Deep Green

Metropolis and SURROUND
  • 4.9 (30)
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Brought to you by Metropolis, Deep Green is a podcast about how the built environment impacts climate change and equity. Buildings are some of the biggest things we make as human beings. We explore how through understanding buildings, cities, and all the things that go into them, we can do better for the environment and all life on this planet.

  1. Fractals: Nature's Healing Patterns in Design

    SEP 4 · BONUS

    Fractals: Nature's Healing Patterns in Design

    In the 1960s, mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot began exploring a concept he initially called self-similarity—geometric forms whose parts resemble the whole. A simple example is a straight line: any segment of it is also a straight line. But this kind of geometry also appears in nature, like in the head of Romanesco broccoli. Each floret forms a spiral that mirrors the spiral arrangement of the florets on the entire head. In 1975, Mandelbrot named this phenomenon a fractal. It turns out fractals are everywhere in nature: the way rivers branch into tributaries, or how a tree trunk grows branches, which then grow twigs. More recently, researchers have suggested that human brains recognize these fractal patterns—sometimes subconsciously—and because we associate them with nature, seeing fractals can evoke similar calming effects as being in a natural environment. So, why discuss fractals on a podcast about sustainable architecture and design? Because fractals are common in pre-modern architecture—found in the ornaments of Gothic cathedrals and the niches of medieval mosques—and today, many designers apply fractal principles to objects and materials, creating products that evoke the same sense of well-being as natural environments. In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Momentum and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Dr. Richard Taylor, whose research underpins our understanding of fractal patterns’ impact, and Anastasia and Martin Lesjak of 13&9, who apply this research in their designs—including a new wallcovering collection for Momentum called Renaturation. Resources Momentum Renaturation Collection 13&9 Design Dr. Richard Taylor’s Research This episode was produced in partnership with Momentum and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    26 min
  2. Furnishing a Better Future

    AUG 7 · BONUS

    Furnishing a Better Future

    When we think of all the ways we could be designing better buildings—especially commercial buildings like office towers or education spaces—there’s one lever that people still don’t pay enough attention to: furniture. Some numbers for context—about 8 million tons of office furniture end up in U.S. landfills every year. And for a standard office renovation, furniture and furnishings account for about half of the space’s carbon footprint. So yes, furniture can help prevent harm in the world. It can help us make better buildings. But here’s the exciting part: furniture can also be a tool for doing a whole lot of good. We touch and interact with furniture every day. Well-designed furniture can make a big difference to our health and well-being. It also takes skill and craft to produce, which means furniture can uplift and empower communities and involve them in finding solutions for people and the planet. In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with two guests who’ve been helping organizations make real impact through their furniture and architectural product selections: Lisa Brunie-McDermott, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at HNI Corp., and Madison Gentry, Architectural Product Sales Enablement Manager at Allsteel. Listen in as they discuss how using healthy, beautiful materials in furniture and furnishings can have a multiplier effect on our buildings. Resources: “How the Furniture Industry Is Stepping Up on Circularity” Allsteel Sustainability HNI Corporate Sustainability This episode was produced in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    21 min
  3. Industry Insights and Updates in Manufacturing Certification | Metropolis & BIFMA at NeoCon 2025

    JUL 10 · BONUS

    Industry Insights and Updates in Manufacturing Certification | Metropolis & BIFMA at NeoCon 2025

    Francisco Brown, senior editor and engagement manager at Metropolis Magazine, interviews Steve Kooy, Technical Director of Health and Sustainability at BIFMA, live from the NeoCon Podcast Lounge. They discuss BIFMA's longstanding support for the furniture manufacturing industry, the evolution of sustainability certifications, and the importance of industry standards now more than ever. Learn more about LEVEL: level.bifma.org This episode was produced in partnership with BIFMA and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND, sponsored by Material Bank, and in partnership with HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 min
  4. PVC Perspectives: The Path Forward

    JUN 26

    PVC Perspectives: The Path Forward

    Polyvinyl chloride—better known as PVC or vinyl—is one of the most ubiquitous plastics in our lives. You’ll find it everywhere: pipes, siding, wiring, flooring, upholstery, wall coverings, and even old-school vinyl records. Sixty-one percent of all PVC produced globally is used in buildings and construction. It’s more fire-retardant than any other common plastic, and with the addition of plasticizers, it can be made as flexible as fabric or as rigid as wood. In certain building types—like hospitals, hotels, and schools—PVC products are widely used because they’re durable, easy to maintain, and able to carry patterns and color. But many sustainability experts and design teams are urging the industry to reduce or avoid PVC where possible. When PVC isn’t responsibly manufactured or disposed of, it can expose workers and nearby communities to harmful dioxins. Poorly regulated PVC can also contain other chemicals of concern, such as heavy metals. For these reasons, the International Living Future Institute keeps PVC on its Red List of materials to avoid. So what’s the path forward? Should we focus on making PVC as safe and clean as possible—or invest in finding alternative materials that offer the same performance benefits? In this episode of Deep Green, created with our partner Mannington Commercial, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with three experts offering distinct perspectives: Shane Totten, vice president of sustainability at Mannington Commercial, which produces both certified, transparent PVC flooring and non-PVC resilient flooring options; David Briefel, sustainability director and principal at Gensler, and co-creator of the Gensler Product Sustainability Standards—a set of material requirements for the firm’s projects; and Annzie Barfield, interior design specialist at LaBella Associates, who works on education, healthcare, and senior living spaces where PVC products are often the default for flooring and wall protection. Together, they unpack the complexities—and possibilities—of designing with (or without) PVC. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources: “What Can We Do About PVC?” (METROPOLIS Nov/Dec Issue 2023) The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List Gensler Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards Mannington Mills Transparency See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    42 min
  5. Designing Buildings to Heal, Not Harm

    JUN 5

    Designing Buildings to Heal, Not Harm

    Buildings account for 40 percent of global carbon emissions. The construction industry generates nearly a third of all waste in our cities and built environments. The buildings we live and work in influence 11 of the 23 social determinants of health—factors that shape our well-being. And the construction sector is also the second most at risk for labor exploitation and modern-day slavery. We get a lot wrong when we make buildings, and we've spent the last three decades trying to fix that. But what if we shifted our focus—not just doing less bad, but doing more good? That’s the promise of regenerative design: the idea that buildings can help nature regenerate, not just minimize damage. In this episode of Deep Green, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with one of the pioneers of regenerative design, Jason McLennan, chief sustainability officer at Perkins&Will. McLennan is the mind behind transformative frameworks like the Living Building Challenge, the WELL Standard, and the Living Product Challenge, as well as the Declare, Just, and Net Zero certifications. His work has earned him prestigious honors including the Buckminster Fuller Prize, the ENR Award of Excellence, and an Ashoka Fellowship. If anyone can help us see the big picture of sustainability in architecture, it’s Jason McLennan. Tune in for a conversation about the future of buildings, design, and how we can create a world where architecture heals rather than harms. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources The Living Building Challenge The International Living Future Institute The WELL Building Standard The Living Product Challenge Perkins&Will Sustainability Declare Label Program See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 min
  6. architecture 5 10 20 – Sustainability Milestones LIVE: Circularity in the Built Environment

    MAY 8 · BONUS

    architecture 5 10 20 – Sustainability Milestones LIVE: Circularity in the Built Environment

    We're sharing a special episode of architecture 5 10 20, a podcast from FXCollaborative. In this episode, you'll hear Avi Rajagopal with Guy Geier discussing connections between sustainability and design. You can find more episodes of architecture 5 10 20 at surroundpodcasts.com. Welcome back to architecture 5 10 20! I’m your host, Guy Geier, Managing Partner of FXCollaborative Architects in New York. My guests for this podcast are pioneers and visionaries shaping the future of the built environment across various disciplines. Join me in exploring their remarkable journeys, discovering how they reach their current heights, and envisioning what lies ahead in the next 5, 10, and 20 years. Join me for this special episode as I have a great conversation with Avi Rajagopal, editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine and host of the Deep Green podcast, to discuss connections between sustainability and design. Recorded at FX Collaborative’s Brooklyn office during Green April, our conversation touches upon how sustainability has evolved in the built environment and how media plays an important part in pushing the conversation forward. Avi, whose career has been shaped by his commitment to sustainable design, shares his journey from product design to leading sustainability projects at Metropolis, and we talk about some of the challenges facing the architecture and design industries such as the carbon emissions tied to interior design and the importance of thinking about materials as long-term investments. Avi provides some insights into how we can shift our mindset to reduce waste and adopt a more circular approach to design. Avi also goes into how design practices differ across sectors, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities, and how we can rethink how buildings change over time. We discuss the role of reuse in sustainability and the shifts that we are going to need to actually elevate this practice. Focusing on practical and actionable steps, we consider how designers can model circularity, from reusing materials to rethinking aesthetic choices. Avi even answers a few questions from a few of my FXCollaborative colleagues here in the studio with me! This episode of the show is full of forward-thinking ideas on how we can design better, more sustainable spaces, so whether you are an architect, a designer, and/or a sustainability advocate, this conversation offers valuable insights from Avi that will surely challenge and inspire! Time stamps: [02:34] - Avi reflects on how his interest in sustainability developed over time, from design studies to Metropolis' focus on it. [05:59] - The media connects architecture to the public, advancing professional conversations around sustainability. [08:08] - Avi reveals that Metropolis has explored how interior design contributes to carbon emissions. [11:03] - Focusing on building life-cycle emissions led to creating the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design to reduce waste. [13:33] - Proposals for circularity in design have led to ideas for new professions and assessing the quality of reused materials. [15:03] - Avi argues that avoiding new materials is the best way to reduce rising carbon emissions. [17:54] - Aesthetics and sustainability are not inherently linked, and global practices embrace broader, more sustainable design values. [20:29] - Avi explains how different building types age uniquely, which requires customized strategies and approaches. [22:58] - As an optimist, Avi points out how retrofits, natural materials, and holistic thinking suggest a shift in sustainable practices. [25:04] - FXCollaborative’s work highlights how urban design increasingly considers the impact on all life on Earth, not just humans. [27:21] - Adaptive reuse, Avi asserts, should prioritize flexibility and longevity, not just destroying and rebuilding existing structures. [30:51] - Can reuse alone satisfy future infrastructure and housing needs? [31:53] - It's important for new construction to be assessed for whether it serves the public good. [34:39] - Rethinking building use and shared responsibility is important for maximizing environmental and social value. [37:20] - FXCollaborative draws ongoing inspiration from Avi's vision for a circular, sustainable architectural future! Links / Resources: Guy Geier Instagram | Twitter Avinash Rajagopal on Instagram Metropolis Climate Toolkit for Interior Design Deep Green Ezra Klein - Abundance See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    39 min
  7. Measuring What Matters in Product Design

    APR 24

    Measuring What Matters in Product Design

    What makes one product more sustainable than another? It’s a question that anyone concerned with their impact on the planet must confront. How do we choose the right couch, coffee machine, flooring, tiles, or curtain wall system—so that we’re doing the most good for both people and the environment? That’s the question Lisa Gralnek has been working to answer. Gralnek is the U.S. Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability and Impact at the iF Design Awards—one of the largest and most prestigious design award programs in the world. This year, 131 jurors evaluated nearly 11,000 entries from 66 countries, judging everything from appliances to automobiles, furnishings to buildings. For the first time, sustainability accounted for 20 percent of the score for every submission. So how does an international awards program assess sustainability across such diverse design disciplines, regions, and product categories? Listen to this episode of Deep Green, as METROPOLIS editor in chief Avi Rajagopal sits down with Gralnek to discuss how the iF Design Awards are tackling this challenge. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources iF DESIGN AWARDS Sustainability and the iF DESIGN AWARDS iF Trend Report 2025 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    34 min
  8. Timber: Why Architects Are All in on Wood

    MAR 27

    Timber: Why Architects Are All in on Wood

    If there’s one defining trend in American architecture over the last decade, it’s the rediscovery of wood as a construction material. Mass timber buildings—made from large wooden panels, columns, and beams—are rising across North America, with developers racing to construct the tallest wooden tower. A new contender, the 32-story Edison in Milwaukee, just broke ground and is set to claim the title of the tallest mass timber building in the Western Hemisphere. But why are American developers, architects, and builders all timberstruck? There are the carbon emissions—wood pulls down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as trees grow, so these buildings are a tool in the fight against climate change. Plus, they are quick to construct and can be cheaper to build. So should we start building everything out of wood? In this episode of Deep Green, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avi Rajagopal speaks with two experts to unpack the potential of mass timber. First, Columbia University professor and author Lindsey Wikstrom discusses how architecture and construction need to evolve to fully embrace timber-based design. Then, DLR Group principal Stephen Cavanaugh shares insights from his extensive experience designing over three million square feet of mass timber buildings, as part of the largest collection of mass timber buildings in North America. Join us as we dive deep into the thinking behind and the practice of mass timber architecture. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources: Designing the Forest and other Mass Timber Futures Finding a Future for Mass Timber in Hospitality DLR Group: Hines T3 Partnership Episode art: Photo by Creative Sources Photography/Rion Rizzo, courtesy DLR Group See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Brought to you by Metropolis, Deep Green is a podcast about how the built environment impacts climate change and equity. Buildings are some of the biggest things we make as human beings. We explore how through understanding buildings, cities, and all the things that go into them, we can do better for the environment and all life on this planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Metropolis and SURROUND
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Metropolis
  • Show Website
    Deep Green

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