Architecting Excellence: Top Strategies for High-Performance Teams in Architecture & Engineering

Discover how new technology is helping high-performing architecture and engineering teams deliver the best possible service for clients.

In the dynamic fields of architecture and engineering, the ability to form and maintain high-performance teams is essential for delivering exceptional service to clients. By emphasizing collaborative culture, leveraging cutting edge technology and optimizing leadership and team dynamics, A&E teams can navigate complex projects with greater efficiency and innovation.

To help navigate the opportunities available to boost productivity, retain employees and attract new talent, we invited three leaders in architecture and engineering companies to share their perspectives on building high-performing teams.

Collin Burry FIDA LEED AP, Principal at Gensler UK, Trond Markussen, President of NITO, the Norwegian Association of Engineers and Technologists, and Damir Jaksic, Chief Information Officer at KEO International Consultants made up our panel of experts with Deltek’s Megan Miller, Director of Product Marketing, moderating the discussion.

You can explore all the insights in our webinar: Building High-Performance Teams in Architecture and Engineering. But to whet your appetite, here are three key takeaways.

1. Leveraging Technology and Training for High-Performance A&E Teams

This year's Deltek Clarity report revealed that businesses see investing in IT infrastructure and technology innovation as their biggest growth opportunity. And our webinar panelists echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the primary focus of such technology should be on enhancing client satisfaction.

"Understanding our clients' needs is our priority," Damir says. "Keep your clients happy, and the business will be there. Keep your employees happy, and the clients will come."

However, the adoption of new technology must be balanced with robust cybersecurity measures, as 78% of Deltek Clarity participants expressed concerns about cybersecurity risks and breaches. Additionally, ensuring that employees receive training is crucial, though there has been a troubling decline in training completion rates, as noted by Trond.

"On one hand, we say that we need lifelong learning and training courses to be in the right shape to do our job," he remarked. "But less and less engineers are able to get that training. This could be due to a heavy workload – leaving no time for training." So, as well as new tools, organizations should ensure that teams have the time they need to upskill, increase their knowledge, or stay compliant.

2. Empowering Teams and Enhancing Client Experiences with AI

As firms become more familiar with AI, they are exploring opportunities to deploy generative AI to support their workforce. Training programs and established clear guidelines are crucial to building trust in AI within project-focused firms, reassuring employees that AI is a tool to enhance their productivity not a threat to their livelihoods.

For Norway's largest trade union for engineers and technologists, using education programs to inspire curiosity is key to encouraging adoption. "Together with two other trade unions in Norway, we asked the question: What is AI, and what can it be used for?" says Trond. "So we made a training course, and we've put it in an open free space where everyone can use it and get a basic knowledge of the possibilities and any downsides."

AI can significantly improve the speed, accuracy, and quality of the work delivered by teams, leading to higher client satisfaction. However, it is essential to understand your client’s perspectives on AI – whether they are enthusiastic or hesitant – so you can tailor your approach accordingly.

Once an ethical AI framework is in place, firms can explore innovative ways to impress clients. At KEO International Consultants, AI has significantly impacted both the virtual workplace and the physical world. As Damir notes, "AI has been instrumental in co-designing interior spaces and assisting our landscape architects with conceptual drawings."

3. Building Sustainable Futures: Empowering A&E Teams from Day One

In a client-driven sector like A&E, high-performing teams must continually anticipate evolving client needs and adapt accordingly. For our panel of experts, sustainability has become a key focus for clients – and, therefore, an important factor in project design and delivery.

Historically, businesses have relied on certifications to demonstrate sustainability to clients. However, today’s clients demand tangible measurements of real-world carbon impacts. By equipping teams with data on the carbon footprint of materials and ensuring access to the most sustainable options, clients can be confident their sustainability expectations will be met.

As Collin explains, Gensler UK is taking steps to build a greener sample library and set a template for others to follow. "We have a new program that provides standards to measure carbon and whether a product is inherently sustainable," he says. "We're taking the top ones like carpet or plasterboard – the materials we know we'll use in every single project. And, hopefully, the industry will adapt and change with us."

Watch the Full Webinar for Further Insights

This is just a selection of insights from our experts about how you can develop higher-performing A&E teams.

Catch up on demand to also discover what the panel had to say on employee wellbeing programs, recruitment and retention, the ethical implications of AI, how digital twins and IoT can enable smarter, more sustainable buildings and much more.