This program discusses the most widely utilized commercial roof cover technology – thermoplastic membranes, with a core focus on TPO and PVC applications. Similarities and differences in the production, installation, and performance of thermoplastic roofing membranes will be explored. The presenter will also note the advantages of viewing a roofing assembly as a “system,” instead of just a membrane and its accessories, and provide guidance on how to choose the appropriate roofing system for a given building.

This is Masonry 101, what to look for to avoid a bad looking job. But more importantly create a safe healthy and resilient project for your client. Everyone on the jobsite, from the mason contractor to the GC Supervision has eyes on the job. If something doesn’t look right stop that portion of the project and ask a question. We will discuss the important items an Architect should review during regular site inspections.

Day lighting uses no energy to create light, it is Zero-Based Carbon which Improves air quality by reducing CO2 emissions. Day lighting systems supports the body’s natural circadian rhythms which improves productivity Natural light provides best possible learning environment. Studies show students perform up to 26% better on testing Natural light can increase employees satisfaction at work. Studies show workers are 15-25% more productive in daylit facilities

This course covers the basics of cellular PVC for moulding and trim. It shows the learner the anatomy of window surrounds made of cellular PVC, how to install and maintain the material, and finally architectural moulding and trim mistakes to avoid.

This course examines new planning tools and approaches to address emerging water issues. Discover how to strengthen long-term community resilience with a sustainable, healthy water supply and how to adopt recently developed water collection and retention strategies where applicable.

The proposal is a critical part of the client onboarding process. While there are multiple types of proposals, there is never just one that works for every project. In this course, we review what is included in the proposal, the difference between a proposal and contract, and terms and conditions to turn your proposal into a contract. We also highlight the importance of linking to your project setup and the valuable benefits of using AIA agreements.

The average days to collect cash in the AEC industry is between 60 to 120 days. In this training, we will examine the complete project lifecycle to understand how cashflow can be increased or decreased. Participants will gain valuable tips to improve cashflow by improving timesheet practices, reducing the billing cycle, and improving client relationships and collection practices.

As architecture professionals, we are trained in the craft of architecture, but never formally taught how to explain our value in the way that clients understand. As a result, there is often misalignment between a client’s expectation of fees and what firms require to produce high-quality work. When value is not captured by a design firm, firms are forced to produce the same level of quality for less compensation. Are you being compensated both in recognition and money for the enormous value you bring to the table as an architect? Do your clients clearly recognize your value? Can they articulate it? Can YOU articulate it? Often there is a misalignment between the perception of architects and their clients in terms of value. As a result, it isn’t uncommon for design firms to have their fees questioned and examined by clients, be price-shopped, and compete with other firms on fee alone. This creates a working pressure that decreases the quality of work and creative innovation, not to mention stress and business problems for practitioners. In this session, you’ll discover how to apply the findings of 70+ years of research in behavioral economics to maximize the value you capture for your design work.

Successful AE firms rely on technology to collect and store information related to their clients, projects, and employees. However, once you have this vast amount of complex data, do you know how to leverage it to improve productivity? Or do you feel like your firm is drowning in a sea of meaningless information? Join Steven Burns, FAIA, Founder of The Well-Designed Firm, as he walks you through how smart technology can help you save time on repetitive tasks and unlock the meaning to your valuable stream of data. During the webinar, Steven will share the lessons he’s learned while working with over 1,300 AE firms and demonstrate how your firm can leverage this mine of precious data to achieve greater organization, efficiency, and profitability by adopting best practices and taking advantage of modern, user-friendly, and affordable computing technologies.

Industry surveys show that many AE firms rely on outdated software or spreadsheets to manage their business information, leading to inefficiencies and reduced profitability. In the webinar, we'll cover new business automation technologies, beyond CAD & BIM, that boost efficiency and engagement for all firm members, regardless of size. Join us to learn how you can break free of these obsolete tools, eliminate repetitive, mundane work, and return to doing the work you enjoy most. Prepare to be inspired by one of the most accomplished and forward-thinking experts in the AE industry! We invite you to attend this dynamic webinar led by Steven Burns, FAIA, a visionary with nearly 40 years of entrepreneurial and AE business consulting experience. As the founder of The Well-Designed Firm and former Chief Creative Officer of BQE Software, Steve has witnessed the full spectrum of the industry – from the best to the worst.

There are many ways to analyze profit and understand profit. Typically, principals and accountants alike look at how much money is in your firm’s bank account at the end of the year. In this webinar, we will go much deeper and review the metrics and tools necessary to understand both your project profitability and your firm profitability. We will define a critical KPI, the cost rate multiplier, and review the difference between utilization rate and efficiency rate. We will also define what your billing target per month should be in order to reach your goals.

Business intelligence opens up a world of possibilities for A/E and Design professionals. It gives you unprecedented visibility into your practice and makes it simple to identify—and seize—opportunities for growth. Attend this webinar to discover the practical applications of this cutting-edge technology, which boosts profits and positions your firm as a leader in the years to come. You’ll learn how principals, partners, CFOs, and other managers are using business intelligence to streamline their daily tasks, gain a competitive advantage, and grow their organizations like never before.

A real-time view into the activity of employees, projects, and firm financials through dashboards, reports, and scorecards is required to maintain a profitable practice. Tracking this information shows trends over time and provides critical information you need to adjust your business decisions around staffing, business development, and even firm culture. During this course, you will discover the most important KPIs to look at and learn a system for tracking this information month-over-month to reflect your firm's trends.

Are you an architect or engineer seeking to enhance your client and project management abilities while securing long-term success for your firm? The primary objective for every firm is to generate value. This value stems from the loyalty and trust you cultivate with your clients. From initial interactions with potential clients to delivering exceptional service through effective project management, your responsibilities extend far beyond the completion of a project. This webinar reviews each step of the ideal project process and includes 10 strategies your firm can implement to achieve financial stability and increase profit margins, which will not only alleviate financial stress but enable your firm to recruit top talent, attract the right clients, and grow. Prepare to be inspired by one of the most accomplished and forward-thinking experts in the AE industry! We invite you to attend this dynamic webinar led by Steven Burns, FAIA, a visionary with nearly 40 years of entrepreneurial and AE business consulting experience. As the founder of The Well-Designed Firm and former Chief Creative Officer of BQE Software, Steve has witnessed the full spectrum of the industry – from the best to the worst.

The project plan (aka, proposal) is built on scope, schedule, and cost. The project plan is like the flight plan that pilots file prior to taking off. It shows the intended route, speed, and arrival time. Sometimes the wind speed or direction changes or bad weather disrupts traffic. Our projects are like that, too. Unforeseen things happen. Having a plan allows us to determine whether we’re on course and can help steer us back to an on-time, on-budget arrival. It also helps us spot and manage Scope Creep, which is uncontrolled growth in a project’s scope, at any point after the project begins. The ability to manage scope creep and other project changes will greatly impact the success of your projects.

A recent poll of economists from The Wall Street Journal stated that the chances of seeing a recession in 2023 are 61%. However, while most industries and families may be tightening their budgets, quite the opposite may be true for those who work for architecture, engineering, and construction firms. According to the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast’s 2023 update, “this year is expected to produce further growth in construction spending, but at a more moderate pace.” Join four seasoned AE thought leaders as they review the facts, give advice, and take your questions about how to keep your firm thriving during uncertain economic times.

When considering the building enclosure, fire safety is an important design factor and needs to be considered hand-in-hand with energy code requirements. The NFPA 285 “Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components” is a critical consideration with modern building assemblies incorporating combustible materials in non-combustible construction. This presentation will review the history and scope of the NFPA 285 test standard, and its adoption within the International Building Code (IBC). It will outline the criteria for compliance, as well as identify triggers and contributors under the standard. The presentation will review how the selection building components such as insulation, air/water resistive barriers and claddings, can affect the fire performance of an assembly, and identify solutions and common paths for compliance.

The session will explore innovative approaches to streamline AEC workflows through automation, reducing manual tasks, optimizing data management, and refining project schedules. Participants will learn how to enhance project collaboration and increase profitability by leveraging technology to streamline communication and teamwork. Attendees will also gain valuable insights into the latest AEC tools and how to integrate emerging technologies for enhanced building design, construction, and operation. Moreover, the webinar provides an opportunity for knowledge sharing among AEC professionals, allowing them to learn from each other's experiences in improving project collaboration and achieving greater profitability.

All AE consulting firms want their projects to be as profitable as possible; however, most will identify their biggest project management pitfall as: doing work outside of the scope (aka scope creep), which greatly reduces profits. Depending on the size of your firm, scope creep could cost you thousands, or even millions, of dollars annually. While this is a common and debilitating challenge that most firms face, the reality is that by installing a few simple processes you can greatly reduce scope creep on your projects. These strategies should be learned and implemented by every project professional as early on as possible in their careers.

Culled from experiences working with more than 3,000 AE firms over 25 years, this session will examine the seven common denominators of every successful firm. Success comes in many flavors. For some, it’s money; for others, it is peer recognition, awards, or fame; for most of us, it’s having access to challenging or exciting projects. Regardless of how you measure success, by adopting these Seven Pillars you will create the framework from which you and every member of your firm can achieve their professional goals.

Great project managers are sometimes under-appreciated and overlooked. They are not the architect who designs the building or produces the drawings, but they are an integral role for any A & E firm. Most small and medium firms rarely have proper training or mentorship for project managers. In this course, we will discuss an overview of the skillset and training necessary to hire or manage an effective project manager.

Creating your ideal business structure is more than just deciding if you are an S Corp, LLP, or sole practitioner. This webinar dives into the various options of business structures and the benefits of each type. Equally as important, we’ll develop an accountability chart and define the difference between an organization chart and an accountability chart. Douglas Teiger, FAIA, will guide you through this process whether you are a 1-person firm, 5-person firm or 25-person firm.

In this presentation, participants will learn about NFPA 285 and how it is used to assess the fire performance of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible materials. A brief historical review of NFPA 285 development will be provided so participants understand the basis for the test method development as well as how it is applied and what are the limitations. Recent, significant changes that have been made to NFPA 285 to standardize the testing and evaluation of deviations in project wall assemblies from tested assemblies will be reviewed in the context of how this affects compliance. Examples of this engineering evaluation process using current Engineering Analysis documents will be provided to illustrate how changes in materials and configurations can affect compliance with NFPA 285. The reasons behind the regular changes to product engineering evaluation reports will be discussed to highlight the importance of using the most up-to-date materials, configurations, and constructions.

Being a brilliant architect rarely translates into having a successful business. With all the years of education and training to make us experts in our profession, the skills needed to have a successful business were conveniently overlooked. This webinar will fill the void and provide you with the business management highlights that every firm needs to apply to achieve their full potential. In this session, we will learn the fundamentals of all successful AE firms and provide the basis for making well-grounded business decisions. We will learn how firms can transition from being professionals providing services, to highly tuned businesses that can identify the needs of the marketplace and create services and products that are appropriately priced and yield consistent and greater profits. Rather than seeking out new projects that merely build upon your current skills, you will start from a business-thinking mindset, where processes that are critical to building a thriving firm are examined and constituted in your firm. We will explore the importance of data within an architect firm and demonstrate how careful collection and interpretation can lead your firm into more exciting and profitable territory. Join us for an engaging, live webinar presented by Steven Burns, FAIA, Chief Creative Officer at BQE Software as he shares lessons learned over 35 years working with over 1,300 architecture firms.

Being a brilliant architect or engineer rarely translates into having a successful business. With all the years of education and training to make us experts in our profession, the skills needed to have a successful business were conveniently overlooked. This webinar will fill the void and provide you with the business management highlights that every firm needs to apply to achieve their full potential. In this session, we will learn the fundamentals of all successful AE firms and provide the basis for making well-grounded business decisions. We will learn how firms can transition from being professionals providing services, to highly tuned businesses that can identify the needs of the marketplace and create services and products that are appropriately priced and yield consistent and greater profits. Rather than seeking out new projects that merely build upon your current skills, you will start from a business-thinking mindset, where processes that are critical to building a thriving firm are examined and constituted in your firm. We will explore the importance of data within an AE firm and demonstrate how careful collection and interpretation can lead your firm into more exciting and profitable territory. Join us for an engaging, live webinar presented by Steven Burns, FAIA, Chief Creative Officer at BQE Software as he shares lessons learned over 35 years working with over 1,300 AE firms.