LivLive Ep. 0000030 - Adam Steiner

LivLive Ep. 30 – With Adam Steiner of Birnam DesignIn Episode 30, Dave sits down with Adam Steiner, founder of Birnam Design in Indiana, to unpack the intersection of engineering, home design, and the evolving business of residential plans.Adam’s story starts long before Birnam Design. He grew up in a multi-generation construction family — great-grandfather with a historic octagon house in Ohio, grandfather a builder, father a builder. Though he earned a civil engineering degree from Purdue, he quickly realized he was more drawn to the creative + structural tension of home design than pure engineering.The conversation covers:How growing up inside a builder family shaped Adam’s design lensWhy he chose to start his own firm in 2020The difference between being close to construction… and intentionally staying one step removedWhat he saw and learned at IBS in OrlandoHow engineering thinking influences residential floor plansThe stress divide between designers and buildersThere’s a candid thread throughout the episode about distance from the jobsite. Adam respects what builders endure daily — coordination chaos, dust control, sequencing trades, HVAC protection — but has intentionally structured his role around design rather than construction management. Dave, now rebuilding a construction arm in North Carolina, offers the counterpoint from inside the field.This episode is less about flashy architecture and more about the mindset behind great residential design.How a civil engineering background can sharpen residential design thinkingWhy constraint (structure, mechanicals, code) actually fuels creativityThe emotional and operational difference between designing a house and building oneWhat IBS in Orlando revealed about where the building industry is headedWhy some designers intentionally stay at “arm’s length” from construction stressHow starting a firm in 2020 reshaped Adam’s trajectory00:00 – Episode 30 & How Adam and Dave MetA callback to Adam’s “Builder vs. Buyer” podcast and how the relationship started.05:00 – Construction in the BloodAdam’s family history, the octagon house legacy, and growing up inside the industry.10:00 – Purdue, Engineering, and Finding DesignWhy Adam pursued civil engineering — and why he ultimately gravitated toward home design.18:00 – Creativity Within Structural ConstraintsThe tension between engineering rigidity and residential creativity.25:00 – Starting Birnam Design in 2020Launching an independent firm and defining his role in the marketplace.32:00 – IBS Orlando TakeawaysReflections from the Builder Show: scale, industry energy, and what stood out.40:00 – Designers vs. Builders: The Stress GapA candid discussion about jobsite chaos, trade coordination, and why some designers choose distance.50:00 – The Future of Residential DesignTechnology, AI, online floor plan culture, and how specialization may shape the next era.This episode is a thoughtful look at what happens when engineering discipline meets residential creativity — and how defining your lane inside the design-build world can protect both your sanity and your edge.