Ancient waterproofing technologies (pig's blood mixed with lime powder, anyone?) and not taking every project that comes along: Award-winning architect Calvin Tsao talks about life and career lessons learned. Fohlio is a product specification, procurement, and data management software for the AEC industry. With Fohlio, you can manage your budgeting, specification, purchasing, inventory, and product data processes from end to end. Go to https://www.fohlio.com and schedule your demo today ..read more

David Fouché gives us a high-level guide to the different phases involved in constructing a building. He also answers the following questions: Which bits of data are involved in each phase? What's the difference between lifecycle and phase-specific data? Why does this matter to designers? Why does it matter to project owners? How does data increase a building's value?  This episode is best suited for professionals who are new to the industry, and firms that want to expand their services to other phases of the construction cycle. David Fouché is one of Fohlio's product and marketing advise ..read more

Differing site conditions is what happens when you’re working on a project and you encounter conditions in the field that differ from the drawings that you were provided, what was represented to you, and what you could have reasonably anticipated. Unfortunately, no matter how well any project is thought out and arranged, it’s rarely the case that everything goes exactly according to plan. This is why you’re going to need agreements for how to deal with those unexpected situations and the changes that follow. Of course, both parties have a lot at stake and this is where change clauses can becom ..read more

Travis Reese and Heather Parker will discuss how to: 1. Forecast lead times despite constantly changing circumstances. 2. Stay on top of order tracking. 3. Keep change orders and budget changes at a minimum. 4. Improve coordination with suppliers. 5. Maintain transparency with clients. We’re honored to be joined by: Travis Reese Procurement, Manager @Goebel Design Group. Travis’s expertise is in managing the purchase, delivery, and installation of Goebel selections to ensure efficient, on-time and on-budget projects for their clients. Goebel Design Group is a full service interior design firm ..read more

The current housing market is one for the books: With the median price of a single-family home in the U.S. sitting at $335,000, we’re seeing record highs. Even then, homes are getting snapped up like hotcakes, as houses stay on the market for an average of only 18 days — another record. On the outside looking in, that may seem like a good thing — but it’s not that simple.   “We’ve never had a market this hot on the selling side, which is putting huge pressures on the commodities,” according to Jim Watson, Vice President and co-owner of New Atlantic Builders, a semi-custom homebuilder base ..read more

After more than a decade of the open office, critics are convinced that it's the worst thing to ever have happened to management. Is the closed office making a comeback? Actually, according to Noam Hazan, you're asking the wrong question. "It's all about offering a variety of spaces within the workplace where people have the flexibility to work." Areas for privacy, collaborative work, rest, and more, are doing a better job keeping employees happy, which means fewer sick days and more productivity. Noam is a UK-trained Architect who has worked for critically acclaimed architecture practices in ..read more

Friction in a project is inevitable and to be expected. With so many personalities working together, there’s bound to be some disagreements. However, it becomes a problem when delays occur, pushing back your schedule and forcing you to spend more money and time than you had planned. This happens most commonly in situations where teams and individuals have to work together when they haven’t before. Imagine how great it would feel if your business created and maintained great working relationships with professionals that make your projects go smoother. Smoother projects, of course, make for a ha ..read more

For Earth Day 2021, our panelists discuss best practices for specifying sustainable and healthy materials. In 2020, carbon in the atmosphere had reached 415 parts per million, up from 280 PPM in 1937. During the same period, the remaining wilderness has gone down to 35%, from 66%. As designers, architects, and builders who help shape the world for future generations, specifying sustainable materials is one way we can do our part. Governments are also offering financial incentives for sustainable buildings -- a benefit owners are increasingly requiring. You will learn: - How to build a healthie ..read more

Construction and real estate attorney Wally Zimolong has one piece of advice to anybody in the business: "An overwhelming amount of these disputes could have been avoided if the contractor, designer, or architect had reached out to me first and had me review the contract, terms, and conditions that they were agreeing to." In 18 years of practice in construction contract law, Zimolong represented contractors, developers, and professional designers. Disputed amounts range from $2,000 all the way up to several million dollars, but one common thread unifying all these cases is this: It really all ..read more

Worrying over the fees you're charging a client is often the very thing that makes them obsess over it. Enoch Sears explains how to effectively sell your services by focusing on value instead of cost. You will learn how to ask questions like, what really matters to this client? How can you present your proposal in order to reflect its value as a premium service? Would pricing your offerings at the higher end of the spectrum actually bring in more high-end clients? (Spoiler: Yes.) In this episode, you will learn: 1. Understand 4 critical mistakes architects make when they write proposals. 2. Di ..read more