Deliberate Words

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 early November to attend the Design Build Institute of America National Conference.  They were in the top 3 of 35 teams that made it to the finals of the national student competition focusing on the design build approach.  Their energy is contagious.  Their ambition is impressive. Their hunger to learn and make a difference in the industry is so inspiring.  Join your hosts Dave Stutzman and Steve Gantner as they realize just how bright the future is for our industry with Owen, Fernanda, Jessica, Connor and Selena leading the way. 

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 Conspectus is training the next generation—using markup reviews, real drawings, and hands-on mentorship—and emphasize that great specifiers don’t need to start as architects. Roofers, English majors, contractors…all are welcome if they love details, problem-solving, and how buildings actually go together.

The takeaway? Specs deserve a place in architectural education—and in more career paths than people realize.

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 confusion and conflicts
• How outdated LEED practices still influence consultants
• When sustainability requirements should live in Division 1 vs. the technical specs
• Ensuring VOC limits, EPDs, and HPDs are accurate, achievable, and coordinated
• The importance of upfront research so the specs are actually biddable

Consensus: The LEED consultant should write the sustainability section, but the specifier shapes it so it's clear, modern, and correctly located. Good coordination leads to cleaner documents and fewer RFIs.

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 specifiers to be involved from the start. Design-builders, who oversee both design and construction, can benefit from structured specifications that align the entire team—owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and facility managers—around shared project goals.

A key topic is the use of UNIFORMAT®, a system that organizes project information by assemblies and systems rather than individual components. Learn how this simplifies communication, supports “continuous estimating,” and reduces documentation bloat—transforming thousand-page specs into concise, 30-page system summaries. This approach enables informed decisions, real-time cost alignment, and risk reduction by ensuring everyone understands and agrees on project requirements as they evolve.

They also emphasize the importance of collaboration, transparency, and permanent project records. By tracking decisions digitally within one shared environment, teams can avoid confusion, eliminate rework, and mitigate claims. 

Listen for a special cameo from Steve’s dog, Paisley.

Key Takeaways:

• Early specifier involvement strengthens design-build outcomes.
• UNIFORMAT fosters clear, system-based collaboration and reduces rework.
• Continuous estimating and transparent documentation help manage cost and risk.
• Teamwide buy-in—including facility managers—ensures practical, maintainable results.
• Building a permanent project record promotes accountability and project-first behavior.

🎙️ 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 — reconnecting with colleagues, celebrating new CSI Fellows, and diving into sessions that inspired both seasoned pros and emerging specifiers. Highlights included the keynote “How to Be More Interesting Than a Cell Phone,” discussions on whole building testing, social media for specifiers, and a surprisingly fascinating look at phenolic deck work.

From Conspectus Cloud socks and face cookies that stole the show, to unexpected discoveries about Cleveland’s glass-blowing culture and Superman roots, the trio captures the fun, energy, and connection that define CSI.

It’s a celebration of people, learning, and city vibes — proving once again that when specifiers come together, the stories write themselves.

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 happens when architects don’t enforce those Division 01 requirements?

Key takeaways:
 ✅ Record documents are a shared responsibility—but rarely verified.
 ✅ Ignoring specs creates liability for architects.
 ✅ Owners who use record docs for maintenance and compliance gain lasting value.

In short: everyone wants the “as-built,” but few ensure it’s accurate.

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 the impact of Hurricane Ida on the building and the extensive restoration efforts required to transform it into a haunted house.

Fantastic footage of the story (and secrets) behind Lincoln Mill: https://www.youtube.com/@lincolnmillhaunt

Chapters

00:00 The Excitement of Fall and Haunted Houses
02:52 The Backstory of Lincoln Mill Haunted House
06:03 From Childhood Passion to Professional Attraction
08:41 Building a Haunted House: The Journey
11:29 Overcoming Challenges: Hurricane Ida and Renovations
14:36 The Evolution of a Haunted Attraction

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: after presenting to DGS in 2024 about Uniformat and sharing Evolving Specifications, he recently discovered that DGS now mandates architects to submit Project Design Criteria documents organized by Uniformat — language and structure closely mirroring the Conspectus approach.

UniFormat™ as the Common Language

Dave and Elias dive into why this is a smart move:

• UniFormat aligns perfectly with Revit/BIM assemblies and estimators’ frameworks, creating one-to-one consistency between model, description, and cost.
• The system encourages early, structured documentation that can evolve throughout the design process, leading to better-informed cost analysis and decision management.

Alternates, Value Engineering, and Smarter Budgeting

DGS’s policy also introduces a structured method for alternates, requiring three cost-reduction options at 5% each. Dave critiques the rigidity of forcing alternates in order, suggesting a more strategic approach:

He references independent estimator Marcine Taylor, who once delivered a hospital project within 2% of her eight-year-old estimate — proof that disciplined, early cost alignment works.

The Role of Conceptual Estimators

Elias and Dave stress that subcontractors often price what’s drawn, while conceptual estimators price what’s needed. Engaging estimators from the start helps owners and architects make realistic budget decisions — and reduces the endless value-engineering loop.

From Design Criteria to OPR

The hosts envision DGS’s design criteria as a proto-Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) — a living foundation for scope, cost, and performance. Over time, this could evolve into a powerful database for cost benchmarking and assembly-level decisions across project types.

A Win for Clarity and Collaboration

Ultimately, DGS’s adoption of UniFormat isn’t just a technical change — it’s a validation of transparent, data-driven specification practices.

Dave applauds the department for “formally adopting a process that defines intent and criteria early — not as a throwaway outline, but as the backbone of design documentation.”

Conspectus already delivers this kind of document daily — and we’re ready to help bring that experience directly to DGS projects.

Key Takeaway

Early alignment between design, cost, and intent eliminates chaos later.
Uniformat isn’t just a framework — it’s a roadmap to smarter, more predictable building outcomes.

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 growth, hydro upgrades), and makes the case that nuclear—both large units and SMRs—will anchor long-term reliability. The trio dig into dam stabilization, battery use cases (peak shaving and PV smoothing), project timelines and costs, community engagement, and how policy and tariffs shape what actually gets built. They close with a look at fusion research and a rapid-fire on bourbon, woodworking, and what fuels resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Career & scope: Andy oversees engineering, construction, commissioning, quality, safety, and project controls for Duke’s big builds.
• Cultural lesson: International work taught him to respect local pace and processes—context changes what “top priority” means.
• Hydro safety: Post-FERC reviews are driving earthen-dam rebuilds (compaction, drainage layers) to prevent liquefaction under seismic events.
• Resource mix: Duke is pursuing gas, nuclear, solar, hydro, and batteries; offshore wind unlikely near-term given costs and policy headwinds.
• Batteries’ role: Great for peak shaving and smoothing solar variability; typical systems are 2–4-hour duration (e.g., 10 MW / 40 MWh).
• Scale & siting: Solar needs ~6–10 acres per MW and only delivers during daylight; data centers requesting 400–1,000 MW reshape planning.
• Timelines & costs (rule of thumb): Batteries ~12–15 months after development; solar similar; combined-cycle gas ~4 years; nuclear 10+ years.
• Cost reality: A 75-MW solar site ≈ $100–150M; a 1,000-MW gas plant ≈ ~$2B; nuclear is multiples beyond—but with long lifespans.
• Nuclear outlook: Expect SMRs + large reactors; challenges include qualified supply chains, workforce, and public education; existing units targeting 80-year life via extensions.
• Data-center surge: Demand is soaring; innovative financing/ownership models (e.g., behind-the-meter, cost-sharing) may protect retail customers.

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 infrastructure work into the 30s.  Learn about upcoming 2025 updates.... including new divisions for tunneling, roadways, and airport construction, plus refinements in areas like resilient flooring.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the CSI/CSC volunteer task team process, where anyone in the industry can suggest changes, and how those ideas are reviewed, debated, and voted on. The conversation highlights both the importance of keeping classification systems current with modern construction practices and the inevitable resistance to change—reminding us that progress always comes with a little pushback, but ultimately benefits the industry.