Building on the success of 'Extreme Engineering'

Eighteen months ago, Danny Forster was a geek-chic architecture grad student at Harvard, about to launch his first TV hosting gig on the Discovery Channel's "Extreme Engineering." Now, he's graduated and moved on to a new series: Discovery's "Build It Bigger," which airs Tuesday nights at 10. He's scheduled to appear this week on "Larry King Live," talking about the world's most dangerous jobs. He's about to break ground on a lake house, the first project for his new architecture firm (in collaboration with Boston architect Kiel Moe). And he hasn't spent time at his Cambridge apartment in . . . oh, about 11 months. -- JOANNA WEISS

Q So, you've managed to somehow find time to start a business?

A dkfARCHITECTURE. Two employees and me and a laptop. I'm really proud: The house we're doing in Michigan is a sustainable house, almost zero energy. It'll be one of the greenest houses that has ever been built in Michigan, passively cooled, no air conditioning, green roof, chilled ceiling -- If I start nerding out and bore you, just hang up.

Q Who are the clients?

A They're from New York, and they're academics. This is their dream house. It's, like, their first big purchase. It's their first big step and my first big step. It's been six months of design out of my laptop and on airplanes. Doing AutoCAD [an architecture software program] on my way to Shanghai. It's amazingly productive work time. We've had only two meetings . . . they're totally sensitive to the madness of the show.

Q Has the paycheck from Discovery helped you to launch your own business?

A I have a pretty small footprint. A laptop on a tray table in front of an airplane seat is not very expensive. I haven't rented a big office. I think the challenges of the Discovery schedule have made me very efficient. [Without Discovery] I would never have struck out on my own this early for sure. But I can definitely say that it's so rewarding, I don't think I can ever go back to a firm. This is so intimate. It's odd for a Jew to say this, but you feel like Santa Claus, you know? You're giving them what they want. You're working really hard to make them happy.

Q What are the differences between "Extreme Engineering" and "Build it Bigger"?

A "Build it Bigger" is much more intimate. We're not pointing and explaining anymore. We're really getting into it, whether it's going under the San Andreas Fault for a couple of weeks or going on top of a skyscraper in Shanghai. I think there's also a little more of me in the show.

Q When we last spoke, you hadn't been on TV yet. Now, you're a bona fide personality. You just filmed a commercial with Sig Hansen of "Deadliest Catch." How has that changed your life?

A I really haven't had the chance to experience it because I've been away so much. What's a little bit different now is that when I get on the top of a building, all of a sudden the different trades start coming to me. Look, who knows if the show's going to be a hit or if people like it, but if those guys appreciate what we're doing, that's all the street cred that I need.

Q Come on. You haven't been recognized in an airport?

A It always happens in airports! Yeah, I have, and each and every time, it feels kind of awkward.

Q What do people say?

A They can't believe that I was standing on top of that thing, they would have peed in their pants. The best thing I've heard so far [is] that people typically don't watch these types of shows, but now they will.

Q Have you overcome your fear of heights yet?

A The show is still real, and unfortunately, so too are my fears of heights. However, I'm proud to say that definitely you'll see a progression. Our last show we shot, about the Washington Nationals baseball stadium, I was there hanging iron in some pretty scary spots. And did it pretty well. But look, I'm still not a macho man. That ain't gonna change with TV exposure over time.

Q You're in Vegas now, having meetings about filming an episode about the Cirque du Soleil. Tell me your pitch.

A The truth is, they came to us. What I said to them last night is that this incredible spectacle -- let's lift the hood and see how you guys do this. In this case, the sleight-of-hand is all engineering. It's all design. They want to throw me up in a harness, shoot me 100 feet in the air . . . That's just our cup of tea, this kind of high-stakes engineering that happens in real time.