The 2024 podcast series will revolve around new and innovative approaches to the methods, materials, and technologies used in the construction and operation of the built environment. We have an exciting lineup of experts in the industry to discuss these key components of building operations, and will have EIGHT episodes in 2024!. Check them out!
Philip Agee serves as an Assistant Professor for Building Construction and Assistant Director for the Virginia Center for Housing Research, both in the Myers-Lawson school of Construction, with a combined 15+ years of fieldwork, design consulting, building diagnostics/analytics, and research experience in the built environment. He joined Virginia Tech in 2019. Agee’s research focuses on employing industrial engineering design and evaluation methods (e.g., human factors) for the built environment. He has expertise in human-building interaction, applied building science, zero-energy buildings, and human-centered design. His teaching focuses on the theory, design, and construction of integrated building systems and applied building science. His work aims to improve human-technology interaction outcomes in the built environment. This podcast dives into his vast experience in multiple industries, how those industries collide, as well as the importance of occupant behavior and interface design.
In 2017, Russ founded Vaagen Timbers to produce state-of-the-art Mass Timber products for the buildings of the future. After a groundbreaking in May of 2018, Vaagen Timbers was open and certified in July of 2019. The company has delivered projects all over the US and even projects in Europe. Russ has spent countless hours working on forest collaboration to thin and restore overstocked forest stands and believes strongly that mass timber provides the best value and exposure to how we can restore our forests and build low-carbon footprint buildings in the future. “Using an eco-friendly and integrated approach, Vaagen Timbers aims to develop and deliver beautiful, strong and versatile wood products that customers can be proud of. Their vision is to change the way people think about the places they live, work, and play, and to deliver the best product while connecting forests and communities together.” https://vaagentimbers.com/
BACKGROUND Matt and his wife, Theresa, started Matt’s Place Foundation just after diagnosis and have since helped raise awareness of ALS and create support for PALS (people with ALS) and CALS (caretakers for ALS). Definition: a disease in which neuron cells in the brain and spinal cord slowly deteriorate. Over time, ALS destroys the ability to; walk, speak, eat, swallow, and breathe. In this episode, Theresa talks about the needs and strategies to make homes more accessible for progressive diseases or aging in place. ABOUT MATT WILD In 2015, Matthew Wild, a 41-year-old former U.S. Marine, began experiencing strange feelings in his hands and arms, showing signs of muscle deterioration. Nearly a year of diet change and healthy eating had not alleviated his symptoms. In February 2015, a neurologist confirmed the initial diagnosis that Matt has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As a former Marine who revels in the challenge of a seemingly impossible task, Matt wanted to be an inspiration for others battling ALS. Soon after his diagnosis, Matt came up with a slogan: “Uncrushable Spirit.” WHERE TO LEARN MORE To learn more about what was discussed in this episode of the Building HEROes Podcast, please use these additional resources. • Matt’s Story at https://www.mattsplacefoundation.org/matts-story • Hope & Housing Youtube Series https://www.youtube.com/@MattsPlaceFoundation • Donate here! https://donorbox.org/matt-s-place-foundation-1
Prof. O’Brien is currently the principal investigator of the Human Building Interaction Lab at Carleton University. This episode talks about the importance of interface features and how occupants and operators can change personal behaviors to improve their comfort levels.
Two leaders from McKinstry explain how new builds and renovations can remove waste and climate harm through engineering, design, and technical procedures. With integrated methodology in construction projects, the company seeks to understand how increasingly complex buildings work with new legislative compliance issues, and how we can come up with innovative solutions that drive the efficiency of buildings The role of both the building operator and occupants are discussed, including passive and active strategies for both parties that can help minimize carbon impact. Customers often have big, complex problems to solve, and McKinstrey then creates partnerships to meet the needs of these problem statements.