Architecture & Engineering Business Strategies
Episodes
How Should Architects + Structural Engineers Work Together? w/ Point B Design Group & A-1 Engineers
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why don't Architects sketch with clients anymore? And why don't Engineers invest in teaching their Architect collaborators? These two Austin firms hav...
How this Architect quit corporate life to start a new firm but without all the growing pains
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, two ex-corporate architects explain how running their own business actually meant less admin than being employees at a large company....
Hospitality Design w/ Michael Hsu, FAIA + APTUS - How Should Architects + MEP Engineers Work Together?
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Creating the perfect restaurant vibe requires controlling air temperature, velocity, day lighting, and acoustic quality all at once, but most architec...
How this Architect became more selective with clients using Monograph
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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?I...
How Should Architects + Structural Engineers Work Together? (w/ Arch11 and KL&A Engineers)
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most architects treat engineers like a service you hand work to, but what if your breakthrough moments happen when you start conceptual conversations ...
How Should Architects + Engineers Work Together? (w/ Studio GWA + Angus Young)
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
How Should Architects + Landscape Architects Work Together? (w/ Shape Architecture + Superbloom)
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 episode, two ...
How Dynamic Engineering Grew Profit 25% by Switching from Excel to Monograph
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unbilled hours. Constant firefighting. Are broken systems holding back your A&E firm? In this episode, you’ll learn a simple question to find br...
How Workbench Cut Monthly Unbilled Fees by 75% After Switching from BQE Core to Monograph
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many architects and engineers struggle to manage their business, from staying on top of budgets to streamlining invoicing and forecasting. In this epi...
How Workshop/APD Transformed Their Architecture and Design Business with Monograph
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many architects and engineers feel overwhelmed by the business side of their work. In this episode, we explore how Workshop/APD, a leading multidiscip...
How Garrison Architects cut costs 50% by leaving ArchiOffice for Monograph
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Garrison Architects — a Brooklyn-based architecture firm that specializes in sustainable, modular building design through highly refined modern...
Design-build firm Woodhull streamlined collaboration after switching from BQE Core to Monograph
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the design-build firm Woodhull — an integrated architecture, construction, and millwork firm delivering thoughtful and enduring residential and...
MVRDV: How To Win Work (w/ Inger Kammeraat, Jan Knikker)
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Level Architecture + Interiors: Success Stories: Leveling up Practice Ops (w/Adam Gayle)
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
bldg.collective architecture + design: Achieving Balance: Creative Expression Meets Professional Service (w/ Steve Perce)
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One challenge architects face is the pressure to deliver their signature creative style while also serving the client’s needs. This push-and-pull re...
Defining Design Practice: Defining Change (w/ Lorena Galvao)
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
Charrette Venture Group: Designing the Client Experience (w/ Lucas Gray, Dena Alspach)
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The client experience is at the heart of architectural work. Delivering an attentive experience through every phase is what will lead to a happy clien...
Studio Balcones: Growth Rooted in Community (w/ Jennifer Orr, Tiffany Rasco)
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When growth is rooted in community, it becomes self-sustaining. At landscape architecture firm Studio Balcones, Principal Jennifer Orr and Office Mana...
Ennead Architects LLP: How Civic Architecture Can Inspire Change (w/ Molly McGowan, Thomas Wong)
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Studio-based organizations can prevent architects from getting their hands on a variety of projects and experiences. Ennead Architects takes on a whol...
GLUCK+: Architects Who Build (w/ Thomas Gluck, Stacie Wong)
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Stayner Architects: How To Design New Models for Practice (w/ Christian Stayner)
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
Essel Environmental: How the Random Can Change Your Practice (w/ Nik Lahiri)
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
Runcible Studios: How To Start Your Own Practice (w/ Marilyn Moedinger)
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
SK Development: How To Manage A Development Pipeline (w/ Scott Shnay)
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Developers need a steady pipeline of projects to keep their businesses thriving. That means juggling multiple projects that are in various stages, fro...
Form Developers: How to Design Apartments Using Floorplan Data (w/ Bobby Fijan)
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 accordi...
Roundtable: Burnout Across Architecture (w/ Monograph's Growth Team)
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout can decrease workplace efficiency, make employees sick, and even cause people to leave their careers. In the wake of the pandemic, workers are...
NADAAA: How to Own the Means and Methods (w/ Nader Tehrani, Arthur Chang)
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Owning the means and methods throughout the design and construction process can be challenging. This is especially true for new designers or architect...
LERA: How to Move a Legacy Firm Into the Future (w/ Carrie Villani, Doug González)
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Business development is everyone’s job. Every employee, regardless of level or title, can and should do their part to propel their firm forward — ...
Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: Rethinking the role of the Public Architect (w/ Curtis Clay)
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
WXY Studio: How a Cross-Disciplinary Firm Prepares for Emerging Challenges (w/ Amy Hau, Colin Montoute)
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In architecture, as with almost any business, the environment you create in your office can make or break your team’s productivity. But with pandemi...
Studio Rick Joy: Fireside Chat (w/ Rick Joy, Taylor Dickson)
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An architect’s role by definition revolves around the planning, designing, and construction of buildings. But Rick Joy, principal at Studio Rick Joy...
Selldorf Architects: How To Build Collaborative Practices (w/ Sara Lopergolo, Oliver Link)
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Diller Scofidio + Renfro: How To Run Projects And Lead Teams (w/ Holly Deichmann, Zoë Star Small)
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mancini Duffy: How to Reinvent a 105-Year-Old Design Firm (w/ Christian Giordano, Bolanle Williams-Olley )
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 col...
Woods Bagot: How To Increase the Impact of Digital Culture (w/ Shane Burger)
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Moody Nolan: How To Launch Operations in NYC (w/ Latoya Nelson Kamdang, Dawne David-Pierre)
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Dattner Architects: How To Build Firm Health And Vitality (w/ Kirsten Sibilia)
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: How To Manage A $20B Global Design Program (w/ Angel A. Dizon, III)
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 exactl...
SHoP Architects: How To Re-invent What Practice Is (w/ Gregg Pasquarelli)
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Moody Nolan: How To Design Sustainable Operations (w/ Allen Schaffer)
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A growing number of firms are combining two major responsibilities into one role: chief operating officer and sustainability director. It’s a lot to...
Snohetta: Collective Intuition & Operations (w/ Elaine Molinar, Michelle Delk)
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 chall...
Rossmann Architecture Inc: Success Stories (w/ Shane Balcom)
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s business landscape calls for new and disruptive ways of doing things. You wouldn’t typically think of placing a software professional at t...
Colloqate Design: Success Stories (w/ Bryan C. Lee Jr.)
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
HOPEWORKSDESIGN: The Value of Investing in Performance Marketing for Your Practice (w/ Hope Trory)
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Operationalizing Business Development (w/ Iben Falconer)
05 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a doer-seller, you’re probably more comfortable “doing” than “selling.” Nobody goes to school to become an engineer, a designer,...
Lake|Flato Architects: How to Leverage Synergies at the Intersection of Sustainability, Design Technology and IT (w/ Scott Lelieur, Dan Stine)
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Slack Technologies / Practice of Architecture: Building & Running a Hybrid Practice (w/ Evelyn Lee)
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 offic...
HKS Architects: JEDI in Practice (w/ Yiselle Santos)
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the surging demand for diversity in the workplace, many companies are scrambling to figure out how to increase—and manage—gender and ethnic d...
Charrette Venture Group: Financial Management Basics for Small Firms (w/ Rena M. Klein)
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Financial management isn’t just standard accounting. It also involves looking at the big picture of your financial performance to make smart busines...
KatalystDI: Organizing Work Towards Adaptive Organizations (w/ Libo Li)
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world is changing fast. In order for your practice to survive, you’ll have to change along with it. New technologies and new ways of communicati...
Talentstar: Marketing for Talent (w/ Marjanne Pearson, Linda Wallack)
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Finding and hiring top talent is a challenge for any company, especially in today’s competitive hiring environment. To give your business the best s...
Workshop/APD: Success Stories (w/ Thomas Julliard Zoli)
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can you finally say goodbye to an unwieldy spreadsheet system and streamline your operation from start to finish? At Workshop/APD, the team develo...
Traverse Landscape Architects: Success Stories (w/ Arthur Eddy, Marie Eddy)
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Architects don’t receive a lot of training on business and finance. And staff members with business experience don’t often understand the design s...
Verdant Studio: Success Stories (w/ Jessica Hester, Natasha Brand)
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you operate a national practice that encompasses art, architecture, historical preservation, and construction documents all under one roof? Tha...
Krueck Sexton Partners: Success Stories (w/ Tom Jacobs)
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When an architecture firm is just starting out, almost anything goes in the quest to get up and running. But once you’re more established, two thing...
Talentstar: The Future of Practice Operations (w/ Marjanne Pearson)
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of practice operations, you may think of the tools, information systems, and resources that have to be managed on a daily basis. But Ma...
RIOS: Silver Linings, Audacity and Joy - The New Practice Playbook (w/ Jessamyn Davis, Andy Lantz)
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you considered a unique firm structure? RIOS’ practice structure might just take the cake, as it is unique at every level. Not only do they hav...
Adjaye Associates, Decanthropy: How To Build Communities As An Architect (w/ Farida Abu-Bakare, Ian Rolston)
09 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Now more than ever there’s an opportunity to design with purpose, and with a goal of equity so that spaces are built for everyone. But in order to d...
Olson Kundig: How To Blend The Art Of Business With Architecture (w/ "HP" Hemanshu Parwani)
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a world of seven billion people and counting, innovative design has become more important than ever. From residential to transportation to healthca...
Kontextur, Subtilitas: How To Share Architectural Knowledge (w/ Katharina Benjamin, Jeff Kaplon)
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Social media has allowed us to share our ideas on just about every subject. But free-flowing discourse on architecture styles and design careers hasn’...
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture: How To Grow From 17 To 71 In 7 Years (w/ Michael Hsu, Maija Kreishman)
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Growing a firm by a dozen employees each year can sound daunting. But the truth is that when you look at growth as a puzzle rooted in organizational s...
Talentstar: How To Empower Talent In Architecture (w/ Marjanne Pearson)
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you achieve successful growth as an architecture firm? It all comes down to having the right people on your team. Today, there are small 20-per...
Madame Architect: How To Inspire A Generation Of Architects (w/ Julia Gamolina)
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do business strategists and editor-in-chiefs have in common? They both require you to build relationships. Lots of them. As the director of strat...
KPF: How to Manage a BIM Practice (w/ Veronica Quintero and Alex Wilson)
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most architecture firms are grappling with the question of how technology and data fit into their practice. For many firms, the solution is a self-con...
Bjarke Ingels Group: How to Project-Manage Architecture (w/ Flora Bao)
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the past decade, the number of small architecture firms has been shrinking while the number of large firms has increased. The reason? A steep rise ...
Snow Kreilich Architects: How to Run Operations at a Mid-size Firm (w/ Trevor Bullen and Sarah Hughes)
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Life at a busy firm can be a mad scramble. When partners and owners start to wear too many hats, key information can slip through the cracks. Over tim...
Trahan Architects: How to Collaborate Across Fields (w/ Brad McWhirter and Margaret Jankowsky)
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you want your firm to become known for a clear ethos, aesthetic, and vision, then you need to fold that identity into everything you do. From the c...
Studio NYL: How to Build Your Technical Team (w/ Amy Baker of Amy Baker Architect and Chris O'Hara)
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world of architecture is getting more interesting—and complicated—by the day. Sometimes the best way to tackle your projects is to loop in spe...
NS Builders: How to Learn From Construction (w/ Nick Schiffer)
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To design and construct the best building possible, you need to be intentional every step of the way. From honing your toolkit of best practices to cr...
Alloy Development: How to Build as an Architect-led Developer in NYC (w/ Alexandra Militano)
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Real estate developers often keep their eye on the bottom line—for them, it’s all about how a property can make money. Architects, meanwhile, focu...
Olson Kundig: How to Foster Design Culture in the Firm (w/ Alan Maskin and Jerry Garcia)
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are many ways to grow an architecture firm, and many values that can guide you along the way. But one quality in particular will allow your firm...
OJK Architecture: How To Transition Firm Ownership (w/ Leah Bayer and Kate Conley)
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For an architect hoping to own their own firm one day, there are two paths available. One is the traditional path: starting your own firm from scratch...
Rossmann Architecture: How to Run the Business Side of Architecture (w/ Shane Balcom)
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shane Balcom joined Rossmann Architecture in July 2020 and hasn’t looked back. Since Balcom’s arrival, the Ottawa-based firm has seen its revenue ...
Saltmine/Harvard GSD: How to Design an Architecture Firm Today (w/ Jacob Reidel)
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The common issues that architects struggle with -- getting paid, project control, long hours -- have been around since the dawn of the profession. The...
ARCHITECTUREFIRM: How to Lead the Design of Award-winning Projects (w/ Adam Ruffin)
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Randy Deutsch FAIA: How to Think and Adapt like an Architect
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Building Science Fight Club: How to Manage Technical Risks (w/ Christine Williamson)
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Favor technical knowledge over soft skillsBecome more open-mindedAccept embarrassment as part of the jobChoose between good optionsDraw to communicate...
Voyansi: How to Build a Teaching and Learning Culture (w/ Libo Li)
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine your company’s operations working so smoothly that it’s like you’re a hive mind. Sharing data and knowledge. Anticipating next steps. So...
Idan Naor Workshop: How To Run a Boutique Architecture Firm in NYC (w/ Idan Naor)
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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, par...
Black Spectacles: How to Build a Business with a Mission in Architecture (w/ Marc Teer)
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
HKS: How to Design a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion (w/ Yiselle Santos Rivera)
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to be a JEDI? At HKS Architects, the acronym stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. From defining shared vocabulary to setti...
H+O Structural Engineering: How to Run an Operationally Efficient Organization (w/ Rens Hayes)
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Architecture and engineering are careers that offer a lot of autonomy and entrepreneurial spirit. But these industries also breed chaotic organization...
Airtable: How a Focus On Operations Can Improve Your Business (w/ Jackie Park)
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can architects benefit from a collaborative platform like Airtable? If you’re interested in getting organized, it’s a no-brainer. Airtable’s...
Common: How to Design a Design Organization (w/ Jenn Chang)
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
UpSpring PR: How to Build a PR Strategy (w/ Tiffany Rafii)
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 UpS...
SHoP Architects: How To Structure Innovative Project Teams (w/ Luisa Mendez)
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Few architecture firms can be seen as true trailblazers. But SHoP Architects is defying convention on everything from design to fabrication to install...
ZGF: How To Win Projects with Great Storytelling (w/ Matthew Keeshin)
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
HOPEWORKSDESIGN: How To Market Your Architecture Firm (w/ Hope Trory)
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When architecture firms collapsed during the ‘08 recession, Hope Trory realized that the traditional architecture industry desperately needed better...
Hassell: How To Run a Data-driven Architecture Firm (w/ Dr. Daniel Davis)
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How does technology influence architecture? How does architecture influence people? Those are the questions that consume Dr. Daniel Davis, senior rese...
Slack & Practice of Architecture: How To Empower Your Team Beyond Projects (w/ Evelyn Lee, FAIA of AIA)
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Archmark: How To Find Clients By Building A Brand (w/ Bryon McCartney)
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
EntreArchitect: How To Build A Successful Architecture Firm (w/ Mark LePage)
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 tra...