26 ABR. 2024 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we’re in Victoria, Canada, for a chat with Harsh Rathod, co-founder and CEO of Niricson, a company that is revolutionizing how bridges, dams, and other critical infrastructure are inspected for safety. Niricson uses digital technology in the form of software and drones as well as leveraging artificial intelligence to make infrastructure safety inspections much more reliable and efficient, significantly reducing the risk of human error. In this episode, we learn about how, back in 1896, people living in Victoria witnessed first-hand the tragic consequences of insufficient safety inspections, when the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed. And we hear how a much more recent bridge collapse in his home country of India, spurred Harsh on to found Niricson and lead a digital revolution for condition assessment and risk management, all with the aim of making infrastructure safer.

12 ABR. 2024 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we head to the City of Bath in the UK, for a conversation with James Hooton, Managing Director of the Green Finance Institute (GFI). Bath is an ancient city with many very old buildings. But just like any other city, Bath is also striving to become more sustainable and that means these buildings need to be retrofitted, so they use less energy and therefore contribute less to climate change. GFI is working to help with this by channeling capital at pace and scale towards real-economy outcomes that will create jobs and increase prosperity for all. Join our host Davion and James for a conversation about the role of finance in the transition to a clean, resilient, and environmentally sustainable economy.

22 MAR. 2024 · Join us in Amsterdam, for a conversation about an important aspect of the city’s phenomenal transportation system: train stations. Davion sits down with Daan Klaase, Manager of Research and Station Development, and John Riepen, Manager of Amsterdam Central Station, both from NS Stations. Daan and John reveal some of the secrets behind Amsterdam's iconic transportation hubs. We explore the role of NS Stations in ensuring well-maintained and passenger-friendly train stations and discover the delicate balance the organization must strike between historical preservation and modernization. And reflecting Amsterdam's status as a bastion for cycling, we learn about how NS Stations seamlessly integrates bicycles into the city's fabric. Listen in to find out more.

8 MAR. 2024 · In this episode of the podcast we travel to Manchester in the UK, a city steeped in history and a rich cultural heritage. We speak with Natasha Rouse, Director of Asset Management at Equitix, a global investor, developer, and fund manager. Equitix has invested in myriad assets in Manchester and is playing a significant role in ensuring essential urban infrastructure is well maintained and delivering value for city residents. In this episode we explore Manchester's journey from being the world's first industrial city to its current position as a vital hub for advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and healthcare. We delve into Manchester's infrastructure challenges, and we discover the pivotal role private finance initiatives and public-private partnerships play in advancing infrastructure investment in the city. Join our host Davion and Natasha as they uncover the past, present, and future of Manchester’s infrastructure and the collaborative efforts shaping its current and future development.

9 FEB. 2024 · We're back in New York. This week we speak with Maggie Hopkins, Vice President Civil Engineering & Environmental Planning at AKRF, a leading company specializing in environmental planning, and engineering services for climate resilience and coastal adaptation. AKRF has been working in conjunction with Arcadis on New York’s East Side Coastal Resiliency project, which is a leading climate adaptation effort started after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the city back in 2012. Maggie shares some of the unique challenges related to integrating a modern protection system into an urban landscape that is centuries old. Join host Davion and Maggie to hear how our two companies are working to keep New Yorkers safe in the face of the climate crisis, while also helping to ensure the Big Apple stays livable for future generations.

26 ENE. 2024 · This week, we’re headed to Rotterdam and chatting with Harry Verhaar, Head of Global Public & Government Affairs at the global lighting company Signify. We talk with Harry about the outsized impact lighting has on urban electricity use and subsequent emissions. And we learn how proper lighting not only makes cities safer from crime and traffic accidents, but how also how modern light points can be used to collect air quality information as well as transfer data like a WiFi signal. Join host Davion and Harry for this enlightening discussion.

12 ENE. 2024 · In our first episode of 2024, our guest is Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System, at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). We speak with Anselmo about LADWP’s efforts to ensure safe and reliable water service to more than 4 million residents, in the face of climate change, a burgeoning population, and the ever-present threat of earthquakes. Join host Davion and Anselmo for this insightful discussion about water resilience in the City of Angels.

25 NOV. 2023 · We close out 2023 with a special episode of Better Cities by Design. We are in Amsterdam to hear the story of the decade-long renovation of the National Museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum. Our special correspondent Richard Walker heads over to the museum to speak with Igor Santhagens, the Rijksmuseum’s Renovation Project Leader, as well as Arcadians Dieneke Grimmeluis, and Gerard van Engelen, to uncover the secrets hidden within the museum. The building that is now the Rijksmuseum was opened back in 1885. It houses a collection of more than 1 million objects of art and history, with 8000 of objects on display in 12,000 square meters of exhibition space. But after more than a century of welcoming visitors from all over the world, the decision was made to renovate the building to enhance the visitor experience and to accommodate many more people each year. This massive project presented many technical challenges. For instance, the building rested on around 13,000 wooden poles lodged into Amsterdam’s muddy soil and this project needed to be carried out without damaging the ancient structure. Join Richard, Igor, Dieneke, and Gerard as they explore the Rijksmuseum and discuss how they brought this project to fruition, in the heart of the bustling Dutch capital. We also hear from museum visitors as they experience the grandeur of one of the most important cultural sites in the Netherlands.

11 NOV. 2023 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, Katherine Drayson, Senior Environment Manager at Transport for London (TfL), is our guest. We speak with Katherine about the vital role TfL plays in managing much of London’s sprawling public transportation system and how climate change is impacting all of this. London has the world’s oldest underground rail system, and this is only one part of TfL’s portfolio, which also includes the Docklands Light Railway and the London Overground, along with buses and other modes of transit. But with the negative impacts of climate change on the rise, TfL has a dual role in helping London achieve the ambitious targets set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. First, TfL is working to make its operations more resilient against the warmer, wetter winters, and hotter, drier summers London is experiencing. Second, TfL is also focused on ensuring that Londoners have safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable transit options that will help more and more residents choose public transportation over the use of a personal vehicle, thus reducing emissions in the city. Join Host Davion Ford and Katherine as they discuss the role that cities and transportation play in contributing to and potentially solving the climate crisis. Katherine also talks about both the history of public transportation in London, as well as what the future may hold.

27 OCT. 2023 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, Teun Bokhoven, Chairman of the 7 Square Endeavour, is our guest. We talk with Teun about his efforts to make Rotterdam’s Schouwburgplein (Theater Square) climate-neutral by 2030. The City of Rotterdam is the Netherland’s second largest city with just over one million inhabitants. It’s known for its bold, modern architecture and the plucky nature of its residents. Rotterdam has one of the largest ports in the world and the largest in Europe. Shaped by the devastating impacts of World War II, Rotterdam has a remarkable history, which led it to develop into a modern and forward-leaning city. After the war, as Rotterdam underwent rapid transformation, some residents began to feel that it was becoming a bit impersonal and lacked cultural amenities. This sentiment led to the birth of the Schouwburgplein, also known as Theater Square, which served as a focal point for cultural development. Join Host Davion Ford and Teun, as they discuss the ground-breaking collaborative effort called the 7 Square Endeavour. Teun talks about how this public-private partnership is transforming the Schouwburgplein, reducing energy consumption and adapting it to the impacts of climate change.