American Building

About American Building

If you want to explore urgent topics related to housing and what they can teach us about ourselves and our country, join us here at American Building. Your host, Atif Qadir, Atif Qadir is a licensed architect and entrepreneur, interested in solving big problems through innovation and technology. He has founded two proptech companies and a real estate development firm, building products ranging from software to workforce housing. Through these experiences, he has a unique perspective on the housing problems - and solutions - we’ll hear about this season. We’ll not only dive into the design and development of iconic buildings, but we’ll also analyze how federal and state policy, local entitlements, and access to capital and distribution are making it increasingly difficult to house Americans. Plus, we will be unpacking relevant news headlines and providing insight into the current legislation related to housing. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Publisher

Atif Qadir

Category

arts · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Oct 2020

Latest episode

18 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Dec 2025

   Cutler Bay Legacy Park and Resilient Community Design

   We’ve officially reached 100 episodes of American Building, and to mark the milestone, I’m joined by Austin Crowley, Senior Associate, and Robert Blaser, Principal, of Michael Graves Architecture. We center the conversation on one of Austin and Robert’s current projects: Cutler Bay Legacy Park, a civic project that addresses how a Florida community can engage with its government and waterfront. The project brings together municipal facilities, public programming, and coastal resilience in a site that had been degraded by years of industrial use and contamination. We explore the technical challenges of building in South Florida's climate, material choices inspired by the historic Old Cutler Trail, and maintenance strategies for long-term durability. Through extensive community input and environmental remediation, the design team created a destination that will serve both daily civic functions and large community gatherings. Beyond the project, we take a step back to look at the current architectural landscape. With the recent passing of industry titans Frank Gehry and Robert A.M. Stern, the architectural world is reflecting on the mark they left. Robert offers his perspective on where Michael Graves fits into that era of design and discusses his own role in carrying Graves’ humanist philosophy forward. Austin, speaking from his decade of experience with the team, highlights how Michael Graves Architecture draws inspiration from Gehry’s approach to technology, emphasizing that the future of the firm lies in thoughtful integration and strategic acquisitions. Episode Outline (01:52) Austin and Robert's paths into architecture and Michael Graves Architecture (09:28) Winning the Cutler Bay Legacy Park RFP through narrative-driven design strategy (13:37) Managing community input without compromising the project vision (18:10) Navigating environmental remediation constraints and budget implications (21:48) Building with flood zones, hurricane codes, and material costs in mind (27:29) The vision for the visitor experience: moving through community and civic spaces (39:06) Evolving Michael Graves’ design legacy beyond stylistic replication (49:03) Geographic expansion and entering new markets through acquisition (58:15) AI integration in design and business operations Additional Resources This episode of American Building is brought to you by New Blueprint Partners — making industrial real estate accessible to the everyday investor. They provide a simple, hassle-free, and transparent path to owning industrial properties, backed by experienced operators. You may remember founders Ron Schinik and Marc Esrig from our episode on the Vancouver Innovation Center (https://www.americanbuildingpodcast.com/episodes-all/ron-schinik-of-new-blueprint-partners-vancouver-innovation-center-in-vancouver-redeveloping-manufacturing), where they shared how collaboration and communication shape successful projects. Learn how you can build your industrial real estate portfolio at newblueprintpartners.com (https://newblueprintpartners.com/). Episode 43: Austin Crowley of Michael Graves Architecture &amp; Design | Next Gen Interview (https://www.americanbuildingpodcast.com/episodes-all/austin-crowley-of-michael-graves-architecture-design-next-gen-interview) Episode 2: Samer Hanini of Hanini Group | Peoples Bank Building in Passaic, NJ | Preserving History (https://www.americanbuildingpodcast.com/episodes-all/samer-hanini-of-hanini-group-peoples-bank-building-in-passaic-preserving-history?rq=hanini) <a...

2. 

   10 Dec 2025

   Building Small: Community and Coaching for Entrepreneurial Developers

   Hundreds of real estate conferences happen every year, but very few address the tactical realities of small scale development. In 2012, Jim Heid, in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute, launched the first Small Scale Developers Forum (SSDF) with 20 people in San Francisco. What started as an "Island of Misfit Toys” now sells out within a week of registration and draws in 100+ participants per event. Attendees tour projects, workshop development challenges, and connect with peers facing similar obstacles in other cities. The success of SSDF revealed a deeper need: Developers wanted more than twice-yearly gatherings. They needed ongoing support, access to proven templates, and connections that lasted between events. Jim's book "Building Small" captured a decade of knowledge from 150+ projects, and now the Building Small platform expands that foundation into a membership program with coaching workshops, online project critiques, and resources organized around each stage of the development process. Our conversation also addresses the practical barriers facing small scale development today, from local regulatory cultures to national capital structures. Plus, we discuss how small scale development can address housing diversity and affordability. Episode Outline (04:57) Jim’s early projects and formative development experiences (14:41) How the SSDF format grew from single-day programming to immersive multi-day events (31:50) The three pillars of Building Small: community, bridging the gap, and championing great design (39:46) How small scale development responds to today’s housing challenges (42:10) Working through industry barriers and scaling sustainably (46:03) The distinction between mentoring and coaching (56:55) How to get involved with Building Small Additional Resources This episode of American Building is brought to you by New Blueprint Partners — making industrial real estate accessible to the everyday investor. They provide a simple, hassle-free, and transparent path to owning industrial properties, backed by experienced operators. You may remember founders Ron Schinik and Marc Esrig from our episode on the Vancouver Innovation Center (https://www.americanbuildingpodcast.com/episodes-all/ron-schinik-of-new-blueprint-partners-vancouver-innovation-center-in-vancouver-redeveloping-manufacturing), where they shared how collaboration and communication shape successful projects. Learn how you can build your industrial real estate portfolio at newblueprintpartners.com (https://newblueprintpartners.com/). Connect with Jim Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimheid/) Learn more about Building Small (https://www.jheid.com/small/) Join Building Small the Network (https://buildingsmall.mn.co/) Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders, and Great Communities by Jim Heid (https://www.amazon.com/Building-Small-Toolkit-Entrepreneurs-Communities/dp/0874204682) More From American Building Grab the exclusive guide: How Eight Developers &amp; Designers Are Responding to The Housing Crisis (https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6033fc5354e757a06358fd90) Learn more on the American Building...

3. 

   3 Dec 2025

   Inside Amy Gutmann Hall: Philadelphia's First Urban Mass Timber Building

   When most universities build research facilities for data science and AI, they create sleek, futuristic spaces that showcase technology. The University of Pennsylvania took the opposite approach with Amy Gutmann Hall. The six-story building uses mass timber construction to bring natural warmth and a sense of openness to technical programs. Walking through the 116,000-square-foot structure, the exposed wood columns, beams, and ceiling decks contrast with a fresh color palette rarely seen in institutional environments. Andrew Herdeg, Partner at Lake Flato Architects, leads projects that connect people to the natural environment through warm, contextual architecture. Lake Flato's work spans from private residences to complex university facilities, always designing within an environmental context. David Meaney serves as Solomon R. Pollack Professor &amp; Vice Provost for Research at Penn where he guides planning and facilities decisions for a campus that values collaboration, sustainability, and financial stewardship. This conversation explores why Penn selected mass timber for a major academic building, how the design team front-loaded procurement to reduce risk, and the outcome of incorporating hospitality-like experiences into research environments. From union negotiations to CLT panel optimization, the discussion reveals both the philosophy and practical realities of building Philadelphia's first large-scale urban mass timber structure. Episode Outline (01:56) How Andrew's firm brings residential design principles to institutional projects (11:14) The eight-year planning process for a data science building in a doubling-data world (15:43) Eight competing design visions and Lake Flato's winning pitch (21:55) Designing for deep focus work while encouraging spontaneous collaboration (30:09) Running cost analysis: mass timber versus conventional steel and concrete construction (34:29) Achieving 52-70% embodied carbon reduction through integrated structural systems (38:31) Shifting procurement left: how early contractor engagement de-risked the project (48:31) Experiencing exposed timber, natural daylight, and the southern campus vista Additional Resources This episode of American Building is brought to you by New Blueprint Partners — making industrial real estate accessible to the everyday investor. They provide a simple, hassle-free, and transparent path to owning industrial properties, backed by experienced operators. You may remember founders Ron Schinik and Marc Esrig from our episode on the Vancouver Innovation Center (https://www.americanbuildingpodcast.com/episodes-all/ron-schinik-of-new-blueprint-partners-vancouver-innovation-center-in-vancouver-redeveloping-manufacturing), where they shared how collaboration and communication shape successful projects. Learn how you can build your industrial real estate portfolio at newblueprintpartners.com (https://newblueprintpartners.com/). Learn more about Amy Gutmann Hall (https://www.lakeflato.com/project/university-pennsylvania-amy-gutmann-hall/) Connect with Andrew Herdeg Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-herdeg-b562a929/) Website (https://www.lakeflato.com/) Connect with David Meaney Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-meaney-4b89799/) <a href="https://www.seas.upenn.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Who has been a guest on American Building

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Carrie Denning Jackson
• Nate Helbach
• Cecily King
• Ben Weinberg
• Michael Weiss

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

45,779

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

27 ratings

Spotify

4.3 / 5

16 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

80

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

51

Contact American Building

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.