Modern Architect Radio Show With Tom Dioro

In this episode of The Modern Architect, Tom talks to Justin Shubow, President of the National Civic Art Society, a non-profit organisation head-quartered in Washington, DC.

Tom talks to Douglas Abbey, who is a lecturer in Finance at Stanford University, where he works with GSB students to evaluate career opportunities in real estate and to expose them to research and educational opportunities in the field.Douglas is also Chairman of Swift Real Estate Partners, a San Francisco-based company focused on value-add office properties on the west coast. He previously co-founded two investment management organizations: AMB Property Corporation (merged with Prologis:NYSE), now the largest global industrial REIT, and IHP Capital Partners, a provider of equity to the single-family home building industry.

Tom is joined by the co-founders of Rent The Backyard: Spencer Burleigh and Brian Bakerman. Rent The Backyard builds and places studio apartments in homeowner's backyards.

This episode of The Modern Architect features guest Dean Lewis, professional engineer and project manager at DCI Engineers.Dean developed unparalleled project experience in prefabrication, modular, and mass timber structures. He quickly grew into a leadership role under the guidance of principals and associates. Dean was the subject of a feature article in the San Francisco Business Journal for his perspective on how mass timber is revolutionizing the building industry.

Tom's guest is Inna Braverman, an Israeli entrepreneur and co-founder of Eco Wave Power, a renewable energy company.Eco Wave Power is an advanced and innovative international wave power developer, headquartered in Israel. The company was established after a period of conceptualising and planning for new and competitive wave energy technology.Inna was also recently chosen as one the 100 most influential women in the world by MSN.com.

In this episode of The Modern Architect, Tom talks to Jay Jeffers, an interior designer extraordinaire. Jay is founder of JayJeffers Inc. and author of Collected Cool and Be Bold. He has received numerous honors including being named to Elle Décor's A-list, and his work has been widely featured by notable shelter magazines, national newspapers, and show houses.  Jay's retail showroom, JayJeffers - THE STORE in San Francisco, offers a finely-honed collection of bespoke furniture along with beautiful objects discovered during his travels.

Tom is joined by two guests this episode: Richard Williams - who is the head of History of Art, and Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures in Edinburgh, UK - and Peter DeMaria, architect and Principal of DeMaria Design. Peter has dedicated the last two decades to designing environments that enable people to fulfil their maximum potential.

Tom is joined by Ed Westbrook, who is the CEO of QuarryHouse. Ed founded QuarryHouse two decades ago, translating the ancient craft of stone masonry into a modern vernacular.He and his artisans believe in the art of legacy, combining traditional and innovative stonework techniques. Sourcing stone building materials locally and globally, QuarryHouse travels worldwide and creates timeless structures for both private estates and public spaces. Ed is collaborating with renowned architects from around the world.

This episode of The Modern Architect features guest Michael McCutcheon. He is the founder of McCutcheon Construction, which is an employee-owned company. Founded in Berkeley in 1980, it now has a staff of more than 31 experienced and dedicated professionals.

Tom's guest is Tyler Pew, who is the founder and principal of LMNOP-Design. LMNOP-Design brings the design and fabrication process into one seamless stroke. They specialize in immersive and branded environments, with a focus on commercial, retail, and restaurants. 

In this episode of The Modern Architect, Tom talks to David Baker, Principal of David Baker Architects.David Baker Architects is a progressive architecture firm located in San Francisco and Oakland that creates acclaimed buildings in urban environments. DBA is known for exceptional housing, creative site strategies, designing for density, and integrating new construction into the public realm.

Tom's guest is Andrew Wright, who has been the President of Wright Architects since 1986 in Kingston, New York. Wright Architects specializes in Architecture and Construction Assistance of homes, offices, institutional buildings, sustainable projects and developments across the U.S., Virgin Islands and abroad.Their projects range from elegant small additions and renovations to large complex new buildings and since their inception, they have demonstrated a full spectrum of services from purchase of property to interior design.

Tom is joined by Morten Jensen, Architect and President of JRDV Urban International. JRDV is an innovative practice that combines architectural design, urban planning and development strategy.

In this episode of The Modern Architect, Tom speaks to Mattia Crespi, who is the CEO and Founder of Qbit Technologies Inc, a Palo Alto boutique startup, built by Virtual Reality seasoned executives.QBit specializes in the development of virtual, augmented and mixed reality solutions for enterprises. They also focus on what they envision as the first vertical applications of ambient technologies for business purposes, developing specific products and solutions based on ambient, immersive VR, AR and MR technologies.

Tom talks to Kyle Pickett, who is the Co-founder and COO of Urban Fabrick. Kyle is responsible for the consultancy's West Coast operations. His leadership has established the firm as an influential community partner and reputable for inclusive technical training and successful sustainability projects.Kyle is also Co-founder and Executive Director of The William J. Worthen Foundation, a 501c3 that conducts research and creates inclusive outreach initiatives on the planning, design, construction, performance, and beauty of the built environment.

This episode of The Modern Architect features guest Gennifer Muñoz, who is an architect and Principal of Gen M Architecture, a full service architecture and design studio specializing in custom residential and multi-family projects.Gen also teaches interior architecture at California State University Sacramento.

In this episode of The Modern Architect, Tom is joined by Richardson Robertson III, architect and Principal of Robertson Partners.Rick has executed a host of projects in diverse historic revival styles. Most projects are luxury and range from private estate residences and other residential building types to master-planned towns and urban village centers. The firm's practice has created a sense of place by responding to the site, leveraging specific architectural icons that are timeless in their meaning.

Tom's guest for this episode is Ron Baker, CPA. Ron is one of the world's leaders in the area of pricing professional services. In addition to his role with Ignition, he is founder of VeraSage Institute, a think tank dedicated to teaching value-based pricing to professionals around the world.Ron has been inducted into the CPA Practice Advisor Hall of Fame.

Tom speaks with Wayne Lee, Mayor of Millbrae, California. Wayne was on the Millbrae Planning Commission for six years, serving as the Commission's Chair in 2008. Wayne is also an Alternate Representative to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), a member of the Board of Directors of the Congestion Relief Alliance, a member of the Electrification of Cal Trains Committee, and represents the City of Millbrae on several other regional and county committees.

Tom is joined by Francisco Gonzalez Pulido (FGP), an international architect based in Chicago where he leads FGP Atelier. FGP leads a team that is currently focused on designing buildings across a range of scales and typologies that contribute to social and economic advancement through the alignment of Design, Science and Technology. He does so by drawing on nearly three decades of experiences spanning three periods of practice: leading his own studio in Mexico City (1993-1998), collaborating with Helmut Jahn and becoming business partner and President of JAHN (1999-2017), and now as founder of FGP Atelier.