Spaces Podcast
Discover the powerful forces—environmental, political, cultural, and economic—that shape our built environment and, in turn, our lives. Hosted by award winning architect Dimitrius Lynch, each episode brings you insightful conversations with top industry professionals who reveal how our spaces evolve and impact society. From historical shifts to future trends, SPACES Podcast uncovers the stories behind the places we inhabit and explores how these transformations will continue to influence us all. Tune in to this leading architecture + design podcast to understand the connections between the spaces around us and the lives we lead.
210. The Hidden Costs No One Talks About
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius examines one of the most overlooked parts of any construction project: soft costs.
He highlights what the total project budget should include and explores why soft costs are not “extras” — they are the services and approvals that make a project buildable, coordinated, and legally permitted.
For owners, understanding these costs early can help prevent financial stress, delays, and costly surprises later.
In this episode:
Why construction cost is only one part of your total project budgetWhat soft costs are and why they matterWhy architecture is more than “...209. Building Communities that Combat Loneliness with Colby Cox
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius sits down with Colby Cox, founder and CEO of Convergence Communities, to explore how the built environment can either isolate us or help bring us back together.
Colby has spent more than two decades developing mixed-use, master-planned communities rooted in human connection, wellbeing, and intentional living. For him, development is not just about what pencils out on a pro forma. It is about legacy: how a place feels 50 or 100 years from now, how it supports the people who live there, and whether it helps create a true sense of belonging.
<...208. Why Your Budget Is Probably Wrong
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius explores why most project budgets are inaccurate and how to create realistic estimates for construction projects, especially in Southern California. He emphasizes the importance of scope clarity, understanding cost layers, and early planning to avoid costly mistakes.
He breaks down:
Why most project budgets are inaccurateThe importance of scope clarity in budgetingUnderstanding the layers of construction costsThe role of soft costs and contingencyHow to define your project scope effectivelyIf you’re planning a kitchen remodel, addition, ADU, or small commercial tenant improvement in Southern California, this episode pr...
207. Office to Housing Conversion with Michael Bohn
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius speaks with Michael Bohn, AIA, Partner at Studio One Eleven, about the growing opportunity to convert underused office buildings into housing. As office vacancy rates remain elevated in many cities and communities continue to face severe housing shortages, adaptive reuse offers a powerful path forward—one that can reduce waste, lower embodied carbon, preserve community character, and bring new life to struggling urban districts.
Michael brings more than 35 years of architectural experience and leads Studio One Eleven’s affordable, modular, and adaptive reuse work. His projects span transit-oriented development, urban infill, mixe...
206. Understanding Project Scope
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius highlights how one of the biggest mistakes owners make happens before they hire a contractor, define a budget, or submit plans: they don’t fully understand what kind of project they’re actually taking on. And that misunderstanding can dramatically impact cost, timeline, permitting, engineering, and overall project complexity.
He breaks down the critical differences between:
RenovationsRemodelsAdditionsADUsRebuilds…and explains why these categories are not interchangeable.
Drawing from more than 20 years of experience, Dimitrius walks through the hidden structural, seismic, permitting, and systems implications that owners often overlo...
205. The Critical Role of Daylight with Joe Menchefski
In this episode of SPACES, Joe Menchefski shares his journey from chemical engineering to sustainable design and highlights the importance of daylighting in architecture.
He discusses the challenges of glare and thermal discomfort in buildings, and explains innovative solutions like diffused glazing that enhances natural light while minimizing discomfort.
Joe identifies the health implications of natural versus artificial light, the importance of design considerations, and the future trends in daylighting and sustainability. He also touches on the Better Buildings for Humans podcast, where he explores the trade-offs in building design and the importance of connecting...
204. Why California Housing is So Expensive, What 2026 Governor Candidates Got Wrong (and Right)
In this episode, Dimitrius breaks down why California housing costs are so high, exploring systemic drivers beyond just impact fees, contractor fees, and material prices.
He reflects of the 2026 California Governor candidates housing platforms, dives into policy and structural factors influencing housing costs, and shares insights from his new guidebook, Before You Build, offering valuable guidance for homeowners and builders alike.
Before You Build Guidebook Download
Built to Divide Podcast Series
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203. Off-Grid, the Hot Rod of Buildings, with David Sellers
This episode of SPACES features David Sellers, Principal Architect and co-founder of Hawaii Off-Grid, a pioneering firm committed to designing only net-zero new buildings.
David shares his journey from Texas to Hawaii, detailing the experiences that shaped his commitment to sustainable architecture.
He discusses the evolution of off-grid architecture, the importance of net-zero buildings, and the innovative materials and technologies that are transforming the industry. Sellers emphasizes the need for adaptability in design to address climate change and the significance of financial incentives in promoting sustainable practices.
He also highlights the role of...
202. Most Problems Start Before Construction
In this episode of SPACES, Dimitrius shares practical insights on avoiding common pitfalls in construction projects, emphasizing the importance of clear scope, accurate budgeting, strategic team assembly, and proactive planning to prevent costly reactive problem solving during construction.
Before You Build Guidebook Download
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201. Revolutionizing Lease Arbitrage with Alex Passler
In this episode of SPACES, I learn how Vallist is revolutionizing office design by creating high-quality shared spaces that cater to modern work needs. Discover insights from expert Alex Passler.
In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, the design of office spaces is more crucial than ever. With the rise of hybrid work strategies, companies are reevaluating how their office spaces function.
Alex Passler, founder of Vallist, offers a fresh perspective on this transformation, drawing from his extensive experience in the co-working sector. We explore key insights about the future of office design and how Va...
12: We're Not Done - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In this powerful season finale of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch dismantles the myths that have kept America’s housing crisis misunderstood for decades. Drawing from personal experience, economic history, and policy analysis, the episode reveals how housing transformed from shelter into one of the most powerful vehicles for wealth extraction in modern society.
From restrictive zoning and financial deregulation to labor shifts, political incentives, and the collapse of social infrastructure, Lynch exposes the deeper machinery driving unaffordability — and why tidy explanations often distract from systemic truths.
But this is not an episode about despair.
11: The Tea Leaves of Feudalism 2.0 - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
What if the future of America doesn’t resemble a democracy — but a modern form of feudalism?
In this gripping episode of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch traces a chilling throughline from 19th-century “other-ism” to the emerging architecture of concentrated power shaping today’s housing markets, financial systems, and governance models.
Beginning with the displacement of Chinese and Japanese laborers and the weaponization of fear for economic gain, the episode reveals how crisis has repeatedly been used to reorganize ownership — transferring land, wealth, and opportunity upward.
Then the lens shifts to the present.
Faith m...
10: Divide & Conquer - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In this episode of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch traces how crisis becomes opportunity — not for everyone, but for those positioned to acquire when others are forced to let go.
From psychological influence campaigns and the weaponization of belief to pandemic-era wealth acceleration, this episode reveals how instability reshapes ownership itself. Lynch connects redlining to modern rent burdens, shows how algorithmic pricing may be rewriting competition, and examines how disasters — from COVID-19 to California wildfires — can trigger generational wealth transfers.
You’ll hear how institutional investors, lobbying power, and financialization collide with housing supply constraints, why inno...
09: Under Pressure - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In this episode of Built to Divide we dissect the collision of NIMBY politics, Proposition 13 in California, environmental law, rising construction costs, and cultural status signaling that defined housing in the 2010s.
Dimitrius Lynch takes listeners inside the community meeting rooms where projects die quietly, tracing how California’s tax revolt rewired local incentives, how CEQA evolved from environmental shield to procedural weapon, and why housing scarcity became fiscally rational—even when socially destructive.
This episode connects Thorstein Veblen’s leisure class theory to modern zoning fights, explains why new construction skews luxury, and reveals how am...
08: From Ownership to Access - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In this episode of Built to Divide, we pick up where the post-2008 housing machine left off—and show how the subscription economy (SaaS, streaming, “pay forever”) migrated into the built environment.
Dimitrius Lynch traces the privatization movement from Milton Friedman’s voucher logic and post–Brown v. Board backlash to modern power brokers like ALEC, corporate bill-writing, and the quiet reframing of citizens into customers.
Then we explore build-to-rent communities engineered for “predictable cash flow,” housing-as-a-dashboard, and the rise of rentier capitalism—profits from controlling gates, not creating value. The episode connects BlackRock’s infrastructure the...
07: Eat the Middle Class - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
October 13, 2008: behind closed doors in Washington, the U.S. government forces Wall Street’s biggest banks to take rescue money—no opt-outs, no stigma, no time for debate. What follows isn’t just a bailout. It’s a quiet rewrite of capitalism: stabilize the banks first, let homeowners and workers fight for air.
Dimitrius Lynch traces how the TARP bailout, near-zero interest rates, and weak homeowner relief accelerated a new housing order—one where asset prices recover faster than wages, and where homes shift from shelter to portfolio. As the National Association of Realtors pushes demand-side subsidies like the $...
06: The Fog of Identity - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
What do a 1970 psychology experiment and the 2008 housing crash have in common? In Episode 6 of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch traces how social identity theory—the instinct to form “us vs. them” groups—became a political weapon that helped sell a bipartisan push for mass homeownership, weaken skepticism, and pave the way for subprime mortgages, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), CDOs, and a crisis engineered by incentives.
We move from NAFTA-era globalization and Peter Drucker’s “core competencies” mindset, to the dot-com bust, Fed rate cuts, and the explosion of “stated income” lending. The episode spotlights Washington Mutual (WaMu)—from community-frien...
05: Shock & Awe - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In August 1971, Richard Nixon went on television and detonated the global financial system. By severing the U.S. dollar from gold, the Nixon Shock ended Bretton Woods, ushered in fiat money, and unleashed a new era of credit, speculation, and inequality. What followed wasn’t just inflation and currency volatility—it was a fundamental rewiring of housing, wealth, and power.
In this episode of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch traces how the end of the gold standard collided with housing policy, stagflation, and a rising market-first ideology. As public housing construction collapsed, Section 8 vouchers expanded, the mortgage inte...
04: The Pivot - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
In the summer heat of Birmingham, children faced police dogs and fire hoses. On a bus in Montgomery, a 15-year-old refused to stand. From Claudette Colvin to Rosa Parks, from Greensboro counters to the March on Washington—the Civil Rights Movement shook America awake. Yet, even as laws changed, maps and mortgages quietly redrew the lines of belonging.
In this episode of Built to Divide, Dimitrius Lynch tracks what happened after the marches. The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination, but zoning boards found new tools to enforce it. Highways tore through Black neighborhoods in San Francisco and De...
03: The Great Reset - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
What happens when the machinery of war is turned loose on the home front? In this episode of Built to Divide, host Dimitrius Lynch traces how the end of World War II, the GI Bill, and federal housing policy combined to build the largest middle-class expansion in U.S. history—while quietly deepening racial and economic division.
Beginning with the surrender in Tokyo Bay and the massive demobilization of Operation Magic Carpet, Lynch follows millions of returning veterans back to a country racing to answer a simple question: Where will they all live? The answer reshaped the na...
02: Territorial Imperative - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
At the dawn of the 20th century, American finance looked modern—telegraphs, syndicates, Wall Street empires—but it had no brakes. In this episode of Built to Divide, host Dimitrius Lynch follows the chain reaction from the Panic of 1907 to the creation of the Federal Reserve, revealing how crises, central banking, and policy choices concentrated power at the top and quietly reshaped who gets to own a home in America.
We move from J.P. Morgan locking bankers in his library to stabilize markets, to the secret Jekyll Island meeting that birthed the blueprint for the Fed, to a...
01: Proxemics & Personal Space - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
Why does housing in America feel so unattainable—and why does it seem designed that way? In this sweeping opening chapter of Built to Divide, host Dimitrius Lynch traces the origins of today’s housing affordability crisis back more than 100,000 years, revealing how our primal instincts around territory, ownership, and status have been shaped—and exploited—over millennia.
From the campfire rituals of early humans to feudal Europe’s enclosures, from the rise of divine kingship to the first mortgage systems, and from the U.S. labor movement to the FHA’s propaganda-style push for suburban homeownership, this episode...
Introducing Built to Divide - LYNES Presents: Built to Divide
Built to Divide is a cinematic audio documentary that unearths how America’s homes became the front lines of inequality. From land giveaways to red lines, gated communities to algorithmic rent hikes—each episode reveals the forces that shaped not only where we live, but who gets to belong.
Guided by host Dimitrius Lynch Jr., an award-winning architect with a storyteller’s eye for systems and design, this series traces how policy, psychology, and profit converged to build division into the very architecture of everyday life. Through vivid historical narratives, archival sound, and modern parallels, Built to Divide...
RECHECK: Prisons
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
The incarcerated population has ballooned over the last 50 years and public attitudes have slowly shifted towards active pursuit of criminal justice reform. However, we can't forget about prison design itself. In this episode we highlight key points of criminal justice reform and discuss the evolution of prison design and potential improvements for the future.
If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl Media.
Spaces Podcast Spaces P...
RECHECK: Cannabis Facilities
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
We tackle the controversial, complex, and rapidly evolving industry of cannabis...and its history will definitely spark a conversation, maybe even shock you. We also discuss issues and considerations for the various facility types: dispensary, grow, and extraction. Anthony Winston III, of Winston Engineering, helps us out by sharing his expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering. Lastly, Jason and Michelle are quizzed on their cannabis knowledge in a game sponsored by lift-gift.com. How many can you get right?
<...RECHECK: Graffiti/Street Art
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
The controversial art form of Graffiti has grown from its outlaw past to be an accepted element in beautifying some urban communities. Danni Simpson, commercial and street artist, of Danni Simpson Art joins the show to discuss her style and inspiration, participation in the movement and experience of a renewed relationship between graffiti/street art, municipalities and the building industry.
If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl M...
RECHECK: Transportation
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
Urban population growth and the dependence on transportation has reached a point where 30 to 60% of urban areas are taken by roads and parking lots. Subsequently, mobility issues have exponentially increased. Brandon Reyes P.E., Project Manager at Michael Baker International joins the show to discuss changes in transportation on the horizon and how they may affect the future of spaces we occupy every day.
If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow...
RECHECK: Movie Theaters
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
With busier lifestyles, an array of entertainment options, cable television, streaming services, and social distancing, movie theaters are facing an unprecedented number of challenges that will likely spur evolution in design. Robert McCall, AIA, NCARB, Principal at JKRP Architects joins us in this wide-ranging conversation, discussing various aspects of movie theaters including design, construction, operations, and much more!
If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl Media.
RECHECK: Stadiums | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
In this SPACES Recheck, we're revisiting a standout episode from the archive that you may have missed...
What will future stadiums look like? Licensed engineer...architect...AND LEED BD+C certified professional, Erleen Hatfield, PE, AIA, Managing Partner of the Hatfield Group, joins us to discuss structural engineering, stadiums, and her work on the Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Francisco Gonzalez Pulido, from FGP Atelier, shares his experience designing the Diablos Stadium in Mexico City.
If you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl Media.
S...
Going Green 04: Divergence
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the evolution of architectural styles from historic to modern to postmodern. It begins with how buildings throughout history have reflected their region and responded to societal changes. The episode examines the emergence of modernism as a reaction to World War I and the socio-economic aspects of elaborate historic architectu...
Going Green 06: Victory Runs Through the Law
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the seeds of an ideological shift on the environment born in the 1980s, marked a period of materialism and individualism.
The episode highlights the environmental justice movement, a fight for land reform and preservation of the Amazon rainforest, the founding of the Federalist Society, which aimed to shift t...
Going Green 10: Choice
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
In the finale of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) I outline where we are today, what’s at stake, and how exactly do we move forward.
The episode examines the role of dark money in shaping the Supreme Court and its relation to climate action. The ongoing climate crisis, the implications of climate-related lawsuits against major corpor...
Going Green 07: Counterintelligence
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the politicization of environmental issues and the emerging communication war on climate change. The evolution of media, politics, and corporate interests and its impact on the public's opinion of climate change are detailed. The episode also highlights the creation of the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) and the establ...
Going Green 08: 'FINDING OF NO NEW SIGNIFICANT IMPACT'
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the environmental policies and approaches of the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. It highlights the influence of the oil industry on the US government and the challenges faced in addressing climate change.
The episode also touches on the manipulation of public perception and the impact of campaig...
Going Green Bonus: A Communications Challenge
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
In this special bonus episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story), Nakita Reed, host of Tangible Remnants, joins the show to discuss the series.
We discuss the importance of sustainability and the potential benefits of a sustainable future. We reflect on the impact of climate change, the journey of creating the 'Going Green' series, and the interc...
Going Green 05: Greed Is Good
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the historical roots, policies, and corporate actions that lead to the energy crisis of the 1970s and President Jimmy Carter's energy policies that aimed to combat the crisis. We examine the evolution of environmental policy in the United States during the Reagan era. The impact of Reaganomics, the role of th...
Going Green 09: This Is Fine
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the evolution of wildfire management in the U.S., the impact of climate change on wildfires, and the political responses to environmental challenges over the years.
It also highlights the significant shifts in environmental policy from the Obama to Trump administrations, culminating in the current successes and challe...
Going Green 02: Doing More with Less
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the themes of westward expansion in the United States, the environmental impact of farming practices, the Dust Bowl, the role of indigenous communities in environmental conservation, the contributions of George Washington Carver and Buckminster Fuller, and the early scientific understanding of climate change.
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Going Green 01: More Necessary Than Clothing Is To Man
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the early understanding of climate change and the impact of human activity on the planet. The importance of sustainability and finding a balance between the environment, economy, and society is emphasized.
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Episode Extras - Photos, videos, sources and links to additional...
Going Green 03: The Longer We Wait, The Larger The Problem
Going Green is a Finalist in the Signal Awards—the largest award solely dedicated to podcasting! Now I need YOUR help: The Listener’s Choice Awards are open for voting worldwide through October 9th. Vote here today!
This episode of Going Green (a SPACES podcast story) explores the history of the environmental movement, focusing on the impact of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring and the establishment of Earth Day. It highlights the growing awareness of environmental issues throughout history and the role of key figures in advocating for environmental protection. The conversation also discusses the legislativ...
