Episode 77: David Hart of Steinberg Hart

In this episode, Christian is joined by David Hart, President & CEO of Steinberg Hart to discuss how architecture is evolving: from work culture to technology to firm leadership. David shares why he welcomes the new generation’s pushback on 60-hour workweeks, how the industry’s “seller-doer” model complicates ownership transitions, and why thoughtful decision-making is essential in an era of instant answers. David also takes listeners inside Steinberg Hart’s work on Cal Poly’s new modular student housing-  the largest modular construction project in the U.S. - and explains how AI is already reshaping the firm’s creative process and client collaboration. https://www.steinberghart.com/ https://theantiarchitect.com/ 0:00 - Intro 2:23 – Christian introduces David Hart and highlights the values-first culture at Steinberg Hart  5:05 – David explains why “values” became the foundation of the firm’s design philosophy  6:50 – Why architecture should focus on inventing the future, not solving the past  7:54 – The common mistake architects make during presentations and how to fix it  9:03 – Why listening and extracting insights are more important than just sharing ideas  10:26 – How David coaches his team in real-time during client meetings  12:20 – A candid take on why the profession is overworked and underpaid  13:09 – The industry’s failure to teach the business of architecture 14:56 – Generational shifts in work-life balance and what technology changed 17:01 – Reflections on burnout, long hours, and what David would do differently 20:03 – How Steinberg Hart embeds values like design, relationships, and change in daily work 22:20 – David shares how long-term relationships and “boomerangs” strengthen culture 24:19 – Why continuous change is essential to a 70-year-old architecture firm 26:06 – How the firm approaches leadership transition with an evolving ownership model 30:59 – The challenge of the seller-doer model and its impact on succession 35:15 – Behind the scenes of Cal Poly’s modular housing project with FullStack Modular 40:14 – Why immediate design-to-fabrication workflows are the future 46:00 – David explains why decision-making, not just design is the modern superpower 57:08 – How mid-sized firms can stay relevant with AI and integrated culture