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PODCAST

Innovation by Design

Evan Troxel & Candace Kitchen

Innovation by Design is the podcast where architecture meets innovation in the built environment. Hosted by Evan Troxel — architect, educator, and veteran AEC podcast host — and Candace Kitchen of Total Door Systems, each episode features short, story-driven conversations with the practitioners, designers, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of architecture, engineering, and construction. From design equity and healthcare mega-projects to AI in architecture, computational design, and

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All Episodes

58:15

Climate, Health, Equity: One Firm's Default

Innovation by Design ·

2026/09/30

Corey Squire and Amy Donohue join Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen to talk about how Bora Architecture & Interiors turned sustainability from a rotating champion's cause into a named, firm-wide default: climate, health, and equity. They dig into the "Bora Perfect Project," why window wall ratio and orientation matter more than any energy model, why mass timber is the firm's starting assumption rather than an exception, and the moment a young intern spoke up in a leadership meeting to stop a

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42:29

The Performance Mindset: How SmithGroup Approaches...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/08/03

In this episode of Innovation By Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Chris Heine, an architect and strategist at SmithGroup, about how sustainability has shifted from an optional add-on to a core design requirement.Chris explains how early, passive design decisions (orientation, envelope performance, solar control) reduce the need for oversized active systems later, and why building performance depends on more than modeling, including commissioning, operations training, and ongoing

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50:44

Designing with Immersion: Storytelling, Training, and...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/07/20

DescriptionIn this episode of Innovation By Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with architect and educator Ming Tang, director of the XR Lab at the University of Cincinnati, about extended reality and the rapidly changing tools that make immersive experiences more accessible than ever.Ming breaks down the differences between VR, AR, and mixed reality, shares the origin story of their own journey from early CAD and 3D rendering to immersive media, and explains why embodied, interactive

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43:56

Solving for E — How Framework-E Is Rewriting the...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/07/06

DescriptionIn this episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Jerry Attia and Pierre Roberson of Framework-E to unpack what it looks like to intentionally design a practice, not just projects.Jerry and Pierre walk through Framework-E’s origin story, including the relationships and early projects that helped them launch quickly, and how their “Design Framework Report” mindset shaped the firm’s name and mission.They dig into what “equity” means in their work, including stakeholder

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51:56

Architecture's Technical Foundation: Why Every...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/06/22

Specifications are where design intent becomes buildable reality. In this episode, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Sherry Harbaugh, FCSI, CCS, RA, SCIP, about the overlooked craft of architectural specifications and why it is central to quality control, risk management, and successful project delivery.Sherry recounts how early career experiences and a strong community through CSI helped them find a path in specifications, and why mentorship is essential for emerging professionals who are

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47:23

Design as Decision: Dustin Schafer on Risk, Value,...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/06/08

Dustin Schafer is Head of Research at Henderson Engineers, where he focuses on translating emerging technology into organizational strategy. In this episode, Dustin shares the career path that took him from architectural engineering and mechanical design into project management, commissioning, quality, standards, and ultimately technology leadership — including a recent shift from CTO into a role dedicated to the intersection of operations and technology.The conversation centers on a core argument:

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39:39

Experience Design in Practice: Sandra Olave on...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/05/25

In this conversation, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Sandra Olave, chair of Interior Design at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit. Sandra traces their path from a civil engineering start in Colombia to studying design in Barcelona and ultimately building a career that blends practice, education, and community-centered design.The discussion explores how culture and travel influence design instincts, why experience design requires attention to the full spectrum of human

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49:50

Designing with Simulations: A New Era for Architecture

Innovation by Design ·

2026/05/11

In this episode of Innovation By Design, Angelos Chronis explores the growing role of AI in architecture and urban design.We talk about how neural networks and machine learning can accelerate simulations and expand what is practical to test during design, including daylighting and solar exposure studies.We also dig into generative components and optimization workflows in tools like Grasshopper, including the use of genetic algorithms to search design options.Finally, we touch on how creative AI

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51:31

The Spec Whisperer — Why Every Building Needs Someone...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/04/27

In this episode of Innovation by Design, Amy Baker shares a career path that runs counter to the typical “design-first” narrative in architecture. Amy explains how early exposure to specifications helped remove the intimidation factor, why the tactile reality of materials and construction drew her to the technical side of practice, and how she ultimately built a firm that focuses on specifications and technical consulting rather than design services.Evan, Candace, and Amy discuss how drawings and

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54:27

Smart Hospitals of the Future: Inside Detroit's...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/04/10

Jesse Balok, Vice President of Planning, Design and Construction at Henry Ford Health, joins Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen to unpack Destination: Grand, the system’s historic $2.2 billion expansion of its Detroit campus. Jesse shares how Henry Ford Health is planning a once‑in‑a‑generation build while keeping a 110‑year‑old hospital campus running, and why phasing, decommissioning, and infrastructure renewal must happen alongside forward‑looking innovation.They discuss collaborative project

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51:53

Neural Architecture — How AI Is Rewriting the Rules...

Innovation by Design ·

2026/04/10

In this episode of Innovation by Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Dr. Matias del Campo, architect, theorist, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of architecture and artificial intelligence.Matias shares the trajectory that led him from the University of Applied Arts Vienna to co-founding SPAN, a practice built on computational design and experimental architecture. He discusses how his research into AI-driven design creates what he calls a "design ecology," merging

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44:05

Building the Community That Drives AEC Innovation

Innovation by Design ·

2026/04/10

In this episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with David Mans, Director of AECtech at Thornton Tomasetti's CORE studio, to explore the intersection of computational design, community building, and hands-on innovation in AEC.David traces his path from undergraduate architecture at Pratt Institute through early computational design experiments to leading what has become one of the industry's most influential technology conferences. He explains how parametric and computational design

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02:08

Welcome to the Innovation by Design Podcast

Innovation by Design ·

2026/04/10

In this teaser episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen introduce Innovation by Design, a new podcast produced by Total Door Systems.You will hear what the show is about, why it exists, and what to expect in Season 1, including conversations on small firm excellence, design equity, healthcare mega-projects, and how specifications can be a strategic advantage in the building industry.Subscribe now so you get all the episodes.About the showThe Innovation By Design podcast is a Total Door Systems

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