The connection between the climate crisis and social inequality is evident and solving both will require rethinking how we use our buildings.
Every building has value—from its materials to its history—and every project is a chance to address social and environmental challenges. Buildings create 40% of global CO2 emissions, so it's crucial to reduce their carbon footprint. Building owners play a key role in our collective climate action battle and helping them reuse and improve their spaces sustainably is essential for creating a better future.
Tangible Remnants, hosted by architect Nakita Reed, is your guide to navigating the complexities of adaptive reuse and historic preservation. Designed for building owners and developers, this podcast demystifies the process of transforming historic buildings into thriving spaces that honor their past while serving the present.
On this show, Nakita shares her expertise as an architect specializing in preservation and sustainability. With years of experience helping clients navigate preservation protections, secure millions of dollars in historic tax credits, and design projects that meet preservation requirements, Nakita offers practical strategies and insights to save you time, money, and frustration.
From interviews with industry leaders to solo episodes breaking down key frameworks, Tangible Remnants provides actionable advice and inspiration to help you make the most of your projects. If you’re ready to adaptively reuse buildings with confidence, subscribe now and demystify your journey today.
In this engaging conversation, Nakita Reed and Carl Elefante explore the intersection of sustainability, architecture, and historic preservation. Elefante shares his journey in the field, emphasizing the importance of reusing existing buildings and the philosophy that the greenest building is the one already built. They discuss the relevance revolution in architecture, the urgent need to address climate change, and the justice imperative in urban development. The conversation culminates in a call for reintegration and healing in urban environments, highlighting the lasting value of buildings and the responsibility architects have in shaping a sustainable future.
Links:
Carl Elefante's website (https://carlelefante.com/)
Book: Going for Zero (https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9781642833553/going-for-zero)
Tangible Remnants on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tangibleremnants/)
Tangible Remnants Website (https://www.podpage.com/tangible-remnants/)
LinkedTr.ee for resources (https://linktr.ee/TangibleRemnants)
Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast (https://gablmedia.com/tr)
Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed (https://www.nakitareed.com/ama)
Gabl Media Network (https://gablmedia.com/)
Sarah Gilberg's Music (https://sarahgilberg.bandcamp.com/releases)
Bio: Known worldwide for coining the phrase: “the greenest building is…one that is already built,” Carl Elefante is Principal Emeritus with Quinn Evans, recipient of the 2024 AIA National Firm Award. In 2018, Carl served as President of AIA, the culmination of leadership positions in architecture, historic preservation, and sustainable design organizations. In 2023, Carl was the inaugural visiting scholar at the University of Notre Dame Duda Center for Preservation, Resilience, and Sustainability. Carl is a Senior Fellow with Architecture 2030, a charter member of the Climate Heritage Network, and a Fellow of AIA and Association for Preservation Technology International (APT).
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.**
Mentioned in this episode:
She Builds (https://tangible-remnants.captivate.fm/she-builds)
Design Vault (https://tangible-remnants.captivate.fm/design-vault)
1 Dec 2025
Equity in Preservation w/ Tiffani Simple
In this conversation, Nakita Reed interviews Tiffani Simple, a preservation architect based in New York City. They discuss the complexities of preservation architecture, including the importance of facade maintenance, the role of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the challenges faced by building owners in historic districts. Tiffani emphasizes the need for community education, particularly for underrepresented groups, and shares insights on the Inclusion and Advocacy Committee within the Association for Preservation Technology. The conversation also touches on adaptive reuse projects and the importance of understanding regulations and constraints in preservation work.
Links:
Simple Design Studio (https://simpledesignarch.com/about/)
APT Inclusion Advocacy Committee (https://www.apti.org/inclusion-advocacy)
Tangible Remnants on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tangibleremnants/)
Tangible Remnants Website (https://www.podpage.com/tangible-remnants/)
LinkedTr.ee for resources (https://linktr.ee/TangibleRemnants)
Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast (https://gablmedia.com/tr)
Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed (https://www.nakitareed.com/ama)
Gabl Media Network (https://gablmedia.com/)
Sarah Gilberg's Music (https://sarahgilberg.bandcamp.com/releases)
Bio: Tiffani Simple is the Principal and Owner of Simple Design Studio-Architects, P.C. Tiffani holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a Registered Architect in New York and New Jersey and a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector in New York City. With extensive experience in architectural preservation, she has worked on a range of projects involving various construction typologies, materials, and finishes. Her expertise includes preservation planning, adaptive reuse, and community engagement, notably contributing to historic civil rights sites and cultural heritage projects throughout North America, United Kingdom, and Caribbean.
Tiffani is an active member in several professional organizations including the Association of Preservation Technology (APT), the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). As a minority female architect in preservation, she is dedicated to advocating towards a more inclusive industry. She is a co-chair of APT’s Inclusion Advocacy Committee and is part of several advocacy organizations within the design industry.
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.**
17 Nov 2025
CREW Conversations w/ Carla Hinson and Nakita Reed
This episode is a replay of CREW Conversations Episode 17: Preserving Baltimore’s History While Building a Sustainable Future. In this insightful episode, Nakita Reed of Quinn Evans and Carla Hinson of Cross Street Partners explore the intersection of historic preservation and sustainability in Baltimore’s built environment. From navigating complex regulations to finding creative solutions for adaptive reuse, Nakita and Carla dive into the challenges and opportunities of preserving the city’s architectural legacy while embracing environmentally responsible practices.
Links:
CREW Conversations podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crew-conversations/id1741178418)
Cross Street Partners (https://crossstpartners.com/)
Quinn Evans (https://www.quinnevans.com/)
Signup for the Tangible Remnants newsletter (https://tangible-remnants.kit.com/10fc4fc618)
Tangible Remnants on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tangibleremnants/)
Tangible Remnants Website (https://www.podpage.com/tangible-remnants/)
LinkedTr.ee for resources (https://linktr.ee/TangibleRemnants)
Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast (https://gablmedia.com/tr)
Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed (https://www.nakitareed.com/ama)
Gabl Media Network (https://gablmedia.com/)
Sarah Gilberg's Music (https://sarahgilberg.bandcamp.com/releases)
**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.**
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
56
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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