Years ago, Corey Squire told me he believed that knowledge management was the secret to unlocking sustainability in architectural practice. At the time, that insight struck me as bold and prescient. Now, after watching Corey apply that philosophy across his roles at Lake Flato, through his consulting work, and most recently as Director of Sustainability at Bora Architecture & Interiors, I believe it’s something much more: a model.
In this episode, Corey walks us through how Bora is transforming sustainability from a siloed department into a shared operating system—powered by a thoughtful culture, a living knowledge base, and now, AI Search. He shares how their Synthesis intranet (Chaco) helps capture institutional knowledge from experts and make it accessible to the entire firm, freeing up time for deeper innovation and mentorship. We talk about the importance of pairing sustainable knowledge with a supportive culture, and the flywheel effect that happens when you give people not just facts, but context and clarity about why design choices matter.
Corey’s insights are grounded, generous, and deeply practical—shaped by his own experience building firmwide programs, writing the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, and publishing People, Planet, Design, a book that blends design philosophy, actionable strategies, and an entire chapter on knowledge management as the foundation for sustainable practice.
Whether you're trying to scale sustainability, upskill your teams, or figure out how AI fits into your firm’s future, this is a conversation full of takeaways you can borrow, adapt, and implement.
Enjoy!
Best,
Chris
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About the Welcome to KM 3.0 Series
Knowledge Management has always evolved alongside technology. Today, powered by AI, a new golden era of KM is emerging — KM 3.0.
In this limited series produced by Christopher Parsons, CEO and Founder of Knowledge Architecture and Evan Troxel, host of the TRXL Podcast, we’ll profile a range of firms—each with a distinct approach to knowledge management. From program structure to measurable impact, we’ll explore how AEC firms are using knowledge management to get smarter in an AI-driven world.
You’ll hear from a CEO, a marketing director, a technology leader, a sustainability expert, and a dedicated knowledge manager. Each will bring a different lens—showing us how knowledge leadership can emerge from different corners of an organization and take shape in distinct ways.
In every episode, we’ll aim to get to the heart of how AEC knowledge management functions in practice—what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next.
About the TRXL Podcast
The TRXL podcast is a leading voice at the intersection of architecture and emerging technology, hosted by Evan Troxel. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with architects, technologists, and industry leaders who are shaping the future of the built environment. With a focus on innovation, practice, and the people behind the work, TRXL offers listeners an inside look at how architecture is evolving—one insight at a time.
In addition to the free weekly show, TRXL+ offers an extended experience with bonus content, early access, behind-the-scenes commentary for subscribers who want to go deeper, ad-free episodes, and the Leadership Edge newsletter. You can explore the full archive and learn more about TRXL+ at https://trxl.co.