April 30, 2026

In this episode, we explore the unique "neighborhood" design of the new Gilbert Elementary School, a project deeply rooted in its local context. Andrew shares a pivotal moment in the design process: ...

EPISODES

You can listen to all of our episodes here or wherever else you listen to podcasts.

A Sweeter Vision

In this episode, we take a deep dive into an iconic Sioux City project with CMBA Interior Designer Shelbie DeLaughter. We explore the fascinating journey of the Sioux Honey Association, a ...

Building Culture with Brian: Leading with Clarity

CMBA CEO Brian Crichton returns to the podcast to discuss the critical leadership discipline of clarity. In this episode, Brian shares how transparency, or "saying the quiet part out loud," reduces ...

Supporting Care Teams Through Design

In this episode, we tackle one of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare: the intersection of architectural design and the national staffing crisis. Joined by a panel of CMBA experts, ...

Anna Bednarko (Behind the Blueprint)

In this episode of our "Behind the Blueprint" series, we head to our Des Moines office to chat with Architect Anna Bednarko. Anna takes us through her personal journey into the world of architecture, ...

Uniting a Community in the Face of Disaster

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with CMBA Associate Principal Angela McCaulley to discuss the power of community resilience following the historic 2024 flooding in Northwest Iowa. After ...

Design & Childcare

Principal Architect Dan Levi, a leading expert in childcare facility design, joins the podcast to unpack the critical relationship between architecture and the operational realities of the childcare ...

Building Culture with Brian: Developing People

Principal Architect Brian Crichton returns to the podcast to discuss the intentional strategies CMBA uses to cultivate talent and build a resilient culture. In this episode, Brian explains how ...

Leading the Way: Designing Excellence with Brent Koch

Principal Architect Brent Koch takes us on a journey to define and demystify the concept of design excellence. He explains that it's more than just aesthetics; it's a guiding philosophy for creating ...

Jay Reyhons (Behind the Blueprint)

In this Behind the Blueprint episode, we sit down with Jay Reyhons, a Registered Interior Designer at CMBA Architects. Jay shares his journey into the field of interior design, his passion for ...

An Inside Look at a Company Acquisition

Join us in this insightful episode as CMBA Architects CEO Brian Crichton and Levi Architecture's Dan Levi discuss the strategic acquisition that brought their two firms together. They delve into the ...

Leading the Way: The Importance of Mentorship with Adam Van Gorp

We're sitting down with CMBA Principal Architect Adam Van Gorp to explore the profound impact of mentorship. How mentorship is a two-way street, where both the mentor and mentee have the opportunity ...

Project Highlight: Melcher Dallas School (Feat. Ryan Cameron)

In this episode of Laying the Foundation, we delve into the challenges and triumphs of the Melcher-Dallas High School renovation project. Following a devastating gymnasium roof collapse, we discuss ...

Building Culture with Brian: Giving Back

In this episode of Laying the Foundation, we sit down with Brian Crichton, the CEO of CMBA Architects, to discuss the company's commitment to giving back to the community. Brian shares insights into ...