Collaboration:LCA are evolving to adapt to the latest design and production technologies in order to stay ahead of the curve. We’re introducing new collaborative ways of working, including modelling software, enhanced conferencing facilities and new platforms to encourage and facilitate knowledge sharing.
Design Technologies
We are currently considering a number of collaborative modelling software packages and are looking for volunteers to trial these programmes on live projects that are currently in progress within the studio.
From Design into Production
As a truly international office since its inception, teleconferencing has been key to LCA’s success in enabling instant global communication both between regional offices and with our international Clients. To date we have used open source tools such a Skype, however for LCA teleconferencing bridges both design and production processes and we are rapidly approaching a tipping point, where we believe there is a need for an enhanced AV communication, to enable us to show graphic material in high definition as well as hold face to face meetings that are as close as possible to ‘being there’.
Teleconferencing systems/programmes: Adobe Connect, Google talk, Cisco /Tandberg Tech, Openmeetings Bigbluebutton)
E-mail and shared editing
Hand in hand with teleconferencing are the day to day activities of knowledge sharing both internally with colleagues and externally with clients and consultants. This is enabled through open access platforms such as the LCA website, that is by its very nature accessible to the public at large and hence can reach a very wide audience, but also internally for the staff, via LCA’s intranet or wiki.
We have also enabled knowledge sharing through platforms such as Google docs
Shared editing CAD programmes: Revit, Vault (Autodesk), ProjectWise (Bentley), Enovia (CATIA).
Design Platforms
At LCA we are keenly aware that every individual has their own skill sets, abilities and preferences regarding computer software and we try to accommodate those as far as possible. To this end, LCA runs a variety of different design software packages, some fixed and stand alone programmes and other portable licences and networked facilities, including Microstation, AutoCAD, Adobe suite to name a few.
Open source tools are such as Sketch-up, Grasshopper and others are also used to allow rapid visualisation and complex modelling, effectively filling in the gaps between the paid-for licences.
Sketch modelling (SwarmSketch, FlockDraw)
Our in-house IT guru Jose Garcia has produced a range of customized menus to suit our way of working, based on the experience of 5 years of designing and delivering buildings at LCA. Jose can also assist in the preparation of 3D prints and laser cutting.
Egs. Customized products available: Microstation tools, cells, layouts, and printing/plotting tools3D print. Laser cutting. (TinkerCAD).
Production:
In order to improve productivity, decrease downtime and facilitate task subdivision, the Management Group are implementing new workflow software in the day to day running of the business.
All members should acquaint themselves with the LCA User Manual (soon to be made available on the LCA wiki) for basic file management and version control issues. The Manual is updated every 3 – 6 months & is a vital source of information for all members of staff, from new starters to senior management. It is also recommended that you consult Cesar Heredia’s excellent TechMan journal which is a monthly round up of all the latest technologies that LCA are currently using, trialling or considering for trial.
LCA’s project programmes have until now been laid out on an Excel spreadsheet in a traditional manner, to provide information that is then ‘cut & pasted’ elsewhere. In order to improve and streamline programming and provide interconnectivity with other processes in the office, we are currently considering other programming software.
Egs primavera, basecamp, Project Open, Projec Net
LCA has a company wide Calendar, where all key dates are input, so that key activities and dates are widely known throughout the office. As we are now beginning to work on larger projects across the group of offices, we intend to break this down to have project calendars for each specific group within the office. This relies on either admin staff or architectural staff updating these calendars regularly.
Group e-mails – please avoid reply to all or office wide e-mails where possible. This is an unnecessary waste of everyone’s valuable time, and renders e-mail less effective with each click. Instead, please use the project related groupings or make your own custom groups – i.e. the project group + relevant management or consultant groups.
(Image from a similar intranet which shows our idea of web presence)
The LCA Wiki forum is an internal forum which is regularly updated that provides information and illustrates LCA’s way of working, containing an essential body of knowledge that is very simple and quick to access. On the wiki you will find web presence programmes such as Breeze (Adobe) which act as tutorials for a variety of different topics.
