Side of Design

Hosted by BWBR

Business Arts Design

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A podcast from BWBR, for those with a craving to take their organizations and spaces to new heights, with a side of design. We explore topics and issues affecting how we heal, learn, work, research, play and pray with those whose passion and expertise centers on the spaces that enable us to do all of that.

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60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 7314 min

Side Notes: Where Student Wellness Meets Sustainable Design

Student health today encompasses far more than physical wellbeing—supporting mental health is equally critical to academic success and overall student wellness. For colleges and universities , offering mental and behavioral health services on campus is an essential first step, but designing those spaces to feel accessible, inclusive, and welcoming is just as important. Chris Fischer , Associate Principal and Design Leader at BWBR, was part of the team behind the Carleton College Class of 1974 Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) Center —a LEED Platinum-certified facility designed to holistically address students' medical, counseling, and wellness needs. In this episode, Chris joins us to discuss the design process. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

July 14, 2026Episode 729 min

Side Notes: Creating Connection, Whimsy, and Hope at the Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health

For families seeking behavioral health care for their child, the process can feel confusing, disjointed, or even scary. When diving into the planning process for the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services’ Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health, the team approached each design decision with a different goal: creating an experience rooted in clarity, connection, and comfort from the moment families arrive. Melanie Baumhover, BWBR Principal, Director, and Behavioral + Mental Health Market Leader, joined us to discuss the recently completed project and how its “no wrong door” model is improving access to care for families in Michigan and beyond. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

June 15, 2026Episode 7110 min

Side Notes: Reimagining Women’s and Children’s Care at Avera McKennan Hospital

A hospital addition does more than just expand and refresh a campus—it can improve wayfinding, make room for new spaces, and prompt a broader rethink of how the environment supports patients, visitors, and staff both operationally and emotionally. We spoke with BWBR Principal Jason Nordling about the Avera McKennan Hospital Women’s and Children’s Inpatient Addition and Remodel , an exciting project that highlights the complexity, collaboration, and powerful opportunities involved in expanding these services. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

May 5, 2026Episode 7029 min

Recruitment and Retention by Design: Supporting Talent Through Space

n today’s competitive labor market, companies across sectors are grappling with the same question—how do we attract and retain top talent? As organizations grow, evolving industries require increasingly technical skillsets, and people-first cultures that prioritize employee wellbeing continue to rise, leaders are seeking innovative solutions for recruitment and retention. We sat down with Healthcare Practice Leader Ryan Johansen and Science + Technology Practice Leader Nate Roisen to discuss the challenges and opportunities they’re seeing in their respective markets. A key takeaway they share: design can make all the difference. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

April 14, 2026Episode 697 min

Side Notes: Momentum in Madison and Beyond

Located in the heart of downtown overlooking Wisconsin’s Capitol Dome, BWBR’s Madison office provides proximity to the ever-expanding markets statewide. Leading the talented, tight-knit team is Leigh Streit, who joined us for this episode of Side Notes to share insights into the Madison market, the opportunities shaping Wisconsin’s future, and the work driving meaningful impact across the region. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

March 23, 2026Episode 6837 min

Next Gen Mentoring: Fostering the Future of Design

At BWBR, we believe in being stewards of exceptional design—which means sharing our team’s unique skills, specialized knowledge, and abundance of passion with the next generation. Many BWBR staff members are involved in fostering young designers, whether that’s helping high school students navigate career paths or sparking creativity in elementary school classrooms. In this episode of Side of Design, we sat down with Senior Project Manager Andrea Cecelia and Marketing Manager Danielle Hilmo to chat about their deep commitment to outreach in their communities, the innovative new lenses students are bringing to design, and what it means for the future of the industry. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

February 17, 2026Episode 6714 min

Side Notes: Connecting Operational Insight to Smarter Design

Senior Planner Jessica Sweeney took a unique path to planning healthcare environments at BWBR. With a background that helps bridge the challenges health organizations face with the solutions architecture can provide, her specialized insight brings key value to our design teams and client stakeholders. In this episode of Side Notes, she shares her fascinating career journey and how it lends itself to creating high-performing facilities that are data-informed , staff-friendly, and patient-centric. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

January 27, 2026Episode 6622 min

Quality by Design: Construction, Coordination, and Collaboration

Quality in design and construction is easy to recognize, but far more complex to achieve. It’s not just about how a building looks when it’s finished, but about the processes that carry a project from concept through construction. In this episode of Side of Design, we sit down with BWBR’s Director of Professional Services Dan Hottinger and Construction Administration Manager Bryan Desma to unpack what “quality” really means in design and construction—and how it begins long before a project breaks ground. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

January 14, 2026Episode 6515 min

Side Notes: Integrating Sustainability, Quality, and Codes for Design Excellence

Sustainability, quality assurance (QA), building codes, and specifications—at BWBR, these critical design functions are overseen by Rachael Spires, Associate Principal and Performance Design & Quality Manager. In this episode of Side Notes, she explores how the seemingly distinctive roles intersect, all working together to drive design excellence in powerful ways. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/

January 5, 2026Episode 6438 min

Built for Community: Five Years of Impact at Regions Hospital Birth Center

What does it take to create a birth center that truly serves its community—clinically, culturally, and emotionally? The Regions Hospital Birth Center was designed with this question in mind, taking a family-centered approach that integrates the latest care choices with the multicultural needs of mothers in the Twin Cities. In this episode of Side of Design, we take a deep dive into the design process as the hospital celebrates five years of impact. Joining the discussion are Rochelle Johnson, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Regions Hospital, along with BWBR project team members—Principal Melanie Baumhover , who served as Project Manager, Principal Mike Boldenow , and Senior Healthcare Planner Sophia Skemp . The conversation explores the project’s vision, challenges, and—most importantly—how the birth center continues to transform care. If you like what we are doing with our podcasts please subscribe and leave us a review! You can also connect with us on any of our social media sites! https://www.facebook.com/BWBRsolutions https://twitter.com/BWBR https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwbr-architects/ https://www.bwbr.com/side-of-design-podcast/