We’ve hit triple digits — and we’re celebrating in style. For our 100th episode, host Joe Menchefski takes you on a one-of-a-kind journey through the best moments, most surprising insights, and unforgettable voices from our past episodes. But this isn’t just a replay — Joe’s stepping in between each segment with fresh commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and a few unexpected twists you won’t see coming. Think of it as a time capsule, a highlight reel, and a backstage pass all rolled into one.

You might think you know what’s coming… but trust us — you don’t.

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Alexandra Nikolova and Jonas Aversøg, founders of NA Architects in Copenhagen, for a bold conversation on the future of construction. Specializing exclusively in bio-based and recyclable materials, NA Architects is reimagining how buildings are made—from structural systems to interior finishes. Alexandra and Jonas share how their global journey, from China to London to Denmark, inspired them to challenge the conventions of concrete and steel. They dive into the potential of materials like hemp, straw, clay, cork, and even fish scales, exploring performance, cost, fire safety, and biophilic benefits. From stunning aesthetics to holistic building science, this episode is a masterclass in designing for humans and the planet—where every surface tells a story, and buildings evolve with time.

More About Alexandra Nikolova and Jonas Aversøg

Alexandra Nikolova and Jonas Aaraø are the co-founder of n/a, an architecture and design studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a strong international focus. Rooted in Scandinavian culture, the studio approaches design at all scales from a humanistic and pragmatic perspective, working exclusively with bio-based and recyclable building materials.

Both hold a Master of Science in Architecture from Aalborg University, Denmark, Alexandra and Jonas bring extensive experience from some of the world’s most renowned architecture and design offices in Beijing, London, and Copenhagen. Their approach to architecture integrates technical, artistic, and humanistic elements, shaping designs that are both functional and sustainable.

At n/a, sustainability is at the core of every project. The studio houses a curated collection of over 200 bio-based materials, categorized for all aspects of construction—from foundations to interiors. By investigating the past and understanding the present, the studio strives to create innovative, user-oriented solutions that contribute to a circular economy. Recently they founded a bio-based material company, Materials We Like, in order to support their architecture and design projects directly with supplying bio-based and low carbon materials from around the world directly to construction sites. With “Materials We Like” their commitment to not only thinking about a different type of architecture, but ensuring that they are executed and realised, is underlined. Through their leadership in these two companies working in tandem, they provide at full scope service for any client spanning all architecture and engineering disciplines and delivering the physical materials needed for the construction.

The studio’s guiding principle, "never boring / always biobased," reflects their commitment to redefining architecture through sustainable, forward-thinking design.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-nikolova/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-aarsoe/https://www.aboutna.com/

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Karen Parzych, architect at The SLAM Collaborative, to explore the fascinating world of medical education facility design. Karen shares insights from her experience designing over 50 health science buildings across the U.S., focusing on how thoughtful architecture supports rigorous learning, simulation-based training, student well-being, and even interprofessional collaboration. The conversation highlights real-world examples like the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Duquesne University, where building design fosters community, flexibility, and future-proofed technology. From creating spaces for virtual anatomy and 3D printing to designing for quiet reflection and mental health, Karen reveals how these facilities serve as both training grounds and memory machines. This is a deep dive into how architecture can shape the next generation of healthcare professionals—and the future of medicine itself.

More About Karen Parzych

Karen Parzych is a Principal at The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) and serves as the firm-wide Higher Education National Market Leader with expertise in Medical and Health Sciences Education. Passionate about making the world a better place by creating spaces that bring people together, she has contributed to the design innovation of notable projects across the continental US. She specializes in medical, nursing, and health professions higher education facilities including the programming, planning, and detailing of inter-professional immersive simulation suites, active learning classrooms, anatomy labs, and student life spaces. With this deep understanding of unique design requirements, Karen helps institutions develop spaces to serve the current and future needs of the ever-evolving landscape of health sciences education. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech with a Minor in Leadership & Social Change, and is a professional member of AIA, NCARB, the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-glass-parzych-aia-45ba4311/ 

https://slamcoll.com/firm/profile/karen-parzych/ 

https://slamcoll.com/

https://slamcoll.com/blog/wellness-focused-medical-school-design/ 

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Felix Heisel, Director of Cornell University’s Circular Construction Lab, for a deep dive into why designing for disassembly could transform our built environment—and our economy. Felix unpacks how buildings account for 50% of all extracted materials and 41% of global CO₂ emissions, and explains why rethinking end-of-life strategies is critical. They explore the concept of buildings as material banks, the power of local reuse over global recycling, and why a Lego-like approach to construction can unlock new jobs, preserve cultural heritage, and eliminate waste. From policy innovations in New York State to the promise of salvaged timber grading, this conversation reveals how circular construction can create healthier cities—and a more resilient future.

More About Felix Heisel

Felix Heiselis is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Circular Construction Lab at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He is a faculty fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and a graduate field member in architecture, systems engineering, and design technology. Heisel is a licensed architect in Germany and partner of 2hs Architekten und Ingenieur PartGmbB, an office specialized in the development of circular prototypologies. Heisel’s scholarship focuses on a systemic redesign of the built environment as a material depot of endless use and reconfiguration. He has received various awards for his work and published several books and articles on the topic, including Building Better- Less-Different: Circular Construction and Circular Economy( Birkhäuser,2022); Urban Mining und kreislaufgerechte sBauen(Urban Mining and Circular Construction, Fraunhofer IRB, 2021); Cultivated Building Materials(Birkhäuser, 2017), and Building from Waste(Birkhäuser, 2014).

Heisel graduated from the Berlin University of the Arts and has been teaching and researching at universities around the world, including the Berlage Institute, the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction, and City Developments, the Future Cities Laboratory Singapore; ETH Zürich; and Harvard GSD. The Circular Construction Lab(CCL)at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning houses a design research program that advances the paradigm shift from linear material consumption towards a circular economy within an industrialized construction industry. 

At the intersection of architecture, engineering, material and computer science, as well as economics, the lab investigates new concepts, methods, and processes to (1) design and construct buildings as the material depots for future construction, and (2) activate the potential of the built environment as an 'urban mine' for today's construction. CCL understands architecture as part of a regenerative and restorative cycle and sees design as a vehicle that can advance this ambition with excellence in teaching and research. Through close collaborations with academic, industrial, and legislative/ political partners, the lab ensures the relevance of its work and promotes the direct and full-scale implementation of research results towards a more sustainable, low/ no-carbon, circular construction industry.

CONTACT:

http://ccl.aap.cornell.edu

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-heisel/ 

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Philip Donovan of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting for an inspiring deep dive into designing buildings that uplift all systems of life. Philip shares how growing up in Florida’s wild landscapes—and seeing the world from a thousand feet in an open cockpit—sparked his passion for connecting architecture to nature. He explains how Little’s Regen CoLab moves beyond sustainability to regeneration, weaving local ecology, human well-being, and resilience into every project. From poplar logs reclaimed from Charlotte roadwork to a living building that harvests water and grows community, Philip shows how design can be both deeply local and globally impactful. If you’ve ever wondered how architecture can help us fall in love with life again, this episode is for you.

More About Philip Donovan

Philip Donovan is an architect, partner, and national director for sustainability and regeneration at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. With over 25 years of experience, he specializes in designing high-performance, zero-carbon environments that deliver resilient, regenerative outcomes for the larger communities of life they are a part of. Philip has served as project architect on five net-zero energy schools, including Discovery Elementary School, the first LEED Zero school in the U.S., NeoCity Academy, Florida’s first zero-energy school; and the 4Roots Carbon Neutral  Mass Timber Education Building. 

He has also been a project leader for two AIA COTE Top Ten award-winning projects: Discovery Elementary and Alice West Fleet Elementary. A passionate advocate for sustainability and resiliency, Philip is a member of the Florida State AIA Advisory Council on Resilient Design, the Green Energy Taskforce for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Orange County Sustainability and Resiliency Committee. He has contributed as a technical peer reviewer for the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 Schools: Achieving Zero Energy and as a reviewer for the USGBC’s Center for Green Schools.

Philip has served on the Mount Dora Historic Planning Commission and currently sits on the advisory board for the College of Community Innovation & Education at the University of Central Florida. An accomplished speaker, he has presented at national and international conferences including Greenbuild, on zero-resource buildings, resiliency, and climate adaptation.

CONTACT:

www.linkedin.com/in/philipmdonovan

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Todd Thomas, founder of Woodchuck.ai, to reveal how AI is revolutionizing construction waste—and fueling a circular economy. Todd explains how Woodchuck uses smart dumpsters and computer vision to identify, sort, and transform tens of millions of tons of discarded wood into new materials, clean energy, and even hydrogen. From reducing landfill volume by 40% to creating zero-carbon biomass processing, Todd breaks down why sustainability doesn’t have to cost more—it can save money and extend landfill life. They also explore the future of mass timber, the promise of molten salt reactors, and the power of planning for circularity at the design stage. This conversation is a fascinating look at how technology can close the loop in building and demolition.

More About Todd Thomas

Todd Thomas is a recognized voice in AI, innovation and entrepreneurship, and is the best-selling author of Unleashing Abundant Energy. Todd has built his career harnessing emerging technologies to drive efficiencies and create new commercialization opportunities.

Todd has an Economics degree from Claremont McKenna College, has studied Strategy Execution at the Harvard Business School, and has an MBA and a Masters in Economics from the WP Carey School of Business, ASU.Todd is the Founder & CEO of Woodchuck, a climate impact startup dedicated to transforming waste into valuable resources, reducing landfill usage, and unleashing an abundant energy future!

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-thomas-52021433/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/unleashing-abundant-energy/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.linkedin.com/company/woodchuckai/?viewAsMember=true

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Stephen Parker, architect and mental health planner at Stantec, to explore the power—and responsibility—of trauma-informed design. Stephen shares how his personal and professional experiences have fueled his mission to create spaces that foster safety, dignity, and belonging for people in crisis. From veterans living with PTSD to individuals overcoming addiction, Stephen explains why the built environment is never neutral—and how even simple details like door placement, daylight, and acoustic privacy can make or break a healing experience. They also discuss cultural competency, the hidden triggers in institutional settings, and the crucial role of co-design with communities. This conversation is a masterclass in designing buildings that heal not just bodies, but hearts and minds.

More About Stephen Parker

Stephen Parker is a dedicated Mental + Behavioral Health Planner with significant healthcare projects across the US, Canada, China, Kenya, Australia and India. A Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Rising Star, Parker is a proponent of “architect as advocate” for colleague, client, and community alike, he believes strongly in leadership through service. Stephen has served a diverse client base, including the Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helping develop the VA’s new Inpatient Mental Health Design Guide. An accomplished design researcher and pro bono community designer, Stephen is a Behavioral Health Business Future Leader, AIA AAH Best Healthcare Designer Under 40, ENR Top 20 Under 40 Young Professional, HCD Rising Star, HFSE George Pressler Under 40 Award recipient, and ULI Health Leader. Stephen championed the AIA Strategic Council’s Mental Health + Architecture during the pandemic and is a US representative to the International Union of Architects’ Public Health Group. He currently serves as Associate Director for the Design in Mental Health Network headquartered in England, Founding Member of the Center of Health Design’s Behavioral & Mental Health Environment Network, among other service leadership roles at organizations advocating for mental health environments from the Arctic to Australasia.

CONTACT:

https://www.stantec.com/en/people/p/parker-stephen 

https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/trends/2024-hcd-conference-preview-evolving-crisis-care-models-in-behavioral-health/67229/ 

https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/united-states-projects/s/southeast-psychiatric-treatment-center-norristown-state-hospital

https://www.mentalhealthdesignandbuild.com/story/44645/drawn-together-through-lived-experience

https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/united-states-projects/w/womens-hospital-perinatal-mental-health-unit

https://urbanland.uli.org/planning-design/returning-home-advancements-in-mental-health-design-for-u-s-veteran-facilities

https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/rising-stars-2024-stephen-parker

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Gena Arthur, founder of Pure Paint, to explore the future of healthy, sustainable coatings. Gena debunks the myth that natural paints sacrifice performance or style, revealing how Pure Paint’s petroleum-free formulas deliver stunning results—without the toxins. They dig into the hidden dangers of microplastics, the limitations of current green certifications, and the systemic barriers startups face when challenging industry norms. Gena also shares the emotional and regulatory rollercoaster of scaling a clean-tech company, including Pure Paint’s breakthrough retail partnership with Lowe’s USA. From UV resilience to real-world color matching, this episode is a deep dive into how healthy walls lead to healthier people—and a healthier planet. Discover why true innovation in building materials demands not just better products, but better systems.

More About Gena Arthur

Gena Arthur is the founder and CEO of Pure Paint Laboratories, a Canadian cleantech company leading the transformation of the architectural paint industry. Her company offers a high-performance, petroleum-free, plant-based paint that provides a toxin and microplastic-free alternative to conventional coatings. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to environmental health, product innovation, and eliminating microplastic pollution. 

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-arthur-04a8a3a/?originalSubdomain=ca 

https://www.purepaintlab.com/en-us 

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In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by Olympian and building science researcher Donna Vakalis for a conversation that spans architecture, AI, athletics, and the climate crisis. Donna shares how her Olympic background fuels her passion for sustainable design and her current postdoc work at MILA—Canada’s leading AI institute—where she’s exploring how machine learning can optimize building performance. From smarter energy models and feed-forward HVAC systems to her role in the global coal phase-out and Racing to Zero, Donna illustrates the complex balance between comfort, carbon, and culture in the built environment. Together, Joe and Donna unpack whether AI is a hero or a hypocrite when it comes to sustainability—and what truly makes a building great.

More About Donna Vakalis

Donna is a postdoctoral researcher at Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, where she develops AI applications for building systems. Her work bridges advanced machine learning with real-world challenges in building operations and energy efficiency. With a PhD in civil engineering and extensive experience in construction and design, Donna brings a uniquely practical perspective to algorithm development. She's also a two-time Olympian (2012, 2016), and finds that the discipline and problem-solving skills from elite athletics often translate surprisingly well to her research work.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisdonna/?originalSubdomain=ca 

ThisIsDonna.com  (http://thisisdonna.com/) 

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In this illuminating episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes physicist and daylighting pioneer Marilyne Andersen for a conversation that sheds new light—literally—on how architecture affects our health, productivity, and sense of well-being. From the science of chronobiology to eye morphology and colored glazing, Marilyne explains how light exposure shapes everything from our mood to our sleep cycles. She shares insights from her groundbreaking research at EPFL and her work with the Daylight Academy, revealing why daylight may be more than a design feature—it might be a human right. Plus, discover how her new role at GESDA is helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and societal impact. A must-listen for anyone designing spaces for real human needs.

More About Marilyne Andersen:

Marilyne Andersen is a Full Professor at EPFL and head of the LIPID lab since 2010, after 6 years at MIT as tenure-track professor. Since April 2025, she is also the Director General of the GESDA foundation (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator), whose mission is to anticipate emerging scientific discoveries and translate them into concrete actions for the benefit of society by engaging proactively with policymakers and diplomats. 

Physicist by training, she specializes in the psycho-physiological effects of (day)light with broader research interests on sustainability in the built environment. She has been Dean of ENAC at EPFL (2013-2018), Academic Director of the Smart Living Lab until 2024 and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction (2015-2024). She was also Visiting Professor at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab in California and at SUTD in Singapore. 

Author of over 250 refereed papers with several distinctions, she was the global Daylight Research Award's inaugural laureate in 2016 and led the winning Swiss team for the Solar Decathlon 2017 competition. At EPFL, she is currently Head of the SKIL for project-based learning and PI of the Swiss-wide SWICE consortium on the energy transition. She is also co-founder of the consulting startup OCULIGHT dynamics.

In parallel, she has been actively engaged in bridging the gap between art and science, notably since 2021 as co-curator of the exhibition entitled Lighten Up! On Biology and Time and as author of the Circa Diem immersive installation and policy-oriented fiction Droit au Jour ; these works have been on display in diverse venues such as the Seoul Biennale, the EPFL Pavilions, the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur, the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (mudac) in Lausanne, and will be showcased at the MIT Museum in 2025-2026.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyne-andersen-b617aa1/

https://people.epfl.ch/marilyne.andersen 

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