Many architecture firm owners struggle with the same challenge: How do you build a sustainable business that can thrive beyond the founder? Joe Furey solved this problem by bringing his finance and technology background to Michael Graves Architecture & Design, one of America's most iconic firms.

Stephen Ross had an uncompromising vision for a transformational park built over a highway as part of an ambitious Detroit master plan. The challenge was cost. Tina Ladd has built her career remaining determined in the face of challenges. Through her work on both the Detroit master plan and Hudson Yards, she honed her skills to turn the impossible into possible. Today, that same relentless, solutions-driven mindset defines her work at Aker, where she shows that determination applies just as much in multifamily value-add as it does in billion-dollar mixed-use developments.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Michael Shvo, we dive deep into the execution of his Transamerica Pyramid transformation. Shvo reveals his development strategy for the three-year remastering project and how he navigated San Francisco's challenging entitlements process.

Michael Shvo reveals the remarkable story behind the $650 million transformation of the Transamerica Pyramid, from discovering his childhood drawing of the building to reshaping downtown San Francisco through hospitality-driven development.

When construction costs forced Worrell Yeung to reconsider their ground-up design, they discovered that reimagining a 1980s barn generated a richer project with more character and history than their original approach.

When architect Michael Chen, principal of MKCA, got a call about designing a 600-square foot apartment, the project brief was straightforward enough: renovate a 2-bedroom summer vacation home with multifunctional furniture. However, this wasn’t East Hampton or Miami Beach. In fact, there wasn’t an address at allーthe apartment floats on a luxury residential yacht that spends 365 days a year at sea.

Four years ago, we sat down with architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti to explore his vision for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion in Cleveland—then still on the drawing board. Today, that project is under construction, reshaping Cleveland’s lakefront with a bold new cultural landmark. As cranes rise and the tower takes form, our conversation with Vishaan feels more timely than ever: it’s a front-row seat to how great design can catalyze civic life and spur economic vitality.

Four years ago, we sat down with architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti to explore his vision for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion in Cleveland—then still on the drawing board. Today, that project is under construction, reshaping Cleveland’s lakefront with a bold new cultural landmark. As cranes rise and the tower takes form, our conversation with Vishaan feels more timely than ever: it’s a front-row seat to how great design can catalyze civic life and spur economic vitality.

Jim Somoza shares how Industry City transformed abandoned waterfront warehouses into Brooklyn's largest mixed-use campus by solving the fundamental challenge of warehouse-to-mixed-use conversions: making buildings designed for trucks work for people. From Innovation Alley's pedestrian spine to fostering collaboration among 650 businesses, this conversation reveals the infrastructure and relationship strategies that drive successful adaptive reuse.

Carrie Denning Jackson, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Jamestown, discusses how the company is embedding health and environmental programs into developments like Ponce City Market's phase two expansion in Atlanta. The conversation covers Jamestown's approach to sustainable materials, mass timber construction methods, and strategies for using corporate scale to drive down costs for healthier building products across the industry.

Nate Helbach shares how Neutral aims to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and financial viability through vertical integration. His systematic approach combines proprietary algorithms with in-house expertise across development, construction, and technology to build mass timber projects designed to reduce carbon emissions while targeting competitive investor returns.

Cecily King shares how her company Kipling Development is preserving naturally occurring affordable housing by transforming multi-family properties that serve middle-income earners. Her relationship-driven approach combines systematic deal sourcing with community-focused design to create stable housing for teachers, nurses, and young professionals while delivering sustainable returns for investors.

Ben Weinberg and Michael Weiss reveal how their companies Castle Peak Holdings and Trailborn are reimagining outdoor hospitality by transforming overlooked properties in irreplaceable locations. Their strategic approach combines data-driven market analysis with thoughtful design to create memorable guest experiences that celebrate local character while delivering strong investment returns.