We recently chatted with Dan Audette from GWWO. As Technology in Practice Specialist at the firm he’s tasked with not only managing existing tools, but also finding new ways to innovate. He’s an incredibly forward thinking design technology leader, and we love working with him! GWWO is based in Baltimore with ~70 staff.
Tell us about your company (short) & why was Arcol of interest to GWWO in the first place?
GWWO is an architecture firm based in Baltimore, specializing in cultural, educational, and community-focused projects. We strive to enrich the human experience through responsible design that is inspirational, evocative, and progressive. Arcol initially caught our interest because of its focus on real time collaboration within feasibility models, cloud-based tools, and data-rich feedback that aligns with our commitment to innovation and team collaboration.
Using Arcol’s target size feature, GWWO is able to visually inspect the model for noncompliant areas during live discussions with clients.
What size/type of project do you typically do feasibility studies for?
We typically conduct feasibility studies for medium to large-scale educational and cultural projects. These studies often involve complex considerations around the client’s needs, existing site conditions, historic elements, and community impact.
GWWO’s ‘Heritage Museums & Gardens Welcome Center’
What did your feasibility study workflow look like before Arcol?
Before Arcol, our feasibility studies involved a combination of tools such as Revit, SketchUp, and Excel for data analysis and documentation. The process required much manual coordination, back and forth, between platforms, making it time-consuming and prone to error.
A mixed bag of tools and manual coordination….. probably sounds familiar right?
What sorts of problems were you looking for new tools to solve?
We focused on solving issues related to interoperability between different software platforms and reducing the risks associated with maintaining multiple models across various stages of the feasibility study and design. The lack of seamless integration often led to discrepancies between models, increasing the potential for errors and miscommunication.
Tell me about your process for selecting Arcol
Our selection process started by identifying pain points in our existing workflows, particularly around efficiency and minimizing the software needed to complete tasks. We evaluated several options, but Arcol stood out due to its intuitive, cloud-based platform and integration capabilities with other tools we already use, like Revit. We also conducted internal trials with a few projects before making a final decision.
You mentioned the importance of “collaborative design” and “cloud-based” earlier. Could you elaborate on that?
Arcol's cloud-based, collaborative design approach has the power to transform how we work. Instead of circulating models that can't be work-shared or PDFs and red lines internally, our team can now work together in real-time, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Sharing a live link with clients and other stakeholders cuts down on the back-and-forth of sending updated documents and preparing materials for meetings, making communication faster and more efficient. It's helped us spend less time managing files and more time focusing on the design itself.
The combination of Arcol’s boards and real-time multiplayer helps GWWO cut down the time spent coordinating presentations, allowing them to spend more time on a better client experience.
What’s your favorite feature in Arcol?
Arcol allows us to visualize the impact of design changes in real-time, enabling faster decision-making and more informed comparisons between different options. Arcol has streamlined our feasibility studies, ensuring we can quickly evaluate and iterate on various design solutions.
Our standout features include immediate data feedback and quickly comparing design options.
“Immediate data feedback” as a favorite feature is something we hear from almost everybody we work with.
What’s a feature you look forward to Arcol improving or adding?
We look forward to further development with Revit integration, especially regarding seamless handoff to more detailed design models when transitioning from Feasibility Study to Schematic Design. Improved support for environmental analysis and renovation projects would also be highly beneficial, allowing us to fully integrate Arcol into our workflow and eliminate the need for other design authoring tools. These updates would streamline our process from feasibility to detailed design, making Arcol a more comprehensive solution.
How has it been working with Arcol as a company?
Working with the Arcol team has been a pleasure. They’re highly responsive to feedback and proactive about updates, which is essential as we integrate the platform into our workflow more and more. Their customer support and communication have been excellent.
What about your partnership with Arcol gets you the most excited?
We’re most excited about the impact our partnership with Arcol has on our process and overall efficiency. Providing feedback and seeing those changes implemented as the platform evolves has been incredibly rewarding. It feels like we’re actively contributing to a tool that is helping streamline our workflow and making real progress in approaching design and project delivery.