Episodios

  • The IRC/IBC Distinction: The Code Trap That Changes Everything

    The IRC/IBC Distinction: The Code Trap That Changes Everything
    Nov 22 2025
    Planning a new build, renovation, or small apartment project? The difference between the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC) can be the difference between a smooth permitting process and a complete, six-figure budget disaster. In this deep dive, Riley Carter cuts through the bureaucratic fog and reveals why calling the IBC the 'commercial code' is dangerously wrong. Key Takeaways You Can't Afford to Miss: The IRC Recipe vs. The IBC Standard: Learn the fundamental difference between the prescriptive, clear directions of the IRC and the performance-based, engineer-heavy requirements of the IBC. The Four-Point Test: We break down the four critical criteria that determine if your project qualifies for the simpler IRC—and the three common triggers (height, density, and mixed-use) that automatically push you into the IBC. The Costly Shift: Discover how jumping to the IBC immediately requires fire-rated structural materials, specialized safety systems like sprinklers, and higher engineering costs that change the DNA of your entire build. Get the clarity you need to budget accurately and ensure your project’s safety from day one. This is essential listening for any builder, architect, or homeowner.
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    13 m
  • Inside the 2024 IRC: What Changed and Why It Matters

    Inside the 2024 IRC: What Changed and Why It Matters
    Nov 5 2025
    From structure to sustainability, this episode unpacks the biggest shifts between the 2021 and 2024 International Residential Code. Riley Carter explains how updates to ASCE 7-22, ASCE 24-22, and the 2024 IECC reshape design decisions, inspections, and resilience in modern housing. Discover what these refinements mean for architects, builders, and homeowners aiming to build smarter, safer, and more efficient homes.architecture
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    15 m
  • The Living Building: Unpacking Sustainable Architecture & Integrated Design

    The Living Building: Unpacking Sustainable Architecture & Integrated Design
    Oct 27 2025
    Join us as we dive deep into the principles of sustainable architecture, exploring how buildings can act as ecological membranes rather than mere boundaries. In this episode, we'll discuss the crucial role of the building envelope, the hidden impact of embodied carbon in materials, and the power of the Integrated Design Process. Discover how architects, engineers, and ecologists collaborate to create structures that perform thermally, structurally, and ethically. Get ready to rethink how we build for a greener future!
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    41 m
  • Bridging Design, Performance & LoReimagining Cities Through Architecture, Urbanism & the 15-Minute Cityngevity

    Bridging Design, Performance & LoReimagining Cities Through Architecture, Urbanism & the 15-Minute Cityngevity
    Sep 30 2025
    In this kickoff to Season 2 of Building Better with Riley Carter, we explore the layered relationship between iconic architecture and the urban systems that give cities their soul. Dr. Riley Carter takes us from theory to practice—examining how buildings and neighborhoods shape resilience, equity, and climate adaptation in a rapidly changing world. Whether you’re shaping the built environment or navigating it daily, this episode is a compass for those working at the intersection of form, function, and future cities.
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    16 m
  • Smart Materials, Smarter Homes: The Modular Passive House Advantage

    Smart Materials, Smarter Homes: The Modular Passive House Advantage
    Sep 7 2025
    In this episode, we dive into the world of modular construction through the lens of Passive House standards. Discover the best materials shaping the future of prefab homes—from CLT and SIPs to hempcrete, VIPs, and beyond. Riley Carter breaks down how material choices impact energy performance, cost-efficiency, and code compliance in modular design. Whether you're an architect, builder, or policy advocate, this episode delivers actionable insights on building homes that are not only faster and cheaper to construct—but smarter and more sustainable for decades to come.
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    25 m
  • The Pantheon Dome – Ancient Ingenuity, Modern Lessons

    The Pantheon Dome – Ancient Ingenuity, Modern Lessons
    Aug 27 2025
    In this premiere episode of Building Better with Riley Carter, we journey through the engineering brilliance of Rome’s Pantheon Dome—an architectural marvel that continues to inspire designers, builders, and sustainability advocates alike. Drawing from Riley Carter’s 2025 book The Pantheon Dome: Rome’s Engineering Masterpiece and Its Legacy in Architecture and Innovation, we explore how Roman concrete, symbolic geometry, and project management under Hadrian still echo in today’s high-performance building practices. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, student, or history lover, this podcast connects ancient wisdom with the tools of modern sustainable design.
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    17 m
  • Brunelleschi’s Dome: Engineering Genius and Lessons for Modern Builders

    Brunelleschi’s Dome: Engineering Genius and Lessons for Modern Builders
    Aug 15 2025
    What can a 15th-century dome teach us about modern architecture? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of Building Better with Riley Carter, we explore the extraordinary story behind Brunelleschi’s Dome—a feat of engineering that solved one of the greatest structural challenges of the Renaissance. Discover how a goldsmith-turned-architect designed the world’s largest masonry dome without scaffolding, invented new machines, and laid the foundation for centuries of innovation. From double-shell construction to herringbone brickwork, we unpack the techniques and leadership strategies that still resonate with today’s architects and builders striving for resilience, efficiency, and beauty. A masterclass in turning constraints into creativity.
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    1 h y 12 m
  • Structure First: What Every Architect Should Know

    Structure First: What Every Architect Should Know
    Aug 3 2025
    This week on Building Better with Riley Carter, we strip structural design down to its essentials. From load paths to lateral resistance, Riley explains how a strong grasp of structural behavior transforms architectural decision-making. You'll hear why understanding equilibrium, materials, and framing systems isn't just for engineers—and how spatial reasoning and real-world examples can elevate your next project. Whether you're designing a backyard ADU or a multi-story passive house, this episode is your blueprint for structural clarity and confidence.
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    1 h y 5 m