The DREAM BuildCast

The DREAM BuildCast Ep. 7 | Adult Daycare Realities: Firewalls, I-4 Codes, Leases & Lessons Learned (ft. Yavonda, Guardian Angels ADS)

In Episode 7 of The DREAM BuildCast, Nicholas Robinson is joined by Alex Walker and Devon Ellis for a candid, real-world conversation with Yavonda, owner of Guardian Angels Adult Day Services, about what it actually takes to open and operate an adult daycare. This episode goes far beyond theory. Yavonda shares her personal journey — from walking away from a building with a failing foundation, to investing retirement savings, to absorbing a $25,000 fire-rated wall that no one warned her about upfront. Together, the group breaks down why adult daycares are always I-4 (Institutional) occupancies, why they clash so severely with restaurants and assembly spaces, and how code changes, plan review comments, and lease decisions can dramatically reshape a project’s budget and layout. If you’re considering opening an adult daycare or any institutional use, this episode is essential listening.

The DREAM BuildCast Ep. 6 | Daycare Deep Dive: Licensing, Codes, Sprinklers & Surviving City Hall (ft. Sherika Lipsey-Muex)

In Episode 6 of The DREAM BuildCast, Nicholas Robinson sits down with repeat DREAM Builders client and highly respected daycare operator Sherika Lipsey-Muex, founder of Preschool Academy, along with Alex Walker and Devon Ellis, for one of the most informative episodes yet. Sherika has opened and operated multiple childcare centers from in-home programs to full commercial facilities, and brings unmatched firsthand insight into navigating zoning, building codes, licensing rules, inspections, and plan review in Milwaukee. This episode exposes the real challenges daycare owners face, the things they don’t tell you until you’re already thousands of dollars in, and breaks down how building code, zoning code, and state licensing all overlap (and often contradict each other). Whether you’re dreaming of opening a daycare or actively struggling through the approval process, this episode arms you with the knowledge and warnings you won't get anywhere else.

The DREAM BuildCast Ep. 5 (Part 2) | Change of Use Deep Dive: Real Code Impacts, Daycare Design & Lessons Learned

In Part 2 of Episode 5 of The DREAM BuildCast, Nicholas Robinson continues the Change of Use discussion with Alex Walker and Devon Ellis, diving even deeper into the real-world challenges of adapting existing buildings for new uses — from business to daycare and beyond. This episode moves from theory to practice, unpacking how code categories, hazard levels, and compartmentalization directly affect design, safety, and project feasibility. The team explores how a simple use change can lead to complex — and costly — requirements around firewalls, sprinklers, and egress, especially when daycares or institutional occupancies are involved. The conversation also touches on the business realities of these upgrades — how costs are divided between owners and tenants, what makes a space viable (or not), and why many projects fail before they even start.

The DREAM BuildCast Ep. 5 (Part 1) | Change of Use Explained: How One Decision Can Redesign Your Entire Building

In Part 1 of Episode 5 of The DREAM BuildCast, Nicholas Robinson, Alex Walker, and Devon Ellis break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in design and development: the Change of Use. What seems like a simple switch (like converting a retail store into a daycare) can trigger major design, code, and cost implications. This episode unpacks exactly what that means, why it happens, and how it impacts not just your space — but sometimes the entire building. Nicholas hosts this deep dive with: * Alex Walker, architectural designer, real estate development manager, and former plan reviewer * Devon Ellis, civil/structural engineer and construction manager Together, they walk through how building codes classify spaces, how “grandfathering” works (and doesn’t), and why even small changes can mean big updates to fire safety, exits, and overall compliance.

The DREAM BuildCast Ep. 4 (Part 2) | Fixing the System: City Bureaucracy, Code Conflicts & The Fight to Build Right

In Part 2 of Episode 4 of The DREAM BuildCast, the conversation with Baron Hentz continues, diving even deeper into what it’s really like to navigate Milwaukee’s complex permitting, inspection, and plan review systems as a small business owner and developer. Nicholas, Alex, and Devon explore how bureaucratic silos, inconsistent code interpretation, and lack of accountability can make or break a project and why too many owners end up feeling like they’re in a battle against the very city they’re trying to invest in. Baron shares candidly how doing everything “by the book” often comes with more hurdles than cutting corners and the group discusses what needs to change so that city processes truly support, not stifle, community development.