Architecture, Education, and Practice with Ohio State’s Frank Jacobus
Ohio State's new Knowlton School director Frank Jacobus joins Arcfluence to talk shop about construction documents, custom details, and design literacy.
Insights
Project lessons, market context and conversations about the decisions that shape buildings before and during design.
Rewriting Columbus Zoning with the City’s Tony Celebrezze and Mark Dravillas
Two of the city officials leading Zone In join Arcfluence to explain what Phase I changed, what Phase II proposes, and how to comment through October 24.
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Narrow-Lot Residence
A new house on a narrow Upper Arlington lot, designed for the long term with a side-entry three-car garage and space reserved for a future lift.
Medical Center Addition
A double-height glass lobby and a new front facade give an older single-story brick medical building in Columbus, Ohio, a clear entrance and a new identity.
Rear Kitchen Addition
A home addition in Upper Arlington, Ohio, that moves a cramped kitchen into a new rear wing so the one-car garage holds a car again, without growing past setbacks.
Clubhouse Fitness Center
A five-car garage beside a Columbus, Ohio, apartment clubhouse is redesigned as a 1,117-square-foot fitness center, with new openings that bring in daylight.
Dance Unite
A proposed dance studio in Columbus, Ohio: a budget-minded prefabricated steel building with a welcoming facade and a community-focused plan.
Heritage Home Addition
A home addition in Clintonville, Columbus, that levels an older house's sloped floors, then adds a kitchen, primary suite and family basement at the rear.
Lake House Addition
A lake house addition at Apple Valley Lake in Howard, Ohio, adding a first-floor primary suite, a longer living room and a larger deck that faces the water.
Farmhouse Renovation
A farmhouse renovation in Mount Vernon, Ohio, where a wider drive and garden turnaround bring guests to the front door and a four-car garage hosts gatherings.
Ticknors at Polaris
A menswear store fit-out at Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio, with more storefront glass, a larger sales floor and fitting rooms around a central lounge.
Walgreens Interior Repair
An interior repair at a Walgreens in Columbus, Ohio, rebuilding restrooms damaged by a vehicle so they could return to service.
Architecture and Design in the Technological Revolution
How architecture and design firms are using new visual tools to help clients explore choices earlier, communicate clearly and make better-informed decisions.
Hideaway Hills Lake Home
A custom lake home held high on a steep wooded site so everyday arrival stays practical while the lake side opens toward the water.
Design's First Responsibility: The People Who Live With It
Bart Shaw, FAIA, on budgets, long-term cost and the people who inherit every design decision. A conversation about designing for needs, buildability and the full life of a building.
The Columbus Housing Market Is Not One Market
Columbus keeps growing, but the citywide numbers describe a region — not a parcel. A plain guide to reading demand, inventory, pricing and risk at the scale you are actually buying, building, or selling on.
Historic Upper Arlington Addition
A two-story home addition in Upper Arlington's historic district carries the house's curved, French-inspired roof into a larger rear gable seen from the street.
What Specifications Actually Protect on Your Project
Drawings show where things go. Specifications say what they are and how they perform — and they're what protects an owner's quality, budget, and risk.
Custom Ohio Lodge
A completed custom lodge in Ohio, designed outward from an existing cabin so its fireplace and living room stay at the heart of a much larger wooded home.
The Kitchen Is Where We Lived: Designing the Room at the Center of a Home
A lively, heartfelt conversation with Tyler Swartzmiller and Amy Fix of Haus Studio about why the kitchen is the room a family actually lives in, where a designer's passion comes from, and how the best kitchens start with understanding how you live, not with the finishes.
The AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
Nick and Paul debrief the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 in San Diego — keynotes from Padma Lakshmi, Charlene Li, and Sameh Wahba, the Small Firm Exchange, and two standout building tours.
Charlene Li on AI, Architecture, and the Future of Work
Charlene Li — New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and strategist — joins the Arcfluence Team for a grounded conversation about AI, architecture, and what it takes for firms to adapt with clarity instead of fear: AI not as a magic solution but as a leadership, culture, and decision-making challenge, and how design firms can use it to reduce friction, sharpen client communication, and create value in the earliest stages of a project.
Woodward Dispensary
A dispensary buildout in Ohio combining two retail bays into one open, daylit sales floor, with a drive-thru and secure rear service designed in from the start.
The Studio Ahead — Nick and Paul on Architecture, Emerging Technologies, and What's Next
Seventy episodes in, Nick Karakaian and Paul Fatkins sit down with Danny Porter to talk about how Arcfluence actually works — design as a thing you do inside the room, tools that give back time rather than replace people, the team's complementary strengths, and the studio they're moving into next.
Nick Karakaian on Columbus Brick by Brick
Nick Karakaian joins John Styer on Columbus Brick by Brick for a conversation on architecture as an investment, the design-build trap, universal design, and what it took to build Arcfluence from a parking-lot striping job to a Columbus firm.
German Village: Architecture, Preservation, and What It Takes to Build Here
Mapping Central Ohio #1. German Village is Columbus's most iconic neighborhood — and its most demanding. A working architect's guide to commission processes, material standards, costs, and the design strategies that work in one of the largest privately funded historic districts in the United States.
Kathy Binner: Thirty Years of Building in Columbus
The Arcfluence Podcast sits down with Kathy Binner — Columbus operator, four-time author, and founder of an academy and a giving page — for a conversation about real estate, books, and how to show up to the work you already have.
Columbus Zoning and Entitlement with Omar ElhagMusa
Omar ElhagMusa, Executive Vice President at Spring Garden Lending and a member of the City of Columbus Zoning Advisory Committee, walks through Zone In Phase 1, bus rapid transit corridors, parking minimums, single-stair construction, and the humble duplex.
Passive House Comes to Central Ohio
What Passive House certification actually means for Ohio homeowners — envelope performance, air quality, energy independence, and the coming code changes. Featuring Steven Rhodes, mechanical engineer and Phius consultant.
Growing a Design Practice: Office, Team, and Craft with Tabi Mund
Tabi Mund returns to talk office buildouts, team building, construction realities, and the craft of interior design in Columbus.
Trust and Craftsmanship with Blake Souls
Blake Souls from Summit Building and Roofing Company joins Nick and Paul to talk about what 16 years and 300+ kitchens have taught his team about craftsmanship, relationships, and doing the work right.
High-End Home Design in Central Ohio: Indoor-Outdoor Living, Hillside Sites, and Smart Kitchens
Four current projects show what's shaping high-end residential architecture in Columbus and Central Ohio. Indoor-outdoor living, hillside construction, and smart design.
Where Design Meets Dining: Inside Cameron Mitchell's Approach to Restaurant Architecture
Randy Roberty, Director of Design and Architecture at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, discusses how design shapes the dining experience - from first impressions to back-of-house operations.
Columbus Market Update: Investment, Infrastructure, and Housing in 2026
Nick and Paul break down the major developments shaping central Ohio: Honda's $2.9B battery plant deal, the Capital Line infrastructure project, record apartment deliveries, and new ADU regulations.
Arcfluence: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
A relaxed end-of-year conversation with Nick, Paulie, and Nino reflecting on 2025—awards won, projects completed, team growth, and exciting plans for 2026.
Community Conversation: Inside White Castle's New Columbus Headquarters
John Kelley of White Castle discusses the company's new LEED Gold headquarters in Columbus and what it means to build for generations.
Arcfluence Honored at the 2025 AIA Ohio Awards
Both Arcfluence nominated projects received recognition at the 2025 AIA Ohio People's Choice Awards: The Cliffs earned 2nd place and BeAligned Health earned 3rd place.
The Future of Columbus Real Estate: A Conversation with Jon Styer
Jon Styer manages over 100 furnished rentals across Columbus. We talk about who's actually staying in midterm rentals, which neighborhoods are performing, why design separates winners from the rest, and where the Columbus market is headed.
Breaking: Columbus Approves Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Columbus City Council passed legislation allowing accessory dwelling units by right in all residential and apartment residential districts.
Dean Mark Mistur on Kent State's CAED
Kent State's architecture dean shares how the CAED is expanding visibility, studio travel, and AI-ready education while keeping design grounded in public service.
Fox in the Snow: From Publishing to Pastries
Lauren Culley, co-founder of Fox in the Snow, shares her journey from New York publishing to creating one of Columbus's most beloved bakeries, discussing entrepreneurship, design philosophy, and building community through food.
Human-Centered Architecture: Flow, Light, and Function
A comprehensive guide to residential architecture principles emphasizing circulation flow, daylight strategy, kitchen zoning, and long-term adaptability.
Arcfluence at AIA Ohio: ADUs for a Growing Columbus
Paul Fatkins and Nick Karakaian present at AIA Ohio on how Accessory Dwelling Units can help Central Ohio grow smarter—plus the firm wins two People's Choice Awards.
Leica BLK360 Gen 2 vs Gen 1: 3D Scanning in Architecture
Comparing Leica BLK360 Gen 1 and Gen 2: faster scans, improved accuracy, and streamlined workflows.
Skyline Carriage House
A three-story carriage house on a downtown Columbus alley, with a garage at grade and two floors of living space turned toward the city skyline.
Marble Cliff Headquarters
A headquarters and retail concept in Marble Cliff, Ohio, stacking company offices over a dual drive-thru, with four flexible retail bays along the rear.
Building Trust through Design Leadership
This article explores how architects balance leadership, design, client relationships, and team mentorship—highlighting the challenges of evolving from production work to strategic responsibility.
Designing for Hocking Hills and Wellness Spaces
Explore two Ohio projects recognized in the 2025 AIA Ohio People's Choice Awards: The Cliffs earned second place and BeAligned Health earned third place.
Investing in Hocking Hills: A Journey into Nature and Design
Learn more about this 134-acre Hocking Hills project blending cabins, mirror houses, and nature-focused design.
Delivering Design That Aligns with Market and Mission
Arcfluence co-founder Nick Karakaian outlines how intentional architecture boosts returns and resilience in today's real estate market.
Leadership, Growth, and Firm Culture
How do successful architecture firms grow without losing clarity or culture? This Arcfluence episode explores the systems and strategies that make the difference.
Technologies in Architecture: From Pencil to Point Cloud
Tracing the evolution of architectural tools from hand-drafting to BIM, 3D scanning, and AI innovations.
Architecture Connections: From First Project to Full Studio
This episode explores the behind-the-scenes systems that help architecture studios scale with clarity and purpose.
Boston AIA 2025: Conference Highlights (Clam Chowder Included)
Key insights and takeaways from the 2025 AIA Conference in Boston, featuring AI tools, urban tours, and storytelling in design.
Investment Lending Essentials: Financing Meets Design
Unpacking how hard money loans, DSCR, and BRRRR strategies enhance real estate investment with smart design.
The Central Ohio Investor Network (COIN)
Inside COIN, Columbus’s premier free real estate meetup—where design, strategy, and community converge.
Architect-Engineer Collaboration: Shaping Resilient Homes
Examining the synergy between architects and engineers in residential design, balancing creativity and precision.
Arcfluence Abroad: San Marino, Supercars, and Italian Design
Reflections on Italian architecture, design heritage, and Formula One through the lens of San Marino and Ferrari.
Innovation Districts: Columbus and Beyond
Exploring how innovation districts spark collaboration, culture, and growth in Columbus and beyond.
Modern Architectural Visualization
Explore how construction firms are transforming workflows using drones, VR, laser scanning, and new visualization tools.
IoT and Smart Buildings with Fabio Zaniboni
Fabio Zaniboni explores IoT’s role in smart buildings—circadian lighting, privacy, and sustainability.
Liberty Wines
A wine and craft beer shop fit-out in Powell, Ohio, that turned a raw gravel-floor shell with no back room into a sales floor that also stores and serves.
Designing a Rental Portfolio: Lessons from Jessie Lang
Investor and educator Jessie Lang shares how she scaled to 75+ rental units in Columbus—offering practical advice on private lending and building operational systems.
Open Concept Design: Trends and Challenges
Open concept design’s evolution balances light, flow, and privacy for modern living.
Historic Carriage House
A carriage house ADU in Victorian Village, Columbus, Ohio: an apartment over a garage, shaped by Victorian Village Commission review and hearings.
Infill Duplex
A ground-up duplex on a narrow infill lot in Columbus, Ohio: two condominium homes over 1,400 square feet each, made possible by zoning variances.
Infill Triplex
A completed triplex on a narrow Columbus, Ohio, lot: three condominium homes over 3,000 square feet each, stacked on mirrored plans with private basements.
Church to Home
A church-to-home conversion in Marysville, Ohio, keeping the bell tower, vaulted sanctuary, and arched windows while fitting a new second floor under the roof.
Landscaping Design: Process, Priorities, and Practical Advice
Insights from Fred of Inspired Spaces Landscape Design on species selection, outdoor living features, and client-centric landscaping practices.
Preserving Ohio’s Charm: Vintage Home Renovations
Renovating vintage homes in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland balances charm with modern upgrades.
Architecture Terms Demystified: What Clients Should Know
A practical guide to the terminology used in architectural drawings and design conversations.
Commercial Architecture: What to Know Before You Build
From permitting to experiential retail, this guide breaks down the commercial architecture process.
Accessory Dwelling Units: Redefining Space and Value
ADUs tackle housing shortages and boost value with versatile designs in Columbus and beyond.
Team Huddle: Career Building in Architecture
Mario Peña shares his journey from remote work in Mexico to licensure in Columbus.
Hocking A-Frame
A modern A-frame cabin in the Hocking Hills, Ohio, designed as a short-term rental on a steep wooded slope, with tiered decks that greet guests before the door.
Beulah Park
Architectural design for one home in Grove City's Beulah Park, with construction documents for contractor-supplied designs on several neighboring houses.
The Cliffs
A custom home concept for Ohio's Hocking Hills that cantilevers about two-thirds of the house over a wooded valley instead of grading the slope flat.
BeAligned Health
A chiropractic office expansion in Powell, Ohio, where BeAligned Health doubled its space and a full-scale tape layout tested the rooms before construction.
Crafting Spaces: Creativity and Design with Tabi Mund
Tabi Mund explores interior design, sustainability, and creativity in Columbus’s evolving landscape.
Zone In Columbus: Redefining Urban Growth
Zone In Columbus sparks development, housing, and vibrant communities across the city’s corridors.
A Celebration of the Profession: Insights from AIA Conference
Reflections on the AIA Conference in D.C.—adaptive reuse, innovative design, and architecture’s evolving role.
Leadership in Architecture with Bill Griffith
Bill Griffith’s 49-year journey at Sol Harris/Day reveals leadership lessons in architecture.
Small Commercial Projects: Precision Design for Impact
Innovative, detail-oriented designs transform small commercial spaces in Columbus with functionality and creativity.
Affordable Housing: Building Communities That Thrive
Design, investment, and planning unite to create affordable housing that strengthens Columbus communities.
Mastering Bathroom Design: Function Meets Flair
Unlock bathroom design secrets—layout tips, material picks, and style ideas for all bath types.
Why General Contractors Are Essential to Construction Success
Learn why general contractors deliver collaboration, quality, and solutions for homeowners and investors.
From Offices to Homes: Urban Revival
Explore converting commercial spaces to residential—trends, challenges, and opportunities post-COVID.
Navigating the Permitting Maze
Unravel the permitting process—timelines, zoning, and pitfalls for residential and commercial projects.
3D Scanning: Precision in Design
Discover how 3D scanning revolutionizes architecture—accuracy, efficiency, and digital twins unveiled.
Kitchen Design: The Heart of Value
Dive into kitchen design—space planning, trends, and appliances that boost value and function.
Mastering Short-Term Rental Design
Sarah Karakaian reveals how thoughtful design maximizes cash flow and guest satisfaction in short-term rentals.
Designing for Value: Real Estate Investment Strategies
Explore how design transforms real estate investments with strategies for short-term, midterm, and long-term rentals.
Welcome to Arcfluence | Podcast Introduction
The first episode introduces hosts Nick Karakaian, Paul Fatkins, and Nino Samardzic discussing design’s impact on living, working, and investing.
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