Redesigning Normal

John Suitor, Head of School at Boulder Country Day School in Boulder, Colorado, joins podcast host Andrew Southern on this episode of Redesigning Normal to share his school’s success stories for coping with the pandemic.

In mid-late February 2020, the faculty and staff at BCDS began to think about how the school would handle the crisis. When it became clear that “normal” school would not resume in the fall, John worked with faculty, staff, colleagues, parents, and more to understand and adopt guidelines from public health agencies and build policies and practices to keep everyone safe in school.

John and Andrew also discuss how in-person learning and human contact facilitate a sense of community. They talk about what health and safety measures might eventually be “retired,” and how this year-long experience fosters a sense of accomplishment and resilience in BCDS students.

After you listen, connect with John on LinkedIn. Learn more about Boulder Country Day School at BoulderCountryDay.org and follow on Twitter @BCDSchoolNews,

This episode of Redesigning Normal is brought to you by Invisible Health Technologies.

Hannah Hackathorn, Design Principle at Unispace,  joins Andrew Southern, CEO of Invisible Health Technologies, on this episode of the Redesigning Normal podcast to talk about trends in interior design and what offices might look like post-pandemic.

Hannah shares two major trends we can expect to see as employees return to the office. First, companies will likely implement physical modifications such as automatic doors or under-cabinet UV lights to sanitize surfaces. Hannah also predicts a shift from density, cramming as many people into an office as possible, to larger spaces with multiple types of work areas.

Hannah and Andrew also touch on how Unispace’s clients responded to the pandemic, what we have learned as a society about remote work, and why flexibility in office design can help protect organizational culture as we move forward.

After you listen, connect with Hannah on LinkedIn. Learn more about Unispace on their website, on Twitter @UnispaceGlobal, and be sure to check out some of their incredible designs on Instagram @UnispaceGlobal.

This episode of Redesigning Normal is brought to you by Invisible Health Technologies.

Blake DeYoung, Chief Advancement Officer at Bellevue Christian School (BCS), joins Andrew Southern, CEO of Invisible Health Technologies, on this episode of the Redesigning Normal podcast to talk about BCS’s response to the pandemic and what the future might look like.

BCS is an independent K-12 school in the greater Seattle area with about 1,000 students. In this podcast, Blake and Andrew discuss how the school’s location gave its leaders a significant advantage in preparing for the pandemic as early as January. This allowed for more planning, and more time to equip students and teachers with technological and other resources. It also helped draw early attention to potential social issues such as racism against Chinese students.

Blake details the steps the school took to create engaging online education experiences, allow older students some flexibility in remote learning options, and support teachers during times of uncertainty and stress. He also outlines the health and safety protocols that will persist even after the pandemic wanes.

This episode of Redesigning Normal is brought to you by Invisible Health Technologies.

Alex Holiday, Partner at Glasshouses,  joins Andrew Southern, CEO of Invisible Health Technologies, on this episode of the Redesigning Normal podcast to talk about his new New York City venue and his organization’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex shares a brief overview of The Glasshouse, a brand new 75,000 sq. ft. venue located in Midtown Manhattan. The space is not open yet, but they are already preparing for countless corporate events, weddings, and other occasions delayed by 2020.

Alex and Andrew discuss whether health and sanitation measures like masks will persist after the immediate threat of illness has passed and what gatherings might look like. Alex suspects that the human craving for connection and socializing will encourage people to take their special events to the next level, perhaps making up for some lost time.

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn and learn more about his event spaces at TheGlassHouses.com.

This episode of Redesigning Normal is brought to you by Invisible Health Technologies.

On the Redesigning Normal Podcast, your host Andrew Southern, interviews executives across a variety of industries about how they have had to redesign their business amidst this “new normal” of a post-pandemic world.

We discuss the impacts the pandemic has had on their business, how they are adjusting, and how they are preparing for whatever the future may hold.

On this introductory episode, your host Andrew Southern gives an overview of what to expect on the show, as well as his own personal journey and background. 

Join us each week as we bring you a new expert interview as we all understand how we each are adapting to these changing times.