Building Conversations

STO Building Group (STOBG)

Welcome to Building Conversations, an STO Building Group (STOBG) podcast dedicated to exploring the trends driving the real estate, architecture, engineering, and construction industry forward.

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25 episodes
Avg 31 min
English

Episodes 25

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Friday · 11 min
Ask the Expert: The Hidden Costs of Elevator Design with Michael Walsh
From delayed inspections to costly repairs, elevator decisions can have a major impact on a building's construction schedule, operating costs, and long-term performance. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Michael Walsh, Vice President of Elevator Construction Consultants at STO Building Group, breaks down some of the most common elevator challenges facing building owners, architects, and construction teams.
September 25 · 4 min
Ask the Expert: Repositioning NYC’s Office Buildings with Brooks McDaniel
As New York City's office market continues to evolve, what separates thriving properties from struggling assets? In this episode of Ask the Expert, host Brooks McDaniel, Senior Vice President of Building Repositioning at STO Building Group, explores the current state of the New York City office market and explains how strategic building repositioning can help older office properties compete with today's premier Class A developments.
September 11 · 8 min
Ask the Expert: When AI Meets Liquid Cooling with Terence Deneny
As artificial intelligence continues to drive unprecedented computing demands, how are data centers evolving to keep pace? In this episode of the Ask the Expert, host Terence Deneny, Senior Vice President of Mission Critical, discusses how AI is reshaping data center design through liquid cooling technologies, higher rack densities, and next-generation infrastructure.
September 10 · 29 min
Breaking Ground: Circularity Through Partnerships (RE-RELEASE)
How can the construction industry shift from a “take, make, waste” cycle to a circular economy? In celebration of Zero Waste Week, host Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group is joined by Tim Conway, VP of Sustainability at Shaw Industries, and Avery McKitrick Sustainability Coordinator to explore how takeback programs and supplier partnerships are transforming waste management on jobsites.
September 9 · 30 min
Boston’s Circular Shift: Building Smarter, Greener, Better (RE-RELEASE)
In celebration of Zero Waste Week, join Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group, Michael Orbank, Sustainability Manager, Northeast Region at STO Building Group, and Andrea Love, Principal and Director of Building Science at Payette, as they explore how Boston teams are turning demolition into deconstruction—leveraging partnerships across owners, designers, contractors, and vendors while navigating policy, storage, and market challenges.
September 8 · 25 min
Inside NYC’s Push for Building Circularity (RE-RELEASE)
In honor of Zero Waste Week, join Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group (STOBG), Ryan Hughes, Sustainability Manager at Structure Tone New York, and Tiffany Williams, Sustainability Manager at Rudin, as they explore how selective deconstruction, material recovery, and take-back programs are transforming NYC construction.
August 28 · 1 hr 5 min
Rethinking Multifamily: Build-to-Rent, Modular, and Beyond
What will multifamily housing look like in the next decade? Join experts from Layton Construction, Executive Vice President, Cris Bryant, Project Manager, Cooper Sharpe, VP of Operations, Jeremy Hobbs, and Scott Stringfellow, Director of Construction at PEG Construction/PEG Companies. as they explore the trends reshaping multifamily development, from build-to-rent communities and live-work environments to modular construction and off-site prefabrication. Along the way, they share real-world lessons and discuss why flexibility, collaboration, and building the right product in the right location are essential for long-term success.
July 31 · 1 hr 37 min
Beyond BIM: The Future of Digital Construction
What does better information management look like in modern construction? In this episode of Building Conversations, host Harry Lewis, BIM/VDC Leader at Structure Tone Dublin, is joined by Ryan Ford, BIM Manager at Structure Tone Dublin, and Davitt Lamon, Head of BIM at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), for a deep dive into BIM, ISO 19650, and the evolving role of digital construction. From Structure Tone Ireland’s journey to ISO 19650 certification to the wider impact of Ireland’s BIM mandate, the conversation explores how standardized information management is transforming project delivery.
July 10 · 8 min
Ask the Expert: Rethinking Mass Timber with DFMA with Pete Kobelt
What is Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA), and why is it becoming a gamechanger for mass timber construction? In this episode of Ask the Expert, Pete Kobelt, Director of Mass Timber Solutions at STO Building Group, answers questions about how DFMA is transforming project planning, manufacturing, and delivery.
June 26 · 18 min
Innovation Expo: Otto Smart Ladder System
In this episode of the STO Building Group’s Innovation Expo Series, host Rob Leon sits down with Ellen Giuntini, Founder and CEO of Otto Tech Systems, to discuss how the Otto Smart Ladder System is helping improve jobsite safety—from real-time alerts and digital inspections to data-driven insights.
June 12 · 51 min
Leading the Jobsite: Lessons in Operational Excellence
What drives operational excellence on a construction project? Recorded live at the Superintendent Convention this panel discussion explores what drives operational excellence on a construction project—from managing complex projects to supporting mental health in the field, the conversation is packed with real-world experiences and practical insights on building strong teams and delivering successful projects.
May 22 · 1 hr 2 min
Future-Proofing Construction Scheduling with Outbuild
In this episode of Building Conversations, Lisa Dunmeyer, Tech Ops Project Manager at BCCI, is joined by Neil Ascione, President of RC Andersen; Josh Anger, Senior Superintendent at BCCI; and Franco Giaquinto, Founder and CEO of Outbuild, to discuss how Outbuild is transforming construction scheduling through real-time collaboration between office and field teams. The conversation explores how modern planning tools improve visibility, save time, and help contractors build more efficiently.
May 15 · 31 min
Strong Foundations: Supporting Mental Health in Construction
What happens when stress and distractions become hidden safety risks on the jobsite? In this episode of Building Conversations, host Greg Dunkle—STO Building Group’s Chief Operating Officer—is joined by Robert Labbe, Vice President of Risk Engineering Services at American Global, and Jeff Matthews, Safety Director of Structure Tone Philadelphia, to discuss why mental health and suicide prevention must be part of the construction safety conversation.
April 24 · 11 min
Ask the Expert: Cost, Sustainability & Long-Term Value with Jennifer Taranto
When it comes to construction costs, it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of you—but what happens after the project is complete? In our latest Ask the Expert series, STOBG’s Vice President of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, dives into the balance between capital costs and long-term operational savings—and why thinking beyond the upfront investment can make all the difference.
April 3 · 36 min
The Life Sciences Boom: Investment, Innovation & the Future of Global Growth
In this episode of Building Conversations, STO Building Group's Vice President and Life Sciences Sector Leader, Jennie Taveras, and Nick Oddy, Strategy Director at Structure Tone London, explore the rapid growth of the life sciences sector and why London is emerging as a global hub for investment, innovation, and development.
March 27 · 33 min
More Than a Seat at the Table: From Uncertainty to Confidence
What does it take to lead with authenticity, build trust, and create lasting impact in construction? In this special Women’s History Month episode of Building Conversations, host Christie Mullen—Director of Business Development at Structure Tone New Jersey—sits down with Wendy Castro, Director, Design & Construction at Rockefeller Group, and Christine Bunner, Project Manager at RC Andersen for an honest conversation about mentorship, inclusive team culture, problem-solving, and the power of women supporting women across complex projects.
March 6 · 50 min
Leaning Forward: Advancing Women in Construction
What does it truly take to advance women in construction—not just recruit them, but retain, support, and elevate them into leadership? In this episode of Building Conversations, Claudia Healy—STO Building Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer—sits down with NAWIC CEO Sheronda Carr and Northeast Regional Director Jillian Penkin to unpack the real retention challenges—bias, culture, and the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.
February 20 · 6 min
Ask the Expert: Construction Procurement with David Hamilton
In this Building Conversations Ask the Expert episode, David Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Construction Procurement Solutions, answers listener questions about construction procurement and the evolving strategies reshaping how projects are delivered. From industry fragmentation and supply chain complexity to direct manufacturer partnerships and technology-driven visibility, Dave explains how modern procurement approaches help reduce risk, improve cost certainty, and keep projects on schedule. Tune in to learn how smarter procurement decisions create more control, transparency, and better outcomes for clients.
February 13 · 49 min
The Precon Playbook: How Early Strategy Shapes Project Success
In this episode, Greg Dunkle, Chief Operating Officer at STO Building Group, sits down with three pre-construction leaders—James Mezzadri, Estimating Manager at Structure Tone New York, Troy Addis, Senior Vice President at LF Driscoll, and Kurt Thomas, Vice President of Business Development at Layton Construction—to discuss how pre-construction sets the tone for project success. They explore how early collaboration builds client trust, drives schedule and cost certainty across sectors, and how tools like VDC, pull planning, and shared platforms help teams stay aligned from estimating through delivery.
January 16 · 10 min
Ask the Expert: The State of the Construction Labor Market with Greg Dunkle
In this Building Conversations Ask the Expert episode, Greg Dunkle—Chief Operating Officer at STO Building Group—answers listener questions on one of the industry’s toughest challenges: the national labor shortage. From the 500,000-worker gap to rising wages and shifting demographics, Greg breaks down how today’s workforce trends impact project cost, schedule, quality, and safety—and what clients should be asking when selecting a contractor.

Showing 1–20 of 25 episodes