Rockefeller/Hricak Architects - Venice, California
House + House Architects - San Francisco, California
Studios Architecture, Washington D.C.
The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership, Phoenix, Arizona
Onuma & Associates, Los Angeles, California
The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership - Phoenix, Arizona

For a firm with an architectural staff numbering over 50, finding the right mix of innovation, adherence to standards, and business success is both a priority and a challenge.

ArchiCAD helps The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership achieve that balance.

Users since 1990, the Phoenix, Arizona (USA) based Orcutt/Winslow has made ArchiCADıs Virtual Building concept an integral part of their business. Recognizing the key role that technology would play in their long-term success, Orcutt/Winslow formed in-house committees to monitor computer system development, database development, CAD standards and, most recently, Virtual Building system development.

Among the important resources that have come out of the Virtual Building committee is the Virtual Building Manual. This 66-page document established a company-wide standard of approaching the design, documentation and presentation of projects. All of Orcutt/Winslowıs projects start from one of several standard model files, with layers and layer groups preset, and are modeled in such a way that the construction documents are simply a byproduct of the computer generated Virtual Building.

The hope was that by putting these standards in place there would be more time for design. "Knowing that the detail entered into design documents will not have to be redone allows us to spend more time on details like reception desks and general building massing and character development," explained principal and cofounder Paul Winslow, FAIA.

When Orcutt/Winslow began to fully embrace the Virtual Building method of working, they had to rethink their billing process. "The time spent on project is greater upfront, but the documents phase time and effort has been significantly reduced," Winslow said. ArchiCADıs single, integrated database allows them to start the input of specific materials and systems at a much earlier point in the design phase. With this method, they can show these details at any point, and comfortably make modifications because any changes made will be updated in all views. "Our schematic designs show a much more complete three-dimensional presentation to the client and allow us to evaluate the design in 3D more thoroughly at early stages."

"Office morale and profitability are both on the rise and we are currently in the process of shifting our project phasing percentages to take into account the Virtual Building methodology," added project manager Russ Sanders. "More time is expended up front establishing the links from the primitive model to the layout sheets. Once this is done, the rest of the project can be developed within the model. By the time we have completed the design development phase, we are actually about 60 percent complete with construction documents."

"By the time we have completed the design development phase, we are actually about 60% complete with construction documents."

With yearly billings close to $11,000,000, Orcutt/Winslowıs projects include medical, educational and public buildings, research facilities and commercial office space. Recently they accepted a project that, for political reasons, they had to complete for a low fee. In order to keep the costs to the bare minimum, they decided to hand the job over to one person who was well-versed in the Virtual Building process. "It was the only way we could come close to breaking even," Winslow explained. "The project was finished by that one person in about three-quarters of the time and under our fee budget."

They also took advantage of the Virtual Building process for the first time on a remodeling project: an addition for a local high school. The result was a complete 3D model of both the existing building and the proposed solutions. "The model file contained floor plans (demolition and new), reflected ceiling plan, roof plan, building elevations, interior elevations, custom details, axonometric details, window and door elevations, and legends," Sanders said.

"The schematic design and design development presentations were done entirely in 3D. Because of the Virtual Building approach, we had better document coordination, and the client was not surprised with the final product. This project lead to the creation of a remodel/additions template file for office-wide use."

The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership upgraded immediately to ArchiCAD 6.5 upon its release in the United States. The latest version has been installed on all workstations, and they are now praising the new tools and enhanced functionality.

"ArchiCAD 6.5 has made it easier than ever to edit in the 3D window, while at the same time strengthening the reliability of the hotlinked construction documents," Sanders said. "At Orcutt/Winslow, we would much rather model it once than draw it with lines and arcs five times. With 6.5ıs enhanced 3D modeling and editing features, weıre spending more time than ever in the 3D window, and less time worrying about 2D output."