Business of Architecture Podcast

By Enoch Bartlett Sears

Arts Business Management & Marketing

What's Business of Architecture Podcast about?

Discover strategies, tips and secrets for running a fun, flexible and profitable architecture practice. The focus here is simple: discussion of ways for architects to create a dream architecture practice: design what you want, when you want, and get paid well for it.

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484: Lies of Architecture w...

09.25.2023

What are the top challenges of running an architectural practice today? Overwhelm, fee competition and difficulty hiring top the list. In this episode, Enoch Sears and Rion Willard discuss some of the top problems facing firm owners today and how ...

Business of Architecture Podcast episodes:

09.25.2023 484: Lies of Architecture with Rion Willard and Enoch Sears What are the top challenges of running an architectural practice today? Overwhelm, fee competition and difficulty hiring top the list. In this episode, Enoch Sears and Rion Willard discuss some of the top problems facing firm owners today and how ...
09.18.2023 483: Is An Architecture Industry Collapse Inevitable? with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard Is the architecture industry collapse inevitable? Recently, Business of Architecture director Rion Willard watched a YouTube video, Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order by author and investor Ray Dalio. Dalio writes, "I believe the world is changing in ...
09.11.2023 482: The Double-Edged Sword of Activism in Architecture with Lance Cayko of F9 Productions As architects, we are passionate about many subjects including the built environment, social issues, sustainability, and more. Is the focus on “activism” by our national advocates (the American Institute of Architects, and Royal Institute of British Architects) a double-edged sword? ...
09.04.2023 481: The Cult of Design Part III with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard This episode is part 3 of 3 where Enoch Sears and Rion Willard discuss the "cult of design," an insidious mind virus that has captivated the architecture industry. ► Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/W6ZfVj9cTYhuQ8TRfjotx8GRoKo?utm_source=copy_url ► Feedback? Email us at [email protected] ► Access your ...
08.28.2023 480: The Cult of Design Part II with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard This episode is part 2 of 3 where Enoch Sears and Rion Willard discuss the "cult of design," an insidious mind virus that has captivated the architecture industry. ► Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/wigGxQi5tUkxT4-JhW1DSPyvsmw?utm_source=copy_url ► Feedback? Email us at [email protected] ► Access your ...
08.21.2023 479: The Cult of Design Part I with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard In this episode, Rion Willard reveals the architectural mind virus of "the cult of design." This episode is part 1 of 3. ► Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/LHJd0pt1DNIRze8n6fmwRuQX-1M?utm_source=copy_url ► Feedback? Email us at [email protected] ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If ...
08.14.2023 478: How I Grew My Architectural Practice From $4k to $40k per Month in 4 Months with Gilbert Atick of ATEEQ Architecture & Design What's the secret to rapidly expanding an architectural firm? Launching a new architectural business often comes with a crucial challenge - securing initial contracts. Without any lined-up projects, there's no paycheck - it's as simple as that. In this episode, ...
08.07.2023 477: Reinventing a Stagnant Firm Culture with Jeff Frame What does it take to completely change a firm's culture? Architect Jeff Frame realized something needed to change when he saw that younger staff had different priorities and values than existing team members. Also, he found that he was inextricably ...
07.31.2023 476: Networking to Build Relationships and Win Commissions with Mark Elster of AOME Architects Architect Mark Elster is co-founder of the acclaimed AOME Architects based in Seattle, Washington. AOME Architects designs stunning private residences across the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, you'll discover leadership lessons in running a small firm and Mark's approach to ...
07.24.2023 475: My Journey as an Architecture Firm Owner with Dewey Nichols of Nichols Design Group Today we welcome architect Dewey Nichols to the Business of Architecture podcast. Nichols is a leading residential architect based out of Boston, Massachusetts. In this interview, Nichols discusses managing difficult clients, the challenges and pleasures of having a small practice, ...
07.17.2023 474: Have We as Architects Betrayed Ourselves? with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard Have we as architects betrayed ourselves? Do we have anyone to blame but ourselves for the erosion of responsibility and control in the building and design process? Do we have anyone to blame but ourselves for the chronically low wages, ...
07.10.2023 473: Rural Practice Explored with Molly Wheelock of Studio MW In this episode, we speak with architect Molly Wheelock, founder of Studio MW. Wheelock has found success on the beautiful, rugged slopes of the Colorado Rockies and southwest region including Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. The daughter of a builder, ...
07.03.2023 472: Growing Through Purpose with Ian & Toni Wilson of Nolan Carter Architectural Design Discover the secret of growing through a motivating purpose. Ian and Toni Wilson are alumni of Business of Architecture's SMART Practice™ program and they currently sit on the Design Council. After serving in the United States Army, and working in ...
06.26.2023 471: The 7-Figure Architect with Enoch & Rion Today Rion Willard and Enoch Sears discuss strategies for taking home a 7-figure salary as an architect. Often the conversation in the architecture industry is about how little architects make and how pitiful salaries are. In this episode, we flip ...
06.19.2023 470: Growing a New Architectural Practice Matias Daroch of MIK Architecture Architect Matias Daroch is an alumnus of Business of Architecture's SMART Practice™ program. After immigrating to the United States from Chile to support his family's real estate investments, Daroch launched his own architectural practice, growing it quickly in the first ...
06.12.2023 469: Dealing with Clients Who Won't Pay with Marina Rubina If you've run an architectural practice for any amount of time, you've probably had clients who tried to avoid paying an invoice. Architect Marina Rubina is an alumnus of the Business of Architecture SMART Practice™ program. She is a Registered ...
06.05.2023 468: Damn All Architects with Enoch & Rion "Damn all architects, the rich man’s folly," writes opinion journalist Giles Coren in a recent issue of The Times (original article here). Is this article perpetuating inaccurate tropes of the architectural profession, or is there some truth in this scathing ...
05.29.2023 467: Growing an Architecture Firm with Remick Moore of Remick Architecture Anyone who has tried knows that running an architecture firm is not for the faint of heart. That's why it is our pleasure to bring to you this interview with Nashville-based architect and SMART Practice firm owner Remick Moore. Over ...
05.22.2023 466: How I Grew My Firm in the Heart of Silicon Valley with Ramiro Torres of TOPA Architecture Architect Ramiro Torres was raised in a small town in central Mexico. When he relocated to the United States during high school, he was unsure of his life's purpose. After attending community college for three years, he enrolled in the ...
05.15.2023 465: The Right Project Management Software for Architects with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard One of the questions we’re asked most frequently is, “what is the best project management software for architects?” Today Rion Willard and Enoch Sears discuss the answer to this important question. And the answer isn’t what you might think. *Note: ...
05.08.2023 464: Every Architectural Project Isn't a Fit with Enoch Sears and Rion Willard Every architectural project isn't a fit. One of the challenges of managing a small architectural practice today is managing the appropriate workflow. Having too much work causes problems. Too much work leads to: Increased project timelines making unhappy clients Procrastinating ...
05.01.2023 463: Finding Qualified Architectural Hires with Enoch Sears & Rion Willard A top challenge of running an architectural practice today is finding qualified hires. You have a ton of work, but who’s going to do it? You’re already overloaded. People are the best investment you can make in your practice. In ...
04.24.2023 462: The 'King Maker' Strategy with Joseph Aga of AGA Associates British architect Joseph Aga is the owner of AGA Associates. The firm has been able to land impressive commissions thanks to Aga’s innovative ‘king maker’ strategy. Discover how Joseph Aga is innovating the delivery of the firm’s architectural services. To ...
04.17.2023 461: Leading Through Design with Mary Johnston of Johnston Architects Mary Johnston is a founding partner of Johnston Architects, a successful architectural practice located in Seattle, Washington. Their work is highly regarded for its thoughtful approach and harmonious design. Johnston and her husband Ray started the firm over thirty years ...
04.10.2023 460: Masters of Hospitality with Nunzio & Marc DeSantis of Nunzio Marc Desantis Architects In today’s episode, I will be speaking with Nunzio & Marc DeSantis of the intergenerational award-winning architecture firm, Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects. Nunzio’s career began over 38 years ago at HKS, where he created the HKS hospitality group. Since then, ...
04.03.2023 459: Creating a Progressive Niche with Todd Walker Today I will be speaking with Todd Walker, founding partner of Archimania, a firm that is nationally ranked 8th in design, 24th in sustainability, and in the top 50 for interior architects. Todd has chaired and/or juried numerous design award ...
03.27.2023 458: Growing a Pipeline of Prospects with Tyler Suomala Today I will be speaking with Tyler Suomala, a serial learner obsessed with helping architects optimize all things business development, sales, marketing, and operations. Before transitioning into Business Development at Monograph, Tyler worked in both large and small architecture offices ...
03.20.2023 457: Win an Architecture Firm with Enoch Sears & Rion Willard Win your very own architectural practice! Yes, you read that right. The Business of Architecture team is looking to invest in an architectural practice and we're looking for someone who wants to come in as an owner and run it. ...
03.13.2023 456: Leading by Design with Nicki Dennis Stephens Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA is the Executive Director of AIA California. Since taking the helm of AIA California in 1999, Stephens’ leadership has positioned the chapter as a leader in member service, government advocacy, and public engagement. In 2003, ...
03.06.2023 455: The Architect Developer Business with Evan Watts Today I will be speaking with Evan Watts, founding partner of D&A; Companies. Evan and the team at D&A; are a group of real estate, architecture, and construction professionals who believe in the importance of alluring, inspiring, and special places. ...
02.27.2023 454: Creating an Intrapreneurial Firm with Dena Prastos As Founder and CEO of Indigo River, Dena Prastos, AIA, is the first "waterfront architect," trailblazing a new category in the industry. Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation. A ...
02.20.2023 453: Radical Practice with Marlon & Meryati Blackwell Today I will be speaking with Principals Marlon and Meryati Blackwell of Marlon Blackwell Architects. Despite operating in a region where architecture can be overlooked, the Blackwells’ firm has amassed an important and impressive body of work across a wide ...
02.13.2023 452: Boldly Innovating in Construction with Dan Sullivan Today I will be speaking with KOVA Vice President Dan Sullivan, AIA, NCARB––a licensed architect who has never really practiced “traditional” architecture––has set out to develop circularity-driven building solutions to enhance building performance and longevity from the inside out. His ...
02.06.2023 451: The Future of Construction with Roger Krulak Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Roger Krulak, CEO of Full Stack Modular. For twelve years, Roger served as SVP of Mixed Use and Residential Development at the Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC). During that time, he was ...
01.30.2023 450: How to Worry About a Recession with Trevor Abramson Today I am speaking with Trevor Abramson, FAIA, founding partner of both Abramson Teiger Architects and Abramson Architects. With over three decades of commitment to his craft, Trevor Abramson strives to promote the art of architecture by evoking a deeply ...
01.23.2023 449: Is It Really a Collections Issue? with Yotam Kedem & Lior Schnabel of Precise International Today I will be speaking with Lior Schnabel and Yotam Kedem, partners at Precise International, a leading financial management and control service provider for architectural, engineering and law firms. Yotam leads the New York office and Lior leads the international ...
01.16.2023 448: Publishing an Architectural Monograph with Jorge Arango What does it take to publish an architectural monograph? When is the right time to publish your work in this format? Celebrated architect and designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy recently published "Soul: Interiors by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy" with the help of author Jorge ...
01.09.2023 447: Modern Residential Design Secrets with Luis Murillo Luis Murillo, born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, is the founder of LMD Architecture studio, based in Los Angeles, California. In today's episode, you'll discover how Luis runs and manages his modern residential design studio. To learn more about Luis ...
01.02.2023 446: Building an Award Winning Residential Architectural Practice with Nate McBride Architect Nate McBride founded his eponymous firm, McBride Architects in 1983. The firm has completed many award-winning residential, cultural and educational projects. You may have seen their work featured in publications such as Architectural Record, Elle Decor, the Boston Globe, ...
12.26.2022 445: Doing the Best Work with the Best People with Betsy Vohs Betsy Vohs is the founder of Studio BV, a design-focused architectural practice based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After a successful career at Gensler, Betsy launched Studio BV to create a design-focused, intimate experience for her clientele. In this episode, you'll discover ...
12.19.2022 444: Leading Teams and Managing Projects in Architecture with Drew Deering Drew Deering is an associate principal at the architecture firm Moody Nolan, the largest African-American owned architectural firm in the US. On this podcast interview, Drew shares how he manages complex teams and projects to deliver superior client results. To ...
12.12.2022 443: Using Your Architectural Super Powers Outside of Architecture with Jake Rudin and Erin Pellegrino This week, I'm speaking with Jake Rudin and Erin Pellegrino, Founders of Out of Architecture, a career consulting firm interested in exploring the value of their skills both in and out of the architectural profession. Jake has a decade of ...
12.05.2022 442: Why Design React Mode is Shrinking your Business with Michael Bernard Today we will be speaking with Michael Bernard AIA. He is the founder of Virtual Practice Consulting, where he provides strategic advice to design and construction firms. He was a professor in the architecture department at The California College of ...
11.28.2022 441: Working Successfully with Developers with Harshad Pillai Today I will be speaking with Harshad Pillai who is the Director of Fogarty Finger, an architecture firm committed to redefining the urban built environment through projects that are as evocative as they are pragmatic. Harshad is currently overseeing the ...
11.21.2022 440: Making Expediting Sexy with Jesse Tarr This week I have the pleasure to be speaking with Jesse Tarr who is the founder and president of CityPermits. City Permits was established in 2009 as a small company consisting of 2-3 employees and has since grown exponentially over ...
11.14.2022 439: Becoming Partners of a Leading Firm with Rhode Partners This week I am speaking with Rhode Partners recent equity partners Director Bobby Tait, and Director of Operations, Kate Meehan. Rhode Partners was Founded by Director Brett Rhode in 2007 and since then they have become a leading Austin firm ...
11.07.2022 438: Key Financial Metrics for an Architecture Firm with Hugh Glazer Participate in the largest-ever survey on what small architecture practices are charging? Visit: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/feesurvey Hello and welcome to the Business of Architecture. This week I am speaking with Hugh Glazer who is a CPA for 30+ years and delivers CFO ...
10.31.2022 437: Using the Art World to Help Grow a Firm with Hiroshi Okamoto This week I am speaking with Hiroshi Okamoto who is one of the co-founder of OLI Architecture. Hiroshi Okamoto is a member of the AIA and has had an exciting architectural career path working at practices such the Ushida Findlay ...
10.24.2022 436: How I Became an Architect Developer with Jason Boyer Today we speak with Jason Boyer, an architect developer and founder of Boyer Vertical, a firm that specializes in developing sustainably minded, architecturally significant projects in the Phoenix Metro area. His first development project was the award-winning artHAUS condominiums in ...
10.17.2022 435: The Art of Taking Risks with Brian Messana Brian founded New York City-based architectural firm Messana O'Rorke with Toby O'Rorke in 1996. He has since developed an extraordinary portfolio of work in residential, commercial, retail and conceptual projects. The firm is anticipating their first monograph, Messana O'Rorke: Building ...

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