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Jay Ellis says he is an architecture nerd because he has been curious about how buildings and other structures are made since childhood. In a 2022 interview, he described hosting season two of How Did They Build That? as a passion project: a chance to explore an interest that reaches well beyond houses.
“I love architecture. I’m such an architecture nerd,” Ellis told Architectural Digest. The line is more than a playful aside in the interview. Ellis explains that his fascination with buildings began early, grew through watching construction, and now includes the engineering behind bridges, tunnels and other structures.
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Where does Jay Ellis’s curiosity about architecture come from?
Ellis traces it to childhood questions about how large buildings came into being. He remembers wondering how Austin’s Frank Erwin Center was built. Later, watching construction of the Sacramento Kings’ stadium gave him another chance to see a major project take shape.
Those memories suggest what draws him to the subject: not only the finished building, but the process behind it. “How do they do that?” is the kind of question that runs through the interview. Ellis describes himself as naturally curious and says he loves to learn, a disposition that makes architecture appealing as both a visual subject and a practical puzzle.
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His interest is not limited to residential design. He talks about commercial buildings, bridges, tunnels and other structures, too. That wider scope matters because it distinguishes his interest from a focus on home styling alone: he is intrigued by the different kinds of structures people build and the questions their construction raises.
What did hosting How Did They Build That? mean to him?
In the interview, Ellis presents hosting the show’s second season as a natural fit for a subject he already cared about. He calls it a passion project connected to his interest in architecture and engineering, rather than describing the role as the beginning of that interest.
The format also gave him a way to follow the questions that had been with him since childhood. A structure can be familiar from the outside while the choices and work that made it possible remain less visible. Ellis’s enthusiasm centers on learning about that hidden process and sharing his curiosity with viewers.
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The interview is a snapshot of the show in 2022. Its mention of season two and the broadcast context should not be read as confirmation that the series is currently airing or available on a particular streaming service.
Which buildings from the season stood out to Ellis?
Ellis names the Guggenheim Bilbao and Seattle’s book-stack-like library among his favorite examples from the season. He also says he hoped to visit Little Island in New York. These are personal selections and interests reported in the interview, not a ranking of the season’s buildings or a claim that he had visited them.
In fact, Ellis says he had not visited the featured buildings. That distinction is useful: his comments convey enthusiasm for learning about the structures through the show, but they should not be presented as an account based on touring them in person.
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Does Ellis’s interest in architecture extend to hands-on work?
Yes. Ellis describes remodeling houses and taking on practical work himself. The tasks he mentions range from electrical and plumbing work to drywall and painting, as well as furniture, lighting and wallpaper.
That list shows the breadth of his reported involvement in home projects, but it is a personal account rather than a set of instructions or a recommendation that readers take on the same work. Electrical and plumbing jobs, in particular, can involve safety requirements and local rules; the interview does not explain how Ellis approached those tasks or establish a method readers should copy.
It also helps keep two ideas separate. Remodeling and decorating a house are part of Ellis’s hands-on interest, while his comments about bridges, tunnels and large buildings point to a broader curiosity about structures and engineering. The interview connects those interests without suggesting that one makes him a professional architect or engineer.
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What does the interview say about his home?
The 2022 article also discusses Ellis’s historic Los Angeles home and plans to move. Those details belong to the time the interview was published; they do not establish where he lives now or whether the reported plans went ahead. They add a personal residential context to the conversation, but the central point is Ellis’s stated curiosity about how buildings are designed and made.
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Ellis’s account combines three threads: early questions about how major venues were built, an interest in watching construction unfold, and curiosity about structures that serve very different purposes. His examples range from homes to a stadium, bridges and tunnels, while the season’s buildings gave him more to investigate.
The phrase is self-description, not a credential. The interview portrays a curious host who enjoys learning about architecture and engineering, and who also has experience with home remodeling. It does not claim that he designed the featured buildings, visited them all, or has professional training in architecture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did Jay Ellis talk about being an architecture nerd?
He discussed it in an Architectural Digest interview published August 11, 2022. The article focused on his interest in architecture and his role hosting the second season of How Did They Build That?
Is Jay Ellis an architect?
The interview describes him as an architecture enthusiast and does not identify him as a professional architect. His reported remodeling work is not presented as evidence of architectural credentials.
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Can I watch How Did They Build That? now?
The 2022 interview does not establish the show’s current broadcast or streaming availability. Check a current listing from the channel or a streaming provider for up-to-date viewing information.
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