In Episode 6 of The DREAM BuildCast, Nicholas Robinson sits down with repeat DREAM Builders client and highly respected daycare operator Sherika Lipsey-Muex, founder of Preschool Academy, along with Alex Walker and Devon Ellis, for one of the most informative episodes yet.

Sherika has opened and operated multiple childcare centers from in-home programs to full commercial facilities, and brings unmatched firsthand insight into navigating zoning, building codes, licensing rules, inspections, and plan review in Milwaukee.

This episode exposes the real challenges daycare owners face, the things they don’t tell you until you’re already thousands of dollars in, and breaks down how building code, zoning code, and state licensing all overlap (and often contradict each other).

Whether you’re dreaming of opening a daycare or actively struggling through the approval process, this episode arms you with the knowledge and warnings you won't get anywhere else.

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 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.