Architecture & Engineering Business Strategies

Your firm can’t deliver incredible projects without a great team working in the wings. Building and leading a team is an art form in and of itself. It requires transparency, setting clear milestones, and providing room for talent to grow. Adam Ruffin is doing just that with his two partners at ARCHITECTUREFIRM, a small design firm that is split between two locations and adeptly managing remote wor...

Buildings are more than a design made real. They are a collection of data. Firms that leverage that data in their organization will be able to adapt and grow and thrive in the future. But the key to doing so doesn’t lie in the technology tools themselves; it lies in the people in your firm. Architect, author, and professor Randy Deutsch explained how becoming a data-driven company is important for...

Favor technical knowledge over soft skills Become more open-minded Accept embarrassment as part of the job Choose between good options Draw to communicate design intent Negate risk by understanding the technical stuff Embrace continued professional development Slowly expand your building science vocabulary Learn how projects are financed Show Links Check out Building Science Fight Club Connect wit...

Imagine your company’s operations working so smoothly that it’s like you’re a hive mind. Sharing data and knowledge. Anticipating next steps. Solving problems with surgical precision. As COO of Voyansi, a building intelligence firm, Libo Li helped create a data-centered operations program that looked a lot like that. Interview Takeaways Make better decisions with building intelligence Use tech too...

When you start your own architecture firm, you’re in for the ride of your life. You quickly need to learn how to put together a successful team, partner with the right clients, and save money for a rainy day. Idan Naor learned all of this through trial and error when he started Idan Naor Workshop. The passage of time has allowed him to appreciate good advice and follow his intuition. Interview Tak...

There is a saying that you don’t become a good architect until you’re 60. But what if it doesn't have to take that long to acquire major skills and hit career milestones? There is a sizable learning gap in architecture. Marc Teer, CEO and founder of Black Spectacles, is on a quest to close that gap by delivering on-demand software education, test preparation, and career development resources that...

Do you want to be a JEDI? At HKS Architects, the acronym stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. From defining shared vocabulary to setting benchmarks for success, it can be a long process to get such programs off the ground. JEDI Director Yiselle Santos explained why it’s well worth it, and how you can start. Interview Takeaways Get buy-in at every level Define the JEDI framework Anc...

Architecture and engineering are careers that offer a lot of autonomy and entrepreneurial spirit. But these industries also breed chaotic organizations and burnout. Rens Hayes, founder of H+O Structural Engineering, has set out to do things differently. He shared with us how he’s built a people-first business that’s all about value-driven growth. Interview Takeaways Help good people find you Defin...

How can architects benefit from a collaborative platform like Airtable? If you’re interested in getting organized, it’s a no-brainer. Airtable’s own Jackie Park joined Monograph to explain how Airtable features can help hone your firm’s operations, from FF&E to recruitment. Whether you use Airtable or something else, the best part is that digital tools can free up more time for the creative wo...

Common is the nation’s leading co-living brand operator. That means it’s two things at once: a housing company and a tech startup. It's a company where designers bridge the gap between software developer and property developer clients. It’s a unique role for an architect, and no one knows that better than Jenn Chang. Jenn started out as Common’s very first architect. Today, she serves as the compa...

PR can seem complicated. But Tiffany Rafii knows that the right marketing strategy is a game-changer for every industry. The CEO and co-founder of UpSpring PR, Tiffany has been running her full-service communications agency for the architecture, design, and real estate markets since 2009. Today, her 25+ person team leverages digital and strategic PR to increase brand awareness and market share for...

Few architecture firms can be seen as true trailblazers. But SHoP Architects is defying convention on everything from design to fabrication to installation. Luisa Mendez is a Senior Associate at SHoP Architects in New York City, where she has worked on projects like the Design Miami Pavilion, the Barclay Center, and the Porterhouse building. So how can you use technology and unique construction de...

How can you turn your architecture business into a PR machine? By telling incredible stories about the services you provide and the projects you’ve completed. Matthew Keeshin has a rich background in both architecture and writing. Currently the digital media manager at ZGF, he explained why telling great stories goes beyond the buildings themselves. Interview Takeaways Stay connected with analytic...

When architecture firms collapsed during the ‘08 recession, Hope Trory realized that the traditional architecture industry desperately needed better online marketing. Hope is on a mission to help architecture firms grow - in any market. As founder of HOPEWORKSDESIGN, she helps small to midsize firms implement modern marketing strategies in traditional industries. Hope combines industry expertise,...

How does technology influence architecture? How does architecture influence people? Those are the questions that consume Dr. Daniel Davis, senior researcher at Hassell and former Director of Research at WeWork. Daniel joined Monograph’s George Valdes to discuss the various ways that firms can approach, apply, and measure data. Interview Takeaways Which firms should embrace data Applying technology...

Evelyn Lee is a pillar of the architecture industry. Currently a senior internal experience designer for Slack, over the last two decades she has also played a role in AIA National and founded a podcast called Practice of Architecture. Evelyn’s eyes are set on the future of architecture: how both individual practitioners and leadership need to approach work in a way that is more innovative and inc...

Architects don’t learn about marketing in design school - and few learn about it after. When Bryon McCartney and his wife discovered just how many architects were missing out on opportunities by avoiding digital marketing, they founded Archmark, a marketing agency focused on architectural firms and their success. Bryon joined host George Valdes on a Monograph webinar to talk about how architects s...

Are you a small firm architect? Then you’re also a businessperson. The problem is that architecture school is all about design, with very little training on the day-to-day practicalities of running a company. When Mark LePage and his wife started their architecture firm in 1999, they succeeded by dividing and conquering. Mark headed up the business side, while his wife focused on design. In a ques...