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Architecture, engineering, and construction writer

Need a writer who understands construction and design?

architecture | engineering | construction | development | publications

Call or email to schedule an assignment assessment.

sean@sokpr.com  / 303.668.0717

“Marketing is a measurable win-lose proposition. Consequently, it takes a careful eye and pen to show clients that our team is qualified to bring their program to reality. Sean is a master at clear-headed analysis, professional, energetic and resourceful; all key attributes to a firm whose mission is to expand their capture in a very competitive marketplace.”

- Joe Poli, AIA
Co-founder: Humphries Poli Architects

Sean O'Keefe

Construction and Design Writer

Lifelong writer Sean O’Keefe is a construction and design writer focused on the built environment. Sean’s career as a construction and design writer began as a marketing assistant at a super prime – soup to nuts/ bridges to buildings – in 2001. He spent 14 years in the Get-Work chair as a top-notch marketing professional working for architects, engineers, and contractors and with developers, consultants, and subcontractors of every sort. During that time, Sean orchestrated 1,000 RFPs, shortlisting for 750 of them. Fundamentally, beyond words, Sean understands what matters to architects, engineers, and contractors – and more importantly, why. 

As a result, Sean offers specialized knowledge of commercial and residential construction and design that content writers can’t. Likewise, his work benefits building product manufacturers and the magazines and associations that inform the AEC industry. In 2015, Sean O’Keefe launched his architectural writing business with immediate success. Today, Sean is a nationally recognized construction and design writer and AEC industry insider. Copywriting clients stretch across aspects of architecture, engineering, infrastructure, products, development, and industry product manufacturers and material suppliers. Editorial clients include national, regional, and local publications and organizations focused on architecture, engineering, and construction. Technical writing clients include construction managers, architects, and urban planners who need precise writing for specific functional purposes – RFPs, SOPs, Framework Planning, and organizational-facing communications. Awards submissions, websites, case studies, white papers are all made simple by Sean’s straight-forward writing process. 

Home: Denver, CO      Heart: Chapel Hill, NC

AEC Copywriter
Based in Denver, CO, serving a cross-section of AEC interests around the world, Sean O'Keefe Communications and Strategy writes thoughtful content for the built environment.

Click headers to see construction and design writing Processes.
Scroll down to see example construction and design writing clients.

Construction and Design Writer

Professional Writing for Construction and Design

As a construction and design writer, Sean’s clientele includes developers with assets in the billions and single-employee start-ups. As long as your work is focused on architecture, engineering, construction, or development in a meaningful way and genuinely need a construction and design writer, then Sean is your man. Often, clients come for brand-defining statements and web copy. Then, they stick around for brochure writing, awards submissions, and articles. In addition, most are long-term, repeat clients of many years. Assignments range from technical writing for proposals to product profiles for paint or concrete. In every case, the writing focuses on architecture, engineering, construction, infrastructure, or development. Simply put, Sean understands the construction and design industry the way few do and can convey it like none other.  No matter who you are or what you do in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, it is hard to stand out. So, make it easy. Execute success with professional writing for architecture, engineering, and construction by Sean O’Keefe Communications and Strategy.

The following is a cross section of construction and design writing clients for copywriting, award writing, technical writing, and editorial writing assignments.

Pepper Construction
Geneal Contractor and Construction Manager
Internal-facing Construction Writing

Regional Contractor
Working with Pepper’s Sr. Leadership, the program involved developing Standard Operating Procedures for dozen of key operational processes to unify the workflow across all future operations. Team interviews of just 30 minutes per topic resulted in confident statements about who is expected to do what, when, where, and why in less than 500 words per process.

AEC Technical Writing
A regional General Contractor serving mid-western markets including central Ohio, Pepper commissioned a set of Standard Operating Procedures to guide organizational execution.

  • Brian Lensink

    Pepper Construction

    “Our team worked with Sean to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Pepper Construction of Ohio’s construction processes. After interviewing our teams via bi-weekly Zoom meetings, Sean developed concise, easy-to-follow procedures for dozens of complex topics that required almost no adjustment on our part. Sean’s experience and guidance made the entire project effective, efficient, and enjoyable. We will work with Sean on other projects and would recommend him to others.”

 
Architectural Copywriter
D2C Architects specializes in vehicle-centric and governmental architecture for clients across the country.

D2C Architects
Architecture | Planning | Interiors
B2B Architecture and Construction Writer

Architecture Practice
This growing architecture practice sought to establish themselves as an emerging brand in Colorado’s crowded commercial architecture industry. D2C took advantage of Sean’s strategic thinking and hands-on marketing expertise to reconsider their business interests and ambitions before rewriting their firm profile, website, and marketing materials. Sean’s services as an architecture writer and strategic consultant included brand analysis and guidance; developing proposals and marketing collateral; and publishing subject matter expert articles.

D2C improved their potential to reach a larger audience with a more focused message through a comprehensive rewrite of their firm narratives used in all RPF submissions.

Architectural Writer Assignments Include:
Building 909 – Adaptive Reuse
The Military Engineer

  • Eric Combs

    D2C Architects

    “Sean helped us revamp our marketing image, brand, and approach. Through his creative efforts and focused delivery, we were able to open new doors and strengthen existing relationships. Sean without question can help you position your firm for success.”

 

Bomanite
Decorative Architectural Concrete
B2B and B2C Architecture and Construction

Decorative Concrete Systems Manufacturer
Bomanite is the world-wide originator of the decorative concrete industry and distributes their products and services through a network of Licensees nationwide. Sean role as a construction industry copywriter began with a strategic analysis of the relationship between Bomanite and franchisees. Next, Sean developed tailored firm profiles for more than 25 independent Bomanite Licensees nationwide to give everyone an equal voice in shared success. This involved interviewing each owner, content writing, review and approval, and publishing.

Contributed articles developed for Bomanite involved working with a wide range of design and construction industry publications. Dozens of case study articles were written with franchisees and published to great success. The contributed articles reinforced brand awareness and broadened market reach through national publications. Product profiles, website copy, and continued articles helped ownership shine, and vendors reap the rewards.

Architectural Writer Assignments Include:

Big Ticket
Play & Playground

Innovations in Fine-Aggregate Exposed Concrete
Modern Contractor Solutions

A Sense of Place
Concrete Contractor

Construction Copywriter
As the first name in decorative concrete, Bomanite sets the high-water mark for specialty building materials.

  • Terry Grimble

    Bomanite

    “Our involvement with Sean came as a result of a referral from one of the most highly-regarded contractors in the decorative concrete industry. Sean’s experience and knowledge in the construction industry directly improved our ability to communicate with building and design professionals. The work Sean has done for us has been of high quality. Numerous articles have led to opportunities for our customer base. We view our relationship with Sean as a partnership – and as an integral part of our marketing efforts.”

 

Concepts in Millwork
Architectural Millwork and Specialty Finishes
Architectural Writer for Award

Colorado-based Specialty Contractor
Concepts in Millwork is one of Colorado’s most well-respected specialty contractors dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship and customer service in custom millwork for commercial construction. Building the new U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone involved. Professional services were engaged to develop an AGC Awards submission including content writing and photography. Sean interviewed the Concepts in Millwork team as well as the General Contractor as Architect-of-Record to develop a 360-degree perspective. This project won the top award in it’s division.

Architectural Writer Assignment:
Best Building Project – Subcontractor non-MEP (under $2M)

Construction Industry Award Writer
Concepts in Millwork is Colorado leading millwork contractor, celebrating success on the ACE Award from AGC Colorado.

  • Sherry Lindsey

    Concepts in Millwork

    “Sean was recommended to us as an architecture and construction writer and we are so glad he was available to partner with us! Since it was our first time working with Sean, it was helpful that he set clear expectations upfront to get the best results and that made the process flow very smoothly with everyone involved in our company. Next, Sean’s understanding of the construction industry was invaluable as he was able to easily take our input and turn it into a beautifully written award submission that showcases our custom work. We’ll be competing for a building industry AGC/C ACE Award with Sean’s writing and know that we have a stand-out submission that will WOW our judges! We look forward to future opportunities to partner with Sean again!”

 
Architecture and Construction Writer
Denver South Economic Development Partnership is the organizational body responsible for establishing and fostering cross-jurisdictional development objectives.

Denver South Economic Development Partnership
Economic Development
Architectural Writer for Urban Planning

Multi-jurisdictional Public/Private Partnership

The Denver South Economic Development Partnership is a nexus between public and private sectors in south metro Denver. Their urban planning writing request was a little unusual.  They asked Sean to rescue project that had been written and rewritten several times already to no success. Taking a fresh perspective, the rewrite involved interviewing key Denver South Board Members and getting constituent buy-in. The revisited work was coordinated with a graphic design team for the final brochure. This Framework to Advance and Preserve the Corridor was undertaken in anticipation of substantial population growth throughout metro-Denver. It intends to succinctly assess existing conditions, thoughtfully identify challenges, and present both visionary and practical approaches to controlling circumstances that could erode the quality of life in Denver South.

  • Tom Brook

    Denver South EDC

    “Sean has a distinct voice and confidently communicates complex topics. He has an ability to cut through industry jargon or buzzwords to find and amplify what really resonates with his audience. His writing is extremely relatable to a broad readership.”

 

Colorado Hardscapes
Architectural Concrete Contractor
B2B and B2C Architecture and Construction Writer

Regional Specialty Contractor
The Front Range’s premier decorative concrete contractor, Colorado Hardscapes has been leading product innovation, durability, and beauty nationally since the industry’s inception nearly 50 years ago. Operating as an extension of staff, Sean work as an construction and design writer included marketing, and public relations services integrated into monthly workflows to routine benefit.

AEC Copywriter Assignments Include:

Placemaking Round Table, Colorado Construction & Design Magazine

2019 Association of General Contractors Award Submissions

Press Releases

Building Materials Copywriter
Colorado Hardscapes is the premier architectural concrete contractor of Colorado's Front Range.

  • Torrey DeMasters

    Colorado Hardscapes

    “Sean has done a great job for us on many occasions. His ability to capture the project details while engaging the audience is tremendous. Thank you Sean for all of your hard work!”

Editorial Writing for Construction and Design

Real Estate Writer
A client of more than a decade, Building Dialogue is concerned with the dollars and sense of construction and design.
AEC Writer
ORN

Building Dialogue
Commercial Real Estate Magazine
Real Estate Development Editorial Writer

Regional Commercial Development Magazine
Building Dialogue is the premier commercial real estate development magazine in metro Denver. Also, a stellar client of more than a decade. Features articles, firm profiles, and thought leadership conversations center on high-profile projects and the professionals that put them together. From the intersection of building and business, compelling and informative stories convey the vibrance of metro Denver. 

As an AEC Writer developing features for Building Dialogue, Sean explore the finer points of design and construction on every assignment with a simple philosophy – people make projects. Following the pride and passion of the professionals involved always leads the way for the stories I write for Building Dialogue.

One River North: Architectural Editorial

Opportunity Zone

more than a dime, development ought to be about making a difference

By Sean O’Keefe
Construction and Design Writer

Commercial real estate development is the only occupation Kevin Ratner has ever known. A third-generation developer, his grandfather, Max Ratner, was among four siblings who founded a family-owned lumber and household hardware business in Cleveland, OH in 1920. During the 1930s the business expanded to real estate investing before securing contracts to develop prefabricated governmental housing during World War II. By 1960, Forest City Enterprises was traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange and owned and operated commercial real estate in many U.S. cities. Stretching from Boston to Los Angeles, the Forest City portfolio spanned retail, residential, office, healthcare, and entertainment venues. In 1998, Forest City executives inked a deal to serve as the master developer for the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver, a mixed-use endeavor that contributed to the city’s 21st-century regeneration.

After earning his master’s degree in real estate development from the University of Southern California, Kevin joined the family business in 2000. Though Kevin concentrated his work in Los Angeles, he has always maintained fondness for Colorado living.

“I grew up coming out to a camp in Colorado. So, I have always had a strong connection to the state,” says Ratner, who rose to the position of President of West Coast Development in his 19-year tenure with Forest City. “By the time the company sold in 2018, Forest City had developed Stapleton, Northfield, and started on Central Park Station, each of which has been transformative for Denver.”

Click image for full story as published in Building Dialogue.

Recently Published Commercial Real Estate Editorial

Denver Water

Construction and Design Writer

CSU Spur

Architecture, engineering, and construction writer.
CSU Spur kicks up its heels and says Howdy at National Western. Click Image to read.

FreshLo

Construction and Design Writer
Less magic than hard work, FreshLo demonstrates community development done right. Click image to read.

  • Kris Oppermann Stern

    Building Dialogue

    “Sean has a keen understanding of the Front Range construction market. His elevated understanding takes readers behind the scenes while uncovering the most interesting details. His public relations and marketing experience lays the foundation for his ability to tell a great design and construction story.”

 
Architecture Copywriter
A national publication focused on the intersection of design and education, Learning By Design is a primary client of many years.
Architecture and Construction Writer

Learning By Design
Design for Education Magazine
Architectural Editorial Writer

K-12 and Higher Education Publication
Market-driven Learning By Design attends to a national audience of educators, architects, builders, and product manufacturers whose goods and services improve educational environments. Project features, roundtable conversations, and thought leadership conversations are pragmatically synthesized to get the facts on the table while maintaining brand awareness and non-promotional sensitivity in paid advertorials. The magazine works hard to bring cultivated content to a broad audience by fostering association partnerships, sponsoring awards programs, and hosting education design dialogues through seminars and industry events. Feature articles profiling educational design innovations, projects, products, and service providers with an informative, user-driven focus on the changing landscape of spaces for learning.

Transparency Improves Design

an industry shift toward product declarations enhances holistic decision making

By Sean O’Keefe

Design improves lives and people improve design. Linda Clark knows it. She is an architect and interior designer with the post-nominal letters to prove it. From AIA and NCARB to NCIDQ, IIDA, and WELL AP, licensed and certified, Linda specializes in designing creative, inclusive, healthy learning environments for users of all ages.

“We spend a significant amount of our lives inside of a building. Architecture and interiors need to be healthy and inspirational,” says Clark, an associate at Mid-Atlantic architecture practice, Grimm + Parker Architects. A firm of roughly 100 operating out of three offices in Maryland and Virginia, Grimm + Parker’s portfolio includes more than 80 LEED Certified projects and more recently several buildings boasting a Zero Energy Certification.

“Grimm + Parker specializes in public buildings including education, residential and healthcare, areas where wellness and sustainability intricately intertwine to compel holistically healthier places where people learn, work, live or heal,” continues Clark. “Sustainability has long been the basis of good design because of the obvious benefits sustainable choices have on a building’s operational performance and environmental impact. Now, we are investigating how product and design choices impact the personal health and wellbeing of the people who occupy our buildings.”

Click article image to see full story as published in Learning By Design.

Recently Published Architecture for Education Editorial

Industry Icons Education & Design

Professional Profile Writer
Education and design industry icons for Learning By Design Magazine. Click to read article.

Pivot Point

Architectural Writer
More than weathering the storm, resilient design should be the new normal. Click image to read article.

Natural Selection

Educational editorial.
From views and vegetation to spatial hierarchy and statistical fractals, biophilia is the spine of good design. Click image to read article.

  • Mark Goodman

    Learning By Design

    “I worked with Sean to build a successful program to bring forward the expertise of our advertisers to the readers of our magazine. With Sean’s help we have been able to extoll professional knowledge from a variety of points of view that best explain the benefits and uses of products, services and standards that help impact the quality of education and the environment for future students, faculty, and support staff. Sean’s work development process is efficient, straight forward, and yields great results.”

 
Construction and Design Writer
Infrastructure Editorial Writer

Informed Infrastructure
Infrastructure Construction and Design Magazine
Construction and Design Editorial Writer

Sea to Sea: Engineering Editorial
Written for Informed Infrastructure 

Sea to Sea on the Scottish Canals

Centuries of infrastructure innovation culminate in the ever-changing now.

By Sean O’Keefe
Construction and Design Writer

The fundamental fabric of the human experience with purpose-built places, infrastructure can be understood as any system of public works or resources required to organize human activities. Roads, bridges, and highways come to mind immediately though the list includes every sidewalk and drainage basin ever built and the endless slew of interconnected utilities we use to power, flush, and broadcast our lives worldwide. Cooperation among many is essential to collective community betterment, so the need for such a framework stretches back to the very beginning of human existence. And while in the face of climate change or the evident erosion of behavioral values, the challenges of the 21st Century seemingly pit us against unsurmountable forces, like all others, we remain people of our age. As was the case for those before us, we must understand that infrastructure remains the way toward a brighter future for all.

Such is the story for Richard Millar. He is the head custodian of one of the world’s longest-surviving pieces of infrastructure, an asset so old that it has now catalyzed an entire culture – twice! As Interim CEO of Scottish Canals, Millar finds himself at the switch for Scotland’s heritage infrastructure – Scottish Canals.

“Scotland’s canal network is a collection of five separate canals that run through the heart of Scotland and have been instrumental in the lives of Scottish people for centuries. Today, we are all very proud to play a part in reviving them to a state of active reuse,” says Millar of his responsibilities. A civil engineer by trade, Millar has been with Scottish Canals for 24 years. Having had a hand in dozens of major public works projects required to resuscitate the canals from paralyzing stagnation, Millar and a small staff can take satisfaction in stewarding a community regeneration program that touches many lives in many ways. Though the story of infrastructure modernization through adaptation that Millar shares is indeed the way forward, he wisely insists on starting at the beginning, which was 1768.

Click lower image for full story as published in Informed Infrastructure.

Recently Published Infrastructure Editorial

CTA Red and Purple Lines

Infrastructure Writer
Rebuilding 100-year transit infrastructure above the streets of Chicago. Click image to read story.

Laguardia Terminal B

Construction and Design Writer
Exploring the understated elegance of GRG pre-cast panels at LaGuardia’s Terminal B. Click image to ready story.

Geospatial Intelligence

Infrastructure Editorial
from the intersection of time and space, geospatial intelligence eliminates inference. Click image to read story.

  • Todd Danielson

    Informed Infrastructure

    “Love working with Sean. He writes from his heart and is very thorough. And we’ve heard nothing but good things from those he interviewed and worked with outside our organization.”

 
Construction and Design Writer

“Sean redesigned our marketing collateral, established a new format for our approach to proposal response and structured an information system for marketing that is largely still in place and useful to the company many years later. Personally, I consider Sean to be among the best marketing professionals with which I have worked.”

- Dave Clark, Principal
Coover-Clark & Associates

Click to learn more about:

AEC Copywriting

Editorial for Construction and Design

Product and Building Material Writing

AEC Awards Writing

AEC Technical Writing

Resume

AEC Copywriter

B.A. Journalism / Communications
 University of North Carolina (1995)

Peace Corps Volunteer / English Teacher
Peace Corps Benin, W. Africa (1998 – 2000)

Owner / Photographer
Sean O’Keefe Professional Imaging (2001 – 2016)

Winner / 1st Place
Mary E. Phillips Elementary Mini-Marathon (1982)

Sean O’Keefe Marketing Professional
2001 – 2014

Sean O’Keefe began his career as a construction and design writer at an ENR top 500 firm in 2001. Consequently, within a few months, he was coordinating RFPs. During 14 years as an architectural writer and marketing professional, Sean wrote and coordinated more than 1,000 RFP/RFQ submissions. As a result of shortlisting for some 75 percent of all submissions at 6 different firms, Sean then orchestrated some 750+ interview presentations, winning many millions of dollars in work for his employers along the way.

Architecture and Construction Writer
Sean O’Keefe Communication and Strategy
Established 2015

After more many years as a sole provider published internationally, there can be no doubt, that Sean offers specialized knowledge of the development, design, construction, and commercial building products industries. Over countless assignments, for a wide range of construction and design writing clients, Sean’s ability as an architecture and construction writer for the built environment is full spectrum.
Honed over many years of providing marketing and public relations services to leading design and construction firms, Sean’s expertise as an architecture and construction writer helps copywriting clients articulate the complexities, camaraderie, and delights of imaging and delivering built environments, one project at a time. As a professional marketing strategist, Sean helps businesses assess their position in the competitive landscape and chart a course for sustained success. Meanwhile, as an acutely experienced construction and design writer, Sean writes the story of how and why the built environment continues to change around us.

Previous Architectural Writer Experience Includes:

Marketing and Public Relations Specialist: Construction Writer
Adolfson and Peterson Construction (2011 – 2014)

Director of Marketing and Public Relations: Architecture Writer
Humphries Poli Architects (2006 – 2011)

“Marketing is a measurable win-lose proposition. Consequently, it takes a careful eye and pen to show clients that our team is qualified to bring their program to reality. Sean is a master at clear-headed analysis, professional, energetic and resourceful; all key attributes to a firm whose mission is to expand their capture in a very competitive marketplace.”
Joe Poli, Principal
Humphries Poli Architects

Marketing and Public Relations Manager: Architecture Writer
Coover-Clark & Associates Architects (2005 – 2006)

“Sean redesigned our marketing collateral, established a new format for our approach to proposal response and structured an information system for marketing that is largely still in place and useful to the company many years later. Personally, I consider Sean to be among the best marketing professionals with which I have worked.”
Dave Clark, Principal
Coover-Clark & Associates

Orchestrating more than 1,000 RFPs and 750 shortlist presentations

Regional Communications Coordinator: Engineering Writer
Short Elliott Hendrickson Engineering (2003 – 2005)

Marketing Coordinator: Architectural Writer
Arrowstreet Architecture (2002 – 2003)

“Sean spearheaded a process for designing and producing client presentations that has greatly enhanced not only the appearance of these materials but the flexibility with which we can produce them. Undoubtedly, Sean will make a positive contribution to every firm that hires him.”
Kathleen Born, AIA
Arrowstreet

Marketing and Public Relations Assistant: Engineering Writer
Edwards and Kelcey Engineering (2001 – 2002)

Certified Grant Writer / Nonprofit Writer
Nonprofit Ready.org (2022)