Better Buildings For Humans

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski digs deep—literally and figuratively—with heavy equipment operator and trailblazer Brenna Moore. In a field long dominated by men, Brenna has carved out a name for herself, not just as a foreman moving mountains of earth, but as a mentor, speaker, and founder of Beast Clothing. With raw honesty and infectious energy, Brenna shares how she overcame industry stereotypes, embraced her strength and femininity, and became a champion for the next generation of women in the trades. From the gritty world of excavation to eco-conscious job sites and youth empowerment programs like Camp BuildHER, Brenna’s story is one of grit, growth, and giving back. Tune in to hear how the foundation of a building starts with the people—and machines—that break the ground.

More About Brenna Moore

Brenna Moore is a 32-year-old mom to one and a talented Heavy Equipment Operator. She competes in the National Equipment League. Brenna is also an Excavator Instructor with Camp BuildHER, where she teaches other women how to run heavy machinery. On top of that, she owns Beast Clothing Co.  Whether she’s operating equipment, coaching others, or building her business, Brenna is dedicated to showing that women belong in the trades.

Contact:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenna-e-moore302/ https://crownquality.com/beast-clothing-store.htm 

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski explores the brilliant intersection of physics, daylighting, and human well-being with Dr. Lorne Whitehead of the University of British Columbia. A physicist, inventor, and serial entrepreneur, Lorne shares how a lucky mistake in grade nine launched a lifelong journey into the science of light. From pioneering daylighting systems and launching tech startups to enhancing human health with spectral design, Lorne’s work has quietly reshaped the way we experience buildings, screens, and even greenhouses. With wit and wisdom, he unpacks the power of “enlightened compromise” in building design—and why the sun might be our most underutilized wellness tool. Tune in to discover how light, innovation, and thoughtful design converge to make our buildings not just smarter, but better for humans.

More About Dr. Lorne Whitehead 

Dr. Lorne Whitehead is the University of British Columbia’s Special Advisor on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Research and a professor in the Department of

Physics and Astronomy. He has held several administrative positions including

Associate Dean, Dean pro tem, VP Academic & Provost and Leader of Education

Innovation. He holds over 150 US patents that find application in computer

screens, televisions and lighting products and has launched seven spin-off

companies. He received a Ph.D. in Physics from UBC and has considerable

experience in technological, business and administrative innovation. From 1983

to 1993 he served as CEO of TIR Systems, a UBC spin-off company that grew to

200 employees before being acquired by a multinational corporation.

Contact:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorne-whitehead-36831622a/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=ca 

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski dives into the artful side of architecture with sculptural artist Eliza Redmann, founder of Folded Poetry. Once an architect on a promising career path, Eliza’s life took a dramatic turn after a traumatic brain injury. What followed was a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and a new mission: creating art that’s both visually stunning and acoustically functional. Eliza shares how her designs offer sensory accessibility, reflect invisible disabilities, and bring softness into harsh built environments. From using recycled acoustic felt to collaborating with manufacturers like UnikaVev, Eliza is transforming spaces into havens for the neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive. Tune in for a moving conversation about constraint, creativity, and how buildings—and art—can tell deeply human stories.

More About Eliza Redmann

Eliza Redmann is a licensed architect, sculptural artist, and the founder of Folded Poetry, a design studio based in Durham, North Carolina. After a traumatic brain injury from a car accident abruptly disrupted her architecture career, Eliza transformed her path through creative reinvention. Her art became both a tool for healing and a platform for advocacy, offering viewers a visceral glimpse into the visual disturbances and sensory challenges she continues to navigate. Eliza specializes in custom commissions, design licensing, and prototyping “acoustic artwork” that enhances sensory accessibility in built environments—particularly for individuals with auditory sensitivities. Through her work, she seeks not only to raise awareness about invisible disabilities but also to dismantle the design barriers that often accompany them.

Contact:

https://www.instagram.com/folded_poetry/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@folded_poetryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elizaredmann-foldedpoetryhttps://www.foldedpoetry.com/

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes architect Toby Witte of Wittehaus—creator of healthy, high-performance luxury homes in the Carolinas. From his roots in Germany to building dream homes in North Carolina, Toby shares how sustainability and soul can go hand-in-hand. They explore why “less is more” isn’t just a design mantra, how solar panels are becoming a no-brainer, and why the best homes are built like Yeti coolers.

You’ll hear how simple choices like south-facing windows and carbon-capture concrete are redefining modern living—and why homes should lift your soul. Plus, discover why Toby believes future buyers won’t touch a house that isn’t energy efficient. If you've ever dreamed of a net-zero home that feels like a daily vacation, this is your episode.

More About Toby Witte

Toby Witte is an award-winning architect and founder of Wittehaus, known for designing soulful, high-performance homes that blend modern aesthetics with sustainable living. Born in Peru and raised in Germany, Toby brings over 25 years of experience across architecture, building science, and construction in both Europe and the U.S. A graduate of UNC Charlotte, he’s earned national acclaim, with work featured in Forbes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, and The New York Times.

His book Supersizing Bliss explores how design impacts happiness, and he frequently shares his insights as a keynote speaker, adjunct professor, and podcast guest. When not designing, Toby enjoys family life with his wife, three daughters, and four cats—and yes, he makes time for cooking, traveling, and a good beer.

CONTACT:https://www.witteha.us/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobywitte/

https://www.instagram.com/wittehaus/

https://www.facebook.com/wittehaus

https://www.youtube.com/@wittehaus

https://www.supersizingbliss.com/podcast

https://www.supersizingbliss.com/

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski sits down with Tommaso Bitossi, partner at Transsolar and a passionate advocate for climate-responsive design. From Florence to New York City, Tommaso shares his unconventional path from civil engineering to climate engineering, blending a love of math, physics, and frugality with a deep respect for culture and place. Together, they dive into why renovation is cooler than you think, how building envelopes shape human comfort, and why “operable windows” might be the most underrated innovation in architecture. You’ll hear about cutting-edge technologies making electrification easier, the power of post-occupancy studies, and why resilience is the new luxury. Plus, Tommaso shares insights from the Transsolar World Academy and their ambitious carbon-neutral journey. If you care about buildings that do more with less, this episode is for you.

More About Tommaso Bitossi

Tommaso focuses on two aspects of climate responsive design: architecture and climate engineering based on his professional value of ‘sufficiency before efficiency‘.  His unique perspective on the integrated design process together with his understanding of both the architectural and the engineering approaches facilitate the communication of complex strategies to the design team.  

Tommaso deeply believes that a decision-making process based on a solid engineered and out-of-the-box thinking leads to resource conscious solutions and high quality built environments.  It is important to him to keep environmental impacts such as CO2 emissions as low as possible in all projects.  He is committed to education with the goal of helping the next generation rethink how to combat climate change and conserve the planet's limited resources.

CONTACT:https://www.linkedin.com/in/architettobitossi/ 

https://transsolar.com/team/tommaso-bitossi

www.transsolar.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/9063475/admin/dashboard/

https://www.instagram.com/transsolar_klimaengineering/?hl=en 

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www.advancedglazings.com

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski is joined by biophilic design expert and architect Helena van Vliet for an eye-opening conversation that redefines what it means to design for well-being. Helena shares her deeply personal path from Bauhaus boxes to “buildings as habitat,” and explains how chronic stress, poor air, and flat architecture are failing our health. You’ll learn why edge conditions matter, how buildings impact your immune system, and how evolutionary biology proves we need daily awe to thrive. From her pioneering teaching methods to her new book Towards a Nature Positive Built Environment, Helena makes a compelling case for buildings that bloom—and why public health depends on them. If you think natural light and green walls are just nice-to-haves… think again.

More About Helena van Vliet

Born and raised in Aachen, Germany, in a family of architects and builders, Helena made her way to the US at the age of 20 and eventually found her home in Pennsylvania. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science (Vordiplom) in Architecture from the RWTH Aachen, Germany. Helena is the mother of two precious young adults and a licensed architect in the U.S. as well as in Germany.

CONTACT:

https://www.helenavanvliet.com

http://www.biophilly.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/helenavanvliet/

https://link.springer.com/book/9783031952913

https://www.design.upenn.edu/people/helena-van-vliet

www.biophiliccities.org https://www.facebook.com/HelenaVanVlietArchitectLLC/

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski sits down with Renée Jacobs, healthcare sustainability powerhouse and leader at DisTech and Atrius, for a revealing conversation on how indoor air quality (IAQ) and building automation systems are shaping the future of human-centered design. From managing hospitals to spearheading cutting-edge AI integration, Renée brings a deep well of knowledge—and a few sharp truths. They explore why proper humidification might be the most overlooked health intervention, how AI and heat mapping could one day save lives in emergency evacuations, and what really changed in building science post-COVID. Plus, Renée challenges architects and engineers to think beyond design—to future-ready buildings that respond to people, not just spreadsheets. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone still thinking IAQ is just about filters.

More About Renée Jacobs

Renée Jacobs is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager, Certified Healthcare Constructor and Fellow ASHE with more than 30 years and over $1 billion of experience in construction project management, healthcare facilities management and technical sales and management. Ms. Jacobs is the Business Development Manager – Healthcare for Distech Controls.

Formerly as Vice President of Facilities and Construction at Saint Luke’s Health System, Ms. Jacobs had oversight of all areas of design, construction, renovation, master planning, and plant operations and maintenance for 11 Kansas City area hospitals. Jacobs led the New Saint Luke’s $330 million capital construction project, successfully completing a portion of the project as the first integrated project delivery (IPD) project for the health system.

Ms. Jacobs is an active member of ASHE, serving as faculty, professional reputation committee chair and several task forces. She is active in the local ASHE chapter, the Kansas City Area Healthcare Engineers (KCAHE) and has served on the board as president, past-president and secretary. Additionally, Ms. Jacobs is a founding board member of LEAN KC, a chapter of the Lean Construction Institute, is a member of the University of Nebraska Construction Industry Advisory Committee and the Overland Park Rotary Club.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-r-jacobs/

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This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski is joined by architect and sustainability leader Roberto Vega Peralta, Practice Director and Sustainability Director at Vocon. From his roots in Costa Rica to his globe-spanning design journey—from Seattle to San Francisco to Cleveland—Roberto shares how a deep love for nature and a commitment to community resilience shaped his architectural philosophy. They dive into what it really means to design for people first, how trauma-informed design is changing fire and police stations, and why Midwest cities like Cleveland are becoming the new frontier for performance-driven, human-centered buildings. Roberto also reveals how Vocon is tackling net-zero goals and transforming “sustainability” into a conversation about measurable performance and long-term well-being. This episode is a heart-filled, thought-provoking look at why the best buildings always start with the people inside them.

More About Roberto Vega Peralta

Practice Director Roberto Vega-Peralta is driven by a profound mission: harnessing the transformative potential of art and design, synergized with science and technology, to ignite change. With a vision grounded in education, economic empowerment, and environmental consciousness, he aspires to create a positive and lasting impact on our world. He specializes in crafting innovative spaces for corporate campus headquarters, hospitality, academic institutions, science and technology centers, healthcare facilities, and urban development projects. 

Roberto’s commitment to excellence, paired with his unwavering dedication to using art and design as catalysts for meaningful change, sets him apart as a leader and visionary in his field. His holistic approach, fusing creativity, scientific rigor, and technological innovation, creates spaces that not only serve their practical functions but also resonate with purpose, fostering a harmonious balance between form and function. As he continues to push the boundaries of design and technology, Roberto Vega-Peralta is a driving force in the pursuit of a more enlightened, inclusive and sustainable future.

CONTACT:

www.linkedin.com/in/rvplab

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How do we really prepare building occupants for emergencies? This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski explores that question for the very first time—diving headfirst into the world of occupant safety with tech entrepreneur and safety design innovator Sam Mathews, founder of Loci. Sam's journey from DJ and VR creator to building safety expert is nothing short of mind-blowing. She shares how neuroscience, localization, and web-based tools like QR code-driven scavenger hunts are helping people actually learn their emergency routes and safety features—by physically walking them. The episode explores why digital twins aren’t always scalable, what architects can do to make buildings more intuitive in emergencies, and how safety should be seen as an essential element of human-centered design, not an afterthought. It’s a powerful and perspective-shifting conversation you won’t want to miss.

More About Samantha Matthews

Samantha Mathews is a serial entrepreneur, instructional designer, immersive media producer, and musician. She’s the founder of LOCI, a platform that generates real-world learning paths—from emergency drills to gallery tours and equipment walkthroughs. Originally developed to replace ineffective safety training with site-specific QR code drills, LOCI has grown into a broader path-making tool used to embed context directly into physical space. Sam’s driving passion is helping people feel more connected to their surroundings and better equipped to make decisions—especially when it counts. Before LOCI, she founded an immersive 3D arts and technology studio, toured internationally as a DJ, and created experiential tools for clients like Chanel, Red Bull, and the Olympics.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-mathews-loci

learnbyloci.com

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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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