Minimize architectural risk and time with these top 10 specification support factors. If growing a thriving architectural practice was only about design, that would be one thing. But it’s not. It takes diplomacy, grit, and talent to navigate often conflicting aims of project owners, general contractors, engineers, and code officials while staying true to aesthetic, performance, timeline, and sustainability goals. It’s a lot to get right. That’s where Scott Alden comes in. Consider Alden a trusted advocate of the architect’s creative vision. For nearly four decades he has served as a building product pro’s pro by helping hundreds of residential and light commercial architects advance their practice through material specification counsel. “Architectural consultants perform a necessary advisory role,” says Alden, an architectural representative specializing in windows and doors for JELD-WEN’s Architectural Services Group. “It’s my job to make sure the application delivers on size, aesthetics, schedule, and performance.” A Welcome Challenge…

Keep these four factors in mind on your next project. What do architects value most in window and door specification? All the above is a good answer. All the above from a single partner may be a better one. Today, few architects have the time or inclination to deal with multiple manufacturers and reps as they sort through Division 08 selections. It’s an issue Scott Alden and Paul Hemingfield know well. “With all that’s going on with building science today, specifying to meet window and door code and performance requirements is a big challenge,” observes Alden. “Yes, maintaining the creative vision ranks high. But code and energy performance targets are constant concerns.” Alden and Hemingfield work for JELD-WEN, a leading building products manufacturer specializing in residential and commercial window and door systems. Alden is the company’s senior manager of architectural services; Hemingfield is the director of innovation for the $3.75 billion company.…