November Chapter Meeting

The Future of Specifications: A Panel Discussion

The construction industry is rapidly changing with new technologies, increased awareness of sustainability and resiliency, and many firms no longer have a dedicated spec writer. Most people think specifications are just that giant door stop, and many emerging professionals don't want to be pigeon-holed into writing specifications. Some people believe that the specifier will always exist, but the role of the specifier will inevitably change, and Portland CSI wants to lead a conversation on what that might look like. 

Come join our panel of distinguished specifiers who will be discussing the current and future use of specifications, their best tips, pet peeves, product reps, and how to help train the next generation. 

Learning Objectives:

1. What is it like to be a specifier in today's construction industry?
2. Are digital master specs the future of spec writing?
3. Are specifications even going to be part of construction documents in the future?
4. How are we going to get our next generation of specifiers interested in writing specs?
5. How can Trusted Advisors and Product Reps help?

AIA CEU Available!

Michael Thrailkill, AIA CSI-CDT, NCARB, LEED-AP, Michael Thrailkill LLP
Michael's first decade of experience was as a designer, architect, and project manager at firms in South Florida and New England, and benefited from the large number of projects and the wide variety of clients in those regions. The next decade of his career brought Michael to Oregon, where project types evolved to include more higher education, corporate headquarters, tenant improvements, and civic/government projects.  Michael started his own practice in late 2014, and the firm of five employees is now working with a well-rounded group of local design-savvy firms, as well as several others in Miami, Los Angeles and Vancouver BC. Travel is the pastime that most informs Michael’s awareness of style, materials, detailing, construction methods and architecture in general. Through his and his staffs’ experiences engaging other cultures they aspire to enrich the projects his firm is involved with and the design teams with whom they interact.

Beth Stroshane, CCS, LEED AP, Applied Building Information LLC
Beth Stroshane is Managing Partner of Applied Building Information LLC, an independent specifications consulting firm based near Seattle, Washington. Prior to starting the practice in 2013, she wrote specifications for large architecture firms in the Seattle area. Beth works on a wide range of projects: she produces specifications for new buildings and renovations of existing facilities, serves public and private clients, and participates in design/bid/build, design/build, and negotiated contracts. Currently Beth is writing specifications for a Living Building Pilot project in Fremont.  She is also active in CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) and speaks nationally at industry events.

 John Lape AIA, FCSI, FCSC, CCS, John Lape Architecture
John Lape became the head of his own architectural firm in 1988. He is licensed in 14 different states. He was the Portland CSI president in 1993 and 1994, and was on the national CSI Board 1996 through 1999. He is a current member of the national AIA Education Committee and the AIA Board Knowledge Committee, and is a Fellow in both CSI and CSC. 

Richard Heiserman, FCSI, CCCA, AIA, Ankrom Moisan Architects
Richard is a licensed architect and has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Oregon. He has over 35 years of experience in the construction industry and has worked for Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects for the last 17 years. In addition to providing technical assistance and specification writing for projects within the office, Rick provides quality control on selected projects. He joined the Construction Specification Institute in 1986 becoming a Fellow in 2006.  He is serving as Chair of the Institute's Jury of Fellows.

Dennet W. Latham, AIA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP, Specification Consultant
Dennet is a registered architect in Oregon with over 35 years of architectural experience including design development, construction document preparation, construction specifications writing, construction contract administration, and technical resource responsibilities for industrial, commercial, institutional, and education projects with construction budgets ranging from $500 thousand to over $500 million. After 24 years with CH2M, Dennet is continuing his career as an independent specifications consultant.  As a CSI member, Dennet has been a Portland Chapter board member, two-time Portland Chapter President and is currently the CSI Northwest Region past president.

Alexander Lungershausen, AIA, CSI, Hennebery Eddy
Alexander is an architect and specifications writer who has written specifications for work valued at over $220 million, including 27 LEED certified projects. In his design work, Alexander integrates the open-mindedness of art with the elegant focus of engineering. His specifications are closely coordinated with the design drawings to minimize questions and errors during construction. Alexander is a Fulbright Scholar with Master of Architecture degrees from the University of New Mexico and from the Technical University, Berlin.