In 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 2 of Episode 5 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, Nicholas Robinson continues the 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀𝗲 discussion with 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 and 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀, diving even deeper into the real-world challenges of adapting existing buildings for new uses — from business to daycare and beyond. This episode moves from theory to practice, unpacking how c𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 directly affect design, safety, and project feasibility. The team explores how a simple use change can lead to complex — and costly — requirements around 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, especially when daycares or institutional occupancies are involved. The conversation also touches on the business realities of these upgrades — how costs are divided between owners and tenants, what makes a space viable (or not), and why many projects fail before they even start. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻:   • What “higher hazard” means in the International Existing Building Code (IEBC 2021)   • How daycare occupancies (E and I-4) trigger new life-safety requirements   • Why compartmentalization and firewalls matter for large commercial spaces   • When sprinklers are required — and when direct exits can replace them   • How building vacancy and “class A” spaces can mislead new tenants   • The cost-benefit dilemma between landlords and daycare operators   • Why consulting an architect before signing a lease can prevent financial loss   • Real examples of change-of-use feasibility and adaptive reuse (like schools becoming senior housing) 🎧 “𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.” This is an eye-opening continuation of the Change of Use series — packed with code insights, design strategy, and practical guidance for 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 navigating the permit process. Stay tuned for Episode 6, where The DREAM BuildCast team takes on special occupancy challenges and how to plan smarter from the start. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2 01:10 – Weather, hurricanes & Jamaica house code banter 03:20 – Recap: Daycare in a strip mall + 14,000 vs 12,000 sq ft issue 05:40 – Why daycare = higher hazard category in code 07:15 – IEBC 2021: Hazard categories and occupancy classifications 09:30 – The myth of “just because it’s vacant, I can use it” 12:00 – Class A spaces vs older retail stock 14:30 – Real costs of converting retail to daycare 17:15 – Adaptive reuse example: turning a school into senior housing 20:10 – Revisiting the daycare strip mall case 22:00 – Why compartmentalization may NOT be feasible 24:40 – Sprinklers and why you might need them building-wide 27:15 – “Why this space?” – When a space is just not viable 29:40 – Economic reality: tenant lease terms vs owner construction cost 33:00 – The business case: When the numbers don’t work 35:00 – Daycare-specific rules: direct exit vs sprinkler requirement 37:45 – E vs I-4 daycares and the 30-month threshold explained 40:20 – Shower requirement for adult daycares + Wisconsin updates 42:55 – Why some tenants end up leasing an entire building 45:10 – Next steps in the current case study 46:50 – Why owners and tenants BOTH need expert advice early 49:40 – The #1 mistake: signing a lease before calling an architect 51:20 – Who to hire first: architect vs engineer vs inspector 53:30 – Final thoughts: Prepare, research, verify 54:40 – Closing remarks 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 — 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘥𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴.

In 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 2 of Episode 4 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, the conversation with 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘇 continues diving even deeper into what it’s really like to navigate Milwaukee’s complex 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 as a small business owner and developer. Nicholas, Alex, and Devon explore how 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 can make or break a project — and why too many owners end up feeling like they’re in a battle against the very city they’re trying to invest in. Baron shares candidly how doing everything “by the book” often comes with more hurdles than cutting corners — and the group discusses what needs to change so that city processes truly support, not stifle, community development. In this episode, you’ll learn:   • How plan review, inspection, and enforcement departments should work together — but often don’t   • Why code interpretation and inconsistent reviewers cause costly delays   • What small business owners face when “doing things the right way” in the permitting process   • How systemic issues within the City of Milwaukee’s review process discourage development   • The role of leadership, supervision, and accountability in fair permitting   • Why communication and empathy are key to rebuilding public trust   • How owners can protect themselves and advocate for fair treatment   • The path forward — collaboration, transparency, and reform 🎧 “𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯 — 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺.” This powerful continuation of Baron Hentz’s story brings together architects, engineers, and owners to ask hard questions about 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. It’s a raw, honest, and necessary conversation about progress, fairness, and the future of development in Milwaukee. Timestamps: 00:00 – Recap: Baron’s story and city struggles 02:00 – The fine line between enforcement and support 05:30 – Why bureaucracy breaks progress 08:45 – The reality of “doing it by the book” 12:00 – Comparing Milwaukee to smaller municipalities 15:30 – Code interpretation vs. code intent 18:50 – When good reviewers make the difference 22:00 – The power of one phone call to resolve issues 25:10 – Why inconsistency across departments costs time 29:00 – Leadership and accountability in public service 33:45 – Building trust between owners and reviewers 37:30 – Why communication can make or break a project 41:20 – The emotional cost of the process 44:00 – Advocating for fairness without retaliation 47:10 – Systemic reform and “facilitating development” 50:40 – Advice for future owners and developers 54:00 – Final thoughts: Hope, reform, and persistence 56:30 – Closing: “Don’t give up on Milwaukee” 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 — 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

In the very first episode of The DREAM BuildCast, we dive into the big question every aspiring builder, business owner, or developer faces: “𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁?” Join Nicholas and guests Alex and Devon as they break down the early stages of development—from feasibility and planning to architecture, engineering, and construction management. Using real-world examples like restaurants and daycares, they reveal the hidden pitfalls that can derail a project before it even begins. You’ll learn:   • Why understanding feasibility is more important than chasing ideas.   • The crucial difference between architects, developers, and owner’s reps.   • How upfront planning saves money, time, and frustration down the line.   • The unique challenges of commercial vs. residential projects.   • Case study insights and lessons from clients who “didn’t know what they didn’t know.” Whether you’re planning a daycare, opening a restaurant, or just curious about the process of turning an idea into reality, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, candid stories, and professional insights to guide your next step. Don’t miss this kickoff conversation—it sets the stage for everything to come on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵. Timestamp: 03:15 – Why feasibility matters 09:40 – The restaurant trap 18:22 – Daycare code headaches 26:50 – Developer vs. Owner’s Rep 41:10 – Residential vs. Commercial projects

In 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 1 of Episode 4 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, Nicholas, Alex, and Devon sit down with 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘇 — master electrician, business owner, and U.S. Army veteran — to unpack a real-world story of determination, red tape, and resilience in the face of bureaucracy. Baron opens up about his experience purchasing and rehabilitating a long-vacant commercial property in Milwaukee, sharing the full picture of what happens 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 you win the bid — from environmental due diligence and plan review delays to unexpected fines and communication breakdowns between city departments. This episode pulls back the curtain on what small business owners, contractors, and developers really face when working through complex municipal systems — and why better collaboration and transparency could transform the building process for everyone. In this episode, you’ll learn:   • What it really takes to buy and redevelop a city-owned commercial property   • The realities of environmental studies, plan review, and approval delays   • How city department silos create confusion for owners and builders   • Why proactive documentation and communication matter during review   • The financial and emotional toll of fines, delays, and miscommunication   • How persistence and partnership can overcome systemic barriers 🎧 “𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 — 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘬, ‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱?’” This is 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭 of a two-part conversation with Baron Hentz — a candid look at the struggles and strengths of those working to rebuild Milwaukee one project at a time. Stay tuned for 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮, where the team continues the conversation on solutions, accountability, and what needs to change in the system. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The DREAM BuildCast 01:30 – Meet Baron Hentz: Master Electrician & Business Owner 03:20 – Military background and early career in the trades 06:00 – Transition from We Energies to running his own company 08:45 – Discovering the property and winning the city bid 12:30 – Why the building was the perfect fit for his business 16:00 – Early surprises: water damage, foundation checks, and repairs 19:00 – Beginning the plan review process & documentation phase 22:40 – HVAC, plumbing, and city approval hurdles 26:15 – The first big challenge: multiple fines during active construction 31:00 – Lack of communication between city departments 36:40 – Baron’s frustrations with the process and seeking supervisor help 40:10 – Discussion: Department silos, enforcement vs. plan review 45:20 – Why public servants need to serve — not block — progress 48:00 – Lessons from the experience so far 50:30 – Teaser for Part 2: Fixing the system and building better together 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 — 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

In Episode 3 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, Nicholas, Devon, and Alex break down one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate and design — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 — and why understanding both can save you time, money, and stress before you start any project. This episode dives into the 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀, how municipal approvals like the 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 (𝘉𝘖𝘡𝘈) shape what you can build, and why 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 dictate 𝘩𝘰𝘸 you build it. Using examples from 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, the team explains how code compliance is less about red tape — and more about protecting your investment and community safety. In this episode, you’ll learn:   • The key 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 zoning codes and building codes   • How zoning determines 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 you can do — and building code defines how you must do it   • Why a 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 approval may be required for certain businesses like daycares   • What “by-right” zoning vs “special use” zoning really means   • How 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗘, 𝗜-𝟰, 𝗲𝘁𝗰.) affect sprinkler, egress, and accessibility requirements   • Why a 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀𝗲 can trigger new code requirements — even in an existing space   • The importance of 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗘𝗠𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 for site planning   • How to plan smarter with both zoning and building compliance in mind Whether you’re a property owner, developer, or designer, this episode will help you understand how zoning and building codes intersect — and how to navigate them without losing your mind (or your permit). Have questions or topics you want covered next? Email info@dreambuildersmkw.com and your topic could be featured in a future episode! Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Welcome back to The DREAM BuildCast 01:10 – Meet Alex & Devon: Architect, Engineer, Developer 02:40 – Topic Setup: Why Zoning vs Building Codes Matter 04:20 – Zoning Basics Explained: Local control & municipalities 07:00 – By-Right vs Special Use Zoning 10:00 – Daycare Approvals & The Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA) 13:45 – Permitted, Special, and Prohibited Uses 16:10 – Building Codes Overview: What They Actually Govern 19:00 – The State’s Role vs Local Authority 22:00 – One- & Two-Family Code vs Commercial Code 24:30 – Overlapping Authorities: Zoning, Building, and Health Departments 28:00 – Daycare Classifications (E vs I-4) and Fire Safety Rules 33:00 – Why Direct Egress Matters (and the 30-month rule) 36:15 – Protecting Public Safety Through Building Codes 39:00 – Change of Use: When “Grandfathering” Doesn’t Apply 43:10 – Multiple Codes: IBC, IEBC, IFC & Trade Codes 47:00 – The Architect’s Role in Code Coordination 50:00 – Flood Zones & FEMA Requirements in Design 53:40 – How to Avoid Zoning & Code Pitfalls 56:00 – Closing Thoughts: Know Before You Build 58:00 – Outro & Audience Q&A Invite

In this episode of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, Nicholas, Alex, and Devon dive deep into the world of 𝗼𝗻𝗲- 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 — unpacking the technical, financial, and practical considerations every homeowner should know before remodeling, expanding, or finishing a space. Building off Episode 1’s “Where Do I Start?” theme, this discussion explores how local 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 affect everything from finishing your attic or basement to adding a new story on your home. In this episode, we cover:   • The differences between one- and two-family homes vs. commercial buildings under the 2021 Wisconsin Building Code.   • What you must know before finishing your attic or basement — including egress, insulation, and fire separation rules.   • The real pros and cons of going “up vs. out” when adding square footage.   • How energy efficiency standards and retroactive code updates impact homeowners.   • Basement flooding, drainage, and waterproofing tips — and how to know if your space is safe to occupy.   • Why every homeowner needs a qualified architect or structural engineer before starting a renovation. Whether you’re a homeowner thinking about an addition, a first-time investor, or simply curious about the science behind safe residential construction, this episode is packed with real-world advice from design, engineering, and construction professionals who’ve seen it all. 🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 — 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back to The DREAM BuildCast 01:25 – Episode Focus: One- and Two-Family Residential Design 03:00 – Understanding the 2021 Wisconsin Building Code Update 05:10 – Sprinkler Requirements & Fire Safety in Multi-Family Dwellings 08:00 – Energy Efficiency and the Rising Cost of Compliance 11:40 – How the Code Impacts Older Milwaukee Homes 14:00 – Converting Attic Space into Living Space 17:00 – The 400 sq. ft. Rule & Second Exit Requirements 20:20 – Fire Separation and Property Line Setbacks Explained 24:00 – Why “Qualified Professionals” Are Critical for Residential Projects 27:30 – Going “Up vs. Out”: Choosing Between Vertical or Horizontal Additions 31:00 – Structural & Foundation Considerations for Adding a Second Floor 34:20 – The Hidden Costs and Zoning Impacts of Expanding Your Home 37:15 – Basement Projects: Egress, Moisture, and Comfort Challenges 40:30 – Flooding, Drainage, and Basement Maintenance Essentials 44:10 – How Small Fixes (Gutters, Slope, and Trees) Prevent Big Problems 48:00 – Risk Management: When It’s Safe to Rebuild After Flooding 51:20 – Counting the Cost: Budgeting for Renovation and Expansion 53:00 – Final Advice: Hire the Right Team, Start with an Architect 55:00 – Closing Thoughts & Next Episode Preview The DREAM BuildCast is an architecture and development podcast hosted by DREAM Builders. We explore real-world stories and expert insights about design, planning, construction, and community building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and beyond. From feasibility to finish, each episode helps entrepreneurs, property owners, and dreamers learn how to turn ideas into structures — one conversation at a time.

In 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 1 of Episode 5 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵, Nicholas Robinson, Alex Walker, and Devon Ellis break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in design and development — the 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀𝗲. What seems like a simple switch (like converting a 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲) can trigger major design, code, and cost implications. This episode unpacks exactly what that means, why it happens, and how it impacts not just your space — but sometimes the entire building. Nicholas hosts this deep dive with:   • Alex Walker, architectural designer, real estate development manager, and former plan reviewer   • Devon Ellis, civil/structural engineer and construction manager Together, they walk through how building codes classify spaces, how “grandfathering” works (and doesn’t), and why even 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 to fire safety, exits, and overall compliance. In this episode, you’ll learn:   • What a “change of use” really means under the International Building Code (IBC)   • The difference between mercantile, business, residential, and assembly occupancies   • Why switching from a retail store to a daycare can trigger upgrades   • How occupant load and exits affect code compliance   • What happens when your building no longer meets current standards   • How fire separations, firewalls, and sprinkler systems change your project scope   • The hidden costs and code requirements of nonconforming buildings   • Real-world examples, including a strip mall case study that shows how one tenant can impact the entire building 🎧 “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.” This episode is essential listening for 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 owners looking to understand how small design decisions can have major ripple effects. Stay tuned for 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮, where the team continues with a real case study and unpacks the full cost and compliance implications of a real-world change of use scenario. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to The DREAM BuildCast 01:15 – Meet Alex, Devon, and Nicholas 03:00 – What is a “Change of Use”? 05:20 – Why Daycares Cause the Most Code Confusion 08:00 – How Occupancy Types Are Classified (A, B, M, R, etc.) 11:00 – Business vs. Mercantile vs. Assembly Use Explained 14:30 – The “Grandfathering” Myth: Why Codes Don’t Work That Way 17:45 – Occupant Loads, Exits, and Safety Standards 21:00 – Bathroom Counts and Occupant Ratios (Real Examples) 24:00 – The Cost of Code Compliance for Small Businesses 27:15 – Strip Mall Case Study Setup 29:00 – When a Single Tenant Triggers a Building-Wide Upgrade 32:00 – Firewalls vs. Fire Separations: What’s the Difference? 35:15 – Fire Sprinklers, NFPA 72, and Unlimited Area Buildings 38:20 – Compartmentalization as an Alternative Strategy 41:10 – How Developers Balance Cost and Code Requirements 44:30 – The Benefits of Building Sprinkler Systems 47:15 – “White Box” Development Flexibility Explained 50:00 – Preparing for Part 2: Real-World Case Analysis 52:00 – Closing Thoughts & Preview of Next Episode 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 — 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.