Side of Design
A podcast from BWBR, for those with a craving to take their organizations and spaces to new heights, with a side of design. We explore topics and issues affecting how we heal, learn, work, research, play and pray with those whose passion and expertise centers on the spaces that enable us to do all of that.
Episodes
Healthcare executives juggle decisions worth millions of dollars across multiple campuses while trying to predict a future that keeps changing. Aging facilities need updates, new technologies demand space, and patient needs shift faster than anyone can track. For health systems managing everything from rural Critical Access Hospitals to major medical centers, the old method of planning one facility at a time leaves critical gaps.
When BWBR's design team talks about creating spaces that "welcome and work for everyone," it isn’t PR speak or a feel-good talking point. They’re addressing one of architecture's most complex challenges. Truly equitable design requires intention and thoughtful consideration of elements that go far beyond code compliance.
Design Leader Lisa Miller, Interior Designer Katie Reed, and Senior Architectural Designer Jo...
When the lease on their office space expired, Minneapolis-based engineering firm Loucks sought out a team that could help create their ideal work environment in a new location. With help from BWBR, furniture dealership Henricksen, real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, and some extraordinary luck, Loucks transformed an already promising space into a workplace that supports their culture, enhances well-being, and aligns with toda...
The latest Side of Design podcast pulls back the curtain on PFAS, the infamous "forever chemicals" making headlines for their carcinogenic and environmentally damaging properties, and their widespread presence in many common finishes and materials—from stain-resistant couches to flame-retardant clothing to nonstick pans.
Host Matt Gerstner welcomes BWBR specialists Sara Biedenbender (Interior Designer), Kat Lauer (Project ...
The most recent Side of Design podcast introduces us to two architecture students whose work demands we reconsider what makes good design. Sierra Espinoza and Pwapadeino Wonosikou, this year's BWBR equity scholarship winners, aren't waiting until graduation to tackle the industry's most pressing questions about who benefits from the spaces we build—and who doesn't.
The path to professional fulfillment isn't always a straight line, and the stories of some of our BWBR team members prove just that. In the latest episode of Side of Design, host Matt Gerstner and three BWBR colleagues share their fascinating journeys of career transformation, revealing how seemingly unrelated experiences can shape unique perspectives and lead to rewarding careers in unexpected places.
Athletic facilities aren't just about sports anymore. As BWBR's Architectural Design Manager Kyle Lunke and Principal Craig Peterson discuss in our latest Side of Design episode, these spaces drive enrollment, enhance student wellness, and strengthen institutional identity.
Venues that welcome fans on game day help foster an incredible sense of community and energy—but the benefits go on long after the game clock runs out...
The research, development, and production that takes place inside science + technology facilities is highly complex and technical. It’s no surprise that the design work that brings these environments to life demands the same level of precision. Design, engineering, and contractor teams partner closely to coordinate the advanced MEP systems and intricate space planning that maintain sterile, safe, and efficient operations.
On this ep...
Employee engagement goes beyond happiness and job satisfaction—those are byproducts of something deeper. As BWBR's Director of People and Culture Tricia Eiswald and Knowledge Manager Kari Shonblom discuss in the latest Side of Design episode, engagement means genuine involvement and enthusiasm at work and in the workplace. Their insights delve into factors that drive engagement, BWBR’s own engagement strategies, and how organi...
Despite being a sensitive topic, money is central to any project—managing costs, remaining on budget, and achieving maximum value per dollar spent are all critical to a successful design, whether a new build, a major expansion, or a renovation. So, let’s talk about it.
The latest episode of Side of Design from BWBR dives deep into this subject, exploring the intricacies of fee development and its impact on project success. Host Matt...
Like any other healthcare facility, behavioral health environments must be comforting places to heal. But these spaces pose unique considerations to keep patients safe, requiring thoughtful balance from skilled design professionals to create environments that are beautiful and manage patient risk. Senior Interior Designer Lauren Frank, Senior Project Manager Susan Golberg, and Senior Architect Ellen Konerza are a few members of the...
Simulation spaces are high-tech, realistic environments designed to train both students preparing for careers in healthcare and medical professionals learning new skills. These environments require both the functionality of real healthcare spaces and classroom elements for teaching and learning, allowing users to practice skills, learn new procedures, or explore techniques that will be applied in real hospital settings.
In the lat...
Neuroscience facilities serve patients with a wide range of conditions, from cognitive issues like Alzheimer's to mobility challenges resulting from spinal cord injuries. Patients facing cognitive disorders may feel as though they’re experiencing a space for the very first time, even though they've been there dozens of times, while patients with mobility aids require extra space to access and move through a facility. Thes...
A lot goes into creating healthcare environments that work for both the patients they serve and the staff who provide critical care – from having the right number of beds to planning strategic layouts that allow providers to do their best work efficiently to finding feasible solutions amid rising costs. That’s where designers come in, working closely with healthcare teams to develop spaces that are customized to support each organi...
Student housing is commonly associated with bare-bones accommodations designed to be tolerated rather than enjoyed. However, today’s residence halls are advancing in remarkable ways to better foster community, support student well-being, and reflect each institution’s unique culture. Students increasingly seek inclusive design, communities to enhance learning and living, and a focus on wellness that encompasses everything from medi...
The worlds of design and construction are closely related, yet they speak entirely different languages. A lot hinges on maintaining a clear, consistent vision and understanding of every detail, with absolutely nothing getting lost in translation between design and construction. Luckily, Construction Administrators (CA) speak both “languages” fluently, and they’re a critical component of an effective design-build process.
H...
If our latest podcast discussion is any indication, the future of design is in excellent hands. We were honored to sit down with the recipients of this year’s BWBR equity scholarships for an inspiring discussion about inclusion and diversity in design, the recipients’ incredible submission projects, and what’s next for them.
Hosted by:
Matt Gerstner - BWBR Podcast Host and Producer
Guests:
Valerie Lange -...
Quality assurance is all about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, confirming that design details meet code regulations, stakeholder requirements, and quality standards.
Hosted by:
Matt Gerstner - BWBR Podcast Host and Producer
Guests:
Dan Hottinger - BWBR, Principal
Todd Warren - BWBR, Quality Assurance Specialist
Music provided by Artlist.io
Siberian Summer by Sunny Fruit
DuDa by...
The folks in lab design at BWBR have no trouble seeing common ground between their work as designers and their scientist clients’ work. In both cases, it’s about coming up with innovative, out-of-the-box, and creative solutions to intricate problems.
Hosted by:
Matt Gerstner - BWBR Podcast Host and Producer
Guests:
Terri Ulrick - BWBR, Principal and Director
Brian Lapham - BWBR, Senior Project Manager...
When it comes to Critical Access Hospital projects, two themes reign supreme: affordability and strategic thinking. Working on these projects means getting creative in figuring out how to fine-tune design for a community's unique needs, maintaining the highest standards of planning and execution while balancing tight budgets.
Hosted by:
Matt Gerstner - BWBR Podcast Host and Producer
Guests:
Brad Krum...
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