Virtual Practice | Practice of Architecture

The past couple of years have shown us the importance of resilience and adaptability, both in our personal lives and with the way we run our businesses. As we begin to emerge in this new era, professionals are demanding a more flexible work environment of their employer. But because firms were thrust into the remote world without warning or preparation, most aren’t designed to embrace and sustain a virtual firm environment in the long term. With the right frameworks, tools, and mindset, however, anyone can build a successful and rewarding virtual practice.

Whether you are a seasoned firm owner, an employee thinking about life work balance, or starting your future-focused firm, this course describes the fundamentals of how to build a virtual and remote firm so that it yields the results both firm leaders and employees are looking for: productivity, wellness, profit, camaraderie, and purpose.

Over the course of three modules, including ten detailed sections with additional resources, you’ll learn about legal considerations, operations, finances, technology, branding, marketing, managing clients and staff, and creating a strong culture, all from the perspective of how to manage a successful virtual business.

Here's how the Fundamentals of Running a Virtual Practice is Organized:

This course is divided into 3 on-demand video modules: 1. What, Why, & Legal; 2. Business Model Operations and Successful Financial Planning Within a Virtual Practice; 3. Managing Staff and Clients While a Virtual Practice.

MODULE 1 (1 AIA CEU)

What, Why, & Legal

What is a virtual architecture practice and why would anyone choose to run a firm this way? This first module of the Fundamentals of Running a Virtual Practice will answer those questions and will also engage the participant in evaluating whether their own practice could be modeled as a virtual practice. This module will also discuss the legal considerations a participant would need to evaluate in running their own virtual practice. This is the first module in a 3 module course on the Fundamentals of Running a Virtual Practice.

Section1: The What and Whys of Virtual Practice (11 min)

Section 2: Is A Virtual Practice Right For Me? (16 min)

Section 3: Legal Considerations (21 min)

MODULE 2 (1 AIA CEU)

Business Model Operations & Successful Financial Planning Within a Virtual Practice

In this second module on the Fundamentals for Running a Virtual Practice, the participant will learn how a virtual firm business model operates, what technology to use and is available to run a virtual practice and the importance of choosing a financial model that can lead to successful financial performance. This is the second module in a 3 module course on the Fundamentals of Running a Virtual Practice.

Section 4: Operations (18 min)

Section 5: Technology (20 min)

Section 6: Financial Models (8 min)

MODULE 3 (1.5 AIA CEUS)

Managing Staff & Clients While a Virtual Practice

In this third module, participants will learn the difference in branding and marketing a virtual practice and how this would differentiate a virtual firm from other firms. Virtual practices will also have different procedures when it comes to signing and managing clients, hiring and managing staff, and the firm’s culture. This module will compare and explain those differences. This is the third module in a 3 module course on the Fundamentals of Running a Virtual Practice.

Section 7: Branding & Marketing (8 min)

Section 8: Signing & Managing Clients (17 min)

Section 9: Hiring & Managing Staff (35 min)

Section 10: Firm Culture (16 min)

Your Instructors

Leah Alissa Bayer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB

Leah Alissa Bayer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, is a licensed Architect and President and Owner of Architects FORA: an award-winning virtual architecture firm specializing almost exclusively in highly sustainable affordable housing along the Pacific Coast.

Leah’s interdisciplinary background includes education and professional experience from some of the world’s best, including practicing as an architect for Perkins+Will in San Francisco and graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), a Minor in Fine Arts, and four years of Structural Engineering (B.S.) from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. For over a decade, Leah managed and led businesses in diverse industries including retail, healthcare, and design, giving her the foundation and rounded perspective to become an entrepreneur in architecture.

Passionate about communication, equity, and business development, Leah also volunteers regularly to improve the profession – most recently as President of AIA Silicon Valley, Director of AIA California Board and member of AIA CA Practice Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and Chair of NCARB’s Experience Committee.

Jennifer Kretschmer, AIA NCARB, LEED GA

Jennifer Kretschmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate, founded J. Kretschmer Architect in 2003, specializing in single family and multi-family residential projects under 10,000 square feet.

Her firm has been a virtual office since 2008 which she has operated primarily from her home in the Silicon Valley area of California with workers located all over the United States.

Jennifer was a speaker at the AIA’19 Conference on Architecture and 2019 CRAN Symposium bringing valued information, inspiration and training to architects on operating a virtual office with remote workers. Awarded AIA National Associate Member of the Year, 2002. She is the founding CRAN chairperson of the AIA Silicon Valley (2016-2019) and the 2020 AIASVC Vice President and 2021 AIASVC President.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts now and continues to evolve over time. It’s a self-paced online course which allows you to decide when you start and when you finish. We anticipate yearly updates to the course as firms change they way the work together over time and new technology emerges to support the Virtual Practice.

How long do I have access to the course?

You get lifetime access to the course. After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like! The videos are on-demand, so you can take them on your own schedule, and replay them as many times as you want.

What if I start the course and find out it's not for me?

Leah and Jennifer have dumped all of their knowledge from running their own virtual practices into this course. Because the course gives you immediate access to all of their slides and videos, it is generally our policy to not offer refunds. If you have any questions about what’s included or whether it’s a good fit for you, email us, and we are more than happy to answer your questions.

Feel free to send an email to: [email protected]

How do I get AIA credit for the classes?

You will see an option to submit your information to the AIA after you complete a short series of multiple choice “summative assessment questions” after each module. You must answer 70 percent of the questions correctly to pass. (This shouldn’t be a stressful process: the classes and accompanying material prepare you very well for the quizzes, and there’s virtually no limit on taking or retaking them.)

After completing the entire course, you will receive a certificate of completion for your own records.

How will I get access to the course?

As soon as you submit payment you’ll get an email from our partners at teachable, inviting you to join the Practice of Architecture course portal. For those of you who have previously purchase courses, this course will become instantaneously become available to you.