In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Rob Leonard, a longtime builder and prefabrication specialist who helped develop the BuildSmart panel system and now leads PHIUS's Trades Training Program. Rob traces his path from decades in the field to pioneering panelized construction. Rob also shares what's next for industrialized offsite construction, from micro-factories to AI-assisted quality control, and reflects on workforce development as one of the most urgent challenges facing the building industry.

Beeson Acres Resources LLC: https://www.beesonacresresources.com/
Phius Trades Training Program to Help Shape the Future of Building: https://www.phius.org/phius-trades-training-program-help-shape-future-building
Virginia Tech Housing Innovation Challenge: https://arch.vt.edu/experiential-learning/FutureHAUS/housing-innovation-challenge.html
Expanding Industrialized Offsite Construction in Central Appalachia: https://cece.vt.edu/content/dam/cece_vt_edu/projects/Expanding%20industrialized%20offsite%20construction%20%28IOC%29%20in%20Central%20Appalachia.pdf

Connect with Rob:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-leonard-b2873010

https://www.phius.org/our-people/rob-leonard

Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.com/

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this bonus episode of the Passive House Podcast, Brent Davidson and Brynn Cooksey discuss what’s changed in the heat-pump world, what architects, engineers, and contractors need to understand, and where the industry still needs to improve. They preview the U.S. Heat Pump Summit and why bringing the right people together could be key to getting heat pumps right at scale.

The conversation also sets the stage for Passive House Accelerator’s upcoming Heat Pump Solutions initiative, where collaborative Labs will help shape a public Heat Pump Solutions Symposium this October.

https://www.usheatpumpsummit.com/
https://www.airdoctorshvacservice.com/

Brent Davidson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentdavidson/
Brynn Cooksey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theairdoctor/

Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.com/

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy talks with Evan Greulich, project architect and manager at Quinn Evans, about his work bringing high-performance building strategies to affordable housing and, increasingly, to schools. Evan and Ilka chat about The Hammond at Greenmount Park, a new 109-unit affordable housing project in Baltimore and John Burroughs Elementary School in Washington, DC. The conversation covers the practical tradeoffs of building near-Passive performance without certification, the challenges of balancing historic preservation with airtightness and insulation strategies, and why Evan believes the biggest opportunity for passive building growth lies beyond housing.

The Hammond at Greenmount Park and The Johnston Square Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library

The Hammond at Greenmount Park – Baltimore, Maryland – Living Design

Johnston Square Branch Library – Baltimore, Maryland – Learning Design

Integrating Services Within Communities: Libraries as Superconnectors

John Burroughs Elementary School (Modernization)

Renewing Historic Schools, Part 1: Renovation

Burroughs ES | dcps

Green Building Advisory Council | doee

Join us on the Reimagine Buildings Collective: https://collective.reimaginebuildings.com/

Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.