration from artists to inform architectural projects. From a Long Island glass house inspired by Sol LeWitt's grid sculptures to an upstate New York property that references Michael Heizer's "Double Negative," they demonstrate how art can provide formal and conceptual frameworks for residential architecture. Their approach to adaptive reuse extends across functions, from renovating MoMA's Founders Room to expanding a historic chapel for The Evergreens Cemetery, always guided by the philosophy that adaptive reuse should both preserve and innovate.

Episode Outline

(01:40) The collaborative studio environments that shaped their practice

(08:16) Building a diverse team and trusted collaborator network

(12:10) The Studio Barn project origins and working with artist clients

(17:37) Creating flexible workspace for two different artistic practices

(24:37) Solving infrastructure challenges while preserving the timber frame structure

(32:19) Turning inspiration into tangible design 

(38:56) Common challenges in adaptive reuse and designing for future use cases 

(41:02) Three principles for successful adaptive reuse projects

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Learn more about Studio Barn

Check out artists and Studio Barn owners Ari Marcopoulos and Kara Walker 

Learn more about Frame House 

Learn more about Ridge House

Watch 6 Secrets Architects Use to Create a Calming Retreat with Worrell Yeung (Design Masterclass) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkXhqrUh01s 

Listen to Episode 9 with Kim Yao 

Connect with Jejon and Maxwell

Connect with Jejon on LinkedIn 

Connect with Maxwell on LinkedIn

Learn more about Worrell Yeung on their website 

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When architect Michael Chen, principal of MKCA, got a call about designing a 600-square foot apartment, the project brief was straightforward enough: renovate a 2-bedroom summer vacation home with multifunctional furniture. However, this wasn’t East Hampton or Miami Beach. In fact, there wasn’t an address at allーthe apartment floats on a luxury residential yacht that spends 365 days a year at sea. 

Michael discovered that designing for constant motion meant rethinking everything he knew about residential architecture. Bronze dining tables now required a piston system to fold safely into walls. Murphy beds replaced traditional frames to optimize space and showcase ocean views. Every material choice had to account for salt spray, UV exposure, and oxidation. 

Working with Austrian shipbuilders, Michael and his team developed prefabrication techniques that compressed a typical two-year renovation timeline into brief month-long dry dock periods. The results merge modernist design principles with maritime engineering requirements, creating spaces that feel both grounded and dream-like. 

Our conversation reveals Michael’s approach to craft as something that encompasses community engagement, sustainability, and social responsibility. He shares insights from teaching architecture thesis studios, the evolution of MKCA’s practice philosophy, and the founding of Design Advocatesーa nonprofit that has participated in 100+ projects serving the public good over the past five years.

Episode Outline

(07:48) Teaching thesis studios and the dozen student projects that shaped MKCA's approach

(15:58) The client request that led to designing aboard MS The World

(18:53) Construction challenges at sea and developing prefabrication solutions with Austrian partners

(21:42) Engineering elegant and multifunctional furniture for life in constant motion

(33:55) Material choices that embrace patina and the fingerprint of global travel

(40:29) Navigating maritime building codes and the importance of expert collaborators

(44:31) Design Advocates and the mission to promote equality in the built environment

Additional Resources

Learn more about MS The World

Learn more about Pied-à-mer 

Connect with Michael 

Connect on LinkedIn 

Learn more on MKCA’s website 

Follow on Instagram 

Support and get involved with Design Advocates on their website 

Follow Design Advocates on Instagram 

More From American Building 

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In the continuation of our conversation with architect Vishaan Chakrabarti, we dive deeper into the philosophy and challenges behind PAU's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expansion. What emerges is a masterclass in honoring architectural legacy and a candid discussion about building a principled practice. 

Vishaan reveals PAU's "place needs connection" methodology—starting as archaeologists to unearth a site's hidden history, then becoming seamstresses to reconnect fractured urban fabric. This approach led them to discover that I.M. Pei's original building was actually designed for a different site, explaining why the plaza never felt quite right.

The conversation explores fundamental questions about balancing individual creativity with community responsibility, working within constraints, and understanding the role of apprenticeship within professional architectural development. 

As construction progresses in Cleveland, this episode offers insight into how contemporary architects grapple with legacy, community, and the evolving definition of American culture—including what it means when rock and roll represents "the spirit of young America" in an era of hip-hop and social change.

Episode Outline

(02:21) Understanding I.M. Pei's original design challenges and how the building evolved over time

(09:08) Creating a 30-person firm with clear values and boundary conditions

(22:20) Balancing individual creativity with community engagement in architectural practice

(25:45) Understanding I.M. Pei's legacy through personal experience and historical research

(32:58) Rock and roll and its evolving definition

(36:23) Architecture as a manifestation of American contradictions and possibilities

(39:43) How to honor architectural legacy while responding to contemporary needs

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

I.M. Pei’s MIT undergraduate thesis

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Connect with Vishaan

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Learn more about PAU

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Four years ago, we sat down with architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti to explore his vision for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion in Cleveland—then still on the drawing board. Today, that project is under construction, reshaping Cleveland’s lakefront with a bold new cultural landmark. As cranes rise and the tower takes form, our conversation with Vishaan feels more timely than ever: it’s a front-row seat to how great design can catalyze civic life and spur economic vitality.

Vishaan Chakrabarti is a licensed architect and the founder of the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). His professional portfolio is diverse, expanding from creating a master plan for the surrounding area of Michigan Central Station in Detroit to creating a social housing neighborhood in East New York. In this conversation, we focus on how PAU is seamlessly iterating on the legendary I.M. Pei’s design and Vishaan’s broader vision for creating sustainable and equitable designs that result in accessible spaces.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located on Lake Erie and has been an essential driver for the local economy. It was no surprise that after securing a plot of land that the institution would immediately start looking towards expansion and renovation. From all across the world, 25 leading architects submitted their proposals and eventually, eight were shortlisted. Vishaan’s firm was selected as the winning design: a 50,000-square-foot triangular building made of steel, crafting a careful balance of the cutting-edge and the conservative.

Episode Outline

(02:03) Vishaan's unconventional path to architecture through engineering and art history at Cornell

(11:47) "A Country of Cities" manifesto and stumbling into the culture war around urbanism

(14:49) The design problem with density in transit-oriented development

(22:36) Advice for mayors on the three pillars of "jobs, justice, and joy"

(31:42) First impressions of Cleveland while working across the Rust Belt

(34:24) The cultural significance of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(36:38) Understanding I.M. Pei's iconic Rock Hall building and its challenges

(37:55) Winning the competition by creating an addition that expands on the Pei building

Additional Resources

Check out The Mira Shoppe. American Building Podcast listeners get a complimentary gift with their first purchase! Email [email protected] to receive your exclusive code and treat yourself to a piece you’ll cherish, while supporting a brand that gives back.

Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser

The Architecture of Urbanity by Vishaan Chakrabarti

A Country of Cities by Vishaan Chakrabarti

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Connect with Vishaan

Connect with Vishaan on LinkedIn

Learn more about PAU

More From American Building 

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When Jim Somoza first walked through Chelsea Market in 1994, he was blown away by the adaptive reuse concept. Years later, through a series of real estate transactions, Jim met Irwin Cohen, the visionary behind the project. He spent four years as president there, and is now applying those lessons at Industry City, turning 16 abandoned waterfront buildings into Brooklyn's largest mixed-use campus.

As Managing Director and Partner at Industry City, Jim has overseen the $450 million transformation that now houses 650 businesses—from blacksmiths and vinyl record stores to biotech companies and AI startups. But the real innovation is in how they solved the challenge that many warehouse-to-mixed-use conversions face: pedestrian circulation.

The buildings were designed for trucks, not people. Ground floors sat four feet above street level at loading dock height. Sawtooth loading docks forced trucks to back into streets at angles, creating safety hazards and blocking foot traffic. Jim's team had to completely reimagine how people move through industrial space.

Their solution, aptly named Innovation Alley, creates a pedestrian spine that cuts through five buildings, connecting retail, offices, and creative studios while keeping visitor circulation separate from upper floors. Combined with raised sidewalks and reconfigured loading docks, it safely opens the entire campus for foot traffic and community life.

Beyond the infrastructure, this conversation reveals how the relationship economy drives everything at Industry City. From fostering collaboration between tenants to creating experiences that attract visitors, Jim demonstrates why community is essential for competing with online retailers and Class A office buildings in Manhattan.

Episode Outline

(02:33) The "aha" moment at Chelsea Market that sparked a career in placemaking

(11:45) The through-line of Jim’s leadership style from broker to community builder 

(19:12) Solving the loading dock problem

(22:57) A walkthrough of Innovation Alley

(25:21) Balancing vehicle circulation, parking, and pedestrian access across 16 buildings

(27:58) Convincing investors that placemaking generates higher returns

(30:24) Retail strategy beyond “location, location, location” 

(37:31) Designing experiences that attract corporate leasing 

(40:57) Jim advice for adaptive reuse in suburban office parks and industrial buildings

Additional Resources

Industry City

Chelsea Market

Ponce City Market

Bell Works Laboratory 

Jamestown

Connect with Jim 

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

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When visitors walk into the Pottery Barn at 619 Ponce, they often ask about the amazing candle scent filling the space. But the smell isn't a candle at all—it's the building itself. The four-story mass timber structure is built from Southern Yellow Pine that developer Jamestown sourced from their own timber holdings.

As Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Jamestown, Carrie Denning Jackson is leading projects that put the "healthy people, healthy planet" concept into action. Her path from IBM's Smart Cities division to Google's Sidewalk Labs and now her current role at Jamestown follows a consistent thread: exploring how technology and cities intersect to shape human experience. Through initiatives like urban tree canopy expansion, flame-retardant-free materials, and operable windows in 21-story buildings, she's demonstrating how conscious design can improve health outcomes while creating enjoyable spaces. 

Beyond the technical specs, this conversation reveals how major developers are grappling with a fundamental shift in what tenants, investors, and cities expect from the built environment. As Carrie explains through her work with Ponce City Market's three buildings—Scout, Signal House, and 619 Ponce—the industry is moving from "good enough" to exceeding expectations. For developers at any scale, her insights offer actionable strategies for creating healthier buildings.

Episode Outline

(02:31) How the rise of place-based technology is changing what people expect from buildings

(07:16) Jamestown's approach to merging innovation with sustainability and setting 2030 targets

(14:21) Launching Place as Medicine after discovering hidden health hazards in everyday materials

(19:19) A walkthrough of Ponce City Market 

(25:58) Air quality innovations: operable windows, induction stoves, cork flooring, and mineral paint pilots

(28:30) Using economies of scale and industry collaboration to drive down costs for healthier materials

(31:42) Practical advice for developers attempting healthier building projects

Additional Resources

Ponce City Market 

University of Toronto Study - Are Sleeping Children Exposed to Plasticizers, Flame Retardants, and UV-Filters from Their Mattresses?

Stanford University Study - Methane and NOx Emissions from Natural Gas Stoves, Cooktops, and Ovens in Residential Homes 

Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute - Trager MicroForest Project 

Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design

The Donghia Healthier Materials Library at Parsons School of Design

Habitable 

mindful MATERIALS

Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University     

Connect with Carrie

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Website 

More From American Building 

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

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What if the biggest barrier to carbon-neutral development isn't the technology or the materials, but actually the industry's resistance to change? Most developers know sustainable construction is the future, but translating those ideals into financially viable projects feels impossible when you're faced with premium construction costs and market-rate rents. Nate Helbach believes that large-scale, sustainable development is possible when you’re willing to challenge every assumption about how buildings get financed, designed, and built.

As founder and CEO of Neutral, Nate leads a vertically integrated development team that makes sustainability profitable. By bringing architecture, construction, carpentry, technology, and finance in-house, Neutral orchestrates the entire process. This structure enables them to deliver buildings that achieve 58% embodied carbon reduction and 72% operational carbon savings while hitting their return targets.

The Edison, their flagship 378-unit high-rise in Milwaukee, represents this pragmatic approach to ambitious goals. When doors open in 2027, it will break three world records: tallest mass timber structure, tallest Passive House building, and tallest Living Building certified tower. It's also designed as a hospitality and wellness oasis. Residents get access to on-staff doctors, nutritionists, and Equinox-style facilities, transforming apartment living into an experience worth paying a premium for.

Nate's perspective offers both inspiration and practical solutions. From navigating tariff risks to building an investor platform, this conversation illustrates how the industry's biggest challenges can become competitive advantages when you're willing to rethink everything from the ground up.

Episode Outline

(02:24) A fresh look at legacy development systems and how they lead to unnecessary risk 

(06:18) The four-part philosophy that guides every Neutral project: people, place, profit, and planet 

(19:16) Building a company across development, architecture, construction, and technology 

(25:58) Inside The Edison: redefining the standard for luxury apartment living  

(32:35) Why mass timber beats concrete and steel for both environmental impact and tenant experience 

(37:02) Managing development risk through phases and the latest news on tariffs affecting construction 

(44:09) Practical advice for developers who want to try mass timber and Passive House construction 

(46:52) Neutral’s way of democratizing and modernizing real estate investing 

Additional Resources

The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet by Carlos Moreno 

Missing Middle Housing by Daniel Parolek

The Birth of a Building: From Conception to Delivery by by Ben Stevens  

Neutral Webinar: Risk Mitigation with Jeff Klein 

Jenny Peysin of Jenny Peysin Architecture | Wilderness Drive in East Jewett | Passive House Design

Ann Rolland of FXCollaborative | Hunter's Point Campus in Long Island City | School as a Sanctuary  

Connect with Nate

Connect on LinkedIn 

Learn more about Neutral

Follow Neutral on LinkedIn

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

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When's the last time you knocked on a stranger's door to ask for something? For most people, the answer is probably never—or at least not since Halloween as a kid. But Cecily King is building Kipling Development this way, sourcing deals by networking in underserved communities and connecting with retiring landlords. 

Kipling bridges the gap between subsidized low-income housing and luxury market-rate developments. The firm specializes in acquiring and remodeling naturally occurring affordable housing, which are properties that serve middle-income earners, such as teachers, healthcare workers, and young professionals. In other words, the demographic that’s often priced out of both ends of the housing spectrum.

In this episode, Cecily outlines how her approach defies traditional development wisdom. She focuses on thoughtful remodeling over new construction, relationship-building over institutional marketing, and community stewardship over maximizing profit. From her background as a structural engineer to her current role acquiring properties like Trumbull Terrace, a 28-unit development in Detroit, Cecily demonstrates how targeted preservation can address America's missing middle-income housing crisis. 

What emerges from Cecily's experience is a fundamental challenge facing the industry. Most rental housing in America is owned by individual families and small partnerships, not corporations. Yet the capital needed to maintain these properties often flows only to institutional players. Her success in navigating this disconnect reveals both the barriers and breakthroughs that define community-level housing preservation. 

Episode Outline

(02:34) Cecily’s evolution from structural engineer to decision-maker in real estate 

(06:01) Examples of how infrastructure creates lasting housing inequality across American cities

(10:00) Serving the "missing middle" that's priced out of both affordable and luxury housing 

(18:37) Acquiring Trumbull Terrace, a half-finished renovation in Detroit's core 

(24:10) Why acquisition beats new construction for managing risk and tariff volatility 

(32:33) Relationship-building strategies to source deals off-market 

(37:15) Stacking public financing from HUD programs and local tax incentives 

(41:47) Raising private capital and scaling from friends-and-family to institutional investors

Additional Resources

Documentary - Back to Paradise: Detroit’s Historic District Reborn 

New York Times - Black and Latino Real Estate Developers Struggle to Get Funding 

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

CDFI Fund  

Live6 Alliance

CoStar

PropertyShark

Provident Bank 

Magyar Bank 

Connect with Cecily

Connect on LinkedIn 

Learn more about Kipling Development 

Follow Kipling Development on LinkedIn 

More From American Building 

Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers & Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis  

Learn more on the American Building website

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

Watch this episode on YouTube