A visionary design is only as strong as the materials chosen to build it. We’ve partnered with ARCAT because they provide the critical link between creative ambition and physical reality, giving design and construction professionals the momentum to make confident product decisions in real-time. By transforming complex technical data into an intuitive, highly accessible experience, they eliminate the friction from the building process. Everything needed to push a project off the page and into the ground is right at your fingertips. Explore their core tools below.
Imagine having the entire universe of building products instantly accessible in one beautifully organized place. That is the sheer power of ARCAT. Their database is an absolute juggernaut, delivering complete, wall-to-wall product coverage across every single one of the 48 standard CSI Divisions. Whether you are detailing foundational concrete in Division 03 or engineering complex electrical power generation systems in Division 48, ARCAT serves up exactly what you need. It is the ultimate, frictionless toolkit guaranteeing you will find the perfect specifications and BIM objects to bring absolutely any vision to life, no matter how massive or complex the build.
Building for a greener future shouldn’t mean drowning in endless research. ARCAT completely revolutionizes how design teams tackle sustainability by putting a massive, easily searchable directory of eco-friendly building data right at your fingertips. Need GreenReports or LEED certifications to hit those crucial project goals? They are queued up and ready to go. Looking for transparent Health Product Declarations (HPDs) or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)? ARCAT delivers them instantly. They take the total headache out of green building, empowering you to seamlessly design cutting-edge, sustainable spaces that make a massive impact on the world.
Great architecture welcomes everyone, and ARCAT makes inclusive design absolutely effortless . They champion universal accessibility by offering dedicated, hyper-focused resources and instantly searchable catalogs packed exclusively with ADA-compliant products . Forget the endless, frustrating hunt for components that meet strict accessibility standards, ARCAT puts everything front and center so you can select and specify with total confidence. This is exactly how you design beautiful, compliant, and truly welcoming spaces without slowing down your creative workflow for a single second.
ARCAT provides a suite of resources categorized by CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) Divisions to support the building lifecycle from design to facilities management.
| Service Category | Description and Features |
| SpecWizard | A patented, automated CSI 3-Part specification-writing tool. It uses a “check-box” and “drop-down” interface to help users configure complex specifications quickly and accurately, with built-in intelligence to prevent misspecification. |
| BIM/CAD Libraries | Thousands of data-rich BIM objects (Revit, SketchUp, DWG) and CAD drawings (DWG, PDF) that provide minimal geometry and necessary data for model analysis. |
| Specifications | Hundreds of CSI 3-Part formatted specifications, including short-form and outline specs. |
| Building Products | A searchable database organized by CSI Divisions, containing HPDs (Health Product Declarations), EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), and data sheets. |
| Continuing Education | Access to CEUs (Continuing Education Units) through “Arcatemy” and manufacturer-sponsored programs. |
As the AEC industry moves toward 2030, ARCAT’s leadership identifies technology as the primary tool for mitigating the mentorship gap and increasing efficiency.
The Detailed podcast is an original series by ARCAT that explores the “stories of conflict and triumph” inherent in design and construction
The Detailed podcast emerged in early 2022 not as a mere marketing add-on, but as a calculated strategic intervention designed to bridge the persistent gap between architectural design and technical execution. For ARCAT, this was the digital evolution of a legacy.
Traditional marketing fails in the AEC space because architects and engineers are inherently skeptical of “polished” sales pitches. Recognizing this, Detailed pivoted toward a “Lessons Learned” framework. By focusing on the friction, obstacles, and technical hurdles of a project, the podcast transformed into a high-value educational resource. It created a platform where professionals could learn from the “conflict and triumph” of others to mitigate risk on their own job sites.
The podcast’s value lies in its ability to uncover the “ingenuity it took to solve” complex building conditions. Rather than presenting projects as seamless successes, Detailed dissects intricate technical execution, such as the complexities of stone-glass systems or the structural demands of a gabled roof. By focusing on the technical “how” behind these conditions, the podcast provides practical insights that traditional product brochures cannot replicate.
In the competitive landscape of AEC media, reach is the primary indicator of an industry standard. By 2026, Detailed has successfully moved beyond its experimental roots to become a dominant force in professional engagement.
The following data reflects the podcast’s influence and reach within the industry:
| Metric | Performance Data |
| All-time Downloads | 1.1 Million |
| Daily Average | 1,000 |
| Weekly Average | 6,000 |
| 28-Day Window | 24,000 |
| Total Full-Length Episodes | 172 (New Episodes Added Weekly) |
The journey from Episode 1 to the 100-episode milestone in mid-2024 marked the show’s transition into an industry standard. The strategy evolved from a purely audio format into a multi-format brand, expanding onto YouTube with full-length video episodes and integrating clips and mini-episodes from major conferences like AIA and Greenbuild. This omni-channel approach ensures that technical content is accessible across all professional touchpoints.
The podcast serves as a surrogate mentor for Millennials and Gen Z, who are stepping into leadership roles 5 to 15 years sooner than previous generations. This educational value was even a revelation for ARCAT’s leadership; Bill Janet admitted that he “didn’t think anything of” the deep impact of technical design until Lakeside “shed light on that” for him. By “showing the why” behind technical decisions, the podcast helps fill the vacuum left by overwhelmed senior professionals.
A cornerstone of this mission is the promotion of the Construction Document Technology (CDT) framework. Lakeside, who teaches the CDT course, emphasizes the authority of this certification, stating: “You would not be allowed to work in any discipline… without having that base Education First.” By encouraging professionals to understand the entire lifecycle of construction documents, the show improves industry-wide technical accuracy and emotional intelligence.
The Detailed podcast serves as the high-impact “top of the funnel” for ARCAT’s suite of technical tools. In a significant strategic move, ARCAT disruptively utilizes an open-access model. As Bill Janet notes, “we don’t make you register for anything,” rejecting the standard “lead-gen gated content” model of the 2020s in favor of frictionless professional utility.
The podcast creates direct demand for ARCAT’s core risk-mitigation services:
To maintain market leadership through 2026 and beyond, ARCAT continues to leverage emerging tech to solve professional pain points. Bill Janet, while humbly describing himself as the “web developer and tech guy,” remains focused on how AI and new web technologies can smooth out the workday for professionals managing multiple offices.
The long-term goal for Detailed is one of sustained impact through “little ripples.” The vision is not just to reach 5,000 episodes, but to ensure each one contributes to a better-built environment. By moving the needle for even a single spec writer or engineer per episode, the podcast creates a cumulative effect that improves the safety and functionality of the world’s buildings.
By 2026, Detailed has established itself as the definitive model for AEC professional engagement. Through its focus on authentic “Lessons Learned,” its commitment to addressing the mentorship crisis, and its integration into a frictionless technical ecosystem, it has successfully transitioned from a 10-episode experiment to a cornerstone of industry knowledge. It stands as a testament to the power of technical truth and the endurance of a family legacy in a digital-first world.
Lakeside utilizes an “empath” style of interviewing, leveraging high emotional intelligence to break down the professional guard of her guests. By utilizing specific “icebreakers”—ranging from discussions on favorite guilty pleasures to adventures like skydiving or riding mechanical bulls—she creates a relaxed environment. This allows architects and engineers to speak openly about technical challenges, transforming a standard interview into a deep-dive technical post-mortem.
The philosophy also highlights the intersection of technical architecture and human experience. A pivotal example is Episode #38 (The Cooke School), which detailed a school designed for students on the neurodivergent spectrum. The episode illustrated how every technical choice—from color palettes to spatial layouts—was informed by how an autistic child processes an environment. This synthesis of technical specification and human empathy remains the show’s hallmark.
Robin Tarses and Susan Nam discuss the Serena Williams Building at Nike's headquarters, focusing on its architectural and structural challenges. The conversation covers the use of sustainable materials, LEED Platinum certification, and innovative design elements like acoustical gypsum board and full-height web nets as guardrails.
The discussion centers around the design and construction of Harder Mechanical Headquarters, where the design team sought to blend historical context with modern innovation. The episode also touches on the need for industry-wide reform, advocating for a unified approach where design, engineering, and construction disciplines work under one roof.
In the conversation with Ramin Rezvani, Senior Associate at Ankrom Moisan Architects, the discussion revolves around the 250 Taylor project. Ramin shares insights into the project's design philosophy, emphasizing the integration of community-focused elements and sustainable practices. The 250 Taylor project aimed to create a building that not only meets the functional needs of its occupants but also contributes positively to the urban environment.
The conversation highlights the challenges and solutions encountered during the restoration of Belvedere Castle in Central Park, NYC. Initially, condensation on the interior walls was mistaken for leaks but was later identified as a result of cold stone in a humid environment without adequate heating. The discussion highlights the importance of collaboration, expertise, and effective communication in historic retrofits.
In the conversation with Alan Scales, Principal at KTGY Group, he discusses the design and challenges of the June Street Collection project, a high-density residential development in Hollywood. Scales explains that the project's location in a densely built urban area necessitated creative solutions for maximizing space and integrating with the neighborhood's aesthetic. Unique solutions for attic ventilation and rooftop deck drainage were implemented to maintain both functionality and visual appeal.
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