Explore every episode of the podcast Architecture & Engineering Business Strategies
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| AI in Architecture and Engineering — 2026 Business Benchmarks w/ Ashish Desai | EntreArchitect | 15 May 2026 | 00:35:28 | |
You can be fully booked and still feel like the numbers don't add up. The 2026 A&E Benchmark Report from Monograph shows exactly why, and which firms have figured it out. Ashish Desai, CEO of Monograph, joins Mark LePage to walk through the data on what separates high-performing architecture firms from the rest. The gap isn't in design quality or demand. It's in how efficiently firms convert time into revenue, and revenue into cash. What you'll learn: Ashish Desai is CEO of Monograph, the firm management platform used by 2,200+ architecture and engineering firms to win more work, deliver projects profitably, and get paid faster. He previously served as CPO at Monograph and CPO at 99designs. Download the 2026 A&E Benchmark Report at monograph.com/benchmark. Learn more at monograph.com. | |||
| How Should Architects + Structural Engineers Work Together? w/ Point B Design Group & A-1 Engineers | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:49:36 | |
Why don't Architects sketch with clients anymore? And why don't Engineers invest in teaching their Architect collaborators? These two Austin firms have revolutionized collaboration by front-loading coordination, using paper to build trust, and aligning billing phases perfectly. In this episode, you will learn: Meet our guests: Moises Cruz is principal structural engineer at A-1 Engineering, bringing military training and forensic expertise to prevent construction failures. Together, they've completed 6 projects with 4 more in progress. Ready to monitor your business health and make smarter decisions about when to hire, find work, or pull back? Join over 12,000+ Architects and Engineers on Monograph! Get started at https://monograph.com | |||
| How this Architect quit corporate life to start a new firm but without all the growing pains | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:09:02 | |
In this episode, two ex-corporate architects explain how running their own business actually meant less admin than being employees at a large company.
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| Hospitality Design w/ Michael Hsu, FAIA + APTUS - How Should Architects + MEP Engineers Work Together? | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:44:22 | |
Creating the perfect restaurant vibe requires controlling air temperature, velocity, day lighting, and acoustic quality all at once, but most architect-engineer teams can't coordinate at this level. In this conversation, you'll hear how these Austin-based firms have sustained their decade-plus partnership working on everything from P. Terry's locations to the iconic Headliners Club renovation. They share their approach to early MEP integration, project selection criteria that protect both profitability and design ambition, and the trust investment required to learn each other's design language. What you'll learn: About the guests: Eric Zissman and Sujay Regmi co-founded APTUS Engineering, a performance-driven MEP firm known for service-oriented culture and collaborative approach across commercial, healthcare, and educational sectors. Ready to improve your project coordination? Monograph helps architecture and engineering firms track projects, manage resources, and collaborate more effectively. Learn more at https://monograph.com/ | |||
| How this Architect became more selective with clients using Monograph | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:03:56 | |
Architecture firms often accept any project that comes their way, but what if you could use data to choose only the clients who value your expertise? In this episode, you will learn: Meet Wendy Klepcyk, AIA, Principal Architect at Envisage Architecture, a 8-person Cincinnati firm that evolved from reactive project acceptance to strategic client selection through three years of data-driven decision making. Ready to gain financial clarity like this Architect? Learn more at https://monograph.com | |||
| How Should Architects + Structural Engineers Work Together? (w/ Arch11 and KL&A Engineers) | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:44:38 | |
Most architects treat engineers like a service you hand work to, but what if your breakthrough moments happen when you start conceptual conversations before making any structural decisions? What you'll learn: In this episode: Guest Bios: Jeff Myers is an executive principal at KL&A Engineers and Builders, a 30-year-old firm generating $40-50 million annually across five Rocky Mountain offices. With 25 years of structural engineering experience and an architecture degree, he brings unique dual-discipline perspective to collaborative practice. Ready to transform your consultant relationships? Visit https://monograph.com to see how over 12,000 architects and engineers coordinate resources and manage projects. | |||
| How Should Architects + Engineers Work Together? (w/ Studio GWA + Angus Young) | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:55:22 | |
Architects don’t design alone. But real collaboration between firms? That’s the hard part. In this episode, you’ll learn what it actually takes to run successful projects across architecture and engineering teams, such as: Be sure to listen until the end to hear the mistakes that taught them how to work smarter together. About our guests: Curious about Monograph? Get started -> https://monograph.com/book-a-demo | |||
| How Should Architects + Landscape Architects Work Together? (w/ Shape Architecture + Superbloom) | 21 Jul 2025 | 01:05:19 | |
A&E project collaboration sounds great–until projects go over budget, scope gets muddy, and no one's sure who's doing what.
In this conversation, you'll hear about:
🟡 Shape Architecture is a Colorado-based firm recently recognized as the 2024 AIA Colorado Young Firm of the Year. Led by Principals Steve Scribner and Morgan Law, they focus on creating high-performance, site-connected buildings across the Mountain West.
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| How Dynamic Engineering Grew Profit 25% by Switching from Excel to Monograph | 27 Dec 2024 | 00:12:31 | |
Unbilled hours. Constant firefighting. Are broken systems holding back your A&E firm? In this episode, you’ll learn a simple question to find broken systems and get a concrete example of how a 10-person structural engineering firm in Florida grew profits by 25% after switching from Excel to Monograph. Key takeaways:
Need to streamline your firm? Visit monograph.com to get started. | |||
| How Workbench Cut Monthly Unbilled Fees by 75% After Switching from BQE Core to Monograph | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:43:32 | |
Many architects and engineers struggle to manage their business, from staying on top of budgets to streamlining invoicing and forecasting. In this episode, we explore how Workbench, a California architect-developer + design-build firm, transformed their operations. By switching to Monograph from BQE Core + Smartsheets, they reduced unbilled fees by 75%, cut their billing time from 20 hours a month to just 4 hours, and sped up staffing and scheduling for their team by 8x.
Workbench used Monograph to save time, improve transparency, and focus on growing their business. If you’re ready to spend less time managing spreadsheets and more time doing the work you love, this episode is for you.
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| How Workshop/APD Transformed Their Architecture and Design Business with Monograph | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:13:56 | |
Many architects and engineers feel overwhelmed by the business side of their work. In this episode, we explore how Workshop/APD, a leading multidisciplinary design firm, tackled these challenges and grew their team by 78% with Monograph. In this episode, you’ll learn:
If you’re ready to solve the business challenges in your firm and scale with confidence, this episode is for you. Listen now and discover actionable strategies to grow your firm while staying focused on what you love—design.
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| How Garrison Architects cut costs 50% by leaving ArchiOffice for Monograph | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:56:32 | |
Meet Garrison Architects — a Brooklyn-based architecture firm that specializes in sustainable, modular building design through highly refined modernist aesthetics across private residential and large scale public projects. In 2023, the firm left ArchiOffice for Monograph to streamline and improve project tracking, staffing, and billing, while reducing the cost associated with managing their systems by 50%. Here's what happened: Before Monograph - +$34k annual cost on project management and billing systems - 40-48 hours a month on monthly invoicing - 45-60 days time-to-payment After Monograph - 50% reduced cost on project management and billing systems - 66% less time on monthly invoicing - 2.6x faster time-to-payment Read the story here - https://bit.ly/49nlNJp New to Monograph? Start here - https://bit.ly/4bI3S1N | |||
| Design-build firm Woodhull streamlined collaboration after switching from BQE Core to Monograph | 07 Feb 2024 | 00:44:28 | |
Meet the design-build firm Woodhull — an integrated architecture, construction, and millwork firm delivering thoughtful and enduring residential and commercial projects throughout New England. Their holistic ethos and business model relies on transparency, communication, and collaboration to drive successful internal operations. Everything starts with the 80 active projects in Woodhull's 25-person design studio, which switched from BQE Core to Monograph to improve speed and accuracy across the entire business.
Before Monograph - 4-6 hours per week on reporting latest project schedules - 5-10 days invoicing process due to back-and-forth between PMs and bookkeeper - 50% errors on retainer fee invoicing, causing client refunds After Monograph - 95% less time preparing project reports for firm owners - 53% faster monthly invoicing process - 100% error reduction on retainer invoicing, avoiding client refunds
New to Monograph? Start here - https://bit.ly/3w8y4mx | |||
| MVRDV: How To Win Work (w/ Inger Kammeraat, Jan Knikker) | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:54:48 | |
Systems are essential to organizing your workplace and maintaining order during a project. But how can you build systems to win new work? In this Best Practice interview, MVRDV Managing Director Inger Kammeraat and Strategy and Development partner Jan Knikker explained how they structure their firm to facilitate a healthy pipeline of new projects. They talked about how they use PR to drive business development, how they balance profit with their mission and how they close the cycle at the end of each project. Interview Takeaways
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| Level Architecture + Interiors: Success Stories: Leveling up Practice Ops (w/Adam Gayle) | 17 May 2022 | 00:21:30 | |
Forming the identity of a young business is difficult. Whether you’re branching off from a parent company or launching your own startup, without a consistent set of principles and practices, it can feel like you’re living in the Wild West. If you want your business to flourish, you need to establish law and order—namely, a consistent set of workflows and processes that will keep everyone on the same page. In this Section Cut interview, Adam Gayle, Director of Architecture at Level Architecture + Interiors, shared how you can help your business level up by organizing your practices and processes. Interview Takeaways
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| bldg.collective architecture + design: Achieving Balance: Creative Expression Meets Professional Service (w/ Steve Perce) | 12 May 2022 | 00:21:47 | |
One challenge architects face is the pressure to deliver their signature creative style while also serving the client’s needs. This push-and-pull relationship between creative practice and professional service never goes away, but there are a few tactics you can use to help strike a balance. In this Section Cut interview, Principal Steve Perce of bldg.collective explored how to deliver an excellent client experience while also honoring your creativity. He talked about the importance of guiding the conversation, educating them throughout the process, and creating moments of delightful design. Interview Takeaways
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| Defining Design Practice: Defining Change (w/ Lorena Galvao) | 10 May 2022 | 00:41:17 | |
Industry expectations and standards are constantly shifting. If you want your company to keep up, you have to adjust with the changing times. But to be ready for whatever lies ahead, you have to institute a flexible, agile mindset within your company and be ready to adapt to new practices. In this Section Cut interview, Lorena Galvao, co-founder of Defining Design Practice, shared her experience working in the changing architectural industry and how companies can prepare for future shifts. Interview Takeaways
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| Charrette Venture Group: Designing the Client Experience (w/ Lucas Gray, Dena Alspach) | 06 May 2022 | 00:44:58 | |
The client experience is at the heart of architectural work. Delivering an attentive experience through every phase is what will lead to a happy client, repeat business, and referrals for your firm. In fact, this experience starts before you even land a client. Becoming in tune with your potential clients’ feelings, thoughts, and questions will help you to meet them where they are. In this Section Cut session, Lucas Gray and Dena Alspach of Charrette Venture Group explained how delivering an excellent client experience from day one is what will elevate the relationship with your client beyond a transaction. Interview Takeaways:
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| Studio Balcones: Growth Rooted in Community (w/ Jennifer Orr, Tiffany Rasco) | 25 Apr 2022 | 00:52:38 | |
When growth is rooted in community, it becomes self-sustaining. At landscape architecture firm Studio Balcones, Principal Jennifer Orr and Office Manager Tiffany Rasco believe that being active in their community is essential to their firm’s growth and success. In this Best Practice interview, they talk about the importance of educating others by collaborating with project partners, applying for community certifications, participating in diversity programs, and teaching clients throughout the process to ultimately create designs rooted in the local landscape. Interview Takeaways
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| Ennead Architects LLP: How Civic Architecture Can Inspire Change (w/ Molly McGowan, Thomas Wong) | 22 Apr 2022 | 00:56:06 | |
Studio-based organizations can prevent architects from getting their hands on a variety of projects and experiences. Ennead Architects takes on a whole range of different scales, different typologies, and different locales in their projects. They see that as the dream training of an architect. Their teams are able to share ideas and transfer skills through this spectrum of projects. In this episode, Ennead partners Molly McGowan and Thomas Wong discuss how they manage all of their diverse civic projects, build teams, and define success. Interview Takeaways
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| GLUCK+: Architects Who Build (w/ Thomas Gluck, Stacie Wong) | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:50:12 | |
In the architect-led design-build model, the architect is responsible not only for design but for construction as well. This represents a major shift from the traditional design-bid-build way of building projects. Yet it offers unique advantages on both the architect and client end, say Thomas Gluck and Stacie Wong, both principals at Gluck+. Most importantly, it makes for a smoother construction process and a better, beautiful building. Interview Takeaways
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| Stayner Architects: How To Design New Models for Practice (w/ Christian Stayner) | 04 Apr 2022 | 00:55:58 | |
Many traditional architecture practices are no longer sustainable. Firms that want to lead the path into the future will need to adopt new ways of thinking. In this Best Practice interview, Christian Stayner, Principal of Stayner Architects, explains how expanding your services, collaborating with consultants, and systemizing client interactions can help you create new models for the future of the industry. Interview Takeaways
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| Essel Environmental: How the Random Can Change Your Practice (w/ Nik Lahiri) | 31 Mar 2022 | 00:55:28 | |
When unexpected opportunities arise, sometimes it’s best to say yes and figure it out later. But in order to see the project through, you need to understand how to get to the finish line successfully. In this Best Practice interview, Nik Lahiri of Essel Environmental explores how to understand your metrics for success, know where you get your energy from, and set expectations for project milestones to build lasting client relationships. Interview Takeaways
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| Runcible Studios: How To Start Your Own Practice (w/ Marilyn Moedinger) | 29 Mar 2022 | 00:56:45 | |
Not every architect should start their own practice. It comes down to how you want to spend your time. If you want to spend most of your time being an architect, don’t start a practice. Starting a practice requires you to spend time on business processes, marketing, sales, and most of all, thinking about money. From setting fees to planning for the future, there are many financial decisions you’ll have to make right from the start. In this Best Practice episode, Marilyn Moedinger, founder of Runcible Studios, shares her expertise on the money side of starting your own practice. Interview Takeaways
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| SK Development: How To Manage A Development Pipeline (w/ Scott Shnay) | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:50:50 | |
Developers need a steady pipeline of projects to keep their businesses thriving. That means juggling multiple projects that are in various stages, from design to starting construction, to completing construction. To stay on target, you’re always balancing what you’re working on now with what comes next. In this episode, Scott Shnay of SK Development told us the rules they follow to steadily feed that pipeline while keeping their work top-notch, like working with great partners and sticking to your convictions. Interview Takeaways
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| Form Developers: How to Design Apartments Using Floorplan Data (w/ Bobby Fijan) | 14 Mar 2022 | 00:53:39 | |
When you think about design, data probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, that’s exactly what you should be thinking about according to Bobby Fijan of Form Developers. Data, especially on the local level, offers invaluable insight into what people really want in a floor plan and what they’ll spend money on. That’s why you should seek out data early on as you begin a new project. Just keep in mind that it’s not the only important factor. Interview Takeaways
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| Roundtable: Burnout Across Architecture (w/ Monograph's Growth Team) | 08 Mar 2022 | 00:52:58 | |
Burnout can decrease workplace efficiency, make employees sick, and even cause people to leave their careers. In the wake of the pandemic, workers are more likely than ever to suffer from burnout, so if you want to prioritize your health, you need to set firm boundaries to keep from wearing yourself and your employees out. In our first Roundtable discussion, four Monograph team members discuss what they do to maintain a healthy work-life balance and keep burnout at bay. Interview Takeaways
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| NADAAA: How to Own the Means and Methods (w/ Nader Tehrani, Arthur Chang) | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:50:08 | |
Owning the means and methods throughout the design and construction process can be challenging. This is especially true for new designers or architects who haven’t been involved in many projects before. How do you go about understanding your role, the client’s risk tolerance, and keep an open mind throughout the process? On Best Practice, NADAAA’s principals Nader Tehrani and Arthur Chang explain how they use collaboration and relationships with contractors to own the means and methods during each project. Interview Takeaways
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| LERA: How to Move a Legacy Firm Into the Future (w/ Carrie Villani, Doug González) | 25 Feb 2022 | 00:53:15 | |
Business development is everyone’s job. Every employee, regardless of level or title, can and should do their part to propel their firm forward — to new clients, interesting projects, and positive PR. That’s what Carrie Villani and Doug Gonzalez of LERA believe. In a recent Best Practice episode, they talked about how marketing can naturally be incorporated into your workday, helping to grow both the firm and your individual career.
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| Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: Rethinking the role of the Public Architect (w/ Curtis Clay) | 22 Feb 2022 | 00:54:28 | |
The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations has high standards to meet. The buildings they design have to be secure, functional, and stand the test of time. The embassies and other facilities they design are 50-year buildings. They have to withstand a place’s climate, fit in with the local culture, and confidently represent the U.S. as an open nation. In this episode, Curtis Clay, the OBO’s director of architecture, discusses how the bureau designs buildings that will become legacies—and how they keep the focus on the role the building will serve. Interview Takeaways
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| WXY Studio: How a Cross-Disciplinary Firm Prepares for Emerging Challenges (w/ Amy Hau, Colin Montoute) | 15 Feb 2022 | 00:49:48 | |
In architecture, as with almost any business, the environment you create in your office can make or break your team’s productivity. But with pandemic protocols forcing many businesses to work remotely, meaningful interactions and a positive workplace culture are even harder to cultivate—but still just as important. Colin Montoute, director of architecture at WXY Studio, and managing director Amy Hau, brought their expertise to the table during our latest Best Practice webinar to talk about how they build a positive workplace environment so their employees can thrive. Interview Takeaways
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| Studio Rick Joy: Fireside Chat (w/ Rick Joy, Taylor Dickson) | 11 Feb 2022 | 00:47:48 | |
An architect’s role by definition revolves around the planning, designing, and construction of buildings. But Rick Joy, principal at Studio Rick Joy, doesn’t see it that way. He believes his role is to create a lifestyle, not a building. It’s taking the setting and landscape into account and bringing the best experience to life with what you design. It’s letting nature and light in and pushing inconveniences and burdens out. It’s talking a client out of building a house on a hilltop and instead down by the pond so they can easily watch their kids swim. In this Best Practice webinar, Rick and his Director of Communications, Taylor Garcia Dickson, discuss how that philosophy shapes their brand and is brought to life through their practice. Interview Takeaways
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| Selldorf Architects: How To Build Collaborative Practices (w/ Sara Lopergolo, Oliver Link) | 04 Feb 2022 | 00:53:35 | |
Building a strong team sounds simple: put a bunch of talented people with complementary skill sets together in the same room. But in reality, there’s a carefully calibrated science to crafting a team that produces great work. On the latest Best Practice episode, Sara Lopergolo and Oliver Link from Selldorf Architects share their experience handpicking team members and facilitating collaboration. They end up with teams whose members not only work well together, but also teach and learn from each other. Interview Takeaways
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| Diller Scofidio + Renfro: How To Run Projects And Lead Teams (w/ Holly Deichmann, Zoë Star Small) | 01 Feb 2022 | 00:53:28 | |
Strong leadership is the secret sauce of strong companies. You may be the most creative and most groundbreaking firm on the planet. But if your teams don’t work well together, if they spend too much time on the wrong parts of the process, and if they don’t keep clients happy—you’ll see subpar results. In this Best Practice interview, Holly Deichmann and Zoe Small, Associate Principals at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, share exactly how good managers can uphold the business: by empowering employees, setting up processes that manage client expectations, and maintaining just the right amount of anxiety to keep everyone on their toes. Interview Takeaways
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| Mancini Duffy: How to Reinvent a 105-Year-Old Design Firm (w/ Christian Giordano, Bolanle Williams-Olley ) | 29 Jan 2022 | 00:53:49 | |
A technology-first firm is not one that merely uses the latest technology in their practice. It’s a firm that leverages that technology to allow collaboration in the sketching process all the way through a 3D experience. It’s having designers, project managers, technical architects, and software developers all working together to make things happen in tandem and instantaneously. Mancini Duffy is a firm that takes that collaboration seriously. In this Best Practice webinar, President Christian Giordano and CFO Bolanle Williams-Olley explain how that collaboration works through everything the firm does, including how they support their employees. Interview Takeaways
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| Woods Bagot: How To Increase the Impact of Digital Culture (w/ Shane Burger) | 25 Jan 2022 | 00:56:10 | |
Digital is taking over the working world, and it’s time for your company to catch up. More and more, clients are clamoring for digital-based options, but many businesses are reluctant to shift their policies to accommodate new technology. On the latest Best Practice, Shane Burger, principal and director of technical innovation at Woods Bagot, shares how to accommodate digital culture at your workplace so you can keep up with the competition. Interview Takeaways
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| Moody Nolan: How To Launch Operations in NYC (w/ Latoya Nelson Kamdang, Dawne David-Pierre) | 25 Jan 2022 | 00:54:57 | |
Launching an office in a new city requires a solid operations team and a structured plan for growth. Moody Nolan’s New York City office started with four people just over a year ago and now it has 20. The secret to that fast success? Delivering high-quality projects to the clients you have. It’s the best marketing tool to achieve steady growth. In this Best Practice interview, Associate Principal and Director of NY Operations Latoya Nelson Kamdang and Senior Associate and Project Manager Dawne David-Pierre talked to us about launching operations in New York City and how they’ve grown with excellence. Interview Takeaways
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| Dattner Architects: How To Build Firm Health And Vitality (w/ Kirsten Sibilia) | 25 Jan 2022 | 00:51:31 | |
Midsize architecture firms face unique threats to their longevity compared to small and large firms. Mega firms seem poised to gobble them up, and it’s hard to compete with extra large firms that offer far more services. There’s also the issue of leadership transition. Many midsize firms that started off small and haven’t given enough thought to how they’ll evolve into the future with new leaders. Without a plan, there is no future. But all is not lost. In this Best Practice episode, Kirsten Sibilia, managing principal of Dattner Architects, discusses how midsize firms can do more than just survive. They can grow with health and vitality. Interview Takeaways
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| Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: How To Manage A $20B Global Design Program (w/ Angel A. Dizon, III) | 18 Jan 2022 | 00:55:32 | |
The idea of a $20 billion budget can make your head spin. But in the right hands, that kind of funding can accomplish a world of good. That’s exactly the mission of Angel Dizon, Managing Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. While the government may get a bad rap from time to time, there’s a steady revolution happening from within the OBO department. Angel joined us on Best Practice to explain how an embassy is so much more than just a building, how his team goes about solving complex problems, and why working in government leads to more opportunity than meets the eye. Interview Takeaways
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| SHoP Architects: How To Re-invent What Practice Is (w/ Gregg Pasquarelli) | 11 Jan 2022 | 00:50:40 | |
You own your career trajectory. Whatever field you’re in, you have the power to make your work stand out, so clients take notice and want more. It takes a little daring and a strong stomach for risks (and the inevitable failure), says Gregg Pasquarelli, founding principal at SHoP architects. In this Best Practice interview, Gregg explains why as long as you pick yourself up and learn something from every project, you’ll keep advancing your business—and your industry—at the same time. Interview Takeaways
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| Moody Nolan: How To Design Sustainable Operations (w/ Allen Schaffer) | 07 Jan 2022 | 00:45:13 | |
A growing number of firms are combining two major responsibilities into one role: chief operating officer and sustainability director. It’s a lot to juggle in a small firm, let alone a quickly growing one spread across multiple cities. But Allen Schaffer, COO and Director of Sustainability at Moody Nolan, has handled the two roles for almost two years now as they’ve expanded into new markets. In this Best Practice interview, Allen discusses the ways the two roles overlap and how they differ, how the firm is managing growth, and how success all comes down to having a plan and communicating. Interview Takeaways
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| Snohetta: Collective Intuition & Operations (w/ Elaine Molinar, Michelle Delk) | 04 Jan 2022 | 00:25:23 | |
In the workplace, collaboration is the glue that holds a company together. But getting your employees to function as a cohesive unit is a unique challenge, especially in the design and architectural world. So how can you get a bunch of creative individuals to create solutions as a collective force? It begins with your workplace environment. In this Section Cut interview, Elaine Molinar, partner and managing director at Snøhetta, and Partner and Landscape Architect Michelle Delk share the importance of collaboration and how to encourage collective intuition in your business. Interview Takeaways
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| Rossmann Architecture Inc: Success Stories (w/ Shane Balcom) | 23 Dec 2021 | 00:14:37 | |
Today’s business landscape calls for new and disruptive ways of doing things. You wouldn’t typically think of placing a software professional at the helm of an architecture firm. But that’s exactly what Rossmann Architecture did when they tapped Shane Balcom for the role of Managing Director. Thanks to new ways of operating from the ground up and the adoption of tech tools like Monograph, the team at Rossmann has grown from 14 employees to 33 in just one year. Interview Takeaways
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| Colloqate Design: Success Stories (w/ Bryan C. Lee Jr.) | 21 Dec 2021 | 00:15:51 | |
When the focal point of your work is design justice, your processes look a bit different than the average design firm. For one thing, processes need to be simultaneously more efficient and also more unique. When you’re seeking diverse voices and shaping public spaces, steps like community outreach are complex and time-consuming, making efficiency key. At the same time, conducting radical thinking and seeking to overturn past injustices requires brand new modes of operation. Bryan C. Lee Jr. is the CEO and principal of Colloqate Design, a firm focused on shifting the power dynamics inherent in the built environment. In this Section Cut interview, he described the type of work Colloqate does, and why thinking about processes is so important. Interview Takeaways
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| HOPEWORKSDESIGN: The Value of Investing in Performance Marketing for Your Practice (w/ Hope Trory) | 16 Dec 2021 | 00:34:04 | |
Does this sound familiar? You need to bring in more clients to your practice to increase your revenue, but you don’t know if the money and time you spend on marketing will bring the right results. That’s where performance marketing comes in. It’s a measurable, concrete way to drive new business to your practice. Performance marketing is a comprehensive term for marketing and advertising where you only pay when a certain action occurs. You set a budget and know exactly what you’ll get for that price. In this Section Cut interview, Hope Trory, founder of HOPEWORKSDESIGN, outlines the steps you need to take to build a performance marketing strategy and enjoy the benefits. Interview Takeaways
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| Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Operationalizing Business Development (w/ Iben Falconer) | 05 Dec 2021 | 00:35:59 | |
If you’re a doer-seller, you’re probably more comfortable “doing” than “selling.” Nobody goes to school to become an engineer, a designer, or an architect because they want to sell engineering, architecture, or design services. They want to do whatever their skill set is. But in today’s business world, doers need to become sellers—or at least active partners in the business development of the companies they work for. That’s what Iben Falconer has observed in her career. An architectural historian by training, she’s evolved into a marketing and business development leader, currently at SOM. In this Section Cut interview, Iben shares why you have to be organized, active, and focused about getting new work, and why everyone on the team has to play a role. Interview Takeaways
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| Lake|Flato Architects: How to Leverage Synergies at the Intersection of Sustainability, Design Technology and IT (w/ Scott Lelieur, Dan Stine) | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:35:11 | |
If you want your business to run efficiently, you have to give your employees access to the proper tools and technology so they can get the job done. But it can be a challenge to find and implement the tools and tech that will best help your company achieve its goals. In this Section Cut interview, Scott Lelieur, director of operations at Lake Flato, and Director of Design Technology Daniel Stine, share how their company implements tools and technology to optimize their work at the intersection of sustainability and design technology. Interview Takeaways
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| Slack Technologies / Practice of Architecture: Building & Running a Hybrid Practice (w/ Evelyn Lee) | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:37:45 | |
If your firm is considering going hybrid, it’s a much bigger decision than deciding how many hours per week you’ll ask staff to spend in the office. It also means overhauling processes that may have been in place for years or decades. Careful thought is needed, as is employee buy-in at every level. Evelyn Lee is the founder of Practice of Architecture and currently works at Slack. In this Section Cut interview, she shared the wisdom she’s gathered over the last 10 years as a workplace strategist, including where to focus your energy so you can innovate and thrive. Interview Takeaways
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| HKS Architects: JEDI in Practice (w/ Yiselle Santos) | 16 Nov 2021 | 00:44:41 | |
With the surging demand for diversity in the workplace, many companies are scrambling to figure out how to increase—and manage—gender and ethnic diversity within their own firms. To help your people to work well together, you have to learn how to handle a diverse team of employees, which means focusing on four values: justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). In this Section Cut interview, Yiselle Santos, VP and Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at HSK, Inc., explains what a JEDI mindset looks like in the workplace and how to direct your company toward a more equitable future. Interview Takeaways
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| Charrette Venture Group: Financial Management Basics for Small Firms (w/ Rena M. Klein) | 11 Nov 2021 | 00:36:41 | |
Financial management isn’t just standard accounting. It also involves looking at the big picture of your financial performance to make smart business decisions. When you understand what’s going on financially, you can improve and plan for the future. In order to get that understanding, you need to track your time and do some calculations. In this Section Cut interview, Rena Klein, Vice President for Investment Partnerships at Charrette Venture Group, explains why firms need to know things like their utilization rate, break-even rate, and billable ratio in order to understand and enhance their profitability. Interview Takeaways
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