022: Residential Construction Costs

The phrase “it’s just a small project” has probably caused more confusion, blown more budgets, and strained more relationships than we’d care to admit. It sounds harmless, maybe even charming - the architectural equivalent of a quick favor. But that phrase carries weight. Because ... Show More

Architectural influencers on social media can bring real insight to the table while others blur the line between experience and performance, you should evaluate what you’re seeing, questioning why it was shared, and learn how to tell the difference between helpful guidance and a ... Show More

What happens when architects face extreme pressure? Ep. 178 explores how stress reveals character, process, and priorities in practice. 

On today’s show we’re talking about how to make sure the budget for a construction project has integrity. I regularly receive questions from new developers looking to grow from buy-hold investment into new construction. The first thing I ask for is to see their budget and the pro ... Show More

Thad Harker is a project advisor at Primus Dental, a design and build full-service construction company that has built close to a 1000 dental offices across the Midwest. Thad and I have a great conversation about dental office design and construction. He emphasizes that the const ... Show More

On today’s show we are breaking down the different types of construction contracts that you can sign. Now let me be clear, I’m not here to offer any type of legal advice. I’m merely sharing our experience when it comes to undertaking different types of construction projects.  The ... Show More

On today’s show we’re taking a closer look at modular construction and we’re going to be live on location at a modular construction plant. Modular construction comes in two principal methods. The first is where the manufacturer complete entire modules of the buildings. These modu ... Show More

On today’s show we are looking at the demand for construction materials and labor. The number of housing starts is way down nationally. This is true for single family homes and for multi-family apartments. So it stands to reason that there should be plenty of labor available for ... Show More

On today’s show we’re talking about a strategy for creating value in expensive markets. In some of the most expensive cities in North America, cities are increasingly charging development fees or impact fees for new construction. These fees pay for paving new roads, for the cost ... Show More

What happens when things don’t go as planned in your design projects?A contractor gets sick, a supplier raises prices, or a hidden problem adds unexpected costs—these surprises can cause major stress and financial loss.Uncertainty is inevitable, but with the right preparation, yo ... Show More

On today’s show we are talking about getting a project through the approval process in city council. Every city’s municipal government is tasked with managing the city’s resources along with planning the city’s land use.  Getting a project approved doesn’t happen by accident. It ... Show More

In this episode, we talk about design intent and construction tolerances. We examine how architectural designs intersect with construction realities, exploring the crucial communication between architects, contractors, and clients. The discussion covers the challenges of maintain ... Show More

In this episode we define and describe. space planning and give some examples of how to arrange your space to inspire conversation. Space planning is a critical part of the design process and we find that often architects don’t create the right amount of space for your furniture ... Show More