The Art of Construction

This is episode 1 of a 4 part series on constructing housing for IDD adults!
“Please listen to the parents, and understand their passion will drive them to success. Believe us...You won’t just be helping us, and our kids, you will be solving an incredible social problem.”
If you hear any background noise or laughter - that’s because this podcast was recorded LIVE from the Nuts and Bolts Conference in Colorado Springs in November 2023!
Barbara Ziegler is the Board president of the Trailhead Community. Here's more about Trailhead Community that can also be found on their website:
Trailhead Community was originally inspired by the success of Stepping Stone Support Center, a sister company established in 2013. The Support Center provides prevocational and life skills training, job placement, job coaching services, social events and community connection. It now serves more than 100 individuals with developmental disabilities to live meaningful and productive lives. With this success in one aspect, it became quickly evident that another important piece was missing for adults with developmental disabilities: Homes of their own!
The individuals we work with are first and foremost ADULTS. Like all adults, they deserve to live independently in a place of their own. So in 2016, a group of parents, Stepping Stone staff and other friends all came together for the purpose of creating a non-profit to address this need. Stepping Stone Communities was born and the mission established: creating and designing an extraordinary opportunity for people to come together in an integrated and intentional apartment community!
After hundreds of hours of research and discussion, Stepping Stone Communities selected its first project- Trailhead Community, an apartment building with 77 units for both adults with DD and members of the general population with plenty of community space for meals and recreation. This was an ambitious project and it has grown since then!

The final result is an 83 unit complex where 50% of the units are allocated for adults with developmental disabilities and the other 50% for neuro-typical residents. The building will include state-of-the-art technology and “Universal Design” features to promote independence and safety for all residents. A cooperative management model will integrate all residents to make decisions about how their community will operate!
There will be on-site concierge staff to provide 24/7 oversite for the building, social events, meal preparation and encourage mutual exchange and support between tenants. The building will have many unique and intentional features to promote community including a sport court, sound-proof multimedia room for music, large screen viewing and mini jam sessions, an art studio, fitness room, a community kitchen and common dining room serving optional meals daily, and large common areas both indoors and outdoors!
Learn more about the Trailhead Community here: https://www.trailheadcommunity.org/

This is episode 4 of 4 discussing the national organization BS + Beer and Building Science.
Today's episode features Devon and Robby as co-hosts chatting with Shawn LeMons of Mitsubishi wrapping up the 4 episode Deep Dive Series on BS + Beer. They explore how to get contractors on board with heat pump technology. The episode highlights the role of collaboration and innovation in moving the industry forward and emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between theory and reality. They explore the changing landscape of heat pumps and the options available for builders. They emphasize the need to take small steps towards energy efficiency and the importance of testing and double-checking specifications. They also discuss the power of a long-term mindset.
"Treat the product you are providing your customer with a 10-year warranty mindset. What opportunities would that open up for you?"
Robby Schwarz has been a champion of home performance for over 25 years, focusing on building performance, applied building science, and system thinking. He is committed to helping industry partners, builders, code jurisdictions, and others understand residential energy, applied building science, systems thinking, home performance and our role in the built environment. His interest started in 1995, while exploring how to incorporate green building materials into the production building environment. Soon after, Robby founded his first company, BuiltWright, Inc. In 2006, he cofounded EnergyLogic, now the largest energy rating firm of its kind in Colorado. In 2020 he became the principal thinker and founder of BUILDTank, Inc., a pragmatic building think tank specializing in actionable applied building science solutions. He is actively involved in energy code development, builder and trade training, and educating the next generation of residential energy experts. He has helped Colorado jurisdictions develop and implement their energy codes, presented code language that was successfully adopted at the national ICC® code hearings, and encouraged implementation of the simulated performance path for code compliance. His ability to integrate applied building science and systems thinking with building programs such as Energy Star®, Indoor airPlus®, and DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes® has lead to thousands of certified homes in Colorado.
Energy and resource efficiency, sustainable buildings, and community abundance have become Shawn LeMons' life focus. He enjoys contributing his experience and intuitive problem-solving skills to this history-changing industry. The time is now to meet these challenges head-on. He has enjoyed a broad range of professional experiences from management in large corporations to ownership of small businesses. He truly enjoys being at the center of an organization and working cross-departmentally to find innovative solutions for clients and industry partners with Mitsubishi (#heatpumpnation). He can navigate complex project dynamics from detailed specifications, operational processes, field quality assurance, customer experience nuances, and business development strategy. He considers himself a change-agent and team player with a systems-oriented approach to the development and integration of products, services, and processes.
Register for the Advancing Prefabrication Conference with the discount code: PODCAST10
Watch a clip of this in-person studio podcast!

Listen to Robby's podcast, BuildCAST!

Learn how a heat pump works!

Visit Mitsubishi Electric Trane Youtube Chanel.

Visit Mitsubishi Electric heat pump tech-spec website!

“At the end of the day you need to build something that is actually going to be very intuitive, very easy, and actually helps them - rather than something that feels like a micromanagement tool.”
Roni Szigeti is a visionary leader with a profound background in specialty subcontracting and a relentless commitment to developing innovation solutions for specialty subcontractors. Roni's journey into the world of specialty subcontracting began with their tenure at Northstar Environmental Group (Formerly LVI), where he served as a key player in the company's mission to provide innovative environmental and demolition contracting solutions. With a deep understanding of the complex challenges associated with environmental projects, Roni quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a driving force in the industry.
At Northstar, Roni successfully managed and executed a wide range of environmental projects, from soil remediation, asbestos abatement, structural and interior demolition, to hazardous waste disposal. Their expertise and commitment to safety and sustainability earned them recognition as a trailblazer in the field, setting new standards for responsible environmental contracting. Driven by a desire to bring innovation and efficiencies to specialty subcontractors, Roni Szigeti embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and founded FieldFlo, a technology company at the forefront of the digital revolution in our industry. As the CEO of FieldFlo, Roni has harnessed their extensive industry knowledge to develop cutting-edge software solutions that streamline and optimize project and field management.
Under Roni's leadership, FieldFlo has become synonymous with innovation in the specialty subcontractor sector, providing tools and technologies that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Through FieldFlo, Roni is empowering organizations worldwide to make real time educated decisions about their projects, employees, safety and equipment while improving their bottom line. His unwavering commitment to bringing increased efficiencies, compliance, and safety to the specialty subcontracting world extends beyond their professional endeavors. They are a passionate advocate and actively engage with a diverse set of organizations to promote awareness and best practices.
Roni envisions a world where businesses and individuals can thrive through the implementation of sound technology that truly makes their companies and lives easier, safer and more profitable. His dedication to this vision, coupled with his impressive track record, positions them as a leading authority in environmental contracting and technology. In addition to his professional achievements, Roni enjoys mountain biking, golfing and going to see live music in his spare time, demonstrating a well-rounded and holistic approach to life. His inspiring journey from environmental contracting to entrepreneurship exemplifies the power of passion and dedication in creating a more innovative world for our industry. With FieldFlo as a platform for change, Roni continues to lead the charge towards a brighter, cleaner future for generations to come.
Follow FieldFlō on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fieldflo/about/
Follow Roni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roni-szigeti-2626b636/
Visit FieldFlō's website: https://www.fieldflo.com/
Follow FieldFlō on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fieldflo

This is episode 3 of 6 in a Deep Dive Series on the Housing Innovation Alliance! If you hear any background noise, that's because this episode was recorded LIVE at the HIA Conference 2024 at the University of Denver!
“So if I can summarize what we do, or what we’re trying to aspire to do, is make offsite construction so easy a caveman could do it.”
In this conversation, Devon Tilly chats with Garrett Moore of Agorus.

In football, as in life, the most important person on the field is often the least noticed – the left tackle: he protects the quarterback’s blind side.” As a quarterback at Stanford University, this simple lesson laid the early foundation for Garrett’s servant-leadership philosophy: “It’s the people you work with every day who determine your ability to make an impact”. After achieving a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford, and despite an early desire to jump right into a Silicon Valley start-up after graduation, Garrett’s passion to serve led him to San Diego to become an officer in the Navy SEALs. During this time, he was also selected to become an Olmsted Scholar (similar to a Rhodes Scholarship). After learning Hebrew from scratch, he earned his master’s degree in Cybersecurity at Tel Aviv University...in Hebrew! Living there in Startup Nation, he learned another critical lesson, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world.” You might see two common denominators in these life shaping experiences – a love of high performing teams and fearlessness in the face of challenges. Garrett and his co-founder Kyle run headlong into the fray when most would hesitate. “If a problem is too hard for everyone else, it’s probably just right for us”. And for that reason, he is wholly committed to solving America’s elusive housing crisis. Garrett is married to his childhood sweetheart and loves to spend time with his family. It’s no surprise that he’s also an extreme sports guy, snowboarding, mountain biking and e-foiling whenever he can. By the way, don’t ever get suckered into a ping pong game with him. It won’t go well for you.
AGORUS LinkedIn
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AGORUS ONE Build - Tucson, AZ Project Timelapse

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"Double your time, save four times the frustration."
In this conversation, Devon Tilly and co-host Nathan Wood chat with Chad Pearson in preparation for the AEC Summit in Austin, Texas in April 2025!
This podcast is a part of a series of episodes that will be coming out from now until Spring 2025 covering the AEC Summit in Austin, Texas April 23rd - 25th 2025. We encourage our listeners and partners to share and engage with us during this conference coverage! Keep up with the Art of Construction (AOC) podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube!

Submit a Team Topic for the AEC Summit 2025!

Currently, Chad is a partner at Plexxis Software, where he helps deliver software to the ‘trades’ while coaching teammates on performance under pressure. Outside of Plexxis, Chad is a Mixed Martial Arts and Wrestling coach. Prior to ConTech, Chad worked in Law Enforcement in Emergency Response, CIB (Criminal Investigation Bureau) and as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Liaison Officer. His formal training includes a Bachelor of Arts from University of Guelph, Crisis Resolution & tactical communication, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Response), Police Defensive Tactics and Use of Force.
Nathan Wood understands how rewarding the design and construction process can be when technology and culture embrace a new era of innovation. Nathan first earned his reputation as an industry thought leader in 2011, sharing his award-winning implementation of virtual design and construction (VDC) while working on integrated project delivery (IPD) healthcare projects. Nathan strives to share the best practices and lessons learned he's gathered from over 100 project teams spanning the US, Europe, and the Middle East. These experiences have taught him that when it comes to adopting technology in construction, it’s not one size fits all. For that reason, Nathan founded SpectrumAEC with a clear goal — solving the human barriers to new process and technology adoption. As SpectrumAEC's founder and chief enabling officer, Nathan helps organizations and project teams successfully adopt change through executive strategy sessions and end user workshops. Nathan continues to support industry progression through conference presentations, academic papers, and as President of the Construction Progress Coalition.
Video: ‘Positive Proximity’ and the not so obvious consequences of physically fragmented teams

Video: Tips for Construction Tech Selection and Adoption

Video: Using Police tactics to negotiate technology agreements

Tips for Team Cohesion prior to tech adoption!

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