Architecture

Diagnosing Your Construction Business: Using Baseline Financial Numbers to Improve Performance

Running a successful construction business requires more than skilled trades and reliable subcontractors. Just as a physician tracks vital signs to assess a patient’s health, savvy contractors monitor baseline financial numbers to diagnose what is working in their business and what needs attention. Without ever visiting a job site, you can predict the long-term viability […]

New England Building Business: Essential Legal and Construction Updates for 2025

Builders and remodelers across New England face a rapidly evolving landscape of legal requirements, construction technology, and business practices. From the historic stone walls that define the region’s character to modern energy-efficient heating systems, staying informed is critical for success. This article provides a comprehensive update on the key legal and business considerations shaping the

The Dirty Dozen: 12 Business Practices Destroying Contractor Profits

Contractors who consistently control costs, sweat the details, and work smart are the ones who stay in business and remain profitable. Those who fail to monitor productivity, control overhead, and build efficient organizations are often the first to fail when market conditions tighten. Understanding which business practices hurt profitability most is essential for long-term survival.

Diagnosing Your Construction Business: Using Baseline Numbers to Improve Performance

Just as a physician checks your weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure to assess your physical health, construction business owners can use key financial metrics to assess the health of their companies. In her article “Business Forum: Diagnosing Your Business” published in the Journal of Light Construction, business consultant Judith Miller drew a powerful analogy between

Builder’s Library: A Strategic Plan for Construction Business Success

Every successful builder knows that construction knowledge is the foundation of any thriving business. Yet many contractors overlook one of the most powerful tools available: a well-organized builder’s library. Whether you are a solo contractor or managing a large construction firm, maintaining a comprehensive collection of building standards, code references, material specifications, and project documentation

Setting Long-Term Goals in Construction Business: A Guide to Strategic Planning and Growth

For construction business owners, the difference between a company that thrives and one that merely survives often comes down to one thing: the ability to set and execute long-term goals. Industry experts have identified that clear communication and strategic planning are the bedrock of successful construction businesses. This guide explores how construction firm leadership transforms

Adaptive Reuse of Mid-Century Office Buildings: Converting the Oncor Building and Beyond

The conversion of aging commercial properties continues to reshape urban skylines across North America, and few projects illustrate the potential of this movement more vividly than the ongoing adaptive reuse of the Oncor Building in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The 27,871-square-meter (300,000-square-foot) former office tower is being transformed into a mixed-use destination through a carefully

Beyond Compliance: How Accessible Design Transforms Buildings into Inclusive Community Hubs

The University of California, Berkeley Creekside Center renovation demonstrates how accessibility-driven design can transform an existing building into a truly inclusive community hub. Designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects for the Disabled Students Program (DSP), this 817-square-meter retrofit goes far beyond minimum code compliance. It reimagines what a campus building can be when universal design