• home
  • chevron_right
  • Courses
  • chevron_right
  • Leveraging Public Sector Projects for Small & Mid-Sized Firms

Leveraging Public Sector Projects for Small & Mid-Sized Firms

AIAU24-PAKC01R
Included in subscription Included in subscription
1.0 LU
Course expires on: 11/14/2027
$30
Architect$30

Member Price

$45

Non-member Price

Sign in to purchase chevron_right

Description

The public sector is experiencing a surge in project demand—driven by new federal, state, and local funding sources and increased fee limits for Department of Defense (DoD) projects—presenting small and mid-sized architecture and design firms an unprecedented opportunity to expand their practice and influence. Traditionally, these lucrative public projects have been dominated by large firms, but the landscape is shifting—allowing smaller firms to compete and succeed.

This comprehensive course is designed to equip architecture and design professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to identify, pursue, and secure public sector projects. Through a discussion of key case studies, you’ll learn how to navigate the complexities of public procurement processes, use your skills and experience, and strategically position your firm to win public contracts. You’ll develop the skills to leverage emerging public sector opportunities to diversify your project portfolio and grow your small business. 

Learning Objectives

check

Learn how government agencies work with architects on small and large public sector projects.

check

Discover how firms can leverage their experience in sustainability and resilient design to qualify for public contracts.

check

Learn how to develop a successful public agency proposal that attests to your creativity and skills and applies to all levels of public work.

check

Understand what qualifications-based selection means and explore strategies for breaking into public work.

Presented in partnership with the Public Architects Committee (PAKC).

PAKC Logo

Instructors
Illya   Azaroff
FAIA

Illya Azaroff, FAIA is the founding principal of +LAB architect whose mission is to build resilient capacity and advance goals for a sustainable, regenerative future while giving underserved communities greater voice and visibility. He is an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, resilient planning, and design strategies. An Associate professor at New York City of Technology (CUNY). He serves as a technical expert for the New York Climate Impact Assessment appointed by Governor Hochul.  As AIA New York state disaster coordinator, he founded the AIA Unified Task Force City and State addressing impacts of COVID19.  Illya is advising HUD, the federal government, as part of the Resilient Housing Task force. While with ICC/ANCR- the Alliance for National Community Resilience helped create community resilience benchmarking system. He is a founding director of KIGRR - Kalinago Institute for Global Resilience and Regeneration on the island of Dominica. His office is advancing culturally significant community resilience hubs and regenerative cluster housing in several communities across the world. He served as the 2021 AIA New York State president and founding co-chair DfRR Design for Risk and Reconstruction at AIA New York (2011-21). Prior to coming to New York, he worked in Germany, Italy and Holland. He has worked in the field for over 25 years.

Mahbuba Khan
AIA

Mahbuba Khan  is a former Lead Architect at US Army Corps and Capitol Project Manager at City of Dallas, TX. She is the founding president of MnKhan Architects, an MWBE firm focused in public projects in community, institutional and Federal level.

She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from a sister school of Texas A&M from Bangladesh and Masters in Public Administration from University of North Texas. Her 25 years experience includes work at international firms, own practice, City of Dallas Bond, Federal healthcare and mission critical programs along with serving various AIA board positions. 

Paula Loomis
PhD, FAIA, FSAME, LEED BD&C, PMP, AICP, CPHC, GGP
With 38 years of master planning, architectural design, construction management, and facility operations worldwide, Dr Loomis has experience with the largest federal facility agencies including the Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers, and Navy), Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard (CG)), and General Services Administration. Prior to retiring from civil service, Dr Loomis was the Executive Director for the CG’s Shore Infrastructure Logistic Center where she was responsible for the planning, programming, design, construction, and operation of 28,000 buildings and structures at over 2,000 sites nationwide.
Etty Padmodipoetro
AIA, NOMA, Loeb Fellow

Ms. Padmodipoetro is the founder and principal of Urban Idea Lab, where she concentrates on inclusive and equitable design; her accessibility work addresses physical, visual, and cognitive mobility limitations. She believes in a strong collaboration with surrounding communities and stakeholders to bring social equity through design.

Her office specializes in infrastructure and community development projects. She finds it critical to balance large-scale infrastructure projects with their surrounding neighborhoods. She is currently working on master plans, transit-oriented developments, transit systems, highways, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, and integrated public arts. 

She also works closely with architects and academics in Indonesia on infrastructure projects. She served on the 2023 AIA National Board, 2022 Chair of AIA Housing Awards, and the 2020 Chair of AIA Housing Community Development Knowledge Community. She is currently a member of AIA Board Knowledge Committee.

 

Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham
AIA

Ludmilla Pavlova is an architect, planner and project manager with over 30 years of professional experience, over two decades of which was dedicated to the University of Massachusetts community. She has contributed to and managed a wide spectrum of complex, multi-million-dollar projects, including master plans, carbon mitigation plans, historic preservation and building feasibility studies, as well as the design and construction management of corporate, municipal, and academic facilities for science, the humanities and student life.

Similar courses

card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Leveraging Public Sector Projects for Small & Mid-Sized Firms
Wednesday, November 6, 2024  |  2:00-3:00pm EST The public sector is experiencing a surge in project demand—driven by new federal, state, and local funding sources and increased fee limits for Department of Defense (DoD) projects—presenting small and mid-sized architecture and design firms an unprecedented opportunity to expand their practice and influence. Traditionally, these lucrative public projects have been dominated by large firms, but the landscape is shifting—allowing smaller firms to compete and succeed. This comprehensive course is designed to equip architecture and design professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to identify, pursue, and secure public sector projects. Through a discussion of key case studies, you’ll learn how to navigate the complexities of public procurement processes, use your skills and experience, and strategically position your firm to win public contracts. You’ll develop the skills to leverage emerging public sector opportunities to diversify your project portfolio and grow your small business. 

1.0 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Employing Passive Systems for Load Reduction | Course 5
Properly designed, a building captures existing site resources such as light, wind, and solar radiation to provide for the comfort and needs of occupants. Passive systems work in concert with site resources to manage building energy demand through design.  This session will build upon the concepts introduced in Courses 3 and 4 and explore a holistic strategy for designing passive systems.  The AIA+2030 Online Series is an AIA and Architecture 2030 co-production. It's based on the highly successful AIA+2030 Professional Series, which was created by AIA Seattle and Architecture 2030, with support from the City of Seattle and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

1.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Setting Fees
This course takes a detailed look at setting fees, providing you with in-depth understanding of the impact of risk and the value of the services architects provide.  You will learn "top-down", "bottom-up" and 'staff level" methods for building fees, with additional discussion of creating and managing contingencies properly.   Course expires on 5/21/2026.

1.00 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Why is Accessibility So Hard?
Accessible design is inherently challenging because it’s not a "settled science." Standards are constantly evolving—sometimes even in conflict with one another. This course will cut through the confusion. Our discussion/exploration will: Review compliance missteps and achievements in real-world scenarios Identify phases of the design process where various concerns are best addressed Help you create a clear plan for accessibility success Address questions, comments, and concerns from members like you Hear from accessibility experts and learn from the experiences of your peers in this clarifying course. Course expires on 4/19/2026.

1.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Disruptive Small Firm Practices: Innovative Models for Expanding Services
A disruptive innovation helps create a new market and value network. In this course, three professionals will demonstrate how firms can utilize these innovations to expand into more sustainable and resilient business models beyond traditional architecture. Learn how to: Utilize tools to re-conceptualize your firm's expanded services offerings Determine how expanded services integrate with your current business models Develop strategies for marketing expanded services to new and existing architectural clients Consider how expanded services augment opportunities for traditional architectural services offerings Course expires on 1/2/2026.

1.00 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Accessible Architecture: Designing for Success (Part 2)
To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law. In Part 2, go in depth on compliance issues regarding accessible routes, ramps, parking spaces, protruding objects, doors and clear floor space, controls, and counters. Typical design issues will be highlighted regarding convenience stores, gas stations, and other retail outlets as well as specific cases involving owner decisions which negate ADA compliance. Course expires 5/22/2025

1.25 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Business of Architecture: Finance and Risk Management for Architects
This course explores concepts related to the finances in running an architecture firm and risk management. Large firms, small firms as well as sole practitioners need financial plans and risk management plans to sustain their practices, relationships and livelihood. Risk management should be embedded into the DNA of any firm or project. Learn high level ideas related to capitalization and investing and how you can apply them using the ABC’s of finance (Agreements, Budgets & Billing, and Collections) as well as key principles and considerations in managing risk at both the firm and project levels. Course expires 05/30/2025

1.50 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Copy-Catting: Intellectual Property Principles and Rights
This course instructs architects and other design professionals about principles of intellectual property law as they relate to the creation, reproduction and use of original drawings, specifications and other documents. It is based on the premise that every design professional should have a solid working knowledge of intellectual property law, particularly copyright law, as it affects their work products and their use of other people’s work products. The issues have to do with compensation, professional credit and professional liability and are very important to the business of architecture. Course expires 4/19/2025

1.00 LU|HSW
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
AIA Entrepreneur Summit 2015: New Models
Within the context of business models, what are the characteristics that would make someone a successful entrepreneur? What are the obstacles for architects to break out of our traditional model? Economics plays a central role in our ability to expand services or take our practice in new directions.  Our expert panel, moderated by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, considers ways in which architects can create new sources of revenue by expanding their practices in different ways and embracing new models for doing business.  Questions explored include how architects are uniquely suited to development, key measures for exploring development opportunities, and factors influencing the decision process around undertaking a new business venture.   This cutting-edge discussion will inspire and enlighten you. This course expires on 4/20/2026.  

1.50 LU
card_membership Included in subscription
Included in subscription
Implementing the 2012 IECC for Commercial Construction
The 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code has been adopted by AHJs in many parts of the country. The 2012 IECC is a quantum leap forward in building performance and will have a significant impact on how architects and engineers work together to design high energy efficient, high performance buildings. In this course, speakers illustrate the changes in the code affecting architecture design and give an in depth look into the building science and physics behind the the changes and how they will result in significant energy reductions. They will emphasize that the process to achieve compliance must be a team effort among all members of the project early on and describe how to demonstrate compliance with the code and advantages and disadvantages for each pathway. This course is presented in collaboration with AIA Middle Tennessee, which produced the course and provided it for delivery on AIAU.  Course expires 5/22/2025

2.00 LU|HSW