Bringing Value Back to Consulting Engineering

In a previous blog, I discussed the lack of perceived value in the architectural and engineering (AE) consulting business. The problem statement was: Why are fees and services declining relative to other players in the construction space?

Many in the consulting biz lament the downward pressure on fees, conversations with clients about the minimum services and level of design they really need, and the decreasing scope of involvement of the consultant. I argued that the root cause of this was the declining relevance of the services and skills that we offer to the client embarking on a significant construction project.

A Hard Look AT Consulting Engineering CYA Notes And 3 Tips To Avoid Them

I recently discussed the lack of perceived value in the architectural and engineering consulting business (AE) in a previous blog post. The problem statement was: Why are fees and services declining relative to other players in the construction space?

I previously mentioned that our industry’s pivot away from a primary focus on quality deliverables to a primary focus on managing liability has negatively impacted both our culture and our value to our customers and end users.

Returning Value to the Consulting Engineering Profession

I was recently sent this article from the Architectural Record by one of my consultant friends with whom I often commiserate about the struggles of being a design professional in today’s market. The article discusses the “race to the bottom” in the past ten years or so by the professional consulting industry (just replace the word “architect” in the article with “consulting engineer” and all the themes still apply).