The Building Beat

Host Nicholas Wardroup sits down with Sustainability Planner Robin Richardson to explore the 2025 Heat Watch Campaign and the massive community effort behind its large-scale heat‑mapping event. Robin explains how the project began, the local organizations and institutions that joined forces, how the initiative was funded, and the training volunteers received to collect accurate temperature data. She also breaks down what the heat map revealed about which areas of Memphis and Shelby County experience the most extreme temperatures. This collaborative project now provides valuable insights to guide future cooling strategies, inform potential community projects, and even help identify ideal locations for cooling centers during the hottest months of the year.

The resulting data from this project is available to review on the Office of Sustainability and Resilience's website: https://www.shelbycountyosr.com/heatwatch2025

Have questions for Nicholas or Robin? Email them to buildingbeat@memphistn.gov, and you'll get an answer on a future episode

Producer Breana Miller interviews Sustainability Planner Logan Landry about her role within the Office of Sustainability and Resilience, how her previous internship with the department made way for her current role, what types of projects she works on with her colleagues, and how data measurement and tracking are essential to providing informed recommendations and suggestions within government.

Have any questions for Logan? Email them to buildingbeat@memphistn.gov, and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Host Nicholas Wardroup interviews zoning consultants Arista Strungys and Chris Jennette of Camiros about their collaborative work with division staff planners for the Unified Development Code (UDC) update. They bring their collective decades of experience working with other planning departments across the country to informing recomendations on changes in written zoning guidance and explanations here in Memphis and Shelby County. Arista and Chris share how they find satisfaction in helping municipalities simplify zoning for their residents and prepare for future development and growth.

This episode is the second part in a two-part series about the Unified Development Code (UDC) update and adoption process.

Have questions for Nicholas, Arista, or Chris? Email them to buildingbeat@memphistn.gov, and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Host Nicholas Wardroup sits down with the Division’s new Director, Brett Ragsdale, for a wide‑ranging conversation about his vision for the Division and what’s ahead for the team. Drawing on his experience as Zoning Administrator, Brett talks about the opportunities he sees in this next chapter and highlights how each department’s work supports our shared mission of people-centered, community-focused public service. Together, they offer an inside look at the Division’s priorities, upcoming initiatives, and the ongoing effort to strengthen neighborhoods across Memphis and Shelby County.

Have questions for Brett or Nicholas? Email them to buildingbeat@memphistn.gov, and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Host Nicholas Wardroup interviews Comprehensive Planning Administrator Christina Edingbourgh and Project Manager Isaac Bacon about infusing community voice into land use planning in Memphis and the upcoming Unified Development Code update affecting Shelby County. They discuss the differences between the future land use map and the zoning map and how their work is considering the future of Memphis and Shebly County.

This episode is the first part in a two-part series about the upcoming Unified Development Code (UDC) update and adoption process.

Have questions for Nicholas, Christina, or Issac? Email them to buildingbeat@memphistn.gov, and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Memphis 3.0 website: www.memphis3point0.com

Unified Development Code (UDC) Update website: https://www.901udcupdate.com/