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What the RFI?: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Matt Brennan
What the RFI? is a podcast dedicated to Construction Administration, Contract Administration, and Architectural Project Coordination. Hosted by Matt Brennan, a Construction Administration Leader with over 25 years of experience, the show explores the real-world processes behind successful construction projects, including RFIs, Site Instructions, Change Orders, Construction Contracts, Specifications, Submittals, Deficiencies, Site Meetings, Project Closeout, and consultant coordination. Every episode features practical advice, real project examples, industry technology, AI tools, and workflow improvements designed to help architects, architectural technologists, engineers, consultants, owners, project managers, and general contractors deliver better projects. If you work in architecture, construction, or construction administration, What the RFI? delivers practical insights to help you navigate every stage of the construction process.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago27 min
Fan Mail: How to Get Into Construction Administration
How do you get into Construction Administration? In this special episode of What the RFI?, recorded while on vacation in Tofino, BC, I answer some fan mail from Richard—an experienced Architectural Technologist looking to make the jump into a full-time Construction Administration role. We talk about how experience in architectural technology, construction documents, RFIs, shop drawings and consultant coordination can become the foundation for a career in CA—and why you probably already know m...
- 3 weeks ago28 min
Occupancy Inspections: What Building Inspectors Look For
Your building is nearly finished. The consultants have signed off. Integrated systems testing is complete. Everyone is talking about move-in day. Now the building inspector is coming. In Episode 50 of What the RFI?, we’re talking about one of the biggest milestones in Construction Administration: the occupancy inspection. What happens when the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) arrives on site? What is the building inspector actually looking for? Who should attend the inspection? And what ha...
- Sep 8, 202626 min
CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing — Getting Ready for Occupancy
What happens after the fire alarm goes off? Does the elevator recall? Do the doors release? Do the mechanical systems respond? Does the monitoring station receive the signal? In Episode 49 of What the RFI?, we continue our four-part Building Occupancy Series with a practical look at CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing from the Construction Administrator’s perspective. We break down what S1001 testing is, how it differs from fire alarm verification, who needs to be involved, how to prepar...
- Aug 31, 202625 min
50% Canada-U.S. Tariffs Hit Construction: What Happens Next?
Canada-U.S. tariffs are hitting construction, raising new questions about material costs, steel prices, procurement, contracts, and who ultimately pays when prices suddenly change. With new 50% U.S. tariffs affecting billions of dollars of Canadian goods and Canada preparing retaliatory measures, construction materials including steel, aluminum, lumber, cement, plywood, paint, and other building products are caught in the middle. In Episode 48 of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan looks beyond the p...
- Aug 24, 202636 min
Construction Occupancy: How to Prepare for the Final Inspection
Your construction project is 99% complete. The walls are painted, the flooring is down, the lights are on and everyone is talking about move-in day. So you’re basically done, right? Not even close! Getting a building ready for occupancy requires months of preparation, testing, documentation and coordination between the contractor, consultants, owner and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). In Episode 47 of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan kicks off a four-part series on construction occupancy and ...
- Aug 17, 202629 min
Before You Dig: Earthworks, Geotech & Stripping Plans
You want me to strip what? Some of the biggest financial risks on a construction project happen before the building ever gets out of the ground. In Episode 46 of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan digs into earthworks, geotechnical reports, test holes, stripping plans, and the steps architects and owners can take to reduce the risk of costly surprises underground. Because a $100,000 earthworks budget can turn into $1 million in extras remarkably quickly when actual site conditions don’t match what e...
- Aug 10, 202623 min
Why Construction Projects Fall Apart Before Occupancy
You have 24 months to build a school… yet somehow every deficiency, training session, closeout document, hardware adjustment and commissioning issue seems to appear in the final two weeks before occupancy. Why? In this episode of What the RFI?, Matt talks about procrastination in construction and why the final stretch before occupancy can become absolute chaos. Using two school projects currently approaching occupancy, Matt shares some of the challenges from the past week—from fire alarm veri...
- Aug 3, 202631 min
The First Site Meeting: Setting Your Construction Project Up for Success
How do you run the first construction site meeting? In this episode of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan explains how Architects, Contract Administrators, Project Managers, Engineers, Owners, and General Contractors can prepare for and lead a successful First Site Meeting. The kickoff meeting is one of the most important milestones in Construction Administration. It establishes expectations, communication procedures, documentation requirements, project schedules, and responsibilities before constru...
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About What the RFI?
What the RFI? is a podcast dedicated to Construction Administration, Contract Administration, and Architectural Project Coordination. Hosted by Matt Brennan, a Construction Administration Leader with over 25 years of experience, the show explores the real-world processes behind successful construction projects, including RFIs, Site Instructions, Change Orders, Construction Contracts, Specifications, Submittals, Deficiencies, Site Meetings, Project Closeout, and consultant coordination. Every episode features practical advice, real project examples, industry technology, AI tools, and workflow improvements designed to help architects, architectural technologists, engineers, consultants, owners, project managers, and general contractors deliver better projects. If you work in architecture, construction, or construction administration, What the RFI? delivers practical insights to help you navigate every stage of the construction process.
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