Designing for the Human Experience with Kaitlin McCarthy

In this episode of PlotLines, Heather and Britni sit down with Kaitlin McCarthy, Founder and CEO of Ionic Development, to discuss how mixed-use and multifamily projects are evolving to meet modern demands. Kaitlin shares her journey from civil engineering to development and how that multidisciplinary background informs her work today. The conversation dives into themes of flexibility, third spaces, and placemaking, highlighting how office, retail, and residential spaces are being designed around the human experience. Kaitlin offers her take on the future of life sciences, AI in construction, and the green building push in Boston, while also calling this moment a “renaissance” for mixed-use. Tune in to hear why developers are rethinking everything from gym lobbies to outdoor space, and why thoughtful design will define the next real estate chapter.