AA+I News & Insights

The General Notes

Design thinking, process notes, and market insights from the AA+I team.

Why the Lowest Bid Is Rarely the Cheapest
Residential + Commercial2 min read

Why the Lowest Bid Is Rarely the Cheapest

A builder who underbids by a wide margin has to recover it somewhere, usually through change orders or corners that surface years later.

Aug 17, 2026
The Real Math on Design Fees for a $200K to $500K Build-Out
commercial5 min read

The Real Math on Design Fees for a $200K to $500K Build-Out

The fee difference between firms runs to four figures, while the costs that fee controls run to five.

Aug 14, 2026
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Residential + Commercial1 min read

Where the Industry's Money Actually Leaks

U.S. construction loses about $177 billion a year to labor spent on avoidable problems, and 48% of all rework traces to poor project information and miscommunication.

Aug 5, 2026
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Residential + Commercial1 min read

The Mistake Allowance the Federal Government Wrote Down

The National Research Council treats change orders from architect and engineer errors of up to 5% of construction cost as normal. On a $2M home that is $100,000 of surprises, and a complete drawing set exists to beat that yardstick.

Aug 4, 2026
Why the Architect Should Be There Until the End
Residential + Commercial1 min read

Why the Architect Should Be There Until the End

Drawings are half the job, and making sure the building matches them is the other half. An attorney who defends architects explains why construction administration is the wrong place to cut costs.

Aug 3, 2026
How to Actually Compare Architecture Proposals
Residential + Commercial3 min read

How to Actually Compare Architecture Proposals

Learn how to compare architecture proposals by looking beyond fees. Discover why document quality is the most critical factor in controlling project costs.

Jun 30, 2026
Nine out of ten early projects came from people who already knew me
Residential + Commercial3 min read

Nine out of ten early projects came from people who already knew me

I had no capital to advertise. Nobody was going to find me. If those people hadn't known what I was doing, there wouldn't have been a firm.

Jun 18, 2025
Society Park Featured in Orlando Business Journal
commercial2 min read

Society Park Featured in Orlando Business Journal

Aleskovsky Architecture + Interiors shares its vision for Society Park, a new International Drive complex designed to shift the corridor from a tourist hotspot into a destination that appeals to local residents.

May 14, 2025
Orlando's I-Drive to Get Upscale Padel Development
commercial2 min read

Orlando's I-Drive to Get Upscale Padel Development

Society Park aims to redefine the country club experience for a new generation, bringing a fresh blend of sports and entertainment to a prime location on International Drive.

May 7, 2025
I held the stamp and none of the decisions
Residential + Commercial3 min read

I held the stamp and none of the decisions

The liability sat with me and the control didn't. That is a genuinely uncomfortable place to sit, and it doesn't get more comfortable with time.

Apr 14, 2025
My second hire wasn't a drafter
Residential + Commercial2 min read

My second hire wasn't a drafter

I am never going to be the uber-communicator who answers a client text at one in the morning. But I can find someone who is.

Jan 22, 2025
What it actually costs to add a licensed architect
Residential + Commercial2 min read

What it actually costs to add a licensed architect

It's entirely possible to end up with more revenue and a worse margin than you had before, doing more work under more pressure and feeling less profitable, because you are.

Nov 5, 2024
I don't compete on dollars per square foot
Residential + Commercial3 min read

I don't compete on dollars per square foot

People don't build their dream home three or four times. Most of them haven't done it once. The value of a trusted adviser is concentrated entirely in the one shot you get.

Sep 12, 2024
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