Today we will be speaking with Vishaan Chakrabarti, 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 week’s episode, we will be speaking to Vishaan about his latest project for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, originally designed by I.M. Pei. His firm has brought its vision for creating sustainable and equitable designs to this project in order to create more accessible spaces. We will also be discussing how his firm's design will seamlessly integrate with legendary architect I.M. Pei’s geometric forms and shimmering glass pyramids.

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, twenty-two 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. Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about Vishaan’s journey as well as how his firm is dedicated to crafting a careful balance of the cutting edge and the conservative.  

Learn more about Vishaan Chakrabarti

Vishaan Chakrabarti is a licensed architect and the author of two books, A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America and NYC 2040: Housing the Next One Million New Yorkers. Previously, he held senior roles at SHoP Architects and New York City Department of City Planning. Vishaan also serves on the board of the Architectural League of New YOrk and the Regional Planning Association. Vishaan lectures internationally and has made several media appearances on CBS, MSNBC and NPR. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master of City Planning degree from MIT, and dual bachelor’s degrees in art history and engineering from Cornell University.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about PAU
• Connect with Vishaan on LinkedIn
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Learn more about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Connect with Vishaan on his website
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Michael Graves.
• Learn more about REDIST.

Today we will be speaking with Vishaan Chakrabarti, 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 week’s episode, we will be speaking to Vishaan about his latest project for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, originally designed by I.M. Pei. His firm has brought its vision for creating sustainable and equitable designs to this project in order to create more accessible spaces. We will also be discussing how his firm's design will seamlessly integrate with legendary architect I.M. Pei’s geometric forms and shimmering glass pyramids.

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, twenty-two 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. Join us on this week’s episode as we learn more about Vishaan’s journey as well as how his firm is dedicated to crafting a careful balance of the cutting edge and the conservative.  

Learn more about Vishaan Chakrabarti

Vishaan Chakrabarti is a licensed architect and the author of two books, A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America and NYC 2040: Housing the Next One Million New Yorkers. Previously, he held senior roles at SHoP Architects and New York City Department of City Planning. Vishaan also serves on the board of the Architectural League of New YOrk and the Regional Planning Association. Vishaan lectures internationally and has made several media appearances on CBS, MSNBC and NPR. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master of City Planning degree from MIT, and dual bachelor’s degrees in art history and engineering from Cornell University.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about PAU
• Connect with Vishaan on LinkedIn
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Learn more about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Connect with Vishaan on his website
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Michael Graves.
• Learn more about REDIST.

Today we will be speaking with Faith Rose, a founding partner of O’Neill Rose Architects, a design firm based in Brooklyn. Her firm builds projects that have distinct physical, cultural, and historical conditions that create rich and meaningful spaces. She shares how her projects use a versatile approach to creating space that reflects and frames her client’s aspirations. One such project is Cowboy Heaven, a vacation home project in Big Sky. This Montana-style log cabin is a place for residents to experience resort living that allows them to immerse themselves in outdoor activities. We will also be speaking with Faith about creating alternative ways of living that move beyond the traditional single-family home. 

There has been a demographic shift underway in the U.S. for decades now that has driven an interest in alternatives to the single-family home. Faith’s work on the Cowboy Heaven and other cutting-edge projects are at this forefront, challenging the notion of the traditional family home. In this way, she connects her clients with the experience of the place. Today we will be discussing Faith’s journey into architectural design including her experience entering into the public sector of New York City. Join us on this week’s episode as we dive into these topics and talk to Faith about her work all over the country.

Learn more about Faith Rose 

Faith is a founding partner of O’Neill Rose Architects, a design firm based in Brooklyn. She works with her partner Dennis O’Neill to create residential projects in both urban and rural contexts which have been featured in New York Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and Wallpaper Mag. Previously she served as the Executive Director of the New York City Public Design Commission, under Mayor DeBlasio, and headed the Design Excellence Program at the NYC Department of Design and Construction, under Mayor Bloomberg. Faith also received her Masters of Architecture from Yale University and her Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College. From 2004 to 2014 Faith directed New York City's Design Excellence Program at the Department of Design and Construction under the Bloomberg Administration, overseeing over 200 projects.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about O’Neill Rose Architects
• Connect with Faith on LinkedIn
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Learn more about the Cowboy Heaven Cabins
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Michael Graves.
• Learn more about REDIST.

On this week’s episode, we will be speaking with Johanna Anderson, Executive Director of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. We will be speaking about Founder’s Way, a major mixed-use project in downtown Ithaca, New York on the site of a former Catholic school. This project was purchased by INHS from the Immaculate Conception School at 320 West Buffalo St. in Ithaca from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. The property will be redeveloped with the intention to create a mixed-use community that includes space for nonprofit and community-based organizations, and affordable rental housing serving a range of household sizes and income levels. 

Across the United States, historic and ongoing displacement, exclusion, and segregation have perpetuated racial disparities in real estate. Today we will also be discussing housing affordability as a national crisis across the United States at a broader level, including Johanna’s own experience as an affordable housing expert. Join us on this week’s episode as we talk about the Founder’s Way project as well as Johanna’s current work with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services.

Learn more about Johanna Anderson

Johanna Anderson is the Executive Director of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. This nonprofit organization focuses on the development and operations of housing for lower and middle-income people in Central New York State. Prior to working at INHS, she focused on affordable housing development and support services for Native people in Maine and in Minnesota. She has also held board member roles in other nonprofit organizations working in this arena. 

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Founder’s Way.
• Connect with Johanna on her website
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Connect with INHS on LinkedIn.
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.

In today’s episode, we will be speaking with Yasmin Rehmanjee, partner and Co-Director of the New York office of Buro Happold. She has had two decades of structural engineering design experience, leading large-scale, multidisciplinary projects such as the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Today we will be speaking to Yasmin about the Hudson’s Site in downtown Detroit, a 680-foot mixed-use project that will pay homage to the late department store and tallest retail building in the world. We will also be speaking to her about the broader topic of urban redevelopment in cities like Detroit, and how it celebrates the rich history of the Hudson’s site. 

The Hudson’s Site is an iconic building that integrates adjacent developments, including the Monroe Blocks and the Shinola Hotel. This site was known as the premier retailer in downtown Detroit in the 1950s and 1960s but sadly had to close its doors twenty years later when business began to decline. It is now being designed by SHoP Architects out of New York and will incorporate more than one million square feet of retail, office, residential units, and public space. Join us on this week’s episode as we talk about the Hudon’s Site project as well as Yasmin’s current design projects.

Learn more about Yasmin Rehmanjee

Yasmin Rehmanjee is a partner and the Co-Director of the New York office of Buro Happold, a pre-eminent engineering firm with offices around the world. She has built an incredible portfolio of completed projects including the Hudson’s Site and Mercedes Benz Stadium. Yasmine leads large-scale, multidisciplinary projects including sports and entertainment, commercial development, higher education, and healthcare. As a passionate advocate for equity and diversity, she also works to better reflect the varied cultures, communities, and clients that her firm serves. This has led her to become a mentor and teacher for many of Buro Happold’s young engineers. Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about Yasmin’s personal journey.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Yasmin on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Buro Happold.
• Connect with Yasmin on her website.
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Follow Yasmin on Twitter @YasminRehmanjee
• Learn more about the Hudson’s Site.

Jon Pickard is a Co-founder and Principal at Pickard Chilton, an award-winning architectural design firm based in Connecticut. We are talking about 2+U (also known as the Qualtrics Tower), the studio’s recently completed 690,000-square foot next-generation office complex in the heart of downtown Seattle. 2+U consists of 2 separate towers of 38 stories and 18 stories joined atop a common podium. It has 19,000 square feet of retail and restaurants over 2 floors, as well as an underground parking garage. It tops out at 530 feet, offering stunning views of Elliot Bay. The developer of the project was Skanska USA and the total project budget was $392 million.

Before Pichard Chilton, Jon Pickard worked at a firm just down the street from his own in Connecticut. Cesar Pelli & Associates was an architect's dream workplace, Jon says. He was mentored by Cesar and learned how to build effective teams, work with world renowned clients, and design with integrity. It was here Jon met his cofounder, William Chilton. Jon credits his time at Cesar Pelli & Associates as the reason he and William were able to build such a successful firm of their own. The reputation of the company allowed them to get in the door with high-profile corporate clients before they had truly made a name for themselves. Years later, Pickard Chilton has grown a client roster that is a Who’s Who of corporate America, from ExxonMobil to Uber. 

It was both the portfolio of Pickard Chilton and their innovative designs that encouraged Skanska to extend an invitation to a Hackathon for a new office project in downtown Seattle. Through iteration and collaboration, Skanka and Pickard Chilton developed a concept that was as much about the community of Seattle as it was about the design of the tower. This sealed the deal, and Pickard Chilton was confirmed for the project, which would include demolition of Rainier Square Mall, the restoration of Town Hall, and the construction of F5 Tower.

Jon says they approached the project with the future workplace in mind and didn’t just follow the office trends of the day. While open office is currently popular with tech companies, (the target tenant demographic in Seattle today,) it was important that they build for other tenants and work styles that might occupy the building in the future. Jon believes building sustainably is more than the materials you use. It is also about building a space that will withstand the test of time. This innovative thinking extended beyond the design to the tools they used to communicate with both Skanska and future tenants. Virtual reality played a major role in showcasing the vision for U + 2 in design presentation and the sales center. 

Although Pickard Chilton has many “favorite children,” referring to completed projects he is proud of, he says U + 2 was exceptional. The shared vision between his team and the developer, Skanska, gave Jon’s team the freedom to design a building that was innovative, human-centric, and community-minded. Jon is proud of the fact that he had very little to do with the success of the project. The credit, he says, goes entirely to the project team, which remained the same from day one. Collaboration, Jon believes, was the key to success.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with PickardChilton on Instagram and Twitter.
• Learn more about PickardChilton on LinkedIn.
• Contact the PickardChilton on their website.
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.

This week we will be speaking with Jenny Peysin, a licensed architect based in Brooklyn, NYC, about her current passive house project, Wilderness Drive in the Catskills region of upstate New York. As the founder of Jenny Peysin Architecture, her approach to design is rooted in a modernist philosophy, one that incorporates people with the spaces in which they live and work. She has also become a certified passive house designer and has since shifted her focus towards this way of designing and building. In today’s episode, we will be speaking to her about this topic of passive housing, along with how this is changing the current urban landscape in order to reduce our current ecological footprint. Moreover, this conversation will explore the changing policy and shifting structure of our urban landscape that is now enabling more transformation to occur than ever before. 

Passive houses, which are ultra-efficient dwellings that use a fraction of the energy to heat regular homes, are increasingly seen as a solution to rising greenhouse gas emissions. Today we will speak to Jenny about how her work, including her Wilderness Drive project in Green County, in the Catskills Region of New York, has provided energy-efficient infrastructure and utilities. Join us as we explore this topic and much more, including how Jenny is currently re-shaping the current urban landscape to incorporate more sustainable designs.

Learn more about Jenny Peysin

Jenny Peysin is a licensed architect based in Brooklyn, NYC, who has previously worked with Blaze Makoid Architecture and Iu + Bibliowicz Architects. She is a registered architect in the states of New York and Connecticut and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. Jenny also interweaves her love of New York City and its rich history with her work as the founder of Jenny Peysin Architecture. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, she also received her certificate of passive house design and has since been passionate about incorporating sustainability into every level of her projects. Her current focus is on incorporating residential projects and providing client-oriented design solutions that reduce carbon emissions and meet international climate targets.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Jenny on Instagram.
• Learn more about Jenny Peysin Architecture on LinkedIn.
• Contact the Jenny Peysin Architecture on their website.
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn.

Today we will be speaking with Chris Mazzola, the Director of Development at Bijou Properties and a developer who focuses on residential anchored, mixed-use developments in New Jersey. He has been with the company for seven years and has shaped many of their major projects in the process, from acquisitions all the way to leasing. On today’s episode, we will hear more about the 7Seventy House, a new major mixed-use development in Hoboken, New Jersey, and dive into Chris’s personal experience working on this development. At a broader level, we will also touch-on the impact of climate change on urban real estate portfolios and how this has led to evident shifts in urban development projects.

How can built environments mitigate the effects of environmental hazards? The 7Seventy House has kept this question in mind while undergoing development, its nascent occurring on the heels of Hurricanes Henri and Ida. Chris shares with us how water management infrastructure along with municipal policies can address the broader issue of flooding for waterfront and riverfront cities across New Jersey and New York. Join us on this week’s episode as we speak to him about this topic, his personal journey working with Bijou Properties, and how the 7Seventy House is allowing tenants to experience Hoboken living like never before.

Learn more about Chris Mazzola 

Chris Mazzola is the Director of Development at Bijou Properties, which he has been with for the past seven years. Previously, he worked at JP Morgan and Brookfield Properties. Born in Long Island, eventually moving to Hoboken, he is passionate about introducing individuals to residential collections that allow tenants to experience Hoboken living. As the Director of Development for Bijou Properties, he oversees the development of multiple projects, including acquisitions, financing, design and construction, marketing, and leasing.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Chris on his website.
• Learn more about Bijou Properties on LinkedIn.
• Contact the Bijou Properties team on their website.
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Follow Bijou Properties on Instagram.
• Check out Chris on LinkedIn

Today we speak with Camila Crazut, an architect and interior designer working as a Project Manager at Spivak Architects in New York City. After training and becoming licensed as an architect in Venezuela, Camila came to the US to extend her training with a degree in interior design. Regardless of the title, Camila identifies as a designer capable of a wide range of creative projects, including the project we focus on today, a Central Park West residential apartment. We discuss the unique challenges of executing a renovation project in today’s climate with the increased cost and delayed schedules caused by the pandemic. 

For young professionals entering the design and architecture field, it might be easy to accept any project that comes through your door. Camila dives into the characteristics that define a “good client” including trust in the designer, openness to new ideas, and a clear idea of the desired end result. She also shares her experience in identifying signs that a client and project might be a bad fit. Camila shares how design thinking transcends a project’s budget and can provide a satisfying result regardless of the cost of the furniture and finishes. 

About Camila Crazut

Camila is an architect and interior designer. She currently works as a Project Manager at Spivak Architects in New York City. Previous to joining the firm, she worked at TPG Architecture and McGinley Design. Her experience as a designer is concentrated in residential and hotel projects, but she has also worked on fascinating public projects like the Islamic Cultural Center near the World Trade Center site. Although she now identifies as an interior designer, Camila was trained and is licensed as an architect in Venezuela. In addition to her current project, Camila shares the differences she identified between her education in the US and abroad and how she navigates different perceptions of the title “interior designer”. 

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Camila on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Camila's projects on her website
• Learn more about Spivak Architects
• Follow Spivak Architects on Instagram
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Connect with Host Atif Qadir on LinkedIn
• Follow American Building on  Instagram

Today we will be talking to Rob Menendez, a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. We will be discussing a major intermodal transit hub in Manhattan’s Times Square, serving 65M people per year, known as the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Located in the heart of Times Square, this project is not only the nation's largest bus terminal but the busiest in the world. As Rob notes, the current plan for the project’s expansion tackles the need to make transit more environmentally friendly in the face of the current climate crisis.

In the last 24-hours, New York City has witnessed an unprecedented amount of rainfall with massive flooding overnight in the state as a result of Hurricane Ida. Join us on this week’s episode as we speak to Rob about how he plans to tackle the rising concerns of the climate crisis, including what the future may hold for green bus transit. We will also discuss how he plans to coalesce the need for minimizing the harmful effects of carbon emissions with The Port Authority.

About Rob Menendez

Rob Menendez is a lawyer by trade as well as being a counsel at Lowenstein Sandler, where he focuses on investment management clients, particularly early-stage companies. He also does pro-bono work through the Lowenstein Center for Public Interest, particularly in voter rights, and is a board member of the Hudson School in Hoboken. As the son of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, he grew up in Hudson County and has always had a profound fascination for real estate and public policy. He seeks to incorporate design elements that will improve the experience of individuals by adhering to the latest and best trends of sustainable architecture.

About your host: 

Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Rob on Lowstein Sandler.
• Learn more about Lowstein Sandler.
• Connect with The Port Authority on Instagram.
• Learn more about The Port Authority.
• Check out The Port Authority on LinkedIn
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Connect with Host Atif Qadir on LinkedIn
• Follow American Building on Instagram