Deliberate Words

In this episode, Dave Stutzman, Steve Gantner, and Elias Saltz tackle a deceptively simple question that carries real contractual risk: Where should reference standards live in the specifications, and should they be dated?  Reference standards belong in Part 2 of the technical sections , not in consolidated lists. Avoid listing dates unless a specific edition is required by code. Rely on Division...

A conversation captured at the Construction Users Round Table. CURT members don’t gather to admire the industry as it is, we gather to challenge it. Throughout the year, owners come together to wrestle with contracting strategies, team dynamics, technical risk, global pressures, and the realities shaping how projects actually get delivered. This is the Deliberate Words podcast, In this episode, I’...

In this week's episode, Dave Stutzman, Steve Gantner, and Elias Saltz unpack a deceptively simple question with serious implications: Why don’t we recommend requiring manufacturer instructions as a submittal? What follows is a candid discussion on liability, means and methods, and the unintended consequences of asking for information that design teams neither control nor should be reviewing d...

This episode is sparked by a simple question that opened a much bigger reflection: why Conspectus started, and how it became what it is today as the firm enters its 33rd year. David Stutzman shares how the company was born out of economic uncertainty in the early 1990s, when necessity, planning, and a leap of faith converged into a new kind of specification practice. The conversation traces the fi...

In this year-end episode, the Conspectus team ( David Stutzman , Elias Saltz and Steve Gantner ) reflect on the signals, surprises, and steady momentum that defined 2025 while looking ahead to what 2026 may hold. Despite mixed economic indicators, Steve & Elias observed increased proposal activity, strong demand in sectors like data centers, logistics, healthcare, and multifamily housing, and...

This episode dives into a raw and timely conversation sparked by changes to federal student loan caps and the emotional response they triggered within the architectural community. Guest, and Conspectus specifier from VA, Hana Nguyenky , unpacks why the debate struck such a nerve, arguing that the real issue isn’t whether an architecture degree is labeled “professional,” but whether the profession...

Specs Beyond Borders explores what it really takes to deliver construction specifications on large, globally distributed projects. In this episode of Deliberate Words , senior specifier Jim Robbins joins hosts Dave and Steve to share lessons learned from coordinating complex documentation across multiple time zones, design firms, and project packages. From managing communication hierarchies and ma...

 This episode tackles confusion around roofing sustainability metrics. Steve breaks down the difference between solar reflectance (SR) , emissivity , and solar reflectance index (SRI) , explaining how SR and emissivity work together to calculate SRI and why mixing all three in a specification can create conflicts. The team discusses how different programs like LEED, ENERGY STAR, and CalGreen use d...

A group of very excited and curious students came up to our booth at the DBIA show, originally attracted to the I 💗 Specs/I 🤮 Specs messaging.  But quickly revealing a genuine hunger to learn from every company in the exhibit hall. Selena Fullone, Connor Welsh, Jessica Budd, Fernanda Ceja and Owen Lantiegne are from Alfred State College, part of SUNY in Alfred, NY.  They were in Las Vegas in ear...

This episode tackles a big industry gap: architecture schools barely teach specifications , even though they make up half of real-world construction documents. Dave, Steve, and Elias compare their own “learn-it-on-the-job” experiences with new efforts at Drexel and WashU, where students finally get a taste of Uniformat, MasterFormat, and the fundamentals of spec writing. They highlight how Conspec...

This episode tackles a common problem: a LEED consultant trying to insert the same generic sustainability language into every spec section. Elias explains why this is bad practice—specs should say things once and in the right place , with global requirements in Division 1 and technical details in the individual sections. The team walks through: Why duplicating language across sections creates conf...

Dave Stutzman, Steve Gantner, and Elias Saltz discuss this weeks upcoming trip to the DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America) Conference in Las Vegas, where Conspectus will sponsor the Virtual Design Leadership Exchange and present on the value of engaging specifiers early in design-build projects. Explore how design-build delivery differs from traditional methods and why it’s crucial for specifi...

🎙️ CSI National Recap: Cleveland, Connections & Curiosities Where specs met stories, friendships, and curiosity took center stage. In this lively episode of What a Week , the Conspectus team takes a break while specifiers Terumi Woods , Melody Fontenot , and Hana Nguyenky share their experiences from the CSI National Conference in Cleveland . They reflect on the best parts of the week — reconn...

This week on What a Week , Dave Stutzman, Steve Gantner, and Elias Saltz tackle the overlooked world of record documents —the official proof of what was actually built. They ask the hard questions: Are record documents truly updated during construction—or thrown together at the end? Why are drawings kept current but specifications ignored ? Do owners even care about them after handover? And what h...

Steve Gantner and Dave Stutzman talk with Jared Bilsak , a licensed architect and haunted house owner, about the intersection of architecture and Halloween attractions. They explore the origins of Jared's passion for haunted houses, the challenges he faced in establishing the Lincoln Mill Haunted House, and the unique backstory that adds depth to the attraction. The discussion also touches on...

In this episode of What a Week , Dave Stutzman and Elias Saltz unpack a full-circle moment for Conspectus and the broader specification community — how the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has officially adopted a UniFormat-based Project Design Criteria requirement, seemingly inspired by Conspectus’ paper Evolving Specifications . The Surprise from DGS Dave shares the backstory: a...

Duke Energy’s Andy Browning joins Dave and Steve to unpack how a modern utility balances today’s demand spikes—especially from data centers—with tomorrow’s low-carbon grid. Andy traces his path from Babcock & Wilcox field engineer to Duke’s GM of Engineering & Construction Services, explains why Duke runs an “all-of-the-above” strategy (gas as a bridge, batteries for flexibility, solar gro...

If your specs are old enough to drink - it's time up update them! In this episode, Steve Gantner and Elias Saltz dive into the evolution of MasterFormat ®—from the old five-digit, 16-division system to today’s six-digit standard. They reflect on why the shift in 2004 was necessary, breaking overcrowded divisions like Mechanical and Electrical into clearer categories and expanding site and inf...

This week, Dave and Steve dive into a hot topic straight from a recent webinar: how to coordinate drawings and specifications without drowning in overly detailed keynotes. The presenters challenged the traditional “say it once in the spec” approach, suggesting more specific material notes on drawings—but Dave and Steve push back. Together, they explore why over-detailing on thousands of sheets can...

What happens when OSHA and IBC don’t see eye to eye? In this episode of What a Week , Dave Stutzman and Steve Gantner dig into the tug-of-war between safety codes and building codes. From fall protection on high-rises to stair loads, mezzanines, and roof hatches placed a little too close to the edge, the conversation tackles the gray zone where compliance, liability, and human responsibility overl...

In this week’s What a Week , Dave Stutzman, Elias Saltz, and Steve Gantner dive deep into the power of Uniformat-based System and Performance Descriptions (SPDs) —what CSI calls Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPDs). The team reflects on a recent session with Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), who have been using PPDs since 2014, and compare SCB’s “master document” approach with Conspec...

In this What a Week episode, Dave Stutzman, Elias Saltz, and Steve Gantner tackle the hot CSI forum debate over “basis of design.” They explore how architects often anchor specs to a single product while allowing equivalents, but warn this can easily slip into a stealth proprietary spec—like when elevator shafts only fit one manufacturer. They stress the importance of consistency across Division 1...

 When it comes to weather-resistant barriers, can a factory-coated OSB panel really stand up to the elements? In this week’s discussion, Dave, Steve, and Elias break down a hot topic from LinkedIn—untreated fasteners in coated OSB WRB panels—and why small installation missteps can lead to big moisture problems. From swelling and mold to vapor drive and double vapor barriers, they explore the risks...

In this episode, the Dave Stutzman, Elias Saltz, & Steve Gantner explore the risks of a custom parapet detail on a seven-story building, where an eyebrow design made of ACM panels is used. They discuss the potential challenges this unique feature poses, especially in terms of wind resistance, drainage, and long-term durability. The conversation highlights the importance of ensuring compliance...

When a Proposal Request Takes a Turn Steve thought it was a straightforward call—a request for a proposal to write specifications. But what started as a typical inquiry quickly veered into unexpected territory. In this episode, we unpack the twists, the questions behind the questions, and what it revealed about the real needs of the project team, and why a systems performance description (SPD) was...