James Woodbury, Pablo Azcona, and Trent Zane of Blach Construction describe the implementation of AEC technology on Gateway at Millbrae Station, a transportation-oriented, mixed-use development in Millbrae, California, that was built as a joint venture between Blach Construction and Cahill Contractors.

One notable observation regarding the use of AEC technology for the Gateway at Millbrae Station project is the significant impact it had on the construction schedule. By leveraging advanced tools such as laser scanning, total station survey, and BIM software, the project team was able to identify and resolve design and construction conflicts at earlier stages. This early detection led to a substantial reduction in rework and change orders, resulting in a highly efficient and streamlined construction process. Moreover, the integration of technology fostered improved communication and collaboration among team members, enhancing their ability to work cohesively towards project goals.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2023/ProjectProfile-GatewayMillbrae.html

Newman Garrison + Partners, a full-service architecture, urban planning, and interior design studio located in the Greater Los Angeles area, whose work includes projects in the multifamily, mixed-use, hospitality, affordable housing, and retail sectors, shares its perspective on AEC technology in this Firm Profile.

We are “strategic adopters” — not necessarily early adopters — of technology, ensuring that every tool we use provides value in the form of increasing team productivity and creativity, as well as allowing us to better service our projects and clients.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2023/FirmProfile-NG+P.html

Michael Bullman, architect and senior associate with The Office of Charles F. Bloszies, FAIA, describes the implementation of AEC technology on the prefabricated housing project in Redwood City, California, designed using its own proprietary modular solution called step(1)housing.

The use of older software technology actually enabled more advanced construction techniques for this project. Sometimes the best innovation lies in finding new uses for old things.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2023/ProjectProfile-RedwoodCityPrefabHousing.html

Stefanie Grolik, BIM Coordinator at Schmidt Plöcker Architects describes the implementation of BIM on the Stuttgart Cancer Center Eva Mayr-Stihl in Stuttgart, Germany, for which the firm provided the model-based BIM execution planning to service phase 5, as well as overall BIM coordination.

“The radiation clinic is an excellent example of how OpenBIM can help deliver complicated designs in challenging conditions in relatively short timescales. There are various construction tasks for which BIM has become indispensable. Highly technical buildings such as hospitals or special clinics benefit immensely from the digital model: complex specialist planning can be comprehensively integrated, coordinated, and design errors minimized. The designing architect’s office is thus once again becoming the essential project manager in the design, planning, and construction process.”

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2023/ProjectProfile-StuttgartCancerCenter.html

Chris Preston, BIM Manager at LeChase, a construction company with annual revenues approaching $1 billion and 11 regional offices across the east coast, describes its implementation of AEC technology in this Firm Profile.

The use of labor market tie-ins, which relies on advances in technology, has allowed contractors and designers to work in a labor-short market more effectively. In some platforms, labor is reduced by 15-20%.

Overall, it’s an exciting time to be involved with technology in the AEC industry. I’m proud to work at a forward-thinking company like LeChase, which recognizes the value of technology and is willing to invest in it to provide a better result for our customers

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2022/FirmProfile-LeChase.html

Kevin Myers and Tom Foggin, Directors at R H Partnership Architects, describe the implementation of AEC technology on a new building project for Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University, UK, for which they are the Architects and Lead Designers.

Due to the complex geometry and technical demands of achieving the Passivhaus standard, we would have spent much more time working out “how” to communicate information, rather than working on “what” we needed to communicate, if we had not used BIM and other AEC technology applications.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2022/ProjectProfile-LucyCavendish.html

William Duff Architects, an architectural firm based in San Franciso whose projects include retail stores, single- and multifamily homes, restaurants, office spaces, cafés, wineries, art galleries, and full building renovations, shares its perspective on AEC technology in this Firm Profile.

Dustin Foster, our technology SI group leader, notes, “There’s such a rapid rate of new tools being released each year. Some have staying power, and others don’t. It’s challenging to invest time and resources into these tools without the guarantee they will stick around. My grand wish is minimized risk for trying all these tools.”

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2021/FirmProfile-WilliamDuffArchitects.html

Erik Narhi, Computational Design Lead at Buro Happold, describes the implementation of AEC technology on the just-opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, for which Buro Happold provided structural and MEP engineering, data analytics, sustainability consulting and energy modeling, as well as lighting design.

This project is a great example of how technology moves faster than the AEC industry. We accept now that each project will start using the cutting-edge, and end using outdated technology with new technologies representing missed opportunities had we had them earlier.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2021/ProjectProfile-AcademyMuseum.html

RESIN Architecture, a design, planning, and visualization firm with projects across the western region and also in several midwestern and southern states in the United States, shares its perspective on AEC technology in this Firm Profile.

Technology is so vital to what we as Architects can do, but we have to be willing to venture out of our comfort zone. As a profession, many firms are seemingly caught in a deep rut of tradition. Those ruts exist when we are comfortable doing things the way they have been done for the past several years or sadly, in some cases, decades. The opportunity for us to work differently, to innovate, and evolve the architectural profession exists. Technology advancements allow us so many exciting opportunities that help us better serve our clients.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2021/FirmProfile-ResinArchitecture.html

Pappageorge Haymes Partners describes the implementation of AEC technology on the Wolf Point East project, a luxury 60-story apartment tower located in the heart of Chicago, for which it is the Architect of Record.

Without using BIM applications, the team would not have been able to design, coordinate, and complete this complex project in the allotted time per the aggressive schedule. Pappageorge Haymes Partners and its partners checked every little corner of the building well in advance before the project was built. This avoided costly mistakes on site. Having a clear picture of how the different building components interact allowed us to detect issues early on and quickly make the right decisions.

URL: https://www.aecbytes.com/profile/2021/ProjectProfile-WolfPointEast.html