ATLANTA - Architectural and project management technology is changing the way new credit union facilities are being designed and built, and those changes could make significant contributions to the bottom line.
The reason: credit unions are able to see every aspect of their new branches before ground is broken and can even check in on construction progress from thousands of miles away.
“When I got my degree, I think I was the last one that got a degree in architecture that never touched a computer,” said LEVEL5 consultant John Hyche.
Now Hyche and countless others in all facets of the design and construction industries utilize the latest software and hardware to increase efficiency, cut down on costly construction errors and give clients a precise idea of what they are purchasing before ground is ever broken. As credit unions deliberate the benefit and cost of a new facility, they are becoming more and more accustomed to seeing exactly what they will be getting.
Design software allows for not only photo-quality exterior models, but also dynamic fly-throughs that show exactly how interior space is utilized. Clients can even customize the interior to show what conference rooms, lobbies and offices will look like with specific types of furniture and flooring.
A Lot Less Guesswork
“There is a lot less guesswork about what the end result looks like,” said Hyche. “Everything is as accurate as possible, so there are little unknowns.”
Technological advances are helping both the client and the project manager’s bottom lines as bids for even the smallest facility expansion projects are going national, if not global. A number of firms are placing sophisticated webcams at construction sites, allowing construction managers to take a look at the evolution of a site from anywhere in the world.
“We found the technology through people who are building highways, and a lot of road and infrastructure projects that are somewhat remote,” said Bob Saunders, executive vice president of construction at MomentumBuilds.
The entire setup costs about $250 a month–installation and maintenance are pretty simple as well.
“We mount these cameras at an opportune location on the site; all we have to do is run power to it because it is cell-based,” Saunders said. “Not only does it show what is happening 24/7, it actually tracks the weather–wind, humidity and dew point. It has been one of the slickest tools out there that I’ve seen.”
Unique Form Of Communication
Webcam project management not only provides a unique form of communication between all parties, but it also adds a layer of security. The cameras, which do not stream live video but instead take a still picture at an established rate, can snuff out trespassers or alert construction workers to hazards.
Saunders recalled one instance where the cameras detected an evolving sinkhole near a project site that had been caused by over-excavation. Workers on site did not notice the problem, but a fresh pair of eyes looking at the site through the camera was able to pick up on the problem, which was easily repaired before becoming a major issue.
Of course, all of the latest gizmos, gadgets and software will be for naught if the wrong people are doing the design work and constructing the building. “You need a designer who understands the business purpose what the credit union is trying to accomplish with the branch,” said Hyche. “If they don’t understand that, it doesn’t matter what tools they use. It still comes back to ‘How do I want to operate my business,’ because the computer is absolutely dumb about that.”(c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com
