Building Design and Construction has published an article on how architects, engineers, and contractors can leverage art to drive client value and project differentiation.
Are AEC Professionals Leaving Money on the Table?
Most architects, engineers, and contractors still treat art as a “nice-to-have” budget line item—the first thing cut when costs need trimming. But what if this mindset is costing you projects and limiting your competitive edge?
The data tells a different story: high-performing workplaces provide twice as much access to arts and culture as low-performing ones, while areas with strategic art installations see 30% increases in weekend pedestrian traffic and 28% decreases in violent crime. Perhaps most compelling for your bottom line? A 32% productivity increase in a 100-person office translates to approximately $2.4 million in additional annual productivity value.
“The commercial real estate landscape has fundamentally shifted. Your clients aren’t just asking for functional spaces—they’re demanding environments that drive performance and deliver measurable business outcomes,” writes Art + Artisans founder Jennifer Seay in her latest analysis.
”The commercial real estate landscape has fundamentally shifted. Your clients aren't just asking for functional spaces—they're demanding environments that drive performance and deliver measurable business outcomes."
Jennifer Seay, Art + Artisans Founder and CEO
The Strategies That Deliver Results
Jennifer outlines five proven approaches that AEC professionals are using to maximize art ROI:
- Position art as critical infrastructure, not decoration—include it in base building systems documentation alongside HVAC and lighting
- Front-load art planning during schematic design to avoid costly retrofitting and change orders that plague late-stage art integration
- Leverage public art components to strengthen community engagement and streamline municipal approval processes
- Design revenue-generating art programs with rotating exhibitions and programmable spaces that keep properties competitive over time
But here’s what makes these strategies particularly powerful: they transform art from a capital expense into a competitive differentiator that sophisticated developers increasingly recognize.
Proven Performance: TIAA’s Success Story
The research Jennifer explores includes compelling case studies like TIAA’s Frisco headquarters, which earned recognition as one of “DFW’s Coolest Offices” after integrating over 150 strategically curated artworks. The result? A workplace that doesn’t just look impressive—it actively supports employee performance and company mission.
Ready to discover how to position art as performance infrastructure, avoid common costly mistakes, and create compelling business cases that win more projects? Read Jennifer’s complete ROI strategy guide in Building Design and Construction Magazine.
