KA Connect 2024 | Sundance

Our Annual Knowledge Management Conference for the AEC Industry

KA Connect 2024 will take place at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah from August 13th to August 16th, 2024.

We’re designing KA Connect 2024 to be “half conference, half camp,” with general sessions in the mornings, and a choose your own adventure program composed of roundtables, intranet tours, unconference hangouts, outdoor activities, and plenty of unstructured time to connect, reflect, and recharge in the afternoons.

Sundance’s location at 6,100 feet in the north fork of Provo Canyon will provide an inspiring backdrop for you to learn from and with your fellow KA Community members. 

Our program will focus on sharing strategies and best practices for using knowledge management, internal communications, learning + development, and intranet programs to help your AEC firm evolve and grow.

Early Registration is Now Open

Take advantage of early registration pricing through May 3rd!

Your registration to KA Connect 2024 includes all sessions and activities, all meals, and transportation between Salt Lake City (SLC) airport and your hotel (either Sundance Mountain Resort or Provo Marriott), as well as transportation between Provo Marriott and Sundance Mountain Resort during the conference.

Please Note: Due to limited space, only active employees of AEC firms will be eligible to attend KA Connect 2024. If you are unsure if you meet this criteria, please email us at connect@knowledge-architecture.com.

General Session Talks

The revolution of Knowledge Management at Turner Fleischer began as a quest for an improved intranet platform. Over eight years, this initial endeavor matured into a fully established Knowledge Management department, led by a dedicated Director of Knowledge Management. This presentation will explore the strategic developments and pivotal decisions that shifted the firm’s approach from basic knowledge sharing to a comprehensive, structured knowledge management paradigm. Ellen will highlight how enhancing an intranet platform evolved into a critical operational strategy, significantly elevating productivity, collaboration, and innovation. Additionally, the talk will delve into the implications of a highly developed knowledge management strategy for the AEC industry, providing insights and actionable lessons for firms seeking to advance their own knowledge management practices.

KTGY’s comprehensive professional development program, ELEVATE, has fueled individual and organizational growth, fostering an environment of connection, trust, and a passion for learning. John will delve into this journey, sharing insights on the program's inception, evolution, and the broad-reaching impact it's had on the company, the participants, and himself. Discover the strategies and actionable steps that have made ELEVATE a model for professional advancement, offering ideas and lessons for attendees to apply within their own organizations. Join us to learn how nurturing talent and promoting continuous learning can become key drivers of growth in any organization.

In 2020, Shepley Bulfinch embraced the Hybrid Practice model, drawing on our decade-long expertise in cross-office project teams. We committed to a hybrid work policy that ensures every Bulfinch has an equal opportunity to work effectively and produce high-quality work from various locations. During this transition we were focused on maintaining a high level of quality in our project work, while preserving our strong culture of positive interpersonal relationships at the firm. In this talk, “the Jims” will share some of the strategies we have used at Shepley Bulfinch to transform our organization from a predominantly in-person one to a mix of in-person and virtual modes.

Drawing on a decade of sustainable design leadership, Corey will discuss the central role of knowledge management in purpose-driven design. Design that meaningfully addresses human health, ecological thriving, and social equity is on the forefront of architectural discourse. At the same time, sustainable design remains a challenge. While much of the discussion around sustainability has focused on convincing people to change behavior and technical calculations to arrive at optimal solutions, both of these focuses miss the mark. A significant barrier to the universal adoption of sustainable design is its sheer breadth of information. Knowledge management offers the potential to make sustainable design accessible, broadly applicable, and dare I say, easy.

Since its founding in 1966, Olson Kundig has been a consistently evolutionary practice—led by a shared curiosity and willingness to pursue the unexpected. From its earliest days designing homes in the Pacific Northwest to working on projects across the globe, the firm has experienced considerable growth in size and scope without sacrificing this core DNA. How does an organization adapt to rapid change while preserving the foundational principles at the root of its legacy? What are the strategies and solutions for maintaining authenticity in both design and culture? In a discussion about the firm’s origins and evolutions in practice, Marlene Chen will speak to the challenges of navigating an organization through change—highlighting key initiatives and investments that have guided Olson Kundig’s trajectory and will continue to inform future generations of the firm’s approach to design and leadership.

In the dynamic landscape of multidisciplinary design, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) represent pivotal moments that can either propel firms toward unprecedented growth or pose significant challenges to their cultural and operational fabric. This talk delves into the firsthand M&A experience of an established but growing multidisciplinary design firm, focusing on the pivotal role of knowledge management in navigating the complexities of integration, culture melding, and strategic alignment.

Program Overview

Where to Stay

Questions about KA Connect 2024?

Send us an email    |     415.523.0410