We're sharing a special episode of architecture 5 10 20, a podcast from FXCollaborative. In this episode, you'll hear Avi Rajagopal with Guy Geier discussing connections between sustainability and design.

You can find more episodes of architecture 5 10 20 at surroundpodcasts.com.

Welcome back to architecture 5 10 20! I’m your host, Guy Geier, Managing Partner of FXCollaborative Architects in New York. My guests for this podcast are pioneers and visionaries shaping the future of the built environment across various disciplines. Join me in exploring their remarkable journeys, discovering how they reach their current heights, and envisioning what lies ahead in the next 5, 10, and 20 years.

Join me for this special episode as I have a great conversation with Avi Rajagopal, editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine and host of the Deep Green podcast, to discuss connections between sustainability and design. Recorded at FX Collaborative’s Brooklyn office during Green April, our conversation touches upon how sustainability has evolved in the built environment and how media plays an important part in pushing the conversation forward.

Avi, whose career has been shaped by his commitment to sustainable design, shares his journey from product design to leading sustainability projects at Metropolis, and we talk about some of the challenges facing the architecture and design industries such as the carbon emissions tied to interior design and the importance of thinking about materials as long-term investments. Avi provides some insights into how we can shift our mindset to reduce waste and adopt a more circular approach to design.

Avi also goes into how design practices differ across sectors, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities, and how we can rethink how buildings change over time. We discuss the role of reuse in sustainability and the shifts that we are going to need to actually elevate this practice. Focusing on practical and actionable steps, we consider how designers can model circularity, from reusing materials to rethinking aesthetic choices. Avi even answers a few questions from a few of my FXCollaborative colleagues here in the studio with me!

This episode of the show is full of forward-thinking ideas on how we can design better, more sustainable spaces, so whether you are an architect, a designer, and/or a sustainability advocate, this conversation offers valuable insights from Avi that will surely challenge and inspire!

Time stamps:

[02:34] - Avi reflects on how his interest in sustainability developed over time, from design studies to Metropolis' focus on it.

[05:59] - The media connects architecture to the public, advancing professional conversations around sustainability.

[08:08] - Avi reveals that Metropolis has explored how interior design contributes to carbon emissions.

[11:03] - Focusing on building life-cycle emissions led to creating the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design to reduce waste.

[13:33] - Proposals for circularity in design have led to ideas for new professions and assessing the quality of reused materials.

[15:03] - Avi argues that avoiding new materials is the best way to reduce rising carbon emissions.

[17:54] - Aesthetics and sustainability are not inherently linked, and global practices embrace broader, more sustainable design values.

[20:29] - Avi explains how different building types age uniquely, which requires customized strategies and approaches.

[22:58] - As an optimist, Avi points out how retrofits, natural materials, and holistic thinking suggest a shift in sustainable practices.

[25:04] - FXCollaborative’s work highlights how urban design increasingly considers the impact on all life on Earth, not just humans.

[27:21] - Adaptive reuse, Avi asserts, should prioritize flexibility and longevity, not just destroying and rebuilding existing structures.

[30:51] - Can reuse alone satisfy future infrastructure and housing needs?

[31:53] - It's important for new construction to be assessed for whether it serves the public good.

[34:39] - Rethinking building use and shared responsibility is important for maximizing environmental and social value.

[37:20] - FXCollaborative draws ongoing inspiration from Avi's vision for a circular, sustainable architectural future!

Links / Resources:

Guy Geier

Instagram | Twitter

Avinash Rajagopal on Instagram

Metropolis

Climate Toolkit for Interior Design

Deep Green

Ezra Klein - Abundance

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What makes one product more sustainable than another? It’s a question that anyone concerned with their impact on the planet must confront. How do we choose the right couch, coffee machine, flooring, tiles, or curtain wall system—so that we’re doing the most good for both people and the environment?

That’s the question Lisa Gralnek has been working to answer.

Gralnek is the U.S. Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability and Impact at the iF Design Awards—one of the largest and most prestigious design award programs in the world. This year, 131 jurors evaluated nearly 11,000 entries from 66 countries, judging everything from appliances to automobiles, furnishings to buildings.

For the first time, sustainability accounted for 20 percent of the score for every submission. So how does an international awards program assess sustainability across such diverse design disciplines, regions, and product categories?

Listen to this episode of Deep Green, as METROPOLIS editor in chief Avi Rajagopal sits down with Gralnek to discuss how the iF Design Awards are tackling this challenge.

This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.

Resources

iF DESIGN AWARDS

Sustainability and the iF DESIGN AWARDS

iF Trend Report 2025

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If there’s one defining trend in American architecture over the last decade, it’s the rediscovery of wood as a construction material. Mass timber buildings—made from large wooden panels, columns, and beams—are rising across North America, with developers racing to construct the tallest wooden tower. A new contender, the 32-story Edison in Milwaukee, just broke ground and is set to claim the title of the tallest mass timber building in the Western Hemisphere.

But why are American developers, architects, and builders all timberstruck? There are the carbon emissions—wood pulls down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as trees grow, so these buildings are a tool in the fight against climate change. Plus, they are quick to construct and can be cheaper to build. So should we start building everything out of wood?

In this episode of Deep Green, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avi Rajagopal speaks with two experts to unpack the potential of mass timber. First, Columbia University professor and author Lindsey Wikstrom discusses how architecture and construction need to evolve to fully embrace timber-based design. Then, DLR Group principal Stephen Cavanaugh shares insights from his extensive experience designing over three million square feet of mass timber buildings, as part of the largest collection of mass timber buildings in North America.

Join us as we dive deep into the thinking behind and the practice of mass timber architecture.

This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.

Resources:

Designing the Forest and other Mass Timber Futures

Finding a Future for Mass Timber in Hospitality

DLR Group: Hines T3 Partnership

Episode art: Photo by Creative Sources Photography/Rion Rizzo, courtesy DLR Group

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Buildings account for 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. If you’re an architect, or a frequent listener to this podcast, you already know that. But in their new book, Build Like It’s the End of the World, Sandeep Ahuja and Patrick Chopson frame buildings and carbon emissions in a way that might change how you think about it:

“Buildings offer some of the most cost-efficient ways of reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change. This is because, unlike carbon capture or more efficient cars, buildings have a lot of room for improvement in their design and construction, which is often not even simulated or cost optimized.”

Ahuja and Chopson are the cofounders of Cove, an AI-powered consulting and technology platform that helps building designers and owners do just that—optimize buildings for both lower carbon emissions and lower costs. Every year, architects across the U.S. report their progress on reducing carbon emissions to the AIA, and Cove is the #1 tool they use to measure their impact. The goal? A 70 percent reduction in the building industry’s emissions by 2030.

In this episode of Deep Green: Deep Cut, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avinash Rajagopal sits down with Ahuja and Chopson as they break down how Cove works, why they think we ignore cost and profit to our own peril, and how AI will be critical to the future of climate action.

This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.

Resources:

cove

Build Like It’s the End of the World

Three Technologies Are Changing how We Design for Climate

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Biophilic design might be trending on social media, but it’s far more than an aesthetic—it’s a transformative approach to creating spaces that make us happier, calmer, and healthier. In this episode of Deep Green: Deep Cut, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avinash Rajagopal dives into the science and philosophy behind biophilic design with Bill Browning, founder of Terrapin Bright Green, and Catie Ryan, director of projects at the firm. These leading voices in biophilic design share their insights on the profound impact of creating spaces that connect us to nature.

As Terrapin Bright Green marks the 10th anniversary of its 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, Browning and Ryan reflect on how their research has shaped the field, including the introduction of a new pattern: “Awe.” They share how these principles deliver measurable outcomes in projects like the reimagined Portland International Airport, where stress-filled spaces became calming, passenger-friendly environments under the terminal’s nine-acre roof. Tune in to learn how biophilic strategies—from nature-inspired fractals to immersive natural elements—are improving well-being, reducing stress, and redefining the built environment.

This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.

Resources:

Moshe Safdie: The Future of Urban Density

What Is and Is Not Biophilic Design?

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design

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In this bonus episode of Deep Green, host Avi Rajagopal reflects on the thought-provoking questions that have defined the show (Can bio-based plastics truly save the planet? Is recycling our hope for the future?) as he offers a glimpse into the exciting upcoming season, Deep Green: Deep Cut Edition.

Listen and revisit standout moments from past episodes with some of the smartest people in design. And get ready for more fascinating discussions as Rajagopal sits down with sustainability visionaries and trailblazers to dive even deeper into how we can make buildings better for the planet—and for all of us—in the season ahead.

This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.

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Enjoy Sense of Space by Turf now available on all podcast platforms.

An architect and designer are on a journey to help their community understand the nuances of designing for the built environment. Join Ella Hazard and Faraz Shah through questions and conversations while they explore all the stuff we interact with as designers, architects, and people.

Please enjoy the following episode: What are the elements of a vibe?

Is “vibe” something we can curate, or is it best when it occurs organically? Faraz and Ella unpack some SAT words to describe how our bodies respond to spaces and ways to design for all senses. By better understanding ourselves and our senses, can we learn how to integrate this approach into the creation of a “vibe”?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us live from NeoCon 2024 as we dive into the transformative world of sustainable textiles with our special guests, Dean Lindsley, VP of Pallas Textiles, and Geraldine Blanchot, founder of Limn and Loom. This episode explores the groundbreaking textile collection "In Good Company," which embodies a new paradigm of responsible manufacturing, industry collaboration, and broader societal impact.

Dean and Geraldine share the inspiring story behind "In Good Company," revealing how it represents not just a collection but a movement towards sustainability in the design industry. Discover the innovative use of Sequel, an upcycled marine plastic yarn, and the philanthropic efforts tied to the Sequel Foundation, aimed at oceanic conservation.

We also delve into the technical and creative challenges faced in developing this collection, the significance of collaboration across the supply chain, and the broader market applications of these sophisticated, tactile textiles. From corporate workplaces to hospitality and healthcare, learn how specifying these materials can lead to impactful change.

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What is Office Furniture’s Role When it Comes to Climate Impact? In 2018, Americans threw out 12.1 million tons of furniture—and nearly 80 percent of that ended up in landfills. And the problem may not be where you think it is. Fast-furniture folks get a bad rap, right? It turns out that's not the biggest problem with furniture. Eight million or so of that 12.1 million tons of waste furniture was office furniture. There’s also growing research around the role of furniture in the impact of climate change on buildings. Over the life of a building, the renovations that happen—changing out the lights, furniture, carpet, etc.—on the inside of the building account for about half of the embodied carbon emissions of the building over its life. And out of that half, another half, so nearly 25 percent of the embodied carbon emissions in any building, is furniture. The good news? Research also shows that furniture might have the highest potential for us to lower the carbon emissions of interiors. In today’s episode, editor-in-chief of METROPOLIS Avi Rajagopal is going to talk to leaders in the furniture industry—KI (Jason Lazarz and Angela Allen), Allstee (Jason Hagadorn), and Steelcase (Katie Pace)—about their work responding to a changing society, a changing workplace market, but also increasing demands and a greater focus on furniture when it comes to climate impact.

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The furniture industry has seen something of a transformation over the last decade with the rise of fast furniture: cheap, disposable pieces, often produced overseas with little to no oversight. Every year in the United States, about 12 million tons of furniture goes to waste, and 80 percent of that ends up in our landfills. In addition to contributing, through that enormous amount of waste, to our environmental problems, furniture is also often cited as one of the industries most at risk for exploitative labor practices. But furniture retailer Room & Board was founded in 1980 as a business that’s different: putting sustainability at the heart of its operations since day one and producing 90 percent of its products in the United States. Most recently, the Minneapolis-based retailer achieved B Corp certification, an independent verification of its practices to show that it meets the highest standards of performance, accountability, and transparency on a range of factors from employee benefits to charitable giving, supply chain practices, and materials.

In this episode, Room & Board director of sustainability Emily McGarvey joins METROPOLIS editor-in-chief Avinash Rajagopal to discuss why the retailer decided to aim for B Corp certification, how they went about it, and the challenges they faced—but also what it means at a very fundamental level for the furniture industry.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with furniture retailer Room & Board.

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