The Anti-Architect

In this episode of The Anti-Architect Podcast, Christian Giordano sits down with Corey Hennings, Project Director for the Americas at dsm-firmenich, for a conversation about leadership, collaboration, and resilience.

Together, they discuss what it takes to deliver complex projects, why communication and team fit are just as important as technical expertise, and how collaborative delivery methods can lead to better outcomes. Corey also shares how his journey in long-term recovery has shaped his perspective on building a career with purpose. 

Episode highlights:
(0:45) The project that changed Christian’s career
(6:11) Corey’s recovery story and alcohol culture in the industry
(15:03) CrossFit, grief, and healthier stress relief
(18:09) What frustrates owners about architects
(20:30) How owners choose the right architecture team
(27:47) Why design-build can improve project delivery
(40:58) What makes life science and pharma projects different
(43:24) CGMP, clean rooms, validation, and FDA oversight
(46:18) AI, robotics, and the future of lab design
(56:08) Career growth through peer networking

What is The Anti-Architect?

Welcome to The Anti-Architect Podcast. I’m your host Christian Giordano. As the president and owner of design firm Mancini Duffy, I’m driven by a quest for learning and radically changing the industry through tech-first innovation. With this podcast, I’m hoping to improve the industry that I’m so passionate about by taking a critical look at how architects work with their clients and, in turn, how our clients view us.

It’s my goal to showcase all of these experiences - good and bad. Was it the architect or the client - or somewhere in between? I aim to bring my audience new voices from our industry, interesting people with diverse backgrounds. Through shared experiences, stories, and projects my hope is that we can improve our profession.

www.theantiarchitect.com