Deep Green

Metropolis and SURROUND
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Deep Green

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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. AI and the Future of Low-Carbon Buildings

    FEB 20

    AI and the Future of Low-Carbon Buildings

    Buildings account for 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. If you’re an architect, or a frequent listener to this podcast, you already know that. But in their new book, Build Like It’s the End of the World, Sandeep Ahuja and Patrick Chopson frame buildings and carbon emissions in a way that might change how you think about it: “Buildings offer some of the most cost-efficient ways of reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change. This is because, unlike carbon capture or more efficient cars, buildings have a lot of room for improvement in their design and construction, which is often not even simulated or cost optimized.” Ahuja and Chopson are the cofounders of Cove, an AI-powered consulting and technology platform that helps building designers and owners do just that—optimize buildings for both lower carbon emissions and lower costs. Every year, architects across the U.S. report their progress on reducing carbon emissions to the AIA, and Cove is the #1 tool they use to measure their impact. The goal? A 70 percent reduction in the building industry’s emissions by 2030. In this episode of Deep Green: Deep Cut, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avinash Rajagopal sits down with Ahuja and Chopson as they break down how Cove works, why they think we ignore cost and profit to our own peril, and how AI will be critical to the future of climate action. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources: cove Build Like It’s the End of the World Three Technologies Are Changing how We Design for Climate   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    35 min
  7. Biophilia: Design Powered by Nature

    JAN 16

    Biophilia: Design Powered by Nature

    Biophilic design might be trending on social media, but it’s far more than an aesthetic—it’s a transformative approach to creating spaces that make us happier, calmer, and healthier. In this episode of Deep Green: Deep Cut, METROPOLIS editor in chief Avinash Rajagopal dives into the science and philosophy behind biophilic design with Bill Browning, founder of Terrapin Bright Green, and Catie Ryan, director of projects at the firm. These leading voices in biophilic design share their insights on the profound impact of creating spaces that connect us to nature. As Terrapin Bright Green marks the 10th anniversary of its 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, Browning and Ryan reflect on how their research has shaped the field, including the introduction of a new pattern: “Awe.” They share how these principles deliver measurable outcomes in projects like the reimagined Portland International Airport, where stress-filled spaces became calming, passenger-friendly environments under the terminal’s nine-acre roof. Tune in to learn how biophilic strategies—from nature-inspired fractals to immersive natural elements—are improving well-being, reducing stress, and redefining the built environment. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. Resources: Moshe Safdie: The Future of Urban Density What Is and Is Not Biophilic Design? 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    35 min
  8. Avi’s Sneak Peek into Deep Green: Deep Cut Edition

    JAN 9 · BONUS

    Avi’s Sneak Peek into Deep Green: Deep Cut Edition

    In this bonus episode of Deep Green, host Avi Rajagopal reflects on the thought-provoking questions that have defined the show (Can bio-based plastics truly save the planet? Is recycling our hope for the future?) as he offers a glimpse into the exciting upcoming season, Deep Green: Deep Cut Edition. Listen and revisit standout moments from past episodes with some of the smartest people in design. And get ready for more fascinating discussions as Rajagopal sits down with sustainability visionaries and trailblazers to dive even deeper into how we can make buildings better for the planet—and for all of us—in the season ahead. This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    7 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
29 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
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Metropolis
  • Show Website
    Deep Green

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