Architecture and the Virtual Office

I love the conveniences of modern technology! The internet has become incorporated into virtually every aspect of our daily life. It is in our homes, our workplace, and even our phones. Whether it is research, communication, or services we are after, our society has become so utterly dependant on the internet that we feel lost without it. In my personal experience, I spent 15 months sailing around the world and essentially I mourned the absence of the internet during long passages at sea. The abrupt and absolute impossibility of surfing the web was a shock to the system in many ways. I didn’t realize that I was so dependant on the internet until all of my preferred means of obtaining information and communicating with loved ones was no longer an option. It was not all that pathetic, however. In a reasonably short period of time, I learned to love the disconnect experienced at sea and on remote South Pacific islands.

Now that I have both feet tentatively planted ashore, I have taken full advantage of all the conveniences and instant gratification the internet offers me. Most importantly, it has opened up a host of employment and business opportunities. Where I choose to live is not exactly a booming metropolis with endless job opportunities for writers. But with a little online research, I was able to secure freelance writing work. When I decided I wanted a little more financial stability, I landed a research and copywriting job with a web development firm. I had a desk at the office, but I had every opportunity to telecommute from my home, which I took advantage of.

Having joined a company that strives to improve communication within the architecture industry and design/ build sectors, I am interested to know how architects, planners, designers and associated professionals can improve communication when not everyone is working from the office.

How has the architecture industry adapted to the model of the virtual office? The internet has made it easy for freelance designers and architects/ builders with a web presence to identify and contact one another. There are countless benefits to adopting a virtual office, but the ones that stick out to me are:
Your talent pool does not have to be local. Regional and international professionals can contribute to your company and projects via the web.
Freelancers can create a virtual firm in order to take on larger projects and increase their market coverage.

What I would like to know is how many architecture firms and associated professionals have integrated the “virtual office” into their businesses in some way. Has telecommunication complicated business operations, or has it improved morale or productivity?

If you would like to weigh in, I’d love to gain some perspective!

Green Initiatives in Architecture

I am trying to be more environmentally conscious. I make careful product choices, recycle and use a compost bin, and I pretty much force everyone around me to do the same thing so I don’t slip and fall out of line. In my own home I’ve been dubbed the “Recycling Police” but the very same name-callers are complying. I am starting to get the hang of it; not just the part about making environmentally friendly choices, but I’m actually thinking of the Big Picture.

I began preparing myself to join the team here at Hestia Solutions this past summer. They already had a tight grasp on what it is we are trying to do for the architecture industry and their clients, so I had some reading-up to do. As a layperson slowly educating myself about my two new favorite topics, I’ve started to get pretty excited about Green Initiatives in the architecture industry and building/ design sector.

As a consumer, I have not been financially prepared to build my own home so it never occurred to me to even ask myself, let alone anyone else, what kind of footprint the architecture industry leaves on the Environment. But now that my work centers on finding ways to improve aspects of the industry, I’ve started to work away at my little desk trying to answer my own questions. How bad can it be?

I came across some text I enjoyed reading in The Office for Robotic Architectural Media & Bureau for Responsive Architecture (ORAMBRA)’s CAAD For Responsive Architecture: http://www.orambra.com/sterkAUTODESSYS_07.html
Sterk, Tristan d'Estree (2006) CAAD For Responsive Architecture [Joint Study Report 2005-2006 Auto-des-Sys / ISBN-13: 978-0-9792943-0-3] (Columbus Ohio) April 2007, pp. 66-70 (ed., Murali Paranandi)

In this, Edward Mazria is quoted from his paper titled "It's the Architecture Stupid!" which attempts to explain the relationship between architecture, energy resources and the environment. The following of Mazria’s statements stood out to me:
1. in the USA, the architectural sector consumes 48% of all energy used, and
2. the architectural sector generates 46% of America's annual CO2 emissions

I’m going to have to do a little more digging to ensure I’ve not taken anyone’s research out of context or have missed some relevant point, but the proposed numbers do precisely what was intended: to make you pause for thought.

So architecture as an art and industry is under tremendous pressure these days. A sketchy economy requires more efficient designs and building processes and cost-effective materials. Growing concern about the environment is forcing architects and members of the design and building sector to implement environmental policies and explore creative, innovative and cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, educate themselves and consumers about the environmental effects of the products they choose, and reduce air pollution and solid waste. All of these adaptations and advancements come with a higher price tag, but I think consumers’ attitudes are also changing and despite tighter purse strings, they are willing to invest in quality and eco responsibility.

My draw to green initiatives and innovation in architecture has made me more excited about our Approve Your Plan© system. We’ve come up with an innovative drawing review and approval system for architects, planners, designers and professionals that is completely paperless. This is quite significant in terms of environmental responsibility.

A paper-dependant firm experiences higher operating costs, such as purchasing materials and relying on courier and postal services for delivery. Using paper for all drafts, revisions and audit trails squanders precious resources such as trees and when you consider the harmful emissions produced by daily functions such as courier deliveries, paper dependency is the antithesis of green initiatives within the industry.

Happily, our solution saves resources and reduces operating costs. Approve Your Plan© is a web-hosted application that allows all files to be uploaded, marked-up, reviewed and shared online with clients and contracted professionals. The paperless system allows for a fully-functioning and viewable file to be delivered into the “hands” of the right people without wasting paper for all drafts and revisions and without wasting money and fuel for courier services. Because paper usage is necessary to complete some business transactions, all of our users have the option to print drawings and audit trails in paper form whenever necessary.

We are happy to do our part! See for yourself how Approve Your Plan will conform to your green initiatives while preserving resources, both in nature and in your bank account. Try the full version FREE for 7 Days:

http://hestiasolutions.com/applications-7daytrial.php

Update Dec. 5/08: Check out the commentary posted on flavorwire.com:

Exclusive: David Cook — No, Not the American Idol — Explains What Green Architecture Really Means

11:50 am Wednesday Dec 3, 2008

by caroline

http://flavorwire.com/?p=4240

Visit our Website and Try our FREE 7 Day Trial!

http://www.HestiaSolutions.com

Approve Your Plan - Benefits and Features

- Approve Your Plan is a new and innovative way to increase your competitive advantage.
- It is an online system that will help you shorten project life cycles by enabling faster drawing reviews, commenting and approvals.
- You will benefit from more effective, clear and consistent communication on projects of any size.

How Does Approve Your Plan Work?
- Approve Your Plan is a web-hosted solution; there is no software to download.
- You can now upload project drawings for review, commenting and approval.
- All those involved with the project will automatically be notified by email of the upload. Users log in to view the drawing and any associated comments.
- Viewers can save, print, or view the drawing in the Mark Up Tool.

Enhanced Communication and Visual Clarification
- In the Mark Up Tool clients can use the various features to mark up, add text, comment on, and assign the drawing an approval status.
- Mark ups are layered so the original drawing is not altered.
- When the review is saved all project users are instantly notified by email and can view changes or suggestions. This iterative process can continue until approval is reached.
- A complete audit trail is maintained.

Shorter Project Lifecycles
- Approve Your Plan enables your firm to reduce the number of meetings needed with clients to review, mark up and approve plans.
- Users can access complete project files online from anyplace at anytime.
- Approve Your Plan can achieve review and approval results in just minutes, whereas the traditional review process may take a week to organize and conduct meetings.
- The system’s bi directional, layered mark up capability enables visual clarification for the user, saving time and frustration.
- Costly minor review meetings can be eliminated.

Audit Trail/Revision History
For your peace of mind, a complete audit trail of all drawings, mark ups, comments, and approvals is maintained. You also have the ability to add external communications to the record.

Available Anywhere – 24/7
You have access to complete project files from anywhere that has an internet connection. Not only does this enable you to have information at your finger tips, but also it facilitates multi-office and multi-location cooperation.

Try Approve It Online free for 7 Days.
See for yourself how this feature-rich application can help you.

http://www.hestiasolutions.com/

Meet The Team!

Team Bios

David Rankin
President, General Manager

A consummate professional, David has extensive leadership experience serving in the capacity of Founder and CEO, President, Vice President, General Manager, and Private Consultant in companies throughout Canada, the US, and the United Kingdom. As co-founder of Hestia Solutions, Inc., David’s experience and ability have facilitated the strategic planning and implementation of the Approve Your Plan© System.

David is results-driven and focused, and he maintains a high-standard for product quality and business practices. He single-handedly keeps the rest of the team in line, but when the work day is done, Dave is our resident King of Cajun Cooking and stone crab fanatic. We call him Pappy for short.


Chris MacDonald
VP, Head of Development

Chris is an Electrical Engineer who aspires to implement a four hour work week, but he tolerates an 80 hour week in the meantime. Chris’ strengths lie in Programming and Web Development, and he was a successful Domain Speculator and Web Design Entrepreneur before co-founding Hestia Solutions, Inc.

The quality of his work is not to be measured by the state of his office; and although the method to his madness is mostly lost on his coworkers, his talent, insight and good humor are refreshing qualities in an otherwise focused environment.


Wanda Jerrett
Marketing Manager

Wanda’s strengths lie in marketing management, account management and communications. Her past business experience is rich and includes several years working in the field of information technology (Marketing Management). Her marketing experience was honed at an advertising agency, an engineering consulting firm, a manufacturer of telecommunications hardware, and at a global news service. She pays keen attention to detail, as is evident in her preparation and delivery of both traditional and non-traditional (e-marketing) campaigns, and the development of strategic marketing and communication plans.

Wanda’s experience provides our team with a wealth of marketing knowledge and skill and she is charged with the responsibility of rocketing our Approve Your Plan© System to the top of the Architecture Industry’s Wish List. No pressure.


Erin Standing
Customer Service Manager/ Administrative Assistant/ Go-To Girl

Erin is a former Tall Ship sailor and writer who has chosen to enroll in the remedial program for living ashore. She circumnavigated the world delivering much-needed school supplies to isolated islands and communities, and she chronicled 15 months of high-seas adventures for the most prominent maritime museum in North America, and for teachers and students in classrooms around the world.

One foot in the sea and one ashore, Erin’s writing experience has included extensive copy writing for a web development firm, freelance work, and several styles of media and e-marketing campaigns. Her role on the Hestia Solutions team has served a myriad of functions including researching and writing documentation, performing administrative duties, customer service, furniture-assembler, training to be Wanda’s minion, and all-around Go-To Girl.

Our Doors Have Opened!

Approve Your Plan!

Welcome!

Approve Your Plan is an innovative and efficient system to facilitate a wide range of communications, including a powerful and integrated drawing upload tool for instant review, mark-up, comments and approval. A hosted solution, we provide customized support for Firm Administrators and their Architects, Designers and Clients. We make online drawing review and approval fast and easy with Approve Your Plan – no face-to-face meeting, you just need to go online and login. The project time from contract to completion is dramatically reduced, a benefit that can save money for Firms and their Clients, and lead to an increased competitive advantage.

This guide takes you through the basic features of the Approve Your Plan online review and approval system. These features will provide you with convenient ways to customize the system for your use.

Getting Started

There is no software to download and all you need is an internet connection. This means that drawing review and approval can take place virtually anywhere – even active building sites!

Customized Solutions for Firm Administrators and Employees, Architects and Designers

Approve Your Plan’s multi-faceted online Drawing Review and Approval System allows you to implement effective communication channels, employee and client management, and manage project details. Our application is designed to increase business productivity by decreasing project life cycle times. Key Approve Your Plan features for Firm Administrators, Architects and Designers are:

• Client Management
• Project Management
• In Depth Drawing Management
• Team Assignments
• Drawing Upload Interface
• Automated Email
• Audit Trail
• Project Archiving
• Standard Corporate Branding
• Private Internal Messaging

Customized Solutions for Clients and Contractors

Approve Your Plan’s simple to use and essential internet application allows your clients and affiliated industry professionals to view drawings and mark-ups as soon as they have been uploaded. Instant notification and easy access to updated files enables Clients to review, comment on, or approve drawings without the delays associated with scheduling face-to-face meetings. Key Approve Your Plan features for Clients and Contractors are:

• Browser Based Review
• Email Notification of Drawing Uploads
• Email Notification of Project Changes
• Mark-Up Toolbar
• Online Mark-up
• Pan/Zoom, Text and Drawing Tools
• Comment Editor
• Review Approval and Status Indication
• Automated Project Review and Status Email
• Private Internal Messaging

Visit our Usage Demonstration to see first hand how simple Approve Your Plan is to use and how implementing our system in the management of your projects, employees and clients will save you a great deal of time and money. There is no software for you to download or install. To find out more about our customized solutions and subscription packages, a customer service representative will be more than happy to assist you.

www.hestiasolutions.com