ArcWest Architects (Todd Heirls and Kevin Anderson) visited the Skagit Valley Publishing Facility last week to witness the building occupied and in operation.  The initial reaction to the new facility is very positive.  Typical with any building project that transitions from construction to owner occupied, there are some minor details to address and close out.

It’s very satisfying to walk into the New Facility, see the final product being utilized as envisioned, and that the employees appear excited and energized by the new space.

Please feel free to contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our company and services.

- Robin Adams

ArcWest would like to share the news: the Skagit Valley Publishing Facility is open for business.  It’s always bittersweet at this phase of the project in which we are sad to come to the end of the work process; however, nonetheless truly elated to see the building design realized in built form.

New Facility Open

ArcWest believes the new facility is a “great” building!  It is always a pleasure to work with Pioneer and each of their newspapers.  Stedem Wood and his management team were actively involved in every aspect of design and implementation.

Stedem Wood and Tom Blumenshine overlooking the new Press Installation

Please see the news brief at the Pioneer Newspapers website: Open for business

Big Thank you, from ArcWest Architects

ArcWest Architects hopes that our clients, business partners, friends and family are all enjoying a very nice holiday.  With the end of the year just a few days away, ArcWest would like to extend our best wishes to everyone for a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Best Wishes!

Robin, Todd and Kevin

You are meeting with prospective Architects and you hear the statement once again “We are service oriented consultants” or you are looking through marketing literature and you note the bullets indicating the firm is “A service oriented organization.  What does “Service Oriented Architecture” really mean?  You ought to be asking “What should “Service Oriented Architecture” really mean?”

Service Oriented Architecture differs from many approaches to the field in that it is rooted in one simple question, “How can we best assist the client in realizing their goals”.

This question filters through all aspects of a contract starting with the initial determination of project scope. Every project is unique and thus a service oriented architect will work very closely with the client to determine the required scope.  The service oriented consultant will ask what initially seems like an inordinate number of questions.  These questions will range from what experience the owner has with this type of project, to the planned implementation methods.  The questions will also cover project drivers, basic design ideas, planned equipment & fixtures, anticipated ROI, cchedule, project team and initial budget …. to just name a few.  All these questions are geared to gaining a clear understanding of the project scope so the proposal can be individualized to the unique needs of the project.  A service oriented consultant does not have a standard approach that is overlaid on every project.

The next area where a Service Oriented Architect sets itself apart in the industry is in programming.   Often when working on a familiar project type the Architect can be tempted to take the short cut and answer many of his questions from his own experience then present that to the client for confirmation.  This approach can often result in the unique aspects of a project slipping through the cracks.  This pitfall can affect the industry specific or newspaper architect more than other design professionals due to the repetitive nature of the project type.  The service oriented design professional does not short cut this process.  In asking the extensive questions required to generate a quality program many unique characteristics will be identified and the opportunity will be afforded to challenge the past solutions.

These same tenants follow the entire design process.  The practice of architecture is not an endless opportunity for architects to realize their design ideas and philosophies.  Architecture is the creation of built habit-able spaces with the intent of housing a specific purpose.  The Service oriented architect will continuously ask the question of how each aspect of the design will meet the specific needs of the client.  Again this goes back to asking questions and designing based on the answers.

A service orientation follows every element of project scope, including the implementation phase of a project.  In some ways the most important part of a project is providing guidance during construction.  Regardless of the skill and effort of the design professional a set of documents could not possibly address every construction element.  One only needs to look around the space in which they sit and try to assess all the details that would have to be drawn to address every single contingency.  Now apply that to a whole building and add to it an entity constructing it that might have conflicting goals.  The service oriented Architect works tirelessly to follow a project through to its conclusion, always asking the question:

• “What decision would be in the best interest of the client?”

In closing a Service Oriented Architect or design professional is one who continuously asks the question:

• “How can we best assist the client in realizing their goals”.

If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact us.

- Todd Heirls

You have a vision for a prospective project, and have completed initial budgetary financial planning.  Now … How to choose an architect?

Selecting the right architect for your project, from a small scale private residence to a large complex multi-faceted commercial project, can initially seem like a daunting proposition.  The following are a couple of suggested thoughts to minimize the angst as you start the process.

Create List of Potential Architects: There are numerous avenues to create your short list of potential professionals to choose from:

• Recommendations: Ask friends, coworkers or fellow business owners for a personal recommendation.  Working with a firm that performed well for an associate or friend will give you a degree of confidence in their abilities.
• A.I.A.: Visit the American Institute of Architects office or website to review a list of qualified architects in your region.
• Online Research: Perform an internet search for architects matching your criteria in your area or for the proposed project location.

Evaluation for Selection: As there are numerous factors to consider when choosing an architect, a couple of primary aspects to keep in mind and consider include:

• Local versus Expertise: Consider the need for a local architect.  Having a firm that is local to your vicinity and the project site can be convenient and have definite advantages.  However, don’t overlook the benefits of a firm that may specialize in your building or project type with offices remote and/or out of state.
• Project Evaluation: Prior to interviewing Architects, do some homework to understand what your projects basic needs are. The benefit of this effort is to match the scope of your project with the skills and nature of the firm to be selected.
• Degree of Custom Design: Establishing your expectations for the level of customization and detail for the project you want to include is important to understand prior to the start of the project.
• Self Evaluation: Consider your level of ability in building design and construction.  This translates to how involved you want to be, and therefore how much the architect needs to be a representative on your behalf.

The Interview: Once you have engaged prospective architectural firms to interview, the following are a few key questions and ideas to discuss during the meetings:

• Lines of Communication: Good communication is paramount to a successful project.  Who at the firm will be your primary contact?  How often do you expect to have updates during the process?  Keeping in mind that time is money establish clear mutual frequency expectations of conference calls, sit-down meetings, work sessions or even concise email status reports.
• Design Phases: The design process is unique to every project.  While reviewing the vision of your project, request that the architect being interviewed describe the steps and process for how your project might be completed.
• Finances Matter: Review financial terms.  A clear mutual understanding of your project budget, the proposed design fees for services and the arrangements to administer each are a must.
• Economy: With a clear understanding of the scope and your vision for the project, a quality architect can provide an economical fee that aligns the scope with the project goals.
• Look to be Heard: Finally – Look for a good listener and you’ll find a good architect.  Good architects will listen to you and can translate your ideas into a viable construction project.

Design is an iterative and interactive process between you and the architect.   Choose an architect that will make the journey fun and enjoyable.  Chances are at the end of the adventure you and your architect will be pretty well acquainted and good friends.

Given this is a very brief synopsis for “How to chose an architect?”, only touching on a few key points, if there are particular questions or details you would like to understand further, please feel free to contact us.

- Robin Adams

The industry Specific Design Professional goes by many names, including Newspaper Architect, Media Architect, Publishing Architect, Print Media Consultant, and Print or Publishing Facility Designer to name a few.  One thing that all of the names have in common is that they refer to a consultant who is well versed, and experienced in design that is specific to the print industry.

Why would one choose this type of specialized consultant over the local generalist architect?

The easy answer to this is one of experience, knowledge, and economy.  The generalist design consultant is one who is very well versed in the design of facilities for a wide range of clients.  This requires them to spread their project research out thinly over a diverse project type and to also spend a greater amount of time on the initial research for a particular project.  Every prudent design professional will initially research the project type in general during the pre-design phases to allow them to understand the information received when developing a project program.  The Newspaper Architect will have this initial research completed to a much greater extent before the project inception.  This greater level of understanding allows the Newspaper Architect to ask more finely tuned and insightful questions during the pre-design phases, which will ultimately result in a facility that meets the needs of the process to a greater degree.

ArcWest Architects Design for a New Facility:
Skagit Valley Publishing

The experience that comes with the specialist Architect also allows a greater depth of knowledge to draw on when searching for alternatives to complex process needs.   The Newspaper Architect will have completed numerous facilities within their specialty and each of these facilities would have had their own set of challenges that had to be solved.  Having these solutions to draw on will allow a greater flexibility in solving the unique set of problems that comes with a new design.

Finally the often overlooked and misunderstood reason for hiring a Newspaper Consultant Architect is for value.  In essence the experience gained by concentrating on one industry will allow the specialist architect to understand the process, vocabulary, and equipment in such a way that ideas and solutions can be arrived at while expending less time in the process.  The understanding of the infrastructure require for the equipment will result in less time and money during installation when it comes to closing the last “10 feet” between the equipment and the building infrastructure.

What does a Newspaper Specific Architect bring to the table?  They bring:

• An understanding of the industry dynamics

• An understanding of the vocabulary

• An understanding of the equipment and its requirements

• Knowledge of structures / facilities uniquely geared toward industry

• Knowledge of materials to economically address rigors of the industry

• Speed and efficiency in design, saving the client both time & money

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

- Todd Heirls

I wanted to share a thought from an article posted on the Greener Buildings website.  The piece reinforces the many options an owner or company has when considering the renovation or construction of a new facilities to integrate “green” building practices.  As much as ArcWest would like companies and owners to consider building a brand new facility from the ground up, we realize that is not always practical.  For those who want to reduce operating costs, there are simple changes owners can implement to a facility that “green” up their buildings and leased spaces.

See excerpt below from the online article “Sustainable Solutions: The Impact of the Green Building Movement” by Wes McDaniel.

A more recent article “Green (Ware) House Effect“, by Rick Underwood, shares similar thoughts that affirms the thinking above there are simple considerations and “easy fixes” to reducing operating costs for an existing building or facility.  Further …. There are other great points in the article such as the strategic planning for the selected location of a warehouse if properly thought through will reduce costs and reduce the companies carbon footprint.  Being central in your supply chain, receiving and ditribution , makes sense and saves money.

- Robin Adams

“Seven Simple Ways to Reduce Facility Operating Costs

1. Replace fluorescent 40W-T12 lamps with 32W-T8 lamps and electronic ballasts.
   Not only are T8 lamps with electronic ballasts more energy-efficient than the standard T12 lamps and ballasts, they also provide better quality lighting due to a higher color rendering index.
2. Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps.
   Compact fluorescent lamps use approximately 1/3 to 1/4 of the wattage of incandescent bulbs while maintaining the same lighting levels. Furthermore, compact fluorescents have a lifetime of up to 10,000 hours compared with 1,000 hours for most incandescent bulbs.
3. Replace incandescent or fluorescent exit sign lights with LEDs.
   The law requires that exit signs run continuously. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) operate on about 2W compared with 40W incandescent bulbs and 10-15W fluorescent lamps.
4. Use occupancy sensors in areas where lighting is typically left on when no one is there.
   Occupancy sensors ensure that the lights are turned off when an area is not occupied. The energy savings from occupancy sensors depends on the total hours that the lights are normally on and the percentage of hours that they can be turned off.
5. Install programmable thermostats.
   Programmable thermostats can be used to schedule the use of your heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment. They set up or set back temperatures when the facility is not being used. A reasonable and often-used estimate of savings is 1 percent savings for each degree of an eight-hour setback.
6. As motors burn out, replace them with energy-efficient ones.
   Standard motors use a lot of energy to operate and, by increasing efficiency just a few percentage points, you can save a significant amount of money in the course of a year, especially if the motor operates for long durations of time.
7. Instead of rewinding existing motors, replace them with energy-efficient ones.
   Rewinding motors can lower efficiency and increase operating costs. They also may not last as long as newer motors. Therefore, when the motor is less than 25 hp, it is generally better to replace the motor with a high-efficiency equivalent rather than rewind it.”

ArcWest Architects is eager to share our updated project page on the  website highlighting the new Pioneer Newspapers – Skagit Valley Publishing Facility. The ArcWest webpage has been expanded with numerous building construction photographs documenting the new facility project evolve.

West Elevation of the New Office Building (September 2008)

The project is nearing completion with the final efforts of construction focusing on finishes, details, data communications installation.  Concurrently, the installation of the new DGM press is underway in the Production Wing.  The mailroom / packaging equipment will be soon to follow.  The office furniture has been delivered with installation tentative for early December.  The Skagit Valley staff is looking forward to moving in to the completed facility by the new year.

The construction photographs have been grouped by the years annual seasons corresponding to the construction phases of the building project, with the start of construction occurring in the early spring.  (Note: You will need to scroll past the introduction of the updated project page to see the newly added photo galleries composed at the bottom.)

ArcWest’s partner, Todd Heirls will be on the (Mount Vernon, WA) project site next week for the monthly construction administration visit.  We look forward to sharing more photographs in the very near future following this visit.

- Robin Adams

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

Front-Office Design RIGHTSIZING – Creates OPPORTUNITIES

Plunging advertising revenue and increased operating cost are changing the way newspaper organizations operate.  To substantially reduce cost, product size is being reduced, production is being consolidated and facilities are being closed.

Historically, reductions in front office staff news reporters, advertising reps. and graphic artist were off limits.  It was assumed that these positions generate income; reduction of front-office staff would negatively affect quality and the bottom line.  The economic realities of today are testing this assumption.

Straus Newspaper Offices

ArcWest Architects partners are experts in the planning, layout and design of newspaper operations. This article will set aside the reasons for our current economic environment and its effect on this industry for others to examine.  What this document provides is a brief outline of real opportunities that arise from front-office vacated square footage & staff reductions.

Functional opportunities:

• Resolve existing layout and ADA accessibility deficiencies
• Eliminate redundancies and improve the flow of information
• Break down departmental barriers
• Integrate print and web news gathering and advertising
• Facilitate employee cross training & multitasking

Income generating opportunities:

• Lease vacated square footage to third parties
• Eliminate expenses by returning off-site leased space

ArcWest is a cost effective and flexible organization able to respond to the demands and needs of our clients.  We look forward to becoming part of your team in search of new and beneficial ways to reduce front-office operating cost while improving products & services.

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

September 2007 – “ArcWest is unique because they’re a group of world-class listeners who understand budgetary constraints and deliver projects on time. What more can you ask for in an architectural firm?” – Jeanne Straus, President

ArcWest Architects partners (Todd Heirls and Kevin Anderson) joined Denk Associates Engineering (Joe Denk) with other local Coloradoans from Denver for a Team Building Session in Moab Utah the weekend of October 11, 2008.

Group at Porcupine Rim

After the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel project went on hold, the ArcWest Office had to find the silver lining to the sudden amount of extra time on hand.  It was time to take advantage of the great Colorado end of Summer / Fall weather and get out and do some Mountain Bike Rides.  Todd took the lead and started getting the group organized for the Moab trip early on.

Joe flew directly into Grand Junction from Cleveland Ohio to meet up with Todd and Kevin on Thursday setting out for a long weekend of extreme mountain biking in the “world renownd” terrain of Moab, Utah.  The other (Colorado) guys would be meeting at the “drainpipe” campsite later in the evening.  From there, it was just a matter of picking which of the hundreds of local trails to ride over the weekend.  So many to choose from, so little time.

- Robin Adams