Studio Balcones: Growth Rooted in Community (w/ Jennifer Orr, Tiffany Rasco)

Meet Garrison Architects — a Brooklyn-based architecture firm that specializes in sustainable, modular building design through highly refined modernist aesthetics across private residential and large scale public projects. In 2023, the firm left ArchiOffice for Monograph to streamline and improve project tracking, staffing, and billing, while reducing the cost associated with managing their systems by 50%.Here's what happened: Before Monograph- +$34k annual cost on project management and billing systems- 40-48 hours a month on monthly invoicing- 45-60 days time-to-paymentAfter Monograph- 50% reduced cost on project management and billing systems- 66% less time on monthly invoicing- 2.6x faster time-to-paymentRead the story here - https://bit.ly/49nlNJpNew to Monograph? Start here - https://bit.ly/4bI3S1N

Meet the design-build firm Woodhull — an integrated architecture, construction, and millwork firm delivering thoughtful and enduring residential and commercial projects throughout New England. Their holistic ethos and business model relies on transparency, communication, and collaboration to drive successful internal operations. Everything starts with the 80 active projects in Woodhull's 25-person design studio, which switched from BQE Core to Monograph to improve speed and accuracy across the entire business.Here's what happened: Before Monograph- 4-6 hours per week on reporting latest project schedules- 5-10 days invoicing process due to back-and-forth between PMs and bookkeeper - 50% errors on retainer fee invoicing, causing client refundsAfter Monograph- 95% less time preparing project reports for firm owners- 53% faster monthly invoicing process- 100% error reduction on retainer invoicing, avoiding client refundsRead the story here - https://bit.ly/3OBJ7LjNew to Monograph? Start here - https://bit.ly/3w8y4mx

Systems are essential to organizing your workplace and maintaining order during a project. But how can you build systems to win new work? In this Best Practice interview, MVRDV Managing Director Inger Kammeraat and Strategy and Development partner Jan Knikker explained how they structure their firm to facilitate a healthy pipeline of new projects. They talked about how they use PR to drive business development, how they balance profit with their mission and how they close the cycle at the end of each project.Interview TakeawaysDocument new systemsBuild a supportive cultureDon’t kill creativityUse PR to showcase your winsClose the project cycleCheck in regularlyAlign with the client’s goalsBalance profit with missionOverbook your projectsSet boundariesShow LinksConnect with Jan Knikker on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Inger Kammeraat on LinkedInCheck out MVRDVConnect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Chris Morgan on LinkedIn Check out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

Forming the identity of a young business is difficult. Whether you’re branching off from a parent company or launching your own startup, without a consistent set of principles and practices, it can feel like you’re living in the Wild West. If you want your business to flourish, you need to establish law and order—namely, a consistent set of workflows and processes that will keep everyone on the same page. In this Section Cut interview, Adam Gayle, Director of Architecture at Level Architecture + Interiors, shared how you can help your business level up by organizing your practices and processes.Interview TakeawaysEstablish your identityCreate consistencyStart with good documentationGuide your employeesGet the right peopleBe transparentIdentify your weaknessesBreak down projects by phasesForm intentional habits Generate staff buy-inShow LinksConnect with Adam Gayle on LinkedInCheck out Level Architecture + InteriorsConnect with Nathan Malone on LinkedInCheck out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

One challenge architects face is the pressure to deliver their signature creative style while also serving the client’s needs. This push-and-pull relationship between creative practice and professional service never goes away, but there are a few tactics you can use to help strike a balance. In this Section Cut interview, Principal Steve Perce of bldg.collective explored how to deliver an excellent client experience while also honoring your creativity. He talked about the importance of guiding the conversation, educating them throughout the process, and creating moments of delightful design.Interview TakeawaysGet in the right mindsetGuide the conversationConnect over creative opportunitiesCreate moments of delightful designCommunicate the impact of client decisionsAlign on goals and schedulingEducate clients through the processTailor your conversations to the clientTreat your work as an ongoing practiceBalance creativity with feasibilityShow LinksConnect with Steve Perce on LinkedIn or TwitterCheck out bldg.collectiveConnect with Nathan Malone on LinkedInCheck out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

Industry expectations and standards are constantly shifting. If you want your company to keep up, you have to adjust with the changing times. But to be ready for whatever lies ahead, you have to institute a flexible, agile mindset within your company and be ready to adapt to new practices. In this Section Cut interview, Lorena Galvao, co-founder of Defining Design Practice, shared her experience working in the changing architectural industry and how companies can prepare for future shifts.Interview TakeawaysSpend your time wiselyPrepare tomorrow’s leadersFind communityRecapture your market shareThink forwardFocus on innovationGive opportunities to younger peopleKeep adaptingDiscover your nicheFind your communication channel Show LinksConnect with Silvia Lee on LinkedInConnect with Lorena Galvão on InstagramCheck out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

The client experience is at the heart of architectural work. Delivering an attentive experience through every phase is what will lead to a happy client,  repeat business, and referrals for your firm. In fact, this experience starts before you even land a client. Becoming in tune with your potential clients’ feelings, thoughts, and questions will help you to meet them where they are. In this Section Cut session, Lucas Gray and Dena Alspach of Charrette Venture Group explained how delivering an excellent client experience from day one is what will elevate the relationship with your client beyond a transaction.Interview Takeaways:Get in tune with potential clients’ feelingsNurture the client relationshipSet the right expectationsStrengthen your onboarding processFind the best way to share documentsDocument when you reach milestonesReach out to the client regularlyShow where the money is goingGet feedbackCheck in annually after a project closesShow LinksConnect with Lucas Gray on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Dena Alspach on LinkedIn or TwitterCheck out Charrett Venture GroupConnect with Joann Lui on LinkedInCheck out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

When growth is rooted in community, it becomes self-sustaining. At landscape architecture firm Studio Balcones, Principal Jennifer Orr and Office Manager Tiffany Rasco believe that being active in their community is essential to their firm’s growth and success. In this Best Practice interview, they talk about the importance of educating others by collaborating with project partners, applying for community certifications, participating in diversity programs, and teaching clients throughout the process to ultimately create designs rooted in the local landscape.Interview TakeawaysCreate designs rooted in existing ecologiesDesign for the soil in each neighborhoodAlign with the project partnersGet involved in community programsBe prepared to wear multiple hatsWork with the landscape, not against itEducate clientsHire the right amount of handsBuild systems as you growHave the confidence to try something newShow LinksConnect with Jennifer Orr on LinkedInConnect with Tiffany Rasco on LinkedInCheck out Studio BalconesConnect with Silvia Lee on LinkedInConnect with Nathan Malone on LinkedIn Check out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

Studio-based organizations can prevent architects from getting their hands on a variety of projects and experiences. Ennead Architects takes on a whole range of different scales, different typologies, and different locales in their projects. They see that as the dream training of an architect. Their teams are able to share ideas and transfer skills through this spectrum of projects. In this episode, Ennead partners Molly McGowan and Thomas Wong discuss how they manage all of their diverse civic projects, build teams, and define success.Interview TakeawaysBuild better architects with diverse projectsMerge business and creative goalsHelp clients make the right decisionsBuild trust and relationshipsBe proactive about filling in where neededStaff team strategicallyRely on peers for validation and inspirationCreate a lasting impactCultivate a culture of client serviceHave a tech leader on each teamShow LinksConnect with Molly McGowan on LinkedInConnect with Thomas Wong on LinkedIn Check out Ennead ArchitectsConnect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Silvia Lee on LinkedIn Check out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph 

In the architect-led design-build model, the architect is responsible not only for design but for construction as well. This represents a major shift from the traditional design-bid-build way of building projects. Yet it offers unique advantages on both the architect and client end, say Thomas Gluck and Stacie Wong, both principals at Gluck+. Most importantly, it makes for a smoother construction process and a better, beautiful building.Interview TakeawaysDesign for the buildBe the one point of contactScale by hiringPreserve what mattersAsk contractors for advicePrice early and oftenZoom in and outDiversity to problem-solveFeed your architecture addictionShow LinksConnect with Thomas Gluck on LinkedIn Connect with Stacie Wong on LinkedInCheck out Gluck+Connect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Chris Morgan on LinkedIn Check out MonographFollow Monograph on LinkedIn or InstagramListen and read more about Monograph