FGM Architects Modernizes Specifications for Enhanced Project Delivery

For over seven decades, FGM Architects has been committed to excellence in creating spaces that serve and elevate the communities they support. At the heart of every successful project lies more than great architecture: it requires clear, high-quality project documentation that brings vision into reality. Accurate, up-to-date specifications are especially critical, defining materials, performance standards, and construction requirements that influence everything from building quality to compliance and efficiency.

As FGMA's national presence has grown—alongside a diverse portfolio spanning public safety, faith-based, higher education, and PK-12 projects—the need to evolve its specification process became clear. To maintain the same level of rigor and sophistication in documentation as in design, FGMA took intentional steps to strengthen and modernize its approach to specifications.

As a long-standing Deltek client, FGMA recognized that Deltek Specpoint represented the next evolution in specification management — a natural progression in their technology journey. Leonard Debickero, the firm's Vice President/Technical Director who oversees quality control, including meticulous drawings and specifications review, led the implementation initiative. "We jumped in feet first," says Debickero about their move to this advanced software, driven by a desire to enhance efficiency and accuracy in their documentation process. The team understood that embracing modern specification software was not just an upgrade but a necessary evolution for the firm.

Empowering Teams with Intuitive Software

Adopting new software can often be a hurdle, but Specpoint's ease of use fostered a smooth transition for the FGMA team. Debickero found the software remarkably user-friendly: "Learning and implementing Specpoint was straightforward and quick to get started with. This intuitive learning curve has simplified team onboarding and training.” Debickero leverages Deltek's comprehensive tutorials to quickly equip team members, which have proven sufficient for users to become proficient. The user-friendly nature of Specpoint has facilitated quicker and easier adoption across FGMA's teams, minimizing disruption and accelerating their ability to leverage the software's benefits.

Today, FGMA actively manages more than thirty projects in Specpoint, a testament to how seamlessly the software has been integrated into its workflows.

The firm's thoughtful implementation strategy has contributed significantly to its successful adoption. FGMA identified a key champion within the organization that provided targeted training opportunities to support ongoing knowledge transfer. This approach has enabled team members across different experience levels to embrace the software's capabilities while maintaining productivity during the transition period, strengthening the firm's specification practices.

FGMA's successful adoption of Specpoint has delivered three key benefits that are transforming their specification process: access to always-current AIA MasterSpec® content for up-to-date compliance, flexible documentation tailored to each project phase, and software built to grow with their needs—offering future potential for improved alignment between drawings and specifications through BIM integration.

Leveraging the Power of Always Current AIA MasterSpec

Maintaining specification accuracy and adherence to the latest industry standards is non-negotiable for architectural firms. A significant advantage Debickero emphasizes is the continuous updates to AIA MasterSpec within Specpoint: "I like how it's always updated and current. It's MasterSpec's latest and greatest that you're reviewing." By having AIA MasterSpec directly within the software, FGMA ensures their specifications automatically reflect the most current industry standards, building codes, and product requirements, reducing the risk of errors and the time spent manually updating content.

Debickero highlights that one of Specpoint's most significant advantages lies in its streamlined specification management: "The ability to add specs and edit them is smooth." This ease of use translates directly into time savings and reduced manual effort. He particularly values the bulk editing capabilities, noting, "With Specpoint, you can toggle it on and off much quicker in bulk rather than individual lines," significantly accelerating the editing process for large specifications.

Specpoint's integration of current AIA MasterSpec content and efficient editing tools empowers FGMA to create accurate specifications with greater speed and less manual intervention.

Tailoring Specification Detail to Each Project Phase

The lifecycle of an architectural project is rarely linear, with varying levels of detail required at different stages. Specpoint's Level of Specifications (LOS) feature allows architects to adjust specification detail based on project phase. This functionality saves time by avoiding unnecessary details early on, while enabling more comprehensive information to be added as the project progresses—improving clarity, streamlining documentation, and enhancing overall efficiency. This flexibility impressed Debickero: "The ability to set how much content you want to show depending on where you're in the project is a great feature. If you want to just produce an outline spec in your schematic design phase, you could easily do that." With Specpoint’s LOS feature, FGMA tailors their specifications to the needs of each project phase, ensuring the right amount of information is included at every stage.

This adaptability proves particularly valuable for FGMA's diverse project portfolio, where requirements can vary significantly between educational facilities, public safety buildings, and faith-based institutions. By customizing specification details to match project complexity and phase requirements, the team eliminates unnecessary documentation while ensuring comprehensive coverage where needed, delivering more targeted, efficient service to their clients.

Ready for Tomorrow: Better Drawing and Spec Alignment

Achieving better alignment between drawings and specifications creates significant advantages for architecture and engineering firms, including reduced errors, minimized rework, and accelerated project timelines. FGMA recognizes this opportunity and sees technology as the pathway to a more streamlined future.

While FGMA is still exploring Specpoint's full potential, Debickero recognizes the significant advantages of its Building Information Modeling (BIM) integration capabilities. "The ability to coordinate with your BIM model for alignment between drawings and specs is a definite benefit," he notes. The Specpoint Revit integration promises improved accuracy, reduced clashes, and more efficient project delivery."

As building systems become increasingly complex, this integration represents a current advantage and a strategic investment in FGMA's technological future, positioning it to handle tomorrow's design challenges with greater insight.

Conclusion: A Holistic Solution for Specification Excellence

Debickero expresses a positive outlook on the firm's adoption of Specpoint: "Compared to other software I've worked with over the years, I found it intuitive and easy to get into." He sees Specpoint as a complete solution for their specification needs, adding, "It's a very comprehensive and intuitive program that is holistic in terms of what it can offer." This assessment underscores the software's potential to elevate FGMAs' specification process and contribute to their continued success in delivering high-quality projects. Through its intuitive design, access to current content, and forward-looking features like BIM integration, Deltek Specpoint offers FGMA a robust platform for achieving specification excellence.

About FGM Architects

Established in 1945, FGM Architects is a nationally recognized design firm committed to creating inspiring, functional spaces that enrich communities. With offices across the United States, FGMA's diverse portfolio encompasses projects in the public safety, faith-based, higher education, and PK-12 sectors. Their client-centered approach and dedication to design excellence have made them a trusted partner for organizations seeking innovative and sustainable architectural solutions.