Building Better Futures

EP 44: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Advocacy and Architecture with Julia Murphy of SOM

Julia Murphy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-murphy-aia/], Partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skidmoreowingsmerrill/], joins us to discuss architecture as a legacy and a force for community impact. We explore her journey as a third-generation architect, her advocacy for women in design and construction, the structural challenges of Manhattan West and why she believes the people behind every project matter more than anything else. Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction. 03:42 Julia shares her path into architecture and the influences that shaped her career. 06:00 How SOM's collaborative culture differs from other firms. 11:38 The challenges facing women in architecture and the responsibility to make space for different voices. 18:47 The role of SOM's work in reshaping cities and landmark projects. 24:57 Walking through the early days of the Manhattan West development. 30:29 How AI and emerging technology are reshaping architecture's future. 41:10 Julia's people-first leadership philosophy and what it means to lead with care. 41:55 Where to connect with Julia and closing thoughts. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF):  https://www.kpf.com [https://www.kpf.com] Manhattan West (Brookfield):  https://manhattanwestnyc.com  [https://manhattanwestnyc.com] SOM's Manhattan West project page:  https://www.som.com/projects/manhattan-west-development/ NYCHA [https://www.som.com/projects/manhattan-west-development/]  Preservation Trust:  https://www.preservationtrust.org  [https://www.preservationtrust.org] NYC Planning (Housing Opportunity):  https://www.nyc.gov/content/planning/pages/our-work?search=cityofyes [https://www.nyc.gov/content/planning/pages/our-work?search=cityofyes]  #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

EP 43: What the Next Generation of AEC Leaders Gets Right — and What They're Still Missing with Danielle Dy Buncio of VIATechnik

Danielle Dy Buncio [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielledybuncio/], Co-Founder and CEO of VIATechnik [https://www.linkedin.com/company/viatechnik/], joins us to discuss why  VDC is far more than a BIM exercise, how digital twins are transforming building operations and what the next generation of AEC leaders needs to understand about business to make technology stick. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction.  16:20 VDC aligns people, process and technology around project objectives, not just BIM adoption.  17:03 Owner alignment through VDC turns project delivery problems into measurable competitive wins.  21:09 Digital twin adoption starts by asking what questions an owner needs to answer about their building.  27:30 AI chat interfaces on building data let owners query their facilities in plain language.  37:15 Ordering from the model, a trade contractor eliminated its entire overtime budget on a Hawaii project.  43:24 Understanding what leadership measures makes technology pitches far more likely to succeed. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned: “An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield [https://www.amazon.com/Astronauts-Guide-Life-Earth-Determination/dp/0316253030]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316253030 VIATechnik's digital twin platform [https://www.viatechnik.com/capabilities/operations/digital-twin/]: https://www.viatechnik.com/capabilities/operations/digital-twin/ Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford University [https://cife.stanford.edu/]: https://cife.stanford.edu/ #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

EP 42: What Early-Career Engineers Overlook About Leadership with Luke Martinek of HDR

Luke Martinek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-martinek-p-e-8b979b6/], Senior Program Manager and Associate Vice President of HDR [https://www.hdrinc.com], joins us to explore how 19 years across survey crews, civil design, operations, and business development prepared him for the Penn Transformation Project. We discuss mentorship on hard days, the business side of engineering, making stakeholders "complicit," and the Kurt Vonnegut mantra that still guides his leadership. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction.  05:20 Growing up in San Antonio and finding engineering through family. 10:30 The Penn Transformation Project and the magnet that is Penn Station. 15:45 The change order that opened up the business side of engineering. 23:30 Stepping into a general manager role during the pandemic.  25:20 How variety has fueled two decades of career moves.  32:30 Why helping someone else is the fastest way out of a bad day.  35:45 Making every stakeholder "complicit" in the same mission.  38:15 The most impactful projects of his career.  44:05 A Kurt Vonnegut mantra he still leads by.  46:10 Hot takes on innovation, growth, and transparency. Resources Mentioned: Luke Martinek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-martinek-p-e-8b979b6/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-martinek-p-e-8b979b6/ HDR [https://www.hdrinc.com] https://www.hdrinc.com Penn Station Transformation Project [https://media.amtrak.com/2025/10/penn-station-transformation-fact-sheet/] https://media.amtrak.com/2025/10/penn-station-transformation-fact-sheet/ Texas A&M University [https://www.tamu.edu] https://www.tamu.edu Langan Engineering [https://www.langan.com] https://www.langan.com Sam Schwartz [https://www.tylin.com/samschwartz] https://www.tylin.com/samschwartz AKRF [https://www.akrf.com] https://www.akrf.com Grain Collective Landscape Architecture [https://graincollective.com] https://graincollective.com NYC School Construction Authority [https://www.nycsca.org] https://www.nycsca.org NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) [https://www.nycsca.org] https://www.nycsca.org NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) [https://edc.nyc] https://edc.nyc Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architects [https://mnlandscape.com] https://mnlandscape.com Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

EP 41: Challenging the Status Quo Inside City Government with Danielle Grillo Pemberton of Sweet Group LLC

Danielle Grillo Pemberton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-grillo-pemberton-pmp-associate-dbia-95b4b49/?isSelfProfile=false] spent over 15 years inside New York City government before crossing to the private sector as Vice President of Sweet Group LLC [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesweetconstructiongroup/] — and she brought everything she learned with her. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to challenge the status quo, how she earned her seat at the table in male-dominated fields, why she hires for hunger over credentials, and what it means to lead large-scale modernization projects that genuinely transform communities. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction.  05:19 The transition from 15+ years in city government to the private side.  10:08 Heading up the licensing unit at the Department of Buildings and falling in love with the construction industry.  11:09 Getting swept into the Sandy recovery with the mayor's office.  25:36 Navigating the deep networks and cultures of male-dominated fields. 31:39 Challenging what has always been done inside city government.  37:56 Delivering comprehensive modernization projects with NYCHA and the Housing Preservation Trust.  41:19 Why keeping your word matters more than the contract.  43:01 Hiring for hunger over experience.  43:50 The hard lesson of releasing control as you rise. Resources Mentioned: Sweet Group website: https://www.sweetconstruction.com [https://www.sweetconstruction.com] NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority): https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/index.page [https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/index.page] Public Housing Preservation Trust: https://www.preservationtrust.org [https://www.preservationtrust.org] New York City Department of Buildings: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/index.page [https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/index.page] NYPD Facilities and Capital Construction: https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/administrative/management-budget.page [https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/administrative/management-budget.page] Urban Umbrella: https://www.urbanumbrella.com [https://www.urbanumbrella.com] Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

EP 40: Fostering the Next Generation of Industry Leaders with Kirsten Sibilia of Dattner Architects

Kirsten Sibilia [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstensibilia/], Managing Partner of Dattner Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dattner-architects/], discusses the evolution of a firm committed to civic justice and the public realm. We explore her journey from product design to leadership, the firm's transition to a woman-owned business and how empowering the next generation of leaders shapes a better urban environment. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 04:06 Kirsten’s early entrepreneurial roots and her lifelong drive to live in New York. 04:46 How a liberal arts background and product design education shaped Kirsten's approach to architecture. 06:09 Translating direct sales and design experience into a strategic business leadership role. 08:05 Defining project success through positive civic, environmental and financial outcomes. 10:32 Expanding geographic reach while maintaining a commitment to transit-oriented development and public spaces. 14:16 Richard Dattner's legacy and the firm’s progressive transition to majority women ownership. 19:43 Identifying and developing the next generation of entrepreneurial, big-picture thinkers. 21:06 The value of seeking professional leadership and learning opportunities outside of your firm. 26:02 Delivering dignity and respect through the thoughtful design of essential architecture, like women's shelters. Resources Mentioned: Kirsten Sibilia [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstensibilia/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstensibilia/ Dattner Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dattner-architects/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/dattner-architects/ Dattner Architects [https://www.dattner.com/] | Website https://www.dattner.com/ New York Building Congress Foundation [https://buildingcongress.com/new-york-building-foundation/] https://buildingcongress.com/new-york-building-foundation/ Project Renewal [https://www.projectrenewal.org] https://www.projectrenewal.org “10 Birds That Changed the World” by Stephen Moss [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541604466] https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541604466 Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast