Joe Furey of Michael Graves Architecture Design | How a Legendary Architecture Firm Transitions, Grows, and Looks Forward
Financial Services Company Technology Hub
Courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
Scaling Michael Graves Architecture & Design
Many architecture firm owners struggle with the same challenge: How do you build a sustainable business that can thrive beyond the founder? Joe Furey solved this problem by bringing his finance and technology background to Michael Graves Architecture & Design, one of America's most iconic firms.
As CEO and President, Joe has transformed the practice from a firm dependent on Michael Graves’ reputation into a diverse platform business with 165 employees across 10 offices. His approach combines strategic acquisitions with technology integration, creating what he describes as "a mile wide and an inch deep” approach.
This conversation reveals the mechanics behind how a firm transitions, grows, and looks forward. Joe explains his evaluation criteria, integration process, and how he structures deals that benefit both buyers and sellers. He also discusses expanding into technology consulting through the acquisition of Parallax Team and opportunities to leverage AI within real estate development.
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“Acquisitions can go wrong. Integration is the area where something can really go sideways because they either don’t have a plan, or they have a plan and don’t execute it consistently, or maybe they miss the key components. ”
Courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
About Joe Furey
Joe Furey provides strategic leadership and guidance for Michael Graves Architecture and the growing number of related companies. He has over three decades of experience in the AEC and other professional industries leading business operations, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic and financial planning, analysis, and reporting. He joined the firm in 2008 as the CFO focused on the business, growth strategies, and succession planning, and became President in 2018. He has built the continued growth and prosperity of the Michael Graves companies around common purpose, cooperation, and teamwork. Based on his passion for sports (meaning football), he knows how to coach a team to win and have fun at the same time.
St. Regis, Cairo
Courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
The Wren
Courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
Episode Timestamps
(02:09) The biggest lessons from Fortune 500 consulting that informed his leadership philosophy
(15:51) Joining Michael Graves at peak revenue and recognizing the succession planning gap
(22:43) Mitigating the number one post-acquisition problem: Trust
(32:34) The Parallax Team acquisition and turning Revit consulting into a revenue driver
(36:10) The acquisition playbook for due-diligence and integration frameworks
(46:09) Measuring success through KPIs, budgets, and earn-out structures
(52:47) Economic adaptation and positioning the firm for long-term growth
Wake Forest University, McCreary Tower
Courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
About your host:
Atif Qadir is a licensed architect and entrepreneur, interested in solving big problems through innovation and technology. He has founded two proptech companies and a real estate development firm, building products ranging from software to workforce housing.
His work has been covered by Technology Review, The Real Deal, Commercial Observer, and Propmodo. He’s also a frequent speaker on the future of buildings and cities on popular industry podcasts and at conferences, including this past year at the Commercial Observer National DEI Conference, Yale AREA Conference, Columbia Real Estate Symposium, Open Data Week NYC and Austin Design Week.
About Michael Graves
The world-famous design firm Michael Graves is also a founding sponsor of American Building. Its namesake, the iconoclastic designer Michael Graves, FAIA was a fierce advocate for people-centric design. His work defines a generation of American architecture and includes the Portland Building, the Humana Building and the Denver Public Library. The 1st season of American Building was filmed live at The Warehouse, his historic home in Princeton, New Jersey:
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