3 Feb 2025

The Business of Architecture: Risks, Rewards, and Real Talk with Hakan Agca at Cross Works

Running an architecture practice is not only about design quality. It is risk, clients, forecasting, hiring, firing, culture, cash flow, technology and the pressure of keeping the business alive.

Stephen Drew speaks with Hakan Agca, founder of Cross Works, about building an architecture business from scratch, scaling a team, making mistakes and staying commercially aware without losing the design ambition.

The conversation covers:

What it takes to start and grow an architecture business
Why networks, clients and reputation matter from day one
How hiring, team culture and office presence affect delivery
Why forecasting and business strategy matter in practice
How technology, BIM and AI are changing the commercial side of architecture

____

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u7Ar8NWn-8

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/hakan-agca-business-of-architecture/

Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for:
https://architecturesocial.com/

The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects:
https://archademia.com/architecture-social/

Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership.

____

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and studio tour
00:40 Moving to Camden
00:58 Starting the business
01:19 The business of architecture
02:09 Essential skills for architects
02:39 Challenges of running a business
04:37 Networking and client relationships
06:33 Scaling the practice
09:00 Innovation in architecture
10:31 Hiring and team building
15:06 Work environment and culture
24:16 Work efficiency and delivery
25:00 Flexibility in the workplace
26:19 Office dynamics and technology
27:44 Why office presence still matters
29:09 Architecture career challenges
31:12 Forecasting and business strategy
34:23 Technology in architecture
40:26 Recruitment and culture change
48:26 Final thoughts and contact details

(00:00) - Introduction and Studio Tour
(00:40) - Moving to Camden
(00:58) - Starting the Business
(01:19) - The Business of Architecture
(02:09) - Essential Skills for Architects
(02:39) - Challenges of Running a Business
(04:37) - Networking and Client Relationships
(06:33) - Scaling Up the Practice
(09:00) - Innovations in Architecture
(10:31) - Hiring and Team Building
(15:06) - Work Environment and Culture
(24:16) - Debating Work Efficiency
(25:00) - Flexibility in the Workplace
(26:19) - Office Dynamics and Technology
(27:44) - The Importance of Office Presence
(29:09) - Challenges in Architecture Careers
(31:12) - Forecasting and Business Strategy
(34:23) - The Role of Technology in Architecture
(40:26) - Recruitment and Culture Change
(48:26) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(259)

He Built an Architecture Studio After 3 Redundancies

After being made redundant three times, Dominic McAndrew went on to co-found Ruumi Studio and build a new architecture practice from scratch.In this episode, we talk about the reality of starting an a...

14 Aug 55min

He Started His Own Architecture Practice at 29

What does it actually take to start your own architecture practice in 2026?Alex Sutton founded Studio Sutton in August 2019 at the age of 29, just six months before the world locked down. In this conv...

2 Juli 1h 23min

Why Architects Have Zero Power in the UK Right Now

Why do architects have so little power in the UK built environment, even when their work shapes housing, public space, procurement and the way cities function?Stephen Drew speaks with Jay Morton, Dire...

18 Juni 52min

A KPF Director’s Honest Advice for Young Architects

What does it really take to build a long-term architecture career inside a global practice?Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about career growth, working at scale, and what ...

16 Juni 49min

Running an Architecture Practice Isn’t What You Think

Running an architecture practice is not just about design. It is fees, hiring, risk, clients, culture, profit and learning how to keep the studio moving without losing the work you care about.Stephen ...

7 Maj 1h 17min

How to Future Proof Your Architecture Career

How do you future proof an architecture career when BIM, computational design and AI are changing what practices value?Stephen Drew speaks with Ami Nigam, Head of Design Technology at Benoy, about des...

14 Apr 1h 12min

How to Actually Get Hired in Architecture and Interior Design

If you are trying to get hired in architecture or interior design, sending the same CV and portfolio to every studio is not enough.In this Kingston University session, Stephen Drew shares practical ad...

24 Mars 1h 17min

How to Land Your First Architect Role

Trying to land your first architecture or interiors role is hard enough without guessing what hiring managers, directors and recruiters actually look for.In this practical lecture, Stephen Drew breaks...

17 Mars 1h 22min