
Business of Architecture Podcast
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.
Latest episodes

Jun 29, 2021 • 58min
373: Slow, Steady, and Deliberate Growth with David Hacin
This week, I am speaking with David Hacin who is the Founding Principal and Creative Director of Hacin + Associates, an interdisciplinary architecture design firm founded in Boston in 1993. They're currently a 30+person team dedicated to design excellence and client service. David has a plethora of recognition and awards for the studio's broad portfolio of architecture, interior design, graphics and branding. David studied both at Princeton University and Harvard Graduate School of Design and has served on the Northeastern University School of Architecture Advisory Board and as a guest critic and lecturer at many design schools in the country. He's also served nearly 20 years as the Mayoral appointee to the Boston Civic Design Commission and the City of Boston's Design Review Panel for public-significant works. In 2010, David was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In this interview, we get to see some of the insights that David has accrued in his business experience, how he's cultivating culture, how he has never let go of a member of his staff or a member of his team, which was a testament to the deep culture that he has cultivated, and the human-centric philosophy that underpins much of the practice's work and culture. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

Jun 21, 2021 • 53min
372: The Architect-Developer Relationship with Geoff Ross
This week, I am speaking with Geoff Ross. Geoff is a real estate development executive who has interdisciplinary expertise. He has both been trained as an architect and has worked in several architectural offices in New York City, and then he transitioned into the ownership and development side where he has worked with some of the largest and most active New York City developers. He's had projects come out of the ground in several US states and has repositioned assets in New York City of over $3 billion. This was a really fascinating conversation to see behind the scenes of how developers with architects, how they approach and hire architects, what they're looking for, what makes a successful collaboration, mistakes architects often make when they're trying to find work with developers, and how developers can actually take advantage if they're not properly prepared. We also speculate on the future of real estate in a post-covid world and the numerous business opportunities that may be presenting themselves to architects. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

Jun 16, 2021 • 37min
371: Technology as a Competitive Advantage with Boris Rapoport
This week, I'm speaking with architecture firm IT Specialist, Boris Rapoport. Boris has had over 20 years of experience helping architectural design and engineering firms make their business more efficient and profitable with the use of technology. He is the founder of the IT support firm, ArchIT, who exclusively serves architecture, design, and engineering firms and helps them utilize and protect their businesses using IT, basically operating like an external support IT system. In this episode, we explore some of the common IT and tech mistakes that architecture firms commonly make, the vulnerabilities that practices and businesses will face to their operational efficiencies, and how to create a powerful IT system to have your business running smoothly. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

Jun 8, 2021 • 1h 8min
370: Looking Over the Horizon with Griff Davenport
This week, I'm speaking with Griff Davenport, FAIA, who is the DLR Group's Chief Executive Officer. Griff leads the firm's executive leadership team and collaborates with the senior leadership to craft the firm's business strategy and to progress the evolution of DLR Group design. He's been instrumental in developing and driving the growth of the group's vertical markets and expanding their geographic footprint both nationally and internationally. It was a really fascinating conversation to speak with Griff as his entire career, since 1980, has been solely with the DLR Group. He talks about how his career has evolved, his role in business development, in establishing new offices, such as the one in Minneapolis, and how they have grown, and developed, and specialized in various sectors such as education. Of course, we go deep into the importance of culture, mission, vision, and values in a practice and leadership. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

May 31, 2021 • 1h 5min
369: Hospitality Beyond the Aesthetic with Arnaud Zannier
This week, I am speaking with Arnaud Zannier, Founder of Zannier Hotel Group. This is a must-listen for those firms who are interested in working in high-end hospitality. Arnaud entered into hospitality after a successful career running his own fashion brand. When building the Zannier Group brand, Arnaud's focus was on creating an alternative luxury experience, which led to developing a series of hotels in extraordinary locations from the French Alps to Cambodia, to the Namibian savanna to, most recently, in Vietnam. An architecture and interiors design culture has been an instrumental part in how Arnaud has crafted this unique brand experience. Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

76 snips
May 25, 2021 • 54min
368: Designing an Architecture Practice with Anthony Laney
This week, we're speaking with Anthony Laney, an architect, designer, Co-Founder, and Partner of Laney LA, an architecture firm based in Los Angeles predominantly focused on residential work. In this conversation, Anthony discusses their marketing strategies and their business approach. He goes into a lot of depth about the core values and beliefs of the firm and why they are so important for everything they do from hiring to growing the business to deciding what kinds of projects they should be taking on. He also discusses how they have been able to expand in the highly competitive residential marketplace in Los Angeles. Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call

May 18, 2021 • 35min
367: Happitecture - Building a Thriving Practice and Community with Michelle Fenton
Today, I'm speaking with Michelle Fenton who runs Khora Architecture, a firm based in Vancouver, Canada. She also hosts the podcast Happitecture, which aims to explore ideas and discover what it takes to develop resilient, sustainable, thriving, inclusive, and happy communities. Michelle has always been one of our star fellows in the Architecture Firm Freedom Formula (now SMART Practice Method). When she went through our program a few years ago, she was quick to implement, was having breakthroughs, and was just really creating really amazing things in her practice. In this episode, we're going to talk a little bit about Michelle's journey as she reflects on the ups and downs and how she laid the foundation for a holistic, powerful practice. Listen to Michelle's Happitecture Podcast: https://www.happitecture.com/ ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

May 11, 2021 • 46min
366: Elevating the Client Experience with Peter Twohy
Architect Peter Twohy runs residential architecture practice in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the past 16 years, Peter has gone from designing basements and porches to being recognized as one of Baltimore's premier architects. Today, Peter shares lessons learned building his firm as well as a powerful strategy he's using to win better clients and earn fees that he deserves for his creative work. ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

May 4, 2021 • 43min
365: Connecting the Architecture Community with Paul Petrunia
Today, I have the honor to speak with Paul Petrunia, founder of Archinect. Launched in 1997, Archinect.com is the most established online architecture communication and content source for the architecture and design community. Tens of thousands of architects, students, and fans browse the site daily for the latest jobs, news headlines, competition, event listings, featured editorials, and active discussions. If you're listening to this podcast, my guess is that you're very familiar with Archinect. We go behind the scenes of Archinect and discover how Paul launched and built Architect over the years to what it is today. ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

Apr 27, 2021 • 29min
Bonus: 5 Firm Owner Case Studies
This is a Business of Architecture Bonus Episode. Hello, and welcome back architect Nation. I’m Enoch Sears and this is the show where you'll discover tips, strategies and secrets for building an architecture practice that lets you do your best work, more often. Architects and related professionals design our world ... They make it safe, beautiful and sustainable. Yet for many, it feels like an uphill battle, and few get the recognition or credit they deserve for their creative work. Many firm owners become underpaid, glorified administrators, eeking out a living working on projects below their capabilities. What we’ve found is that architectural ability is just half of the equation, the other half is everything else involved in running a successful practice. This is because schools don't teach architects how to run a practice. As a result, society loses out on the creative genius of these professionals who are busy managing cash flow and putting out fires instead of doing their best work. On this episode, you’ll discover the case studies of 5 practice owners who have structured their practices for creative freedom, fulfillment, and financial reward with the SMART Practice Method. Business of Architecture has developed and refined the SMART Practice Method over the past decade working with 100+ architecture and design practices. Recently, we celebrated the graduation of 32 firm owners in our SMART Practice program. On this episode, you’ll hear 5 of their stories. And the exciting part is that I want you, podcast faithful listener, to listen to each of these stories, and then cast your vote for which of these 5 practice owners should win the 2021 Business of Architecture Transformation Award. Listen carefully, and take note on which stories resonate with you, which stories move you. You need to cast your vote by this Thursday, April 29, 2021. Vote by going to businessofarchitecture.com/transformation