What the RFI?

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—

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 inspe

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 si

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 sudden

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

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 t

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 th

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, Eng

Construction Meeting Notes: How to Run Better Site Meetings

Meeting notes are one of the most important records on a construction project, but what should actually go into them, who should run the meeting, and how detailed do they

Granola AI: The Best AI Meeting Note Taker for Construction Administration?

Meeting minutes are one of the most valuable records in Construction Administration, but they can also be one of the most time-consuming tasks. In this episode of What th

Us vs the GC: Why Construction Projects Turn Adversarial

Why does Construction Administration so often feel like a battle between Architects and General Contractors? In this episode of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan takes a deep

RFI Horror Stories: Demolition Disasters & Construction Nightmares featuring Zach Rapaport | Halloween Special

It’s Halloween, the one day of the year when the scariest things come out of the walls … literally. 👻 In this special Halloween episode of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan is

Live from CSI 2025 — Building Connections, Sharing RFI Horror Stories, and a Surprise Musical Performance

Recorded live at CSI 2025 in Cleveland, this episode of What the RFI brings together Dean Moilanen (Noble Company) and Holly Gotfredson (Finishing Dynamics & American Met

Live from CSI 2025: The Future of Spec Writing, Collaboration, and Construction Innovation

Recorded live from Cleveland, this episode of What the RFI? dives into the energy, insights, and connections shaping CSI National 2025. Host Matt Brennan sits down with N

The Power of Networking: Building Your Support System

After an unexpected career shake-up, Matt Brennan opens up about the true power of your network, the people who rally behind you when life changes overnight. In this epis

InktoberArchitecture: Why Architects Still Need to Sketch in a Digital World

It’s time to dust off the desk, grab your favourite pen, and roll out the trace because InktoberArchitecture is here! In this episode of What the RFI?, host Matt Brennan

From Vision to Detail: Toby Witte on Modern Architecture

In this episode of What the RFI?, host Matt Brennan sits down live at AIA Aspire 2025 in Asheville, NC, with architect Toby Witte of Wittehaus. Known for designing modern

Live from AIA Aspire 2025: Resilience, Technology, and the Future of Practice

Recorded live at the Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville, NC, this special episode of What the RFI?  takes the stage at AIA Aspire 2025. Host Matt Brennan is joined by an

Building the Future: Concrete and Sustainability

In this episode, Matt Brennan hosts Chris and Ryan to discuss the complexities of concrete construction, focusing on RFIs, specifications, and sustainability. They share

Mastering Site Visits: A Comprehensive Guide

In this episode, Matt Brennan discusses the importance of site visits during the summer and provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively prepare for and conduct s