Level Design Podcast Scott Zurn

In this conversation, Miles and Scott explore the technical and non-technical skills that design professionals should focus on, such as keeping up with technology and developing strong people skills.

The conversation highlights the changing business model in the industry and the need for engineers and architects to adapt to new technologies like AI. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation and continuous learning in order to thrive in this field.

Timestamps

0:19 Settling Around Waterways in the 1660s

3:02 Drinking and Wasting in the Same River

5:35 Cold Winters and Lack of Amenities

8:23 Building Codes and Urban Fires

11:22 Technical and Non-Technical Skills for Design Professionals

19:00 Specialization and the Changing Business Model

20:57 The Need for Technical and People Skills

23:43 The Importance of Communication Skills

26:13 The Impact of AI and the Future of the Industry

28:33 The Ripple Effect of Being a People Person

30:32 Preparing for a Thriving Career in Engineering and Architecture

Keywords

US infrastructure, history, tradespeople, engineering, architecture, mentoring, environmental protection, shortage of engineers

Connect with us:

The Level Design Podcast is a podcast for Architects and Engineers who want to thrive in this industry by creating more freedom, fulfillment and financial security.

Join us in uncovering how to restore value and honor to the unique people who choose to be designers and caretakers of our built world and why it’s essential to the future of our society, our industry, and our planet.

Podcast website: https://www.leveldesignpod.comGet involved: https://leveldesignpartners.com

Why are Architects & Engineers leaving the industry in the US while the market is increasing and our country is in dire need of more designers?

Scott shares his journey in engineering, why many of his peers (especially younger generations) are leaving, the need to restore value to the profession, and what we’ve been working on for the past 10 years to solve this problem.

Scott describes how his company (Level Engineering & Architecture) is gradually shifting the culture of designers in the US to impact the planet and increase the value of the designer and why this is imperative to our future.

They discuss the growing value of tradespeople, challenges with water and sanitation, the limitations of government in environmental protection, as well as the 1650’s in their ongoing “How We Got Here” History series.

Chapters

03:00 The Value of Tradespeople

06:00 Challenges of Water and Sanitation

10:00 The Importance of Human Convenience

12:00 The Limitations of Government in Environmental Protection

16:00 The Motivation for Creating Level Engineering and Architecture

22:00 Scott's Journey in Engineering and Architecture

26:00 The Decline of Enjoyment in the Industry

30:00 Restoring Value to Engineering and Architecture

35:00 Mentoring and Passing on Knowledge

36:00 Future Episodes and Behind-the-Scenes of Level Engineering and Architecture

Keywords

US infrastructure, history, tradespeople, engineering, architecture, mentoring, environmental protection, shortage of engineers

Connect with us:

The Level Design Podcast is a podcast for Architects and Engineers who want to thrive in this industry by creating more freedom, fulfillment and financial security.

Join us in uncovering how to restore value and honor to the unique people who choose to be designers and caretakers of our built world and why it’s essential to the future of our society, our industry, and our planet.

Podcast website: https://www.leveldesignpod.com

Get involved: https://leveldesignpartners.com

In this conversation, Miles and Scott discuss the history of infrastructure in the US in the 1940s, increasing complexity of building regulations, AI’s impact on construction projects, improving existing buildings, and the shortage of engineers and architects in the US and the impacts of outsourcing.

Where is there more opportunity and job security for A&E’s? Should we be focusing on new and exciting projects, or fixing and maintaining existing infrastructure?

Are existing projects more important than new projects?

Is AI going to take our jobs or create new jobs?

Are A&E’s excited about their work?



Chapters

00:48 How we got here (1640s)

01:18 The Growing Code Industry and Regulatory Environment

12:12 The Potential Impact of Outsourcing Engineering Work

25:27 The Importance of Maintaining and Improving Existing Buildings and Infrastructure



Keywords

US infrastructure, history, regulatory environment, engineering, architecture, code industry, timber-framed buildings, shortage of engineers, outsourcing, AI, maintaining existing buildings



Connect with us:

The Level Design Podcast is a podcast for Architects and Engineers who want to thrive in this industry by creating more freedom, fulfillment and financial security.

Join us in uncovering how to restore value and honor to the unique people who choose to be designers and caretakers of our built world and why it’s essential to the future of our society, our industry, and our planet.

Podcast website: https://www.leveldesignpod.com

Get involved: https://leveldesignpartners.com

After 17 episodes, we took a break to refocus on business. Now we’re back with a completely new format.

You can expect 2 episodes a month (Audio + video) with a new cohost (Miles) and some incredible guests.

We’ll be sitting down with engineers, architects, business leaders and entrepreneurs, city officials, and infrastructure experts to explore how we got here, what’s happening today, and how to build a better industry and world.

We’ll also be discussing some new and exciting opportunities for design professionals to dramatically change the way they work.

In this conversation, we explore the cost of neglecting infrastructure and the ripple effect it has on so many areas of our lives.

We also discuss the responsibility of design professionals and the economic impact of infrastructure investment. The conversation delves into the need for a shift in perspective and the potential solutions to address the expanding knowledge gap.

We Cover:

Introducing Miles as the New Co-host

Bringing a Different Perspective

The Importance of Understanding Infrastructure History

The Cost of Neglecting Infrastructure

The Ripple Effect of Infrastructure on Cost and Convenience

The Current State of American Infrastructure

Whose Responsibility is Infrastructure?

Advancements in Materials and Physics in the 1630s

The Impact of Trade Routes on Infrastructure

The Influence of Rivers on City Planning

Connect with us:

The Level Design Podcast is a podcast for Architects and Engineers who want to thrive in this industry by creating more freedom, fulfillment and financial security.

Join us in uncovering how to restore value and honor to the unique people who choose to be designers and caretakers of our built world and why it’s essential to the future of our society, our industry, and our planet.

Podcast website: https://www.leveldesignpod.com

Get involved: https://leveldesignpartners.com

Scott sits down with Wade Williamson and his team at Axium Inspections.

Colorado's #1 inspection company and growing nationally.

Over 20 Certified Home Inspectors who offer full-service home and commercial inspection services, including radon testing, sewer scopes, well & mold inspections, lead testing, asbestos inspections, drone inspections and more!

So what are inspections? Why do we need them? How did we get here?

Axium Inspections website: axiuminspections.com

Level Engineering website: levelengineering.com

We're hiring: https://www.levelengineering.com/jobs

A lot is changing in our industry. One thing we know won't work is to fight that change. Instead, how do we use technology and model changes to our advantage? What issues com from the old model? What can we learn from the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021? What needs to change, what's changing, and how can we evolve as Architects, Engineers, and Designers?