diff --git a/.github/workflows/_build-shared.yml b/.github/workflows/_build-shared.yml
index b6f8d8b..7e645c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_build-shared.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_build-shared.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,19 @@ on:
       qt_version:
         required: true
         type: string
+      qt_arch: # get rid of this, eventually, by detecting the correct Qt architecture based on the OS and compiler-
+        description: Qt architecture passed to jurplel/install-qt-action (e.g. clang_64 for macOS Intel).
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        default: ''
+      setup_env_script:
+        description: >
+          Optional shell script run after Qt is installed and before CMake configure.
+          Use this to configure the build environment (e.g. install Rosetta, export
+          CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES). When omitted the step is skipped entirely.
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        default: ''
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -27,10 +40,16 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: echo "build-output-dir=${{ github.workspace }}/build" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
+      - name: Set up environment
+        if: ${{ inputs.setup_env_script }}
+        shell: bash
+        run: ${{ inputs.setup_env_script }}
+        
       - name: Install Qt
         uses: jurplel/install-qt-action@v4
         with:
           version: ${{ inputs.qt_version }}
+          arch: ${{ inputs.qt_arch }}
           install-deps: 'true'
           set-env: 'true'
 
@@ -40,6 +59,7 @@ jobs:
           -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${{ inputs.c_compiler }}
           -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${{ inputs.cpp_compiler }}
           -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+          ${{ steps.strings.outputs.osx_arch_flag }}
           -S ${{ github.workspace }}
 
       - name: Build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux.yml b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
index 0900949..32173d3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ on:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
       
   pull_request:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
 
 jobs:
   get-matrix:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index 87c474c..a0a44b8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ on:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
       
   pull_request:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
 
 jobs:
   get-matrix:
@@ -32,10 +34,15 @@ jobs:
 
     uses: ./.github/workflows/_build-shared.yml
     with:
-      os: macos-13  # Intel-based macOS
+      os: macos-latest  # ARM runner; Intel x86_64 binaries built and run via Rosetta 2
       c_compiler: ${{ matrix.c_compiler }}
       cpp_compiler: ${{ matrix.cpp_compiler }}
       qt_version: ${{ matrix.qt_version }}
+      qt_arch: clang_64  # x86_64 Qt binary for Intel cross-compilation
+      setup_env_script: |
+        # Install Rosetta 2 so x86_64 test binaries can run on the ARM64 runner.
+        softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license || true
+        echo "CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=x86_64" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
   build-macos-arm:
     name: macos-${{ matrix.c_compiler }}-qt${{ matrix.qt_version }}-arm
@@ -51,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
           - c_compiler: clang
             cpp_compiler: clang++
         exclude:
-          # Exclude Qt5 versions for ARM builds
+          # Qt5 has no native Apple Silicon (ARM64) support; ARM macOS binaries require Qt6+
           - qt_version: "5.9.*"
           - qt_version: "5.12.*"
           - qt_version: "5.15.*"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index bab5d35..f688330 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ on:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
 
   pull_request:
     branches: [main, develop]
     paths-ignore:
       - '*.md'
+      - 'docs/**'
 
 jobs:
   get-matrix: