Home > Features > Feature Article : Firm Profile

 

Flansburgh Associates Inc. is one of Boston's largest and most accomplished firms with a dynamic practice focused primarily on the educational markets for architecture, interiors and comprehensive master planning services. They are also one of the nation's largest all-Macintosh architectural practices with enterprise-class IT facilities. Amazingly, with over 100 employees on two different floors, their IT staff consist of just two full time (and no part time) employees.

In the following interview, sidebar, and related AREN story you can learn how this thriving large practice uses computer technology to stay competitive in the crowded educational architecture market...and why they continue to choose Macintosh as their platform of choice.


AFR - Anthony Frausto-Robledo, Editor
Dom - Dominic Pedulla, Associate
Jim - Jim Highum, AIA, Associate
David - David Caruso, Director of Information Technology

AFR How long has Flansburgh Associates Inc. been in existence?

Jim Since 1963. It was founded by Earl Flansburgh, originally in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

AFR Has the firm always focused on educational work?

Jim Yes, in the early years the office had a wider selection of building types, but today we are primarily focused on educational projects of all types; we have done numerous master plans abroad, for both educational and urban conditions. While we have done a broad range of building types we have always had an emphasis on educational projects.

AFR Have you found that technology over the last decade is driving school work? Is technology a major factor?

Jim Are you asking if technology generates a school board to come forward and build?

AFR Sure.

Jim The decision to build is usually generated by many years of deferred maintenance and over crowding. The towns know that if they build a school they will get up-to-date technology, but they don't build the school primarily to get the technology.

Dom There is a technology component that goes along with public state funding, but it is not the only driving factor for building new schools. The dollar value allocated is a number that fluctuates around $1200 to $1600 per student for computer/technology use. In addition we typically have specific classrooms designated as computer labs, and the "library" has been redefined as a Media Center with 15 to 20 computer stations for research use.

Technology can be a factor on how teachers teach...in one community we have "linked" three schools to share and gather information, and possibly teach from a remote location.

Technology is starting to influence and reflect how teachers at the public sector can teach. It is a tremendous tool but it is also a tool that is short lived and expensive to replace.

Jim This technology funding is over and above what they used to pay for school construction. So that's a change in the past couple of years.

AFR When you are working with the schools and meeting with the principals, teachers, superintendents and so fourth discussions about computer infrastructure and wireless IT part of the early-design planning process?

Dom Absolutely, this question is always discussed. Some communities see the advantages and flexibility's of wireless and really push for it, but they ultimately have a limited budget determined by state formulas.

AFR Are you advocates of wireless technology like Apple's AirPort technology?

Jim Determining the best technology is sort of a back and forth process. We interview the client to find out what they want and then we come back and suggest to them what will meet their needs. We use some very good technology consultants to work out the details, to determine what is the state-of-the-art on the market at that time. We are constantly updating that.

AFR What educational consultant do you use for IT technology?

Continue article - top right column >

 

Jim The technology experts we use are not actually educational consultants, but we always make sure they have a background in educational facilities. The final selection is made by our clients.

AFR In the interview process and the process of being selected as architects are you using computer technology to seduce the prospective client?

Dom I would not say "seduce" the client but the computer is our design tool. We have designers that are very passionate about design, and the interview process, and are able to use our Mac-based software—like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Form-Z to produce very sophisticated presentations.

The boards can become works of art, but is not meant to be a "a seduction", but rather an expression of an idea from an architect.

AFR So are you producing your graphics on boards, not using projector base presentations?

Jim That is actually taking off a great deal. We are doing far more PowerPoint presentations now. We are upgrading our graphics capabilities because the client expectations are getting more sophisticated. Every interview we go to there is something new in our presentation, so this has been the biggest year for change in terms of the quality of the boards and the PowerPoint presentations.

AFR Can you give me an example of how your presentation has changed in the past year?

David In December we brought in a new graphic designer to do more three dimensional models...things we hadn't done before. And I know for two or three projects he has provided walk-throughs and more advanced 3D view still images.

AFR Are you saying that the Design Team is engaged in 3D modeling from the beginning?

Dom We have numerous designers that generate 3D modeling from the very beginning of a project, while others are more comfortable generating hand drawings over a simple computer wire-frame.

The images we present to our clients are a key tool for them to understand the process of designing a building...and we have found that crisp line computer drawings at an early phase look "too finished" too early. In all cases, at the early stages, the 3D modeling is usually a beneficial tool for us to understand the complexities of the projects; later on in the design process it becomes a tool for the client to "walk-through" the designed structure.

Jim It has a double benefit. We are getting early massing studies for design solutions, and the client understands 3D images a bit better than elevations and plans.

AFR What other 3D or CAD programs do you use here at Flansburgh?

David We use Form-Z for modeling and rendering, Electric Image for animation fly-throughs and rendering, and VectorWorks for CAD. Using VectorWorks our staff has the ability to generate 3D models easily from the 2D plans, so they don't necessarily have to be 3D savvy users. We leave Form-Z for the more advanced 3D work due to its higher learning curve.

| 1 | 2 | 3 |


Tools for Success
Hardware:
100+ Power Macs G3/G4
PowerBook Titanium G4's
PowerBook G3's
iBooks and iMacs
LaCie Electron 19/22 Monitors
Epson Expression Scanners
Epson & NEC Projectors
Nikon Coolscan LS-2000 Slide Scanner
QPS Que CDRW Drives
Kodak DC280 Digital Cameras
VST Tri-Media Readers
Server Soft/Hardware:
Power Mac G4 Server
Power Mac G3 Server
LaCie TX12000 RAID
AppleShare IP 6.3.3
WebStar Server Suite 4.4
Sassafras KeyServer
PrintDesk Printer Server
QuickDNS Server
Retrospect 4.3
Network Infrastructure:
180+ network access points
10/100 Switched Ethernet Network
Cisco 2610 Router
3Com SuperStack II/III Switches
Dedicated T1 Line
AirPort BaseStations for Wireless network access
Software:
VectorWorks 8
Form-Z
Electric Image 2.9
Apple iMovie
MS Office 2001 Mac
FileMaker Pro 5
FastTrack Schedule 7
Microsoft Project 4
Adobe Photoshop 6
Adobe Illustrator 9
Adobe InDesign 1.5
Adobe Streamline 4
Adobe GoLive 5
Macromedia Flash 5
Roxio Toast 5
StuffIt Deluxe 6.5
Tech. Software:
DiskWarrior
Norton Utilities
Virex
Network Assistant
REALBasic 3.5
BBEdit 6
Technical Commentary

Flansburgh Associates Inc. uses the Macintosh platform to both succeed in using computer technology effectively and to save substantial cost in IT related expenses. While initial purchase cost of Macs may be slightly more than comparable PC's, the overall life-cycle cost of Macs saves the firm tens of thousands of dollars each year in IT support cost alone.

"We usually spend less than two hours a day troubleshooting computer problems for 100 people," says David Caruso. "The rest of the day is working on big projects that will affect the entire office or small projects for certain teams."

"I've programmed for Windows and DOS and I've done tech support for Windows environments," says David. "Simplicity is definitely better [on the Mac] and we're not sacrificing power or features by choosing the Mac."

The Firm's Big Wish List:

On the firm's Wish List for Macs is accelerated graphics and less expensive flat panel displays.

What the're looking forward to:

We are anxious and looking forward to the Mac OS X transition and the UNIX stability it provides.

 

  Home > Features > Feature Article : Firm Profile  
 
 

 

  | Corrections | About Architosh | Awards & Press Reaction |
| Site Map |

Privacy Notice | Contact Us | How to Advertise | Corporate Sponsorship |
Copyright © 1999 - 2006. BritasMedia Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Architosh™ and the ToshLetter™ are trademarks of BritasMedia™

 
Quantified - Quantcast