Human City

Nathan Norris is the Founding Principal of the CityBuilding Partnership, LLC, which provides planning services to communities and developers.  He also runs the CityBuilding Exchange which provides educational workshops and tours.Nathan is a master collaborator and has many years experience in helping build and transform cities - from infill in Lafayette to new town building in Gorham's Bluff and The Waters. He shares experiences and wisdom in this episode that only someone who has been in weeds can learn. There is more than one useful tip in this episode.This episode is the first part of our conversation (split in two so that the length is more accessible to everyone!). This week we discuss useful collaboration, tactical urbanism, and how to get stuff done. Nathan weaves in the people he has learned from, the narrative that got him where he is at, and succinct, actionable advice.Nathan has a superb ability to distill wisdom into actionable, often numbered, advice. I had fun with this one, and I believe you wi

Marques King is the Managing principal, architect + urban planner at Fabrick Design, LLC , Economic Development & Design Manager at Jefferson East Inc, and a teacher with the Incremental Developers Alliance.Marques is a compassionate architect and designer who's abilities transcend many disciplines - whether it be city planning or development. He shares numerous ideas that will undoubtedly stimulate your creativity in this field.After time in the town of Seaside, Florida, Marques has come full circle back to his home in Detroit, Michigan.In this episode we talk about the Detroit Landscape, Lessons from Seaside, why architecture is a different artform, incremental development, nolli maps, and just wandering banter in the city building space.Marques's skill may only be topped by his generosity. He has a true desire to build the best city and he will without a doubt do it - enjoy!Links:Marques’s LinkedInFabrick DesignFabrick Design BlogJefferson East Inc.John AndersonNolli MapSeaside, FloridaWe would absolut

Mark Miller is the Managing Director of Planning and Design of Grand Rapids Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mark has a super interesting background and take on cities - he has worked in both public and private roles - giving him an edge that is undoubtedly useful. He has been in the weeds for a while and understands exactly what it takes to make changes to any city.In this episode we talk about private vs. public, real ways to fix yours streets, pitfalls and tribulations of implementing change, tactical urbanism, lessons from Europe, and many other philosophies that are absolutely important.Mark is well thought out and provides knowledge that we all should hear - enjoy!Links:Mark’s LinkedInMark’s TwitterDowntown Grand Rapids IncMoving GR ForwardStreet Space GuideWe would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.com, Tweet at HumanCityPod, or message on InstagramHosted By Stig Terrebonne

This week we have Eric Hernandez, Bret Bonanni, Peter Russel, and Cullen Coker on the show. We talk about multiple topics and jump around quite a bit - but the theme of the episode is design, millennial, urbanism, and just better spaces. This is episode is an experiment because I get away from the typical one on one interview and have 4 guests. Please excuse the sound quality in some parts. There is a lot of useful bits laced through out the episode and may help you get into the mindset of the younger generation. Tell me what you think and enjoy! Links: Gensler Bowery Bungalow LA Bonanni Development We would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.com, Tweet at HumanCityPod, or message on Instagram Hosted By Stig Terrebonne

Howard Blackson is an urban designer and thought leader out of San Diego California. This is Howard’s second time on the podcast, and hopefully an improvement from the last episode. Howard is the Urban Design and Planning Studio Director at AVRP Skyport Studios in San Diego. In this episode we talk about what’s next for new urbanism, lesson from San Diego and the City Building Exchange, why people will be nicer to each other and plenty of thoughts on urbanism in general. Howard has a lot of great things to say, and we get into a lot of subjects in this episode - I’m not sure I even need to be present! Enjoy the episode and reach out! People Mentioned in the episode: Ann Daigle Laura Clemons Nathan Norris Omar Passons Andres Duany Places Mentioned: Carmel, Columbus Indiana Plaza de Panama Parklets San Diego Links: Howard’s Blog Howard’s Twitter AVRP Skyport Studios MRED Woodbury Placemaking Ordinance City of San Diego We would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.co

Scott Pardee is a developer out of Tulsa, Oklahoma who founded Pardee Construction. This episode is different because Scott is right in the middle of his project. We dig into the lessons, tribulations, and day to day of his work. He is building a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) which is (in simple words) a community that is more human focused. In this episode we get into the weeds on the day to day of building a community - from design to common problems to the stakeholders that make it possible. Scott has worked tirelessly to build the connections, skills, and support to put together his project. After years of working with consultants and building his vision, he is finally about to break ground. This project is likely his life’s work, and you will hear that passion in his voice. If you want to get some tactful advice to start your own project - this is the episode for you. People Mentioned in the episode: Eric Brown Ken Burrow Tome Low (Civic By Design) Eric Mosser (Mosser Design group) All

Pauly De Bartolo is the cofounder and principal of DBRDS (De Bartolo + Rimanic Design Studio) out of San Diego and Sacramento and is an Australian Native with a keen outlook on designing better spaces. Pauly has diverse experience in many projects including mixed use, multifamily, interiors, office, hotels - among pretty much everything else (including master planning). His work is modern and contemporary but with an orientation to it’s location and fundamentals in sustainability. In this conversation we talk about how important hand drawing is to crafting spaces, lessons from Australian design, the importance of collaboration (and how to implement it), and how to rethink the city planning field. Pauly is a passionate advocator for the built environment and you will definitely hear that throughout. There is absolutely something in this episode for you! Links: DBRDS DBRDS Instagram Sydney Opera House San Diego Architectural Foundation Gaslamp Quarter Land Use and Planning Committee Vibrant Ink Graphic Design

Lucy Blakiston and Troy Segaar talk through Medellín, home towns and cultural differences in our spaces. Lucy is from New Zealand and runs the news site Shit You Should Care About. It’s a master piece and much needed positive voice in our information overload world. Troy is from the Netherlands and at the time of this recording worked at the Secretaría de las Mujeres en la Gobernación de Antioquia. Troy has an interesting perspective both from his government and small town background. In this conversation we dialogue on how young people feel about cities and how cultural differences play a part in how we understand and view our spaces. This episode is different because there are three of us and it’s more of a discussion - if you like this format , let me know!! Links: Shit You Should Care About Medellín, Colombia Wellington Auckland Groningen Blenheim We would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.com, Tweet at HumanCityPod, or message on Instagram Hosted By Stig T

Ignacio Rodriguez is the CEO and founder of IR Architects and AVR Studios. He is an entrepreneur, gifted designer and pioneer of virtual reality in architecture. In this episode we discuss technology, design, and how to get into the profession from any background. Ignacio was born in born in Mexico, grew up in Long Beach, Carson, and Compton then built a successful architecture practice all before age 28. He has a special talent to put himself in the shoes of his clients and build masterful, client focused designs. Ignacio Does exemplar homes all over southern California - and is always on the cutting edge of design and technology. Ignacio is a graduate of Woodbury University and is constantly giving back to his community. To give every accolade would take all day - so check out the links below! In this episode Ignacio gives stellar advice on design, how to get into the industry, and how to run a great business. He leads a great team and has interesting things to say. Enjoy guys! Links: IR Architects

Paddy Steinschneider is the president of Gotham Design and Community Development. He is a placemaker, land use planner, developer and, of course, a designer. Paddy currently resides in Dobbs Ferry, New York where he runs Gotham Design and, in his spare time, is the COO of CNU, New York. He holds a master in architecture from Columbia University. Paddy integrates every stakeholder in the whole creation and implementation of real estate developments. He often instigates the project, identifying the need with his keen eye, then taking them all the way to completion. In part two of this two part series we dig into Paddy's philisophies towards urbanism. What is urbanism really? We talk about the roots of New Urbanism and how the movement started. Finally, we talk about how legacy cities may be the future backbone support of the US economy and provide an everlasting commonwealth for anyone in a dire situation. Compact, complete, complex, connected, convivial communities. Links: CNU Dunay Plater-Zyberk (DPZ) Do

Paddy Steinschneider is the president of Gotham Design and Community Development. He is a placemaker, land use planner, developer and, of course, a designer. Paddy currently resides in Dobbs Ferry, New York where he runs Gotham Design and, in his spare time, is the COO of CNU, New York. He holds a master in architecture from Columbia University. Paddy integrates every stakeholder in the whole creation and implementation of real estate developments. He often instigates the project, identifying the need with his keen eye, then taking them all the way to completion. In part one of this two part series we talk about Wicker Park, Chicago and how a few people brought a dangerous neighborhood to the modern enclave it is today. The story is an honest account of how people can drastically change their community. It’s undeniably inspirational. Next week we will be back with Paddy’s philosophies on urbanism and human cities. Links: Wicker Park Gotham Design CNU CNU New York Paddy's LinkedIn We would absolutely love

Laura Clemons is the CEO of Collaborative Communities and a Certified Floodplain Manager. She sits right at the crest of disasters, placemaking, policy, and community engagement. Laura is a master at disaster recovery and brings her unique background at FEMA and in urbanism to craft a new approach to how we attack ever present disasters. She has an unmatched passion and grit to truly saving communities. Laura currently helps cities throughout the United States with disasters through both mitigation and response before or after serious damage. In this episode we talk about the real effects disasters can have on your community, how urbanism is useful before and after disasters, how to hack FEMA, and what you can do now for your city to avoid the long lasting harm. Links: Collaborative Communities Laura’s LinkedIn Laura’s Facebook Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA 2 CFR Part 200 CNU We would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.com, Tweet at HumanCityPod, or mes

Alexis Xavier Rivas is the CEO of Cover, a company that is rethinking housing by applying technology to the whole process, from zoning to appliances. Alexis is a former architect, Forbes 30 under 30 and is taking on the housing crisis through Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). After working a top residential architecture firms and prefab companies, Alexis noticed a problem with how housing are conventionally built. He joined forces with Jemuel Joseph and together they completely rethought the process, from building a software tool to check the availability of your house, to customizing the interior of your space. Not only do the products come out well made and elegant, but have are much cheaper and environmentally friendly. Alexis brings a fresh eye to the housing crisis and has the potential to flip how our cities are built on its head. Links: Cover.build Cover’s Twitter Cover Instagram Alexis’s Twitter Alexis’s LinkedIn Dawn Mills Area In Canada We would absolutely love your feedback (seriously!) Please em

Today our guest is Shin-pei Tsay a Commissioner in the Public Design Commission of the City of New York, former Executive Director of The Gehl Institute, Deputy Executive Director TransitCenter, and held executive positions at Transportation Alternatives and Project for Public Spaces. Shin-pei's work culminates in the intersection of public space and public policy. Something we talk about in detail and are surprisingly tied together in very important ways. Shin-pei is a huge proponent on peoples ability to change their environment and we talk a lot about how people can get involved, but also how it's okay to not be fully engaged in every detail of your space. Shin-pei is a powerfull force in the communities of New York City, and we can all learn from what she has to say! Links: Make Public (WeMakePublic.com) Might not work (yet!) Shin-pei's LinkedIn Shin-pei's Twitter Paper: "Future Living: Possibilities and Priorities in Transportation" New York Public Design Commission Project for Public Spaces

Today our guest is Michael Stepner a Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the New School of Architecture in San Diego and has 27 years of experience working within the city of San Diego, including the City Architect Role. Some of the many many things he has achieved are: Community planning for both older and newly developing communities, transit oriented design, San Diego Street Design Manuel, and had a huge impact in putting together the Gaslamp District in in downtown San Diego. Mike is seriously humble and will be the first one to tell you that everything he did was the summation of many people’s work. His advice is the sure result of a lifetime of experience. In this episode we talk about design thinking, dealing with governments, differing perspectives of the community and some simple advice to all the designers or planners out there. Links: Michael's New School Profile New School of Architecture The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Jane Jacobs Images of The Cities- Kevin Lynch Books b

Today our guest is Michaele Pride who is a professor of architecture at the University of New Mexico where her work focuses on the intersection between design and public health. Michaele has a lot of in depth experience in both urban design and architecture in both the private and public sector. She really emphasizes consensus, collaboration, and public engagement throughout her teaching. Michaele leads and supports projects through the UNM's Design and Planning Assistance Center (DPAC), including several for NM Mainstreet communities and The Stories of Route 66: the International District (a plan for a new community space in Albuquerque). She also helped found the Design Professionals Coalition after the Rodney King Riots in LA to help unassisted neighborhoods in south LA. In this episode we talk about designing for unassisted communities and approaching community space in a different, more inclusive, way. Links: UNM Profile + all of her work Article on Work in Arkansas Design and Planning Assistance Cente

Today our guest is Dr. Steven Dow who is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Science at The University of California San Diego where he researches collective innovation and social computing. Dr. Steven Dow's work combines research in design thinking, crowdsourcing, and decision making to build and create social technologies that motivate participation and organize people around far ranging problems in civics, healthcare, climate change, and education. This episode touches on his work and the possibilities it can bring to our communities - this is important! Awards: Received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2015 for research on "advancing collective innovation." He was co-principle investigator on four other National Science Foundation grants, a Google Faculty Grant, Stanford's Postdoctoral Research Award, and the Hasso Plattner Design Thinking Research Grant. Links: Personal Website Design For San Diego Community Crit Get it Done App Cycle Atlanta Author David Brin Sidewalk Labs Fee

Today our guest is Kevin Klinkenberg who is an Urban Designer who founded K2 Urban Designs, writer of the Blog Messy City and book Why I Walk Kevin spent 10 years as a partner and co-founder of 180 Urban Design & Architecture in Kansas City. Throughout his career, Kevin has worked in both the Public and Private practice, has published many articles in multiple papers and media sources, and consulted on designing better cities. He advocates for social and walkable areas and has mastered the many small towns that really make up the United States. He works to help cities transform to the next generation of urban planning and design. We jump around a lot in this episode, but we ultimately culminate in Kevin's robust and thoughtful approach to design. Links: Personal Website/ Messy City Blog Kevin's Twitter Book: Why I Walk: Taking a Step in the Right Direction Book: The End of Big Strong Towns Feedback? We would absolutely love to talk. Please email humancitypodcast@gmail.com, Tweet at HumanCityPod, or m

Today our guest is Vishaan Chakrabarti, founder of PAU (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism) Studio, Author of A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America, TED Speaker, and Associate Professor at Colombia Graduate School of Architecture. Metropolis Magazine named Chakrabarti one of the top 12 “Game Changers” for 2012, he is a former Crain’s “40 Under 40” and David Rockefeller Fellow. As an adamant and dedicated New Yorker, Vishaan has helped in transforming the city and realizing unreal projects. He has a Master of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, a Master of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Art History and Engineering from Cornell University. He was formerly a principal at SHoP Architects , he served under Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the Director of the Manhattan Office for the New York Department of City Planning, and even before that was an Associate Partner at the New York office of Skidmore, Owings &

Today our guest is Jeff Speck, a Urban Designer, City Planner, author of Walkable City, and TED Speaker. Jeff has been in the urban design field for decades, and his extensive resume includes 10 years at DPZ (Duany Plater-Zyberk), former Director of Design for the National Endowment for the Arts, Author of multiple books, TED Speaker, and a graduate + lecturer at Harvard. He is currently leading Speck & Associates where he provides Walkability Studies and urban designing for cities all over the country. He also has a new book coming out: Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places, check it out! Jeff crafts an argument on improving our cities through walkability, and rethinking our many design problems through many outlets - We hope it inspires you as it did us, enjoy! Links: Speck & Associates Walkable City Rules Walkable City TED Talk Suburban Nation Book Mayors' Institute on City Design Governers's Institute on Community Design Happy City Book Feedback? We would absolutely love to talk