In the discussion of architectural firm’s qualifications the question often comes up as to ones specialty.  Is ones specialty Residential? Is it Commercial? Or is it Light Industrial.  Although the most evident answer is defined by a firm’s resume or recent clients.  For ArcWest Architect’s this would be “Publishing Facilities”. Although a fair assessment, it does not reveal the depth of experience and knowledge that other project types can benefit from.  It simply defines the project type most successfully won in the past.

A publishing facility embodies four distinct project types, which includes Office, Manufacturing, Warehouse, and Information Technologies, as well a wide variety of processes. The publishing facility project type demonstrates ArcWest is actually proficient in numerous project types.

So the real question for an owner/client to ask: “What type’s or projects has the architect completed and what aspects are most paramount to the owner’s proposed project type?”  Based on the answer to this a client can look to his own operation and project goals to determine if a good match exists.

ArcWest Architects clearly has a great depth of experience collectively spanning over 40 years serving the Publishing and Newspaper industry.  What that indicates, beyond the experience with that one client type, is that ArcWest has a knowledge base which includes feasibility studies, masterplanning, building design, space planning, engineering coordination, process integration, equipment coordination, programming, project management, etc.  The key is not the built project type, but the depth of project planning experience.

As a case study, ArcWest recently entered Phase II of construction for a client who provides navigation and informational materials to the aviation industry.  In this case ArcWest’s resume of clients would not appear to have a strong relationship to this Client, but upon further review, ArcWest has strong credentials in process planning, equipment coordination, expedited schedules, and existing facility integration.  The project was the renovation of an existing space to integrate digital imaging equipment, within a extremely short period.  Thus this is a prime example of matching the Project Type to the Project Experience, opposed to looking specifically to a resume of clients.

Project experience is transferable to a variety of project types.  The active or potential project benefits from both the institutionalized knowledge, but also the variety of solutions that might be employed based on past experience.

- Todd Heirls

For those less acquainted with the concepts of lean manufacturing, or lean production:  Lean is about increasing efficiency to offer greater value to a customer or client.  Another way to phrase: Lean is about preserving value with less work.  This approach can create savings through efficiency which can be shared between reduced costs to the customer and greater profit to the business.

Rick shared “We are only at the beginning of implementing lean in our (newspaper) organizations and most would benefit from a structured lean program” in response to the the question:  “How much further can this concept be taken into our daily practice?”

Please see the complete “Interview with Rick Ruffino” article by Charlotte Janischewski.

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

Article from News & Tech | October 2009

Click the following link to see the original Article.

ArcWest Architects is pleased to announce that Rick Ruffino will be joining the ArcWest team on August 3rd, 2009 as a Partner.

Mr. Ruffino is a veteran newspaper and publishing executive who brings his corporate experience in planning, project and business management to ArcWest’s existing strengths in architecture and engineering.  His experience in developing and implementing sustainable outsourcing solutions and guiding complex software and equipment projects is unmatched.

Mr Ruffino was the Director of Manufacturing, for the US outsourcing group at Transcontinental, Inc. and continues to assist that team with the successful start up of the new Fremont, CA facility printing the San Francisco Chronicle.

If you would like to speak with Rick to learn more about how the ArcWest team can assist your organization thrive in this challenging market, please contact him directly at:

Office           303.455.7741

Mobile          303.881.3445

rruffino@arcwestarchitects.com

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

The orignal article can be seen by clicking: “Wash. Publisher Moves to New Digs”

Skagit Valley Publishing Office Entrance

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

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

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

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.