SERA Architects, a West Coast-based architecture and urban design firm, was looking for new ways to integrate workflows across their master planning projects.

By adopting Arcol, SERA unified their design process into a single collaborative platform, which is now unlocking new levels of real-time client engagement, and fundamentally changing how they deliver projects.

Key results:

• 4+ team members working simultaneously with cloud-based multiplayer design. No more passing files between team members.

• Feedback cycles made dramatically more efficient where clients see design changes in real-time and can comment directly on the model

• Design options generated in hours not days with instant metrics and the ability to compare multiple scenarios side-by-side

"Arcol is infinitely better than any of the other prevalent conceptual modeling tools out there. Creation and editing of geometry is easier, and the design optionality baked into the interface has been really helpful. We can also all work on the model together, and the metrics piece is awesome; it saves so much time on the backend."

Josh Cabot, Project Architect & Senior Associate

The Challenge: Fragmented Workflows

Like many architecture firms, SERA's master planning process was spread across multiple disconnected tools. This workflow created several pain points:

Single-threaded collaboration: Sketchup, Rhino, and Revit workflows would require constant file passing and version management across the team.

Manual data tracking: Every design change meant updating separate spreadsheets to calculate square footage, unit counts, and other metrics - a tediuous and time-consuming process.  Even past scripts that had been coded into their Rhino and Revit workflows to help auto-calculate metrics required a lot of manual engineering for each new development option.

Static client presentations: Once a presentation was delivered, any client feedback meant redesigning, recalculating, and rebuilding entire sections of the deck for the next review.

"The big unlock was really about the single ecosystem and early iteration. We were relying on so many different products, softwares, and workflows to get to those answers—Arcol accelerated our ability to get those early ideas figured out."

Spencer West, Associate | Urban Design Project Manager

For SERA's urban design and master planning projects—where rapid iteration and early client alignment are critical—this fragmented approach consistently had SERA looking for efficiencies and a streamlined software.

How Arcol Changed the Way SERA Works

When SERA took on an 80-acre mixed-use master planning project, with a wide range of options to explore on a tight timeline, they saw it as the perfect opportunity to leverage Arcol. 

Multiplayer Design: The Whole Team in One Model

Arcol allowed SERA's entire team to work simultaneously in the same model. Changes made by one team member instantly appeared for everyone else, eliminating the constant back-and-forth of file sharing and the bottleneck of single-person file ownership.

‍Instead of waiting for one person to finish their section before the next could start, the team could divide and conquer across the site, often working in parallel design options at the same time

This benefit spanned across parallel workflows as well and the team could work on modelling and presentations simultaneously.

Real-Time Client Collaboration: The Game-Changer

Instead of exporting static PDFs or slide decks, Arcol's live link presentation mode allowed SERA to share a dynamic view of their designs across the team and directly with clients.

"If a client makes a request we can make that change live and they can see the impact of that change immediately. It's a totally different kind of presentation.

Josh Cabot, Project Architect & Senior Associate

SERA used shareable live links that anyone could access in their browser to get a  view of the current design options, leave comments in context, and see updates of any changes made instantly.

This transparency built stronger client relationships and trust. Clients weren't just receiving finished presentations, they were participating in the design process, seeing how changes affected metrics instantly, and feeling more invested in the outcome.

"The biggest win with Arcol is the speed, of course, but then it's really about developing alignment early with clients to make sure that, yes, we're heading in the right direction. That allows us  to delve deeper into the design more quickly."

Josh Cabot, Project Architect & Senior Associate

Exploring More Options in Less Time

In Arcol SERA was able to duplicate any scenario and create variations with just a few clicks. Each option maintained its own metrics, views, and presentation boards, all updating automatically as the design evolved.

The template system proved especially powerful: SERA could create a presentation layout once, then apply it across multiple design options for instant side-by-side comparisons.

"For me, the value of Arcol is in the speed of testing  and establishing a wide range of development yields so you can focus more energy into the part of the design process that emphasizes placemaking. Arcol allows you to quickly iterate based on site constraints and uncovered opportunities, allowing us to discover what that potential yield can be early on, which makes us any developer's best friend."

Spencer West, Associate | Urban Design Project Manager

Looking Ahead

SERA's experience with Arcol on this master planning project has opened new possibilities for how they work with clients.

The team is excited to bring live presentations and real-time collaboration to more projects, moving toward a model where clients are true partners in the design.  Much like ways that SERA has embraced other cloud-based tools that align with their open and collaborative design approach, Arcol is enabling a more seamless way of working.

"I love the integrated nature of Arcol. Instead of bouncing between five different tools and passing files around, everything lives in one place. Your whole team and your clients can work in the same environment without syncing or running spreadsheets off to the side."

Josh Cabot, Project Architect & Senior Associate