The Agati Video Podcast

Courthouse design involves a balance of functionality, aesthetics, and safety. From 10 years of specializing in justice facility design, Michelle Graham, project architect at DLR Group, knows how to meet every requirement.

Listen to the short audio for Michelle Graham and Joe Agati Jr.’s quick tips on designing a courtroom facility, including:

• Collaboration with judges is imperative throughout the design process since they’re the...

Joe had the opportunity to talk with several guests about how a library redesign project has gone from ideation to implementation. Each of our guests, including our team here at Agati, have been working together on an incredible redesign of the John C. Hitt Library at the University of Central Florida, which has been in the works since 2003.

To help take a deeper look at this redesign is Frank Allen, Senior Associate Direc...

Today, Joe is joined by Toni Lombardozzi, who he met at this year’s ALA Annual Conference in San Diego, for a conversation about a ten-year project to update several library facilities in Charleston, SC. Toni is the project manager at Charleston County Public Library in Charleston, SC. Combining fifteen years in the design and construction industry and close to a decade of working specifically with libraries, Toni carries a unique ...

Today, Joe is joined by Michelle Graham for a conversation about architecture and design in justice facilities. Michelle is a project architect at DLR Group, a firm committed to elevating human experience through design. Michelle holds a Master of Architecture from Tulane University and is a licensed architect and designer with a focus on justice facilities, including corrections facilities and courthouses.

In this convers...

For today’s episode of the podcast, we are exploring the topic of collaboration spaces. Joe is joined once again by John Whitlock and first-time guest Carson Durham, who are both Principals and Higher Education Design Experts at BLDD Architects, a leading architecture firm passionate about the power of design to change the world.

In this conversation, we are discussing design considerations for collaboration spaces, how to be intent...

For today’s episode of the podcast, Joe had the opportunity to talk with Michelle Ohnstad, Library Operations Manager at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California, who has over 20 years of experience in library leadership.

In this conversation, Michelle shares what she has seen working for students at MiraCosta College, a behind-the-scenes look at their current library renovations, how they have strived to equitably serve their stu...

For today's episode of the podcast, Joe had the opportunity to talk with John Whitlock and Bruce Maxey, who are both Principals and Higher Education Design Experts at BLDD Architects, a leading architecture firm passionate about the power of design to change the world. Specifically, BLDD does a majority of their work in higher education, senior living, K-12, and religious spaces.

In this conversation, we're prima...

For today's episode of the podcast, I have the opportunity to talk with the man himself: my dad, founder of Agati Furniture, Joe Agati Sr. I've had the opportunity to host many conversations here on the podcast, and I'm especially excited to share some behind-the-scenes and stories from his decades of experience here at Agati.

In our conversation, we explore how Joe moved from creating sculptures and fantasy...

For today's episode of the podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with Joseph Goetz, Operations Manager at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Rock Island County, Illinois. We had the opportunity work with them recently, and you can see the installation here.

Since 1935, the Quad Cities International Airport has worked to connect travelers across the country with customer service at the forefront. Serving over 500,000 pa...

"We want to give every passenger the opportunity to wind down or plug in, whatever they need." - John Groves

For today's episode of the podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with John Groves, Senior Interior Designer with AECOM, one of the most trusted infrastructure consulting firms, partnering with their clients to solve complex challenges in a variety of industries. John has been in the design industry for multipl...

"We don't know what children are coming into these spaces with. We need to create environments where they feel safe." - Jill Seitz

For today's episode of the podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with Jill Seitz, a Senior Interior Designer at Moody Nolan, the largest African American owned design firm in the country with more than 330 employees and 12 office locations across the U.S. Jill has been ther...

Welcome back to the Agati Video Podcast, a space where Joe Agati, COO & Director of Design here at Agati Furniture, hosts conversations with designers, architects, and difference-makers to bring inspiration and education to your work.

“The work we do really does make a difference in the built environment. We get to connect worlds, literally.” – Derrick Choi

For today’s episode of the podcast, we had the opport...

"It got to the point that we needed not just a renovated library, but a reconstructed library." - Frank Allen

For today's episode of the podcast, we have the opportunity to talk with Frank Allen, Senior Associate Director of the John C Hitt Library at the University of Central Florida. Frank has been at UCF since 1998 and has involvement with the CORE division of the American Library Association. He also pre...

"We don't want to solve problems in the same way for every project. There would be no excitement in that." - Tiffany Nash

For today's episode of the podcast, we have a really fun conversation with Tiffany Nash and Dan Pohrte. Tiffany is  Owner & Principal of Product Architecture + Design, and is a licensed architect with over 20 years of experience in the industry and an expertise in library design....

"The quiet library environment of the past has given way to a library that is bustling with activity." - Elisabeth Martin

For today's episode of the podcast, we have a great conversation to share with both Elisabeth Martin and Denelle Wrightson, each architects who have focused on library design for over 2 decades. Elisabeth Martin, principal of MDA designgroup, leads a firm that focuses on innovative librar...

"[Designing a library] is really a gift you're giving the community." - Maureen Arndt

For today's episode of the podcast, we have a great conversation to share with Maureen Arndt, Founding Principal of 720 Design. From a fourth grader who discovered passion for architecture at a summer camp to the leader of a design firm that has completed over 300 library projects, Maureen has a really unique story.

720 Design is...

"We're always looking to refresh and maintain the incredible details while bringing in modern details in a cohesive way, creating harmony between the new and old." - Stephanie Shook

For today's episode of the podcast, we're welcome two more top-tier guests! Joe is talking with Peter Bolek, President and Director of Design at HBM Architects, as well as Stephanie Shook, Associate and Interior Designe...

"We are 5 to 10 years out from ever considering a new terminal, so we are trying to make as much happen in the space we're allocated." - Dawson Frank

It's always a value-packed conversation when we get to talk to someone who is practically leading innovation each and every day, especially in an industry like aviation.

For today's episode of the podcast, we're welcoming Dawson Frank, P...

"As general trust in public institutions has eroded, libraries have largely been able to keep the trust of the public." - Don McKay

Don McKay is a Principal at Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects, a leading architectural firm with offices in Chicago and London.

His journey in architecture started with a simple suggestion in a shop class that led him to discover a life-long passion. Don finds his greatest in...