Is your team spending more time fixing your website than winning new work?

For architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms, time is a high-value resource. From BD teams to project managers, every hour should move you closer to winning work, delivering excellence, and building your firm’s reputation. Yet many AEC firms find themselves bogged down with website issues including security updates, plugin errors, and outdated content.

Your website is not just an online brochure. It’s a powerful marketing asset. And just like a well-maintained job site, your website demands (and deserves) ongoing attention. Here’s why routine website maintenance should be part of your firm’s operational plan.

What Does Website Maintenance Really Entail?

Website maintenance isn’t just saving a backup or updating a plugin. It’s a proactive, ongoing effort that ensures your site remains:

• Technically sound and secure

• Accessible to every user, on any device

• Optimized for performance and SEO

• Up-to-date with evolving technologies and browser standards

Typical tasks include:

• Updating your CMS (e.g., WordPress)

• Managing plugin and theme updates

• Applying security patches

• Monitoring uptime and performance

• Ensuring backups and recovery protocols are in place

In the AEC space, where your work is judged on credibility and execution, a broken form, buggy feature, or a hacked site can have reputational consequences far beyond a simple inconvenience.

Why Website Maintenance Matters for AEC Firms

1. Security for Confidential Information

AEC websites often collect data through RFQ/RFP forms, job applications, or client portals. Routine security maintenance ensures that your firm isn’t vulnerable to attacks that could compromise sensitive client or personnel data.

2. Site Reliability

When your firm is shortlisted and a prospect visits your site, it must perform flawlessly. A slow or outdated site sends the wrong message. Regular maintenance ensures your site loads quickly, renders correctly across devices, and reflects the high-quality work you deliver.

3. Compliance & Accessibility

Your audience includes municipalities, institutional clients, and developers who expect digital compliance. That means ADA accessibility, WCAG standards, and responsive design are no longer just “nice to haves.” Maintenance ensures your site stays inclusive and aligned with these requirements.

4. Future-Proofing Technology

As hosting environments, browsers, and integrations evolve, so must your site. Without proactive updates, you risk compatibility issues that can derail performance or introduce security flaws. Maintenance ensures your site keeps pace with industry and tech standards.

5. Supporting Your Firm’s Growth

Your BD and marketing teams need a site that scales and evolves alongside your firm. From adding new markets, to showcasing recent work, to publishing thought leadership, your site must be able to accurately portray the growth of your firm. A neglected site becomes a bottleneck. A well-maintained site is a business enabler.

Peace of Mind Through Strategic Support

A solid website maintenance plan is not just about tech, it’s about partnership. When something breaks or you need a content push before a big interview, you shouldn’t be Googling fixes or waiting on generic support tickets. At Third & Arch, our maintenance plans come with direct access to our team of real people who understand your firm, your CMS, and your goals.

Hosting That’s Built for Performance

We recommend and support hosting with Pantheon, a platform designed for WordPress and Drupal sites. Pantheon includes version-controlled deployment environments, automatic SSL management, and daily backups. Combined, these hosting features offer a performance and security baseline that many AEC firms lack today.

Final Thoughts

Website maintenance may not be glamorous, but it’s mission-critical. For AEC firms that want to be taken seriously in today’s digital-first environment, a neglected site is not just an inconvenience, it’s a liability.

Let Third & Arch help you turn your site into a high-performing marketing tool that reflects the quality of the work you deliver in the real world.