The Senior Housing Tsunami

On the season one finale of Radically Polished, Jason and Rob tackle the not-so-shocking reality that America’s malls are on life support, and it's going to take more than an Auntie Anne's to keep them alive. The way forward? "De-malling” these retail dinosaurs out of the stone age, and transforming them into mixed-use hubs where you can do yoga, listen to smooth-jazz, walk your dog with an iced matcha in hand, and gather around a firepit - all in what used to be a Sears parking lot. Through stories of brutally honest client meetings and half-empty malls clinging to relevance, they're making one thing clear: people don’t hate shopping, they hate boring retail boxes. The future belongs to places with energy, experiences, and actual humans sticking around longer than 20 minutes; because your local mall deserves better than becoming a Spirit Halloween.

On this episode of Radically Polished, Jason Shepard and construction veteran Terry Dopp dismantle the myth that architecture ends at drawings, and expose why Construction Administration is a real make-or-break phase of a project. In a world where 100 RFIs turn into 600, contractors build from the wrong sheets, accessibility issues get buried behind drywall, and schedule pressures try to bulldoze good decisions, a top-notch CA team is a necessity. Terry brings boots-on-the-ground insight into why CA doesn't come down to a checkbox or paperwork; it’s proactive problem-solving, code enforcement, team alignment, and occasionally saying the hard “no” that protects everyone’s investment. From embedding CA into design early, to training the next generation instead of recycling burned-out PMs, this episode makes one thing clear: great buildings don’t happen by accident, they’re defended into existence.   Check out more of our work here: www.dwelldesignstudio.com  

This ain't your grandpa's old folks home! Dwell's CMO Rob Snyder and Senior Housing Expert Chris Van Kley take a tour through the world of senior housing, covering everything from 55+ communities and memory care to intergenerational campuses, zoning quirks, robot waiters, and why developers love seniors. Join in as they unpack the looming 'silver tsunami', and imagine a future where Senior Housing means upgrading, not settling for less. Out with bingo, in with the future!

How do you design a building that looks great today and 50 years from now? Rob Snyder sits down with TJ Reed, one of our designers here at Dwell Design Studio to talk about what makes a building truly last, beyond the budgets and gimmicks. They're diving into client collaboration, design trends, material choices, and the secrets to making every corner beautiful. Plus, a little homework for design lovers (or you could just get back to scrolling Instagram like everyone else). Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode, or head to our website to see more of the awesome stuff we're making: https://www.dwelldesignstudio.com/  

Residential and Retail developers might be from different planets, but give a skilled mixed-use architect the controls, and suddenly everyone's orbit aligns. Join Jason Shepard and Rob Snyder as they dive into balancing the dynamic between these two very different kinds of clients. From parking strategies to pedestrian pathways, wrap projects to high-rises, they break down the secrets to creating great developments for both tenants and shoppers - while also giving your residential and retail clients exactly what they need. If you’re looking to bring out the best of both worlds for your mixed-use development, this episode is your blueprint for success.

This month, Jason Shepard and Rob Snyder are getting into the nitty-gritty about our prototype: R.A.D. - Residential Affordability by Dwell. Take a listen as they chat about what makes prototypes a no-brainer for developers in this tricky real estate market, and why RAD is a cut above other models.   Interested in learning more about RAD? Visit www.dwelldesignstudio.com

Dwell Design Studio's very own Jason Shepard and Rob Snyder are back to discuss one of our many areas of expertise: mixed-use architecture. Why should developers invest in mixed-use projects? What makes this type of project authentic? What special considerations should you make when designing a mixed-use project? And most importantly, where can you get the best liege waffle in the country? The answers to all this and more await you in this episode of Radically Polished.   Check out our mixed-use work (and our other awesome projects) at www.dwelldesignstudio.com

In our debut episode of Radically Polished, Jason Shepard (founder and CEO) and Rob Snyder (CMO) are diving into the early days of Dwell Design Studio to talk through how Dwell came to be, the challenges that we've overcome, and the methodology that has guided us to where we are now. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on new episodes, and we'll see you next time! www.dwelldesignstudio.com

We’re thrilled to announce that Dwell Design Studio is launching our very own podcast: Radically Polished! This is your all-access pass into the world of Dwell, from behind-the-scenes of our design processes to major milestones, and everything in between. Each month we’ll sit down with design experts from our team and the broader industry to bring you fresh perspectives, creative insights, and real conversations. We can’t wait to share what we’ve learned (and are still learning) with you. It’s going to be an exciting ride and we’re just getting started.   Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of the action, we'll see you after our first official episode drops on September 23rd.