Advertise on podcast: Side of Design

 Quality in design and construction is easy to recognize, but far more complex to achieve. It’s not just about how a building looks when it’s finished, but about the processes that carry a project from concept through construction. In this episode of Side of Design, we sit down with BWBR’s Director of Professional Services Dan Hottinger and Construction Administration Manager Bryan Desma to unpack what “quality” really means in design and construction—and how it begins long before a project breaks ground.  If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

Sustainability, quality assurance (QA), building codes, and specifications—at BWBR, these critical design functions are overseen by Rachael Spires, Associate Principal and Performance Design & Quality Manager. In this episode of Side Notes, she explores how the seemingly distinctive roles intersect, all working together to drive design excellence in powerful ways. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

What does it take to create a birth center that truly serves its community—clinically, culturally, and emotionally? The Regions Hospital Birth Center was designed with this question in mind, taking a family-centered approach that integrates the latest care choices with the multicultural needs of mothers in the Twin Cities. In this episode of Side of Design, we take a deep dive into the design process as the hospital celebrates five years of impact.  Joining the discussion are Rochelle Johnson, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Regions Hospital, along with BWBR project team members—Principal Melanie Baumhover, who served as Project Manager, Principal Mike Boldenow, and Senior Healthcare Planner Sophia Skemp. The conversation explores the project’s vision, challenges, and—most importantly—how the birth center continues to transform care. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

Bringing a building design from concepts and renderings to a completed facility is a complex and technical process. Playing a major part in making it happen is BWBR’s Dan Hottinger, Principal and Professional Services Director, who describes his role as “the bridge between design and putting the design in motion.” In this episode of Side Notes, he shares the latest innovations and challenges he sees facing the AEC industry—and how professional services can help. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

As climate change reshapes the way we live—prompting thoughtful changes both big and small to support sustainability—the design profession must evolve as a key player in reducing waste, deforestation, and other drivers of global warming. One critical lever designers can pull is material selection. In this episode, we’re focusing on FSC-certified wood—a single material choice that can make a significant difference.  Joining us from BWBR are President and CEO Terri Ulrick, Senior Specifications Writer Renee Wells, and Sustainability Specialist Rasa Zeltina to discuss what FSC wood is, why it matters, and how designers can meaningfully incorporate it into their projects to support sustainability and social responsibility. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

n the latest episode of Side Notes, BWBR’s Education Practice Leader Greg Fenton joins us to take a closer look at the ever-evolving higher education landscape. In a quick conversation packed with meaningful insights, we explore how design can widen the horizons of learning and breathe new life into college campuses, bringing inventive solutions that address education’s greatest challenges. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

In the latest episode of Side Notes, the bite-sized version of Side of Design, BWBR’s Healthcare Practice Leader Ryan Johansen joins us for a quick but impactful discussion on the state of healthcare market. In less than 15 minutes, they explore how the industry is shifting from a model centered on treating illness to one focused on promoting wellness—and how design can support this transformation by addressing the needs of patients, families, and healthcare staff in holistic ways. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

In the debut episode of Side Notes, a bite-sized version of Side of Design, host Matt Gerstner sits down with Nate Roisen, BWBR’s Science + Technology Practice Leader, to explore the evolving world of design and innovation in the market. In just under 15 minutes, they cover what excites Nate about the current landscape, the biggest challenges clients face, and what makes designing in this field so rewarding. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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. BWBR Principal Jason Nordling, Senior Planner Jessica Sweeney, and Principal Brian Zabloudil help health systems tackle this complexity through system-level strategic planning. Their work extends well past traditional facility master plans, taking on the task of aligning an entire network of care. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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 Josh Simma recently sat down to untangle the often-confused concepts of accessible, universal, and inclusive design. Their conversation reveals why these distinctions matter and how they're reshaping the way spaces get built. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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 today’s technology needs—all while keeping existing furniture out of landfills. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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 Planner), and Rachael Spires (Associate Principal and Performance Design & Quality Manager) for a lively conversation. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

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. That’s why we were excited to talk with Kyle and Craig to gain insights into how thoughtful design transforms athletic facilities into dynamic hubs serving entire campus communities. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/