The purpose of construction documents is to enable the contractor to provide the owner with a set price. For the contractor to establish a set price, the exact quantity of work has to be shown in the construction documents. Sometimes the exact quantity of items required for the work has not been decided or cannot... Continue Reading →
When we think of the future, we often imagine a cleaner, more sustainable world powered by renewable energy. However, this dream remains elusive unless we address the bureaucratic hurdles that slow down our progress. Today, there is an ongoing debate on Capitol Hill surrounding permitting reform and there are implications for design professionals to consider.... Continue Reading →
Design firms provide professional services to their clients, and the agreement to provide these services should be well documented in their contracts. To protect both the design firm and its clients, it is essential to have well-drafted professional services agreements that manage contractual risks. These agreements outline the terms and conditions of the project, including... Continue Reading →
Introduction As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts gain increasing traction, there is a common misconception that ESG in the design and construction industry is only about “sustainability” in terms of environmentally sustainable design services. However, ESG goes way beyond that—it is about sustainable business models. ESG performance, measured against internationally recognized ESG standards and... Continue Reading →
On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a new rule that would restrict the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. Non-compete clauses are intended to prohibit employees from working for competitors of their current employer for a certain period of time after leaving their job. According to the overview of the... Continue Reading →
Some design firms have probably heard of ESG risks, which refer to environmental, social, and governance risk factors that can impact a firm’s performance, long-term value, and reputation. There is a common misconception that ESG risk factors are non-financial risks, which is inaccurate. In fact, many ESG risks pose significant financial consequences to businesses and... Continue Reading →
One of the biggest challenges faced by employers with remote workers is how to comply with wage and hour laws. While design firms have been able to classify many employees as “professionals,” they still have hourly non-exempt employees, including many who now work all or part of their hours at their homes. Federal law requires... Continue Reading →
While environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance is increasingly becoming a focus in the design and construction industry, there remains quite a bit of confusion over the goals behind ESG and their impact on design firms. Some of the questions that seem to be percolating around ESG are: Is it about concern over profits? Is... Continue Reading →
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly important to design firms for a variety of reasons. In this post, we will explore why ESG matters to design firms and how they can integrate these considerations into their projects and business practices. First, it's important to understand what ESG means. Environmental considerations relate to a... Continue Reading →
As 2022 winds down and we look back, the biggest story (other than the war in Ukraine) was the passage of the most historic climate law in US history, the Inflation Reduction Act (Act). The new law aims to transform the US economy to align with the global urgency of taking action to mitigate the... Continue Reading →
