Better Buildings for Humans, the podcast exploring the intersection of human wellness and the built environment, has entered its third season, marking a major milestone for the show powered by Advanced Glazings. Since its launch, the podcast has become a trusted platform for architects, designers, builders, and policy leaders seeking insight into how buildings shape health, dignity, and daily life. Season 3 features a lineup of high-profile guests, including internationally acclaimed architect Alison Brooks, whose new episode went live this morning.
In the newly released episode, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Alison Brooks for a discussion on housing, beauty, and the cultural power of home. Brooks reflects on her early inspirations, her award-winning body of work, and why generosity, light, and craftsmanship matter in an era dominated by energy codes and performance metrics. Brooks, the only practitioner to have received all three of the Royal Institute of British Architects' highest honors, explores how deeper windows, thoughtful proportions, and sculptural form can reconnect people to light, sky, and one another.
Another recent episode features Thierry Paret, FAIA, Vice President of Architecture and Engineering at the New York City School Construction Authority. Paret brings a large-scale perspective, discussing design excellence at scale, sustainability in public-sector projects, and the responsibility architects carry when shaping environments for future generations. Overseeing renovations and new construction for approximately 1,500 school buildings serving nearly one million students, Paret offers a grounded view of architecture as civic infrastructure.
Rounding out the trio is a conversation with Yiselle Santos Rivera, architect, educator, and incoming President-Elect of the American Institute of Architects. Santos Rivera explores how architecture intersects with neuroscience, public health, climate resilience, and economic mobility, making the case for buildings as tools for healing, justice, and joy.
Looking ahead, the podcast will expand its focus on emerging research, including partial spectrum light and its potential impacts on circadian health, cognition, and long-term well-being. The show will examine how common building technologies, such as certain LED lighting systems and low-emissivity (Low-E) glazing, may unintentionally alter the quality of light occupants experience indoors. It will also delve into the expanding world of metal buildings and their pairing with advanced daylighting strategies, including translucent glazing systems such as SoleraWall® by Advanced Glazings Ltd.
New episodes of Better Buildings for Humans are available on all major podcast platforms. The podcast is powered by Advanced Glazings Ltd., a global leader in high-performance translucent building materials.
