MICHAEL HSU, FAIA + APTUS: How Should Architects + MEP Engineers Work Together?

Creating the perfect restaurant vibe requires controlling air temperature, velocity, day lighting, and acoustic quality all at once, but most architect-engineer teams can't coordinate at this level.

Listen until the end to hear how these firms learned each other's design language through a decade of collaboration.

What you'll learn:
→ Framework for selecting projects that balance financial viability with design ambition
→ Why bringing MEP engineers into conceptualization prevents expensive redesigns
→ How to achieve precise technical coordination for hospitality experiences
→ Trust investment strategies for building decade-plus consultant partnerships
→ Real-time collaboration challenges and timing protocols that actually work

About the guests:
Michael Hsu, FAIA leads Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a nationally award-winning practice in Austin focused on hospitality-driven projects. His design philosophy roots in empathy, storytelling, and aesthetic connection to culture and nature.

Eric Zissman and Sujay Regmi co-founded APTUS Engineering, a performance-driven MEP firm known for service-oriented culture and collaborative approach across commercial, healthcare, and educational sectors.

Conversation topics:
1:19 - How Michael Hsu Office and APTUS started collaborating on P. Terry's projects
3:12 - Project selection framework: balancing success criteria with design opportunities
6:00 - Getting MEP involved early in conceptualization vs. traditional late integration
9:04 - Resource allocation challenges and the creative structure paradox
13:20 - Controlling the five senses for hospitality experiences
16:40 - Real-time collaboration tools and timing coordination challenges
19:00 - Headliners Club: renovating Austin's iconic high-rise private club
26:30 - Breaking down architect-engineer stereotypes and assumptions
31:00 - Building trust through learning each firm's design language

Ready to improve your project coordination? Monograph helps architecture and engineering firms track projects, manage resources, and collaborate more effectively. Learn more at https://monograph.com/