Speaking of Design

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we’ll learn what it takes to become a drone pilot, how drones are being used in the A/E/C industry, and how they’re enabling exciting advances in design technology.

While the work of architects makes a difference in the world, rarely do designers get to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people whose livelihood depends on the very buildings they design. With that in mind, a group of architects from HDR formed Design 4 Others as a way to volunteer their design expertise to make a positive impact on under-served communities. In this episode, we’ll learn more about how they’re partnering with Construction for Change and iKure on a pro bono project to improve healthcare for rural community members in West Bengal, India.

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we'll meet architects from Design 4 Others who are partnering with a medical technology enterprise to improve healthcare in India.

In Bozeman, Montana, life centers around outdoor recreation. An afternoon of world-class fly fishing on the state’s pristine waters often follows with a refreshing visit to one of the area’s many microbreweries. The convergence of those two pastimes took an innovative twist when a group of engineers asked: What if the carbon-rich byproduct of brewing beer could be used as a cost-effective way for the city to reduce nitrogen in its wastewater? That idea led to a pilot study with the potential to benefit communities throughout the world.

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we’ll visit Bozeman, Montana, where a group of engineers asked, “What if the carbon-rich byproduct of brewing beer could be used as a cost-effective way for the city to reduce nitrogen in its wastewater?"

Justin Robbins considers himself a true student of cities. In this episode of Speaking of Design, he discusses the way transportation has historically shaped the design of cities as we know them. He also shares his passion for autonomous vehicles, how they’re changing the way we design urban spaces, and some of the challenges they present to urban planners.

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we’ll talk to Justin Robbins a transportation technology planner and true student of cities.

As a recognized expert on transportation technology, Ben Pierce’s everyday job involves helping communities implement technologies that seemed like science fiction not long ago. He likens the rapid changes in present day technology to the Industrial Revolution, and he loves the challenge of keeping up with how it’s changing the transportation industry. In this episode, Ben touches on some of the latest advances he’s seeing improve mobility, safety and efficiency of our transportation experience. We’ll hear more about everything from Smart Cities and streetlights to warning systems for over-height trucks to the latest improvements to the airport customer experience.

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we’ll spend time with Ben Pierce, a nationally recognized expert on transportation technology. He describes how he fell into a fascinating career, some groundbreaking projects he’s working on, and the potential benefits he sees for the future of transportation.

Growing population and rapidly changing transportation technologies are affecting our everyday lives. In this episode, we’ll learn how public transportation agencies are partnering with private sector technology companies to tackle that change head-on in Denver, Colorado. That community’s “mobility blueprint” may suggest a new approach for other metropolitan cities wrestling with the same issues in their communities.