PODCAST · business
The Build Project
by Alex Molkentin
candid conversations with architects, builders, and makers shaping the residential construction world. From design inspiration to jobsite realities, this podcast unpacks the wins, challenges, and stories behind creating thoughtful spaces. Whether you’re in the trades, a designer or just love great stories about the people who build the structures we live in, there’s something here for you.
Episodes
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Pat Buchanan: Spec Changes, Owner's Reps, and the Architect-Builder Relationship
Pat Buchanan of Buchanan Construction Systems has been building custom homes in Boulder since the early '90s. He started as a framer, moved into supervision six months into a five-year build of a 16,000 square foot house near NCAR, and went on to work for years with Tom Stanko at Harrington…
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Perfectly Imperfect: Why the Best Houses Feel Handmade - Jeffrey Dungan
Architect Jeffrey Dungan does not believe in perfection. He believes in the perfectly imperfect, and in this episode he explains what that means for a house: why the best ones feel handmade even though hundreds of hands built them, why a modern house in Colorado still wants a big eave, how a...
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Culture is a Line Item - A conversation with Mark Schaefer of FS Woodworks
Every house is assembled by people, so every house accumulates error. Traditional trim was never only decoration. Overlapping profiles and reveals were the mechanism that absorbed that error and made the result read as deliberate. Contemporary detailing deletes the mechanism. It does not delete…
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Building Family: A Conversation With Steven Reyes of Reyes and Son Construction
Most of my conversations on The Build Project are with architects. This one's with a framer and it might be the clearest case I've made for why a builder belongs in the room early. Steven Reyes runs Reyes and Son Construction, the rough-carpentry crew on our last several custom homes. We talk…
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Field Notes - Be the Guide, Not the Hero
What does it actually mean to be the guide instead of the hero in luxury residential construction? In this impromptu episode, Alex reflects on a concept that’s been shaping the way Fernhill approaches custom homebuilding: trust through honest guidance. Inspired by the StoryBrand framework, this...
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Ep 09 - How great Builders and Architects Protect the Vision: with Adam Wagoner
In this episode, we talk about what actually makes residential projects work. We break down why bringing the builder into the project early leads to better outcomes, why the traditional bid model often fails on architecturally driven homes, and why trust and transparency between architects,...
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Ep. 09 - Trust Is the Product: What Commercial Projects Teach Us About Residential Design + Build (with Jason Ragan)
What’s the real difference between commercial work and luxury residential....besides the square footage? In this episode, I sit down with Jason Ragan of Ragan Design Studio to talk about what happens when you take 12+ years of commercial experience (higher ed, corporate campuses, spec office) and...
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Lessons Learned from my first year podcasting
What started as a series of conversations about building, architecture, and collaboration quickly became something deeper. Nearly every episode pushed me to think more critically about the construction industry, how trust is built (or broken), and what it actually takes to deliver great work in...
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Ep. 08 - The Human Side of Architecture: Clients, Craft, and Chaos with Nick Fiore of Flower Architecture
In this episode, Alex sits down with Boulder architect Nick Fiore of Flower Architecture for a candid conversation about what truly makes a good home. They break down the difference between style and substance, the invisible decisions that shape a building, the builder’s real influence on a...
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Ep. 07 - Genuine Innovation in Construction - Reece Barnes of Adaptive
In this episode, We sit (virtually) down with Reece Barnes, Head of Construction Network at Adaptive and host of the Builders, Budgets & Beers podcast. What starts as a casual conversation quickly turns into a deep dive on project financials, AI, and what separates sustainable luxury builders…
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Ep. - 06 - How Trust Builds Better Homes: Project Management Real Talk
Alex sits down with Marty Brodsky, a project manager at BUILDWELL who’s spent the last decade going from sweeping floors and laying Ram Board to running some of Boulder’s most impressive custom home projects. Together they unpack what actually makes a custom home project succeed (or completely…
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Field Notes - Confidence is Luxury
The first Field Note explores what true luxury means in building. It’s not found in finishes or fixtures - it’s in the feeling of confidence that comes from thoughtful systems, collaboration, and trust. Because what clients really buy isn’t the detail itself - it’s the confidence that every…
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Ep.5 - Laura Marion - The Value of “No” — Why Boundaries Make Better Architecture
In this episode of Build Projects, I sit down with architect Laura Marion, founding principal of Flight Architecture. We talk about what it means to grow up in a multi-generational industry, the pressures and privileges that come with it, and how to set boundaries that protect both the craft and...
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Ep. 4 - Building What Lasts: Architect Mike Piché on Clarity and Craftsmanship
In this episode, I sit down with architect Mike Piché, founder of Piché Architecture, to explore what it means to design with clarity, collaboration, and craftsmanship. Mike shares insights from his career designing some of the most inspiring homes in Boulder, Aspen, and beyond. Now, as he…
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Building Trust, Building Together: A Conversation with Michael Bettin
When you bring someone into your company and they become both a teammate and a mentor, you know you’ve found something special. In this episode, Alex talks with Fernhill’s Head of Operations, Michael Bettin, about his 40+ year career, their serendipitous first meeting, and the partnership that’s...
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Ep No. 2 - They Dont Trust Us Anymore: How building got so complicated
In this episode of The Build Project, I sat down with Harvey Hine — founder of HMH Architecture + Interiors and a major voice in Colorado’s design community — to talk about trust, communication, and the evolving challenges of building custom homes. With over 36 years in practice, Harvey’s...
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Ep. 01 - Adam Wagoner of High, Low, Buffalo
In this kickoff episode, Alex sits down with architect and AIA Colorado’s Architect of the Year, Adam Wagoner of High Low Buffalo, for an honest conversation about the state of the residential construction industry. They dig into the disconnect between design and build, why trust and transparency...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
candid conversations with architects, builders, and makers shaping the residential construction world. From design inspiration to jobsite realities, this podcast unpacks the wins, challenges, and stories behind creating thoughtful spaces. Whether you’re in the trades, a designer or just love great stories about the people who build the structures we live in, there’s something here for you.
HOSTED BY
Alex Molkentin
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Build Project have?
The Build Project currently has 17 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Build Project about?
candid conversations with architects, builders, and makers shaping the residential construction world. From design inspiration to jobsite realities, this podcast unpacks the wins, challenges, and stories behind creating thoughtful spaces. Whether you’re in the trades, a designer or just love great...
How often does The Build Project release new episodes?
The Build Project has 17 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Build Project?
You can listen to The Build Project on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Build Project?
The Build Project is created and hosted by Alex Molkentin.
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