Our Social Network

2nd February, 2011 by Gary Turton | 0 comments

What does social media mean to acla:works?

A couple weeks ago I watched The Secret and was reassured of the validity of the statement: “The future is what we make it.” Back In 2008, before news of the global financial crisis hit, acla:works embarked on a forward-thinking marketing strategy. We felt that, although the previous administration had been a major driver in the Trinidad and Tobago economy, it had also cultivated an attitude against engaging local consultants and contractors for the design and construction of the state’s ambitious development goals. In response, we decided to create a forum where the local design community could publicly share ideas and expertise.

We redeveloped our website as an evolving, interconnected and dynamic site that works more like we do – drawing from our previous work, engaging on various levels with different groups or individuals, speaking about the things we care about, and pursuing different themes. We approached new technologies much as we design – in the present, acknowledging the past, yet for the future. The last thing we want is to become obsolete!

With that in mind, last week we invited Mark Lyndersay – iconic tech guru and professional photographer, and Melanie Archer – acla:works graphics and marketing consultant to give short presentations on social media, which forms a major part of our website and is connected to our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr pages. [Text continues after images]

Melanie presents

Mark talks about his networks

While discussions were quite heated and digressed a bit on some of the more controversial elements of the SlideShare presentation Melanie showed, it became clear that social media is less filtered and censored than traditional marketing and, as such, holds a greater potential to offend. While we strive to be careful with our content in this media, at the same time, we try not to distill our emotions too much from our stories – we're human, after all.

Some of us see social media as a bit of an experiment, as it differs so much from traditional marketing [i.e message to public – public reception]. As head of Marketing at acla:works I am aware that social media is growing at an incredible rate and has tremendous influence as users of the internet spend considerable amounts of time on social media sites. Given this, it's obvious that it is a trend that will not disappear anytime soon.

Mark Lyndersay made the point that "social media" doesn't exist anymore . . . it's just media. Public opinion is now at our fingertips rather than in the hands of statistic or market research groups. Mark took us through his process and showed us how he uses feedback to continually improve his sites and how important it was for him to be authentic and have his sites reflect his personality.

So as we embrace social media and as Mark reminds us that we must continue to give so that we can receive, we open ourselves to comments from our visitors. Through our social media dialogue we hope to improve our work towards improving the global built environment through architecture, and have some fun at the same time.

– GT 

A 5D Kind of Guy

11th January, 2011 by Melanie Archer | 0 comments

acla:works has been known for its pioneering development of Building Information Modeling [BIM] and Virtual Design and Construction [VDC] as part of an Integrated Project Delivery service. This work involves integrating all facets of the construction delivery process including design and construction. Known as 5D, the process not only includes 3D geometric models but also integrated cost and scheduling information. In other words, all aspects of the project that affect its delivery are connected parametrically to one model.

What does that mean for construction? In short: more accurate and better-coordinated designs, more efficient use of on site resources, and more reliable costs and quantities.

Architects are often thought of as being pie in the sky artists. Not so. acla:works director, Brian Lewis, who pioneered the BIM process within our firm, has continued to develop his interest in the project management aspect of the process. In 2006 Brian traveled to Finland to see how cutting edge firms work there, and also to meet with Martin Fisher of Stanford University and Reijo Hanninen of Olof Granlund Oy, both leaders of developing 3D solutions for the construction sector. According to Brian: “It was an eye-opener. The Client, Architect, Structural Engineer, Services Engineers, Cost Consultants, Contractor, University and Model Consultant all sitting down together working as a team on a single model for a project. It is the way of the future and has reduced waste in the construction sector from as much as 30% to a small fraction of 1%. Think of the sort of money that can be saved on construction projects,” he concludes.

Brian then continued his research and development and stayed in contact with leading proponents. Last year he studied the very complex, nearly 600-page textbook, Location-Based Management for Construction: Planning, Scheduling and Control by Russell Kenley and Olli Seppänen. At the end of this, Brian shocked perhaps even the authors themselves by not only having read the entire tome from cover to cover, but also by writing an online review.

Finally, Brian undertook the Integrated Training Guide online course by VICO’s Control software and obtained a certificate completing the course.

What next? Brian wants to implement the software on a 5D project to demonstrate the fantastic benefits and value of the integrated BIM approach. All he needs is a progressive Client, Contractor and the right Consultants. Anyone out there that fits the bill? 

Images: Location-Based Management for Construction; Brian's certificate for completion of VICO's Control; VICO's interactive training guide

Keeping It All Together

5th January, 2011 by Melanie Archer | 1 comment

At acla:works we’ve got meetings to schedule, schedules to meet, projects to coordinate, invoices to send, payments to receive [we hope!], contacts to contact, and tasks to manage. In other words, things can get a little hectic but ArchiOffice – a brilliant bit of software created by architects for architects – helps us to keep it all together. According to the BQE Software Inc. site, “ArchiOffice is a comprehensive, intuitive and user-friendly project management software solution designed specifically for architecture firms.”

acla:works has been using ArchiOffice since 2003 but, in September last year, we upgraded our software to the new and improved AO 2010. Advantages to this upgrade include:

Anywhere, anytime: We can now access all our contacts, calendars, time and expense, reports and project information from any location and from any computer

Improved Document Management: It is no longer necessary for all project documents to reside on a single hard drive. We can move project documents anywhere, archive them and backup without using valuable storage space.

Powerful Task Management: With AO 2010 we can schedule start and end dates for tasks, budget hours and fees and compare budgets to actual data.

Additionally, we can now control reports and invoice contents, and customise them to suit the project or client. 

Bottom line? Our administrative and financial departments are now able to better manage projects, documents, time and billing. Better for us, better for our clients.

– Nancy Winter-Roach

Above: AO 2010 in action!