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About every four to five years, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) review and refine the standards that govern ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys. The latest update becomes effective February 23, 2026, reflecting continued collaboration among surveyors, title companies, attorneys, lenders, and property owners. Evan Wood, a professional […]

Design Matters: Designing Medical Office Buildings Medical office buildings, particularly ambulatory care facilities, occupy a unique niche within commercial development. While they may resemble standard office projects, the planning behind them is far more complex. From emergency access and patient privacy to infrastructure reliability and daily operations, these facilities require a higher level of coordination […]

Andersen Construction has built a strong reputation across the Northwest and Intermountain West. We spoke with Boise-based Project Manager Chris Jackson about how the company’s core values guide their work, foster long-term relationships, and support its partnership with FOCUS Consulting. Core Values and Culture Drive Chris has worked at Andersen Construction for over 12 years […]

Design Matters: Precision Staking for Aquatic Center Construction Building aquatic centers, with their various components such as pools, lazy rivers, water slides, and other custom features, requires exact placement, tight tolerances and a clear understanding of construction stages. Early construction staking sets the foundation for everything that follows. In projects with prefabricated pools, even small […]

Design Matters: The Value of Structural Analysis of Existing Buildings Structural analysis is an essential part of repurposing buildings and preparing them for new uses. At FOCUS, this work often begins long before design concepts take shape. Structural Department Manager, Brad Mason, explains that the team’s first priority is understanding what already exists. “We use […]

Design Matters: The Art of Intersection Design We sat down with Jason Watson, project manager of the FOCUS Transportation Department, to learn more about the thinking behind intersection design and why these everyday spaces are so important to how our communities move. “Obviously, we don’t want people getting hurt,” Jason began. “But anytime there’s an […]

Background and Career Journey Donglei “Judy” Wang’s journey into the AEC industry began with a simple question: How have historic buildings stood strong for so many years? Her curiosity grew into a passion for design and engineering. Now working as a Site Civil Designer, Judy enjoys how civil design connects everything, from roads and grading […]

Design Matters: Waterwise Landscaping for Utah’s Future Utah is at a crossroads. Rapid population growth, a housing shortage, climate change, and increasing pressure on our limited water supply are some of the factors colliding at once. We sat down with Emily Aase and McKahl Johnston, landscape architectural designers from our Land Planning department, to discuss […]

Design Matters: The Importance of Master Planning in a Down Market The housing market is cyclical, with unpredictable peaks and valleys. For residential developers, those slowdowns can feel daunting, but they also create opportunities. At FOCUS Engineering & Surveying, Site Civil Residential department manager Ben Duzett explains why downturns are the right time to invest […]

Design Matters: Behind the Stakes of Construction Staking The Construction Staking department at FOCUS plays a critical role in turning design into reality. We held a group interview with Construction Staking department manager Travis Benson and junior project managers Cory Thompson, Carson Griffin, and Wes Prime to gain a better understanding of what goes into […]