Better Buildings For Humans

Why Windows Fail and Daylight Wins: Rethinking Light in Buildings – Ep 127 with Jon Phillips

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Jon Phillips, CEO of PhillComm Global for a fascinating real-world look at what happens when daylighting science moves from theory into daily life. After years of working in a dark, screen-filled workspace, John redesigned his home studio and office around advanced daylighting—transforming the way he works, creates music, and experiences the workday.Joe and John explore how controlled, diffused daylight can eliminate glare, reduce heat, and replace the harsh fatigue of artificial lighting with balanced, full-spectrum illumination. The conversation dives into the science behind managing sunlight, the surprising role of translucent glazing in privacy and acoustic control, and how thoughtfully designed daylight can boost productivity, creativity, and well-being.From home studios to schools and workplaces, this episode shows how better light can fundamentally reshape the spaces where we live and work—and how experiencing it firsthand can change everything.More About Jon PhillipsTo comeContact:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonlindsayphillips/ https://www.phillcommglobal.org/ https://x.com/phillcomm?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/phillcomm/?hl=en  Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

Cutting Holes in the Roof (On Purpose): Why Daylight from Above Changes Everything – Ep 126 with Richard Williams

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Richard Williams, Senior Architect Development Manager at VELUX, for an energizing and deeply thoughtful conversation about daylight, design, and the future of healthy housing. Drawing on more than 30 years with the company, Richard shares how his early hands-on training in building science shaped his passion for craftsmanship, performance, and people-centered architecture.Together, they explore why the “fifth façade” — the roof — may be the most important surface of all, how natural daylight from above outperforms vertical glazing, and why ventilation is critical to occupant well-being. The conversation also tackles urban density, renovation of aging housing stock, climate resilience, and the urgent need to build homes for purpose — not just profit. This episode is a powerful reminder that great buildings start with one thing: people.More About Richard WilliamsRichard Williams’ passion for architecture gave him significant insight into the design, specification, and project planning of a wide range of projects throughout the Cotswolds, where he worked within several architectural practices as an Architectural Technician.He joined VELUX Company Ltd more than 30 years ago, and in his current role as Senior Architectural Development Manager, Richard Williams collaborates with colleagues across multiple countries, sharing industry insights and strengthening ongoing relationships within the architectural community.Contact:https://hdawards.org/ https://hdawards.org/living-places/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/velux_yesterday-we-were-proud-to-celebrate-participants-activity-7369674420702969856-wief?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAIRKIMBpAPsGNrXCmSGc8zj03bLKRHa1oM Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

Are We Designing Blind? Why Architecture Must Measure Its Impact – Ep 125 with Dr. Helia Taheri

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Dr. Helia Taheri, Research and Insights Lead at Arcadis, for an inspiring deep dive into human-centric design, evidence-based practice, and the future of our cities. Born and raised in Iran and now working in the U.S., Helia shares how her artistic upbringing, architectural training, and PhD research shaped her mission to bridge design and behavioral science.From retail prototypes to global workplace research, she explores how culture, climate, and community shape the way we experience buildings. The conversation also tackles post-occupancy evaluation, data gaps in architecture, and her passion for creating walkable, connected cities. This episode is a powerful call to measure our impact, design with intention, and build flexible spaces that truly serve human needs.More About Dr. Helia TaheriDr. Helia Taheri is an award-winning mixed-methods researcher with 8+ years of experience in strategizing and conducting human-centric research in multidisciplinary teams to have a positive impact on people, the planet, and business. She considers herself a pollinator between different fields of architecture, human behavior, and sustainability and commits to bridging the gap between industry and academia.  Helia has a passion for learning and distributing knowledge and is actively engaged in presenting at conferences and publishing articles that connect the latest research with practice. She is a guest lecturer at universities such as Carnegie Mellon, USC, and Portland State University and a mentor to increase awareness among younger researchers about their important role in achieving data-driven design in architecture. Helia has a Ph.D. in human-centric research from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in Sustainability, and a B.Arch. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran.CONTACT:https://www.arcadis.com/en-us/insights/blog/united-states/helia-taheri/2024/arcadiss-approach-to-post-occupancy-evaluationhttps://www.arcadis.com/en-us/insights/blog/united-states/helia-taheri/2024/how-can-data-driven-strategies-support-the-evolution-of-Workplace-design https://www.linkedin.com/in/heliataheri/ Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

The Beauty of the "Wrong" Way: Curiosity, Constraints & Designing From the Heart – Ep 124 with Lila Allen

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes back writer, editor, and design thinker Lila Allen for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation on design, storytelling, and what it means to live well. Since her last appearance, Lila has launched Wrong House—a bold new digital publication that embraces design with “guts,” mixing historic perspective, experimental formats, and everyday reality.From curating ghost stories and celebrating found furniture to exploring the soulful connections we form with our spaces, Lila shares how constraints and authenticity can unlock creativity. She also opens up about her move to the Hudson Valley, the influence of her museum roots, and why "wrong" can often be so right in design.This episode is a rich exploration of emotional design, creative risk-taking, and the power of spaces to linger in our memory.More About Lila AllenLila Allen is the founder and editor in chief of Wrong House, a monthly design publication launched in September 2025. She has previously held senior editorial roles at Architectural Digest, where she led AD PRO, the site’s membership-based trade vertical, and Metropolis, where she was managing editor and shaped coverage across print and digital platforms. Today, outside of Wrong House, she runs an independent practice supporting architects, designers, and cultural organizations with brand storytelling, messaging strategy, and editorial direction, while continuing to write for leading design press. Lila holds a master’s degree in Design Research, Writing & Criticism from the School of Visual Arts, where she received the Paula Rhodes Memorial Award and the Monotype Scholarship for Excellence in Design Criticism. Her bylines include The New York Times, Interior Design, Architectural Digest, and The Architect’s Newspaper. She is currently at work on a design monograph for Monacelli, forthcoming in Fall 2026.Contact:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lila-allen-5513ba12/lila-allen.com  Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

Designing With All The Senses: Rethinking Science, Sustainability & Soul – Ep 123 with Scott Gustafson

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with award-winning architect Scott Gustafson of Harley Ellis Devereaux for a fascinating look at the intersection of science, sustainability, and beautiful design. As a leader in the Science and Advanced Manufacturing sector, Scott shares how labs and factories—often overlooked in architectural discourse—can become inspiring, human-centered spaces.From incorporating skylights into precision manufacturing plants to leveraging mass timber for rapid construction and biophilic impact, Scott reveals how even the most technical buildings can promote wellness, retention, and resilience. He also opens up about his love for Scandinavian modernism, his teaching role at Lawrence Technological University, and why architecture should be built to last, not follow trends.This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes that great design belongs everywhere—even on the factory floor.More About Scott GustafsonScott Gustafson is an architect living and working in the Detroit metro area. He works for HED, an integrated architecture and engineering firm founded in Detroit in the early 1900s.Originally from outside Chicago, Scott studied architecture at Kansas State University from 1994 to 1999. It was his uncle—also an architect and a KSU alumnus—who inspired him to pursue the same path.After earning his degree, Scott gained diverse professional experience by working in Arizona, Colorado, and California. His time with small and medium-sized firms in those states exposed him to a wide range of project types and professional practice styles.Since relocating to Michigan in 2017, Scott has contributed significantly to the architectural community. He has served on the Michigan Board of Architects, taught part-time at Lawrence Technological University, and held leadership roles—including vice-president, president, and past president—in the Huron Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He also served on his local planning commission. Each of these roles has allowed him to apply his architectural skills in meaningful ways that benefit the community.Scott’s passion lies in creating buildings and spaces that engage all of the human senses. He believes that since people spend so much of their lives in designed environments, both indoors and out, those spaces should uplift rather than diminish the human experience. Poor lighting, jarring sounds, uncomfortable furniture, unattractive signage, and cheap materials can all erode a person’s sense of well-being and dignity. Scott strives to design environments that make people feel comfortable, welcomed, cared for, and loved—spaces where they can do their best work, build meaningful relationships, and feel at peace.He is a registered architect in the states of Arizona, California, and Michigan, as well as in the countries of Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.Contact:https://hed.co/https://www.instagram.com/hedadvances/https://www.instagram.com/scottmbgustafson/https://www.threads.com/@scottmbgustafsonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmbgustafson/Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd