Conspectus, Inc.

From RFIs to Results: A LEGO-Powered Design Workshop RFIs, late changes, and rework don’t have to be the norm. This Friday at the CSI Southwest Region Conference, Steve Gantner is bringing an Immersive Experience with LEGOs that dives into structured decision-making, transparency, and collaboration. Using LEGOs as a hands-on tool, Steve will guide attendees through an interactive session to explore how structured formats can help clarify owner requirements, organize design info, and test solutions *before* issues become expensive. This isn't just play—it’s a powerful exercise in managing design intent with clarity and confidence. ✅ Learn the *why* behind structured data ✅ See how it drives smarter collaboration ✅ Walk away with a new lens for approaching project challenges It’s time to build better. One brick—and one decision—at a time. Learn more about the presentation and bring it to your conference: https://hubs.ly/Q03jCqKD0 #CSISouthwest #ConstructionInnovation #StructuredData #DesignCollaboration #LEGOWorkshop #AECO #BetterDecisionsBetterBuildings

🏀 *“Coach, I need a sub!”* 🏗️ Tomorrow is game day for the CSI Greater St. Louis Product Expo on Wednesday, April 16 at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Manchester, MO, and chapter member, and Conspectus, Inc. senior specifier Steve Gantner is presenting with colleague George Everding to present: 🎤 "Substitutions. Coach, I Need a Sub." Substitutions are more than just last-minute changes—they're a contract issue, a risk consideration, and a communication challenge. This session will unpack the who, what, when, and why of substitution requests: - Who has the authority to approve them? - What constitutes a valid substitution? - When are substitutions appropriate—and when do they undermine design intent or compromise performance? - Why the specifier’s role is critical in maintaining integrity and accountability in the process. Whether you're an architect, contractor, manufacturer, or specifier, understanding the nuances of substitutions can help you protect the project’s budget, schedule, and quality. Understand the critical topic of product substitutions—when they help, when they hurt, and how to handle them with clarity and confidence. 📍 550 Weidman Road, Manchester, MO 🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 🔗https://hubs.ly/Q03hvHFs0 #CSI #ConstructionSpecifications #StLouisAEC #ProductExpo #SpecificationWriting #Architecture #Construction #Substitutions #TeamworkInConstruction -

🎙️What the RFI?🎙️ David Stutzman & Steve Gantner sat on the other side of the podcast interview, when previous Deliberate Words podcast guest, Matt Brennan, invited them on to his show to dig deep into the specification process. He got a clear picture that when done correctly, specs will significantly reduce RFIs (Request for Information).....which is exactly what Matt is ALL about! Do these sound familiar on your projects: ➡️"Every job is the same." ➡️"It's just like the last one." ➡️"Two letters made the difference." ➡️"Vague specs lead to RFIs." ➡️"Tight specs eliminate RFIs." ➡️"Less is more." ➡️"Help us help you." Take a listen: https://hubs.ly/Q03gn4-q0

🏗️Learning From Contractors 🏗️ 👷♂️ Steve Gantner is attending the AGC National Convention in Columbus, OH! If you're there, be sure to connect with him! 💡 Unpopular opinion? Maybe. Important? Absolutely. Specifiers must understand the contractor’s perspective for the design process to truly succeed. At Conspectus, Inc. we respect what contractors and their pre-construction and VDC teams bring to the table. Their insights aren’t just helpful—they’re essential. When we work directly with these teams, we: ✅ Improve the design and documentation process ✅ Significantly reduce RFIs ✅ Minimize costly value engineering (VE) Designing in a silo just doesn't work anymore. Collaboration is key—and we're here for it. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q03gmMGY0 #AGCConference #Construction #DesignProcess #Specifiers #VDC #Preconstruction #Collaboration #Conspectus

🎆What. A. Conference!🎆 Thank you Central Pennsylvania for your hospitality and hosting CSI Mid-Atlantic Region in Lancaster, PA. The Conspectus team embraced every part of it! 🙌Enjoyed sponsoring, exhibiting, and sharing Conspectus Cloud with our specifier, architect, and product manufacturer colleagues. 🙌Toured of the world-wide headquarters of Armstrong World Industries. From their incredible product showcase to their Living Lab. 🙌Toured of Rock Lititz, learning unique solutions for sound control in their studios where they design sets for world-renown musicians and artists; and learning what design/build means for stage construction to fit in and travel around the country in trucks and to be re-constructed (and de-constructed) over and over for concerts. 🙌Comprehensive acoustic learning from @Christopher Brooks, Acoustic Distinctions, and @Kevin Cox, ATAS International, Inc. 🙌Spending time re-connecting with our friends from across the region is truly a special event. Who knew Lancaster was so much more than whoopie pies, buggies, and outlets? David Stutzman Hana H. Nguyenky Thomas P. Feulner, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, NCARB, SCIP Tina Montone, CSI, CDT Alan Geary Martin "Marty" Thornton II, CCS, CSI Marvin Kemp, AIA, FCSI, CDT Lee Ann Slattery, FCSI, CDT, CCPR, LEED AP Eric Hardenbrook Jeffrey Snyder, CSI, CCPR, CDT

📢The Mid-Atlantic Conspectus, Inc. crew is heading to Lancaster, PA for the CSI Middle Atlantic Region Conference on Thursday, April 3rd! ✨The "Sounds Googie" theme is enough of an intrigue to bring four Conspectians, David Stutzman, Thomas P. Feulner, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, NCARB, SCIP, Hana H. Nguyenky, and Tina Montone, CSI, CDT to an event. ✨However we know that a region conference is truly special, bringing industry friends and colleagues together for regional architectural tours, outstanding education, product showcase, and highly valued networking. ✨Conspectus Cloud will be featured in the product showcase, exposing the audience to the spec tool created by specifiers for specifiers, plus the entire project team....which is the foundation who CSI is - the ENTIRE project team - coming together to solve project challenges. ✨Conspectus Cloud accomplishes this goal. #ConspectusCloud, #MARC, #GoogieArchitecture, #CSI

🎙️Deliberate Words Podcast New Episode 🏗️What does it take to build a world-class facility? A bold owner. A unified contractor team. And One Hard Hat—the mindset that made it all possible. In our latest episode, we sit down with Kevin Sell and Brandon Jordan of The Kwest Group to unpack the incredible story behind the construction of Air Products’ new air and gas separation unit in Wilson, Arkansas. This isn’t just another feel-good construction story. It's a case study in how deep collaboration, trust, and shared purpose can transform outcomes. Backed by hard data from Project Summit, the results speak for themselves: ✅ 88% boost in site productivity ✅ 10% cost savings ✅ 80% fewer safety incidents ✅ 92% collaboration & coordination ✅ ZERO rework ✅ ZERO team turnover Yes—**zero.** Kevin and Brandon share how the “One Hard Hat” approach aligned the entire team under one vision—and how this model can be*replicated. 🎧 Tune in to hear how they did it—and what’s possible when everyone shows up as one team: https://hubs.ly/Q03f4LZF0 David Stutzman Steve Gantner #construction #leadership #projectmanagement #safety #collaboration #AirProducts #KwestGroup #OneHardHat #podcast

📢Chris Ricke, RA, CCS, SCIP, Senior Specifier and Steve Gantner, Senior Specifier and Executive VP, will be attending the CSI - North Central Region Conference “The Art of Construction: Crafting Excellence in Project Delivery" in Omaha, NE, from March 26–28. As active members of their respective CSI chapters and the North Central Region, they champion lifelong learning and meaningful connections within the CSI community and the broader industry. Chris & Steve support education from multiple perspectives... As part of the Conspectus specification writing course team, they might have been your guide if you've taken our class! Touch base with Chris & Steve in Omaha at CSI! Sign up for a our fall spec writing course: https://hubs.ly/Q03dxNfY0 #CSI #CSINorthCentralRegion #ProjectDelivery #Specification #ConstructionIndustry #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #BuildingKnowledge

With over 40 years of experience in the spec writing industry, David Stutzman has written with and written for past and present specification tools. Trends, technology, tools change. 💡Where are we now? 💡Where do we go from here? 💡How do you choose the best tool for your firm.....and your project team? ❇️Are you and your project team using the right tool? Find Dave at spArc and ask him. More about spArc: https://hubs.ly/Q03cZRd90

Grilling Recap from CSI Philadelphia: Fast-Track Document Management 💡When contractors, architects, and subcontractors engage in open dialogue from the start, challenges become opportunities, and efficiency takes center stage. By working together, teams can navigate tight timelines with confidence. 💡Planning is just as critical. Understanding what’s required upfront ensures the right documents are delivered at the right time to meet work package requirements—minimizing rework and keeping projects on track. 💡A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion! Let’s keep the momentum going and continue breaking down silos to drive better project outcomes. Thank you NELSON Worldwide for hosting! 💡Wondering where Conspectus will be next? We are ALWAYS up to something...sharing, educating, grilling, and just having fun in the industry! Sign up for our blog, podcast, and/or newsletter: https://hubs.ly/Q03bYf0G0 #CSIPhillyGrilleSeries #ConstructionCollaboration #FastTrackProjects