GCUC Podcast Recap – Chris Moeller

When Chris Moeller isn’t busy designing buildings, he’s busy re-imagining the very idea of “home.” Founder of Pathway Communities and Orion Growth, Chris brings an entrepreneur’s edge, a geologist’s curiosity, and a systems-thinker’s drive to solutions for housing, stability, and community resilience.

This episode of the GCUC Podcast, hosted by Liz Elam, offers a deep dive into the future of living, working, and belonging.

From Geology to Community Growth

Chris’s background is eclectic, ranging from studying geology and communication science to owning an office development firm to rebuilding after disasters. Along the way, he saw that the built environment, workspaces, and community are inseparable. He argues that you can’t design a future of work without creating the future of living.

Why Stable Living Matters

Traditional “affordable housing” doesn’t cut it anymore, Chris says. What’s needed is a model that plants long-term roots for residents, supports upward mobility, and weaves in food systems, active design, and wellness. At the heart of his work: the concept of “total tenancy”, ensuring every person in a community isn’t just housed, but stabilized, empowered, and connected.

Whether it’s first responders, civil servants, or families making less than market wages, Chris is building new typologies of housing that break the cycle of turnover, underinvestment, and disconnection.

Whole-Body Design & Neuro-Inclusive Communities

One of the most compelling parts of the conversation: Chris’s commitment to designing for all bodies and minds. He explains that whole-body design goes beyond accessibility; it invites neurodivergent and neurotypical people alike to live, work, and thrive together.

For coworking operators and landlords, this lens is a game-changer: if we design spaces that account for differences in perception, mobility, and sensory experience, we create environments where everyone belongs.

The Role of “Tiny Giants”

Chris shares a memorable phrase: tiny giants. These are the small, consistent acts and decisions within design, operations, and systems that add up to significant impact. He argues that resilience and regeneration aren’t big dramatic gestures, but the accumulation of many little smart moves.

From choosing durable materials to embedding local food systems to supporting resident-led governance, each “tiny giant” becomes a building block of community strength.

What Coworking & Real Estate Professionals Should Watch

• Connection over Capitalism: It’s not just about space transactions, it’s about relationships, outcomes, and purpose.
• Living + Working = Belonging: As hybrid work grows, neighborhoods that support both life and work will win.
• Design with People, Not For Them: Shift from “user-as-consumer” to “member-as-co-creator”.
• Resilience by Design: Climate, economy, and social systems are all in play; designing with them in mind matters.
• CommunityFirst Returns: Real estate returns follow when you invest in people and place.

Key Takeaways

• Stable, resilient living is the foundation for meaningful work.
• Whole-body and neuro-inclusive design aren’t optional; they’re differentiators.
• The future of coworking isn’t just about desks; it’s about neighborhoods, ecosystems, and human-centric places.
• Significant change happens through many small decisions.
• Building operators, landlords, and community creators have an opportunity to shape not just space, but life.

Tune In & Connect

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with Chris Moeller and Liz Elam, a roadmap for how we build places people don’t just use, but belong to.

• Connect with Chris Moeller
• Connect with Liz Elam
• Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC North America
• Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube