The return-to-office policies have settled, but the real challenge has just begun. As companies bring employees back to their desks, the question isn't whether people will return—it's whether they'll want to stay. The office buildings succeeding in this new era aren't necessarily those with the best locations or lowest rents, but rather those who approach office spaces with a hospitality mindset. Michael Kirchmann understood this shift before most developers even recognized the opportunity.

As co-founder and CEO of GDSNY, Michael transformed the Met Tower from 20% to 84% leased in 15 months. His strategy includes offering a premium experience at $85-90 per square foot (versus $220+ for new Plaza District towers), hiring former Four Seasons concierges as building staff, and creating amenities like members-only clubs. This approach recognizes that employers now use office environments as recruitment and retention tools, making design quality a competitive necessity rather than a luxury.

Beyond development, GDSNY operates GDS Brightstar, a lending platform that combines their construction and leasing expertise, creating unique opportunities to underwrite office deals that traditional lenders avoid. As both borrower and lender, they can identify promising assets and provide rescue capital, construction finance, and workout solutions. Their hands-on approach has saved borrowers tens of millions in construction costs by leveraging existing contractor relationships, making them valuable partners when deals need creative restructuring.

Episode Outline

(01:54) Growing up in a real estate family and the path from architecture to development

(03:31) European development experience with SOM and Howard Ronson 

(09:15) GDSNY's mission of creating exceptional real estate through design differentiation

(14:40) Assessment of Met Tower's condition and repositioning potential

(19:12) Creating hospitality-inspired office experiences and targeting new tenant types

(27:37) Walking through the transformed tenant experience from street to suite

(31:02) Real estate debt market opportunities and GDSNY's lending platform

(38:17) Key elements of successful loan workouts and preventing problems through relationships

Additional Resources

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Learn more about Met Tower

Fogarty Finger Architecture 

Ace Hotel Kyoto 

Kengo Kuma & Associates

Commune Design  

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Website 

Email: [email protected] 

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When's the last time a ping pong game determined whether you could close a $350,000 loan? For Jonathan Dodson, it happened during his first major development project after walking away from a banking career. His moral stand against workplace harassment led him to launch Pivot Project, an Oklahoma City-based development firm specializing in historic preservation and community revitalization. 

In this episode, we talk through Medley Market, which exemplifies Jonathan's approach to adaptive reuse projects. The 24-unit mixed-use development with a market hall and rooftop pickleball courts required navigating investor fraud, underground drug operations, and a five-part capital stack including historic tax credits and C-PACE financing. Instead of walking away from the chaos, Jonathan saw a unique opportunity.

The conversation reveals Jonathan's philosophy of transparent compensation and community relationships. He shows team members exactly how their contributions translate to development fees, pays consultants what they're actually worth, and gets the greenlight from neighborhood decision-makers before starting projects. This approach treats development as relationship-building rather than financial engineering, creating lasting value for both investors and the communities Pivot Project serves.

Episode Outline

(03:56) The workplace harassment incident that led to an entrepreneurial pivot

(13:07) The legendary ping pong game that secured crucial construction financing

(20:15) Acquiring Medley Market: uncovering investor fraud and recapping the deal

(32:51) Managing construction costs and tariff impacts in today's development market

(38:26) How to turn valued consultants into true partners

(45:30) Upcoming hotel project fundraising and Medley Market expansion 

Additional Resources

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Learn more about Small Scale Developers Forum

Vogue: Eating Your Way Through America’s Best Food Halls 

Newsweek: 2025 Best Food Hall 

Kate Kaufman 

Candace Baitz 

Matt Dean  

Meta Quest 3 

Connect with Jonathan 

Connect on LinkedIn 

Website 

Email: [email protected] 

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

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Many architecture firm owners struggle with the same challenge: How do you build a sustainable business that can thrive beyond the founder? Joe Furey solved this problem by bringing his finance and technology background to Michael Graves Architecture & Design, one of America's most iconic firms.

As CEO and President, Joe has transformed the practice from a firm dependent on Michael Graves’ reputation into a diverse platform business with 165 employees across 10 offices. His approach combines strategic acquisitions with technology integration, creating what he describes as "a mile wide and an inch deep” approach. 

This conversation reveals the mechanics behind how a firm transitions, grows, and looks forward. Joe explains his evaluation criteria, integration process, and how he structures deals that benefit both buyers and sellers. He also discusses expanding into technology consulting through the acquisition of Parallax Team and opportunities to leverage AI within real estate development. 

Episode Outline

(02:09) The biggest lessons from Fortune 500 consulting that informed his leadership philosophy 

(15:51) Joining Michael Graves at peak revenue and recognizing the succession planning gap

(22:43) Mitigating the number one post-acquisition problem: Trust 

(32:34) The Parallax Team acquisition and turning Revit consulting into a revenue driver

(36:10) The acquisition playbook for due-diligence and integration frameworks

(46:09) Measuring success through KPIs, budgets, and earn-out structures

(52:47) Economic adaptation and positioning the firm for long-term growth

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.

Dario Amodei and his essay in the social posts

Trust: America's Best Chance by Pete Buttigieg 

Outsourced 

Connect with Joe 

Connect on LinkedIn 

Website 

Contact: [email protected]  

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Stephen Ross had an uncompromising vision for a transformational park built over a highway as part of an ambitious Detroit master plan. The challenge was cost. Tina Ladd has built her career remaining determined in the face of challenges. Through her work on both the Detroit master plan and Hudson Yards, she honed her skills to turn the impossible into possible. Today, that same relentless, solutions-driven mindset defines her work at Aker, where she shows that determination applies just as much in multifamily value-add as it does in billion-dollar mixed-use developments.

The Kinwood redevelopment in Rensselaer, New York exemplifies Aker's approach to value-add properties. What began as "Mansions at Technology Park" — a deteriorating 390-unit complex with 21 years of deferred maintenance—became a case study in strategic repositioning. Rather than chasing luxury branding, Aker focused on authentic values that brought a sense of community into a once transient neighborhood.

By building a strong brand around values like dependability, authenticity, accessibility, and even playfulness, the Aker team laid the groundwork for more than just property upgrades — they set the stage for community impact. With a clear phasing strategy, Tina’s team addressed deferred maintenance, added connection-driven amenities, and refreshed apartments with smart, high-impact materials. The result shows how intentional branding, paired with strategic capital investment, can breathe new life into overlooked assets while building a genuine sense of community.

Episode Outline

(01:47) Early career lessons from Hudson Yards and exposure to large-scale development

(04:40) Mentorship lessons in people management and problem-solving 

(12:05) Joining Aker, an employee-owned company focused on community building

(19:13) Evaluating and repositioning Mansions at Technology Park

(25:13) Unit renovation strategy based on Aker’s core values

(34:41) Working with branding consultants and creating cohesive guidelines across assets 

(40:01) Current projects, including first fund launch and expansion closer to New York City

Additional Resources

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Connect with Marianne Kwok 

Connect with Amelia Patt-Zamir 

Learn more about Method Develop 

Learn more about No Walls Studio

Check out excerpts from the Kinwood brand guidelines

Contact leasing for the Kinwood

Connect with Tina

Connect on LinkedIn 

Aker Website 

Email [email protected] to get in touch with her regarding the fund mentioned in this episode 

More From American Building 

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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 

Connect with Michael Shvo

Connect on LinkedIn 

Website 

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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

Connect with Michael Shvo

Connect on LinkedIn

Website 

More From American Building 

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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

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I.M. Pei’s MIT undergraduate thesis

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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Learn more on the American Building website

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Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

Watch this episode on YouTube

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 

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

Learn more on the American Building website

Follow on LinkedIn

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Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn

Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture & Design 

Watch this episode on YouTube