As a business owner one of the first questions that always gets asked at a business function or social event is “What’s your projection for the economy in 2008?”  Everyone has an opinion and everyone’s answer is different depending on their business, profession and/or geographic location.

Normally when interest rates are low or if we are in a presidential election year, the economy is very good for anyone who is in the design and construction industry.  We are experiencing both low interest rates and an election year but the consensus in many of my groups is not optimism for the economy in 2008.  Why?  There are a number of reasons. 

The housing loan crisis is one.  Everyone thought you can’t loose buying a house with as little as possible down.  If history repeats itself the value of the real estate will go up.  Lenders even gave loans for more than the buying price.  How wrong many smart people were.  Now if you are an opportunist, or one of those “smart people,” there are many great opportunities in this current economy.   If history does repeat itself, property values will rise above today’s current reduced market value.  Buy low sell high. Several developer clients are doing just that.  I hope they are smart.

I hate to talk politics but if we talk economy we must also talk politics.  I am sure historians can tell you what happens to the economy before and after a presidential election.  I believe 2008 is unpredictable.  The economy is in a no win situation in 2008.  There is unrest with the current administration which is causing everyone to hold back on investing in their future because “it has to get better next year under new leadership.”

That message is loud and clear in the design and construction industry.  Organizations are studying what to do next but are not making decisions to move forward.  In a robust economy clients can’t wait to grow their business and schedule is the most important element in there expansion efforts.  Today the bottom line is the most important aspect of any project. 

We all want and wish 2008 to be a great year but I am afraid we will have to wait until the housing loan crisis is resolved and a new administration is elected.  I predict 2009 will be a break out year but my crystal ball is as clear as yours.

Dave Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

To advance the career development of emerging professionals within the architectural industry, PRA differentiated itself from all other firms in the United States by forming a unique public-private partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  “The Plunkett Raysich Architects Professorship.” established a faculty member in architecture at UWM that joins real-world project design with classroom teaching.  The professorship is now three-years old and has allowed us to bring a noted expert on land planning and urban design to Milwaukee.  Christine Scott Thomson, an award-winning designer and land planner from Boston, served this past year and will serve again this year as both the Plunkett Raysich Professor and a consultant providing an educational exchange between academics and the professional practice.

This partnership pushes the envelope by bringing a faculty member into the firm, and then having that faculty member also work with the firm.  It has not only enhanced the students’ experience, but has brought a new talent and service to our firm. The staff has learned a lot from Christine as have her students.
  
Through this collaboration, the students get to see how things are done in a real practice.  Plus, we’ve established an excellent relationship with many of the architecture professors and have become a resource for them.  Based on faculty requests, we’ve arranged construction site tours, provided information on cost estimating and helped in other areas. 

The students get to have a lot of interaction with our firm.  They also get to work on a real-life project during the spring studio.  It may be something we are focusing on at the firm, something we are thinking about doing, or something we have worked on in the past, but it’s not a made-up assignment.  It’s taken from real work experience, and our staff critiques their work.

Christine has provided her land planning expertise for several PRA projects including developing the Walworth County Campus Master Land plan, a master development plan and design guidelines for Tribeca Village in Middleton and she evaluated a 100-acre land parcel for St. James Parish in Mukwonago.  She is currently working on a master land plan for the City of Monona and is giving a series of four land planning and urban design presentations to PRA’s staff. 

Showing even more commitment to the University’s School of Architecture & Urban Planning, we have been fortunate enough to hire many of the school’s talented graduates. 

Plunkett Raysich Architects also believes that supporting programs to create a better community is essential.  The partners of Plunkett Raysich Architects are dedicated to our community and encourage our employees to become involved in their communities.  .  This includes giving up to 50 hours of paid time-off each year for staff to volunteer for organizations throughout our Wisconsin communities.  PRA has given back over$248,000 since 1998 to our communities, which is over 8,700 hours. The firm generously donates regularly to organizations which represent causes that affect staff or their family members and we participate annually in the UPAF and United Way Campaigns. Going above and beyond the call community support is what PRA prides itself on everyday. 

Dave Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

 How do you stay afloat with rising costs and increased competition driving down fees?  I guess it depends on where you are swimming.  We have dipped our toes into a "Blue Ocean" and the water is much different to swim in.  Imagine an environment with a high demand for your services, with little competition.  If you are an architects, this is just a dream.  But...if you dream enough, some of your dreams will become a reality.

Some of our most talented fellow architects have stepped into the blue ocean by turning their talents to designing new products from teapots to jewelry.  Our blue ocean is recognizing there is a demand for companies and organizations to tie their facilties to their brand and employee retention and acquisition programs. 

We have had several good swims in the blue ocean with great results and extermely happy clients.  Is facility branding a new "Blue Ocean???"

Dave Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

We’ve been creating facility brands for our clients since our inception in 1935.  We may not have used the term “Facility Branding” until three years ago when we hired our communications consultant, Versant Solutions.  One of Versant’s first tasks when they were hired, was to assure that the new building we designed for ourselves reinforced our brand promise, brand voice and design philosophy, creating our own facility brand.  Mission accomplished.

Three years later, when you Google “Facility Branding”, our Website is top on the list.  Will Ruch from Versant Solutions, and I saw a unique opportunity for both of our firms.  Versant creates business brands and we design facility brands.  We decided to get our key staff members together to brainstorm on how we could develop Web-based tools to reinforce what we both excel at, and the results were exciting.  I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but I will give you a sneak preview.  Watch our Website for a unique set of tools that will offer you an opportunity to evaluate your business and facility brands.

David Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

Our passion, as a design firm and as individual architects, is creative design.  We live for the rush and excitement we get when we solve a client's design problem in a creative way.  We encourage our clients to look at the value creative design brings to their project.
 
What is the value of great design and how do you measure it?
It starts with the design firm and how they embrace creativity.  It continues with the firms’ individual designers.  Experienced designers bring their past successes and yes, their past failures on similar projects to new clients.

Another measure of creative design is awards.  Awards are given by independent judges and are usually based on appearance. We embrace awards because they are given by our peers and our designs are judged against similar buildings. 

The best way to measure creative design is to ask the people who use the buildings we design.  Unfortunately there are no user group award programs.  Maybe there should be!  The only way to find out what users think about design is to ask them.  So I did.  They measure it in many different and interesting ways. 
 
Office clients measure creative design in the following ways:
“Our building received an Energy Star award for 2006.”
“Our new office is ranked #1 out of 57 offices nationwide in productivity.”
“The professional climate of the building reflects in our employees dress and performance.”
“We receive positive comments from our customers on a regular basis.”
 
Religious clients judge creative design in the following ways:
“The building appearance helps us attract families to our congregation and preschool.”
“Our attendance has increased since we occupied the new church.”
“Our visitors and parishioners tell us the interior design enhances the worship experience of all who use the church.”
 
Healthcare clients judge creative design in the following ways:
“We get consistent praise form our patients about the building design.”
“The attractive space makes people feel better about being here.”
“All who tour are impressed with the layout, quietness, private rooms, soothing interiors and we have a waiting list.”
“The design supports our mission and vision of our organization.  It's all about branding.”
 
We have learned getting awards from our peers is great, but having the users of our designs praise our work is the ultimate compliment.  It's what keeps us doing what we love the most, Designing!

Dave Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

Gone are the days of the pink message pads and returning phone calls the next day.  Today you need to be connected..... to your cell phone, PDA, Blackberry, the internet in effect the world.  If you are not text messaging you are living in the past.  We are in the age of wanting, needing, and delivering instant information in our personal life and most definitely in our business life.  Our business of Design and Architecture requires us to use the latest technologies to deliver our ideas to clients and contractors.   Which means 3 dimensional drawings and animated fly though's of the exterior and interior of our designs.  We are even using new 3 dimensional drawing technology called Building Information Modeling (BIM) for our construction drawings.  Allowing contractors to see construction details in 3D.

Everything we do daily as designers and architects involves using the latest technologies.  What we didn't realize was the technology we employed in our Web site was not the latest the industry has to offer.  This was pointed out to us by our communications consultant, Versant.  Our old Web site was a video brochure of our work.  If you wanted to look at pictures of buildings we designed it did the job.  What was there was great.   What was not there prompted us to completely rethink and redesign our Web site.  As I mentioned above everyone in today's business world wants information instantaneously and at their finger tips.  Our new Web site is designed to give you information about our Design Philosophy, Brand, Culture and Process. Information you can't find anywhere else except by spending time in our office. 

As a prospective client you will be able to interact with us and see photos of our design work, read testimonials from our clients, and access a white paper about a project type or design element.  You will be able to access design renderings, or view an animated fly-thru in and around our buildings.  You will see the tools we use to assure our commitment to quality.  You will see and learn about our "I Wheel Process".  The process we use to involve our clients in the design of their buildings.  After all, it is their building and what we do as architects is bring our client's ideas to life with "Intelligent Designs" and "Inspired Results".

Our Brand Promise focuses on people.  You will see our staff at work and hear them talk about Design, Architecture, our Design Philosophy, Brand and Culture.  You will learn about our extensive staff involvement in community activities and Green Architecture.   You will get to know our staff before you meet them by reading their Blogs or our featured employee profiles.  Our culture and brand are clearly defined and reflected in the Web site graphics and how it functions.

As a potential employee you can tour our Milwaukee office, read about employment opportunities, view select employee profiles, explore what Milwaukee has to offer, review our benefits and learn about our "School of Design." Ultimately you will understand the inner workings and make up of our firm. 

If you are an information junkie and want to learn how Design Philosophy, Brand, and Culture translates into satisfied clients view our new Web site at www.prarch.com.  You will definitely learn something and I guarantee you, it will be worth your time.

Dave Raysich, AIA
Managing Partner

“You’ve got a cool job.”  That’s about all the student said at the end of an afternoon long job shadow session that entailed visiting several construction sites and discussion about the profession between stops.  I was worried she was not finding value in the time spent at these endeavors because most of the questions I asked were answered with one word or very short replies.  It turns out she was just processing information and needed time to think.  The last question of the day was, “So, do you have any impressions about what you’ve seen today?”  The answer said it all...“You’ve got a cool job.”  

I strongly believe it is our responsibility as professionals to “give back” to our communities and environments that fostered our professional and personal growth.  One of the ways I do this is by hosting students interested in shadowing an architect for a day (or more).  And I am fortunate to work for PRA, a company that encourages community involvement, shares my belief in “giving back,” and shares my commitment to offering such shadow experiences.  We collectively know that finding and retaining tomorrow’s architects begins with our efforts today.

So what do the students learn in their time at PRA?  To answer this question you must first realize that the students who come to PRA are high school or college age.  Whether or not they realize it, they will be taking a crash course in what is involved in being an architect and in creating architecture.  They commit anywhere from a half day up to 40 hours across a semester to gain insights into the profession.  My approach is to expose them to a broad range of ideas and roles within the profession rather than focusing on any one role or set of tasks.  From this point of view:   

They learn who Mike Brady is…you know the dad from the Brady Bunch TV series.  He was an architect, but all you ever saw of his profession was that he occasionally went off to his den, conjured up a masterpiece and then it was built.  What you did not see, and what the students who visit PRA come to realize, is that the process of creating architecture can be very complex and relies on input and expertise form a wide array of people in many professions. 

They learn that architects are always learning, and that we will never quite know all there is to know about what we do.  New products, computer technology, construction practices, project delivery methods, economic realities, etc., all impact how we work and interact with owners, contractors, code officials and our consulting engineers.

They learn that many of the individual tasks that go into creating a building are not especially difficult.  Time consuming yes, but not difficult.  They also learn that even the most mundane tasks have to be done with care so as to avoid mistakes that can lead to real world cost impacts in construction and time spent on projects.   

They learn about right and left brained people and how architecture, defined as “the art and science of building,” relies on having skills rooted in both cognitive worlds.  They also learn that we each possess innate abilities that make us more “design” or “technically” oriented.  They learn architects often collaborate in teams to bring projects to life. 

They learn they can tailor their educations to compliment or strengthen their innate ability.  Will they ultimately be a generalist, a designer, an interior designer, etc.?  They learn they must have a plan.  They learn they will need to consciously choose schools and course work tailored to their own goals.  Will they attend UW Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and urban Planning (SARUP), Notre Dame University, University of Minnesota, Taliesin, or one of many other Schools of Architecture across the country? 

They learn about being licensed to “practice” architecture.  They learn the difference between an accredited degree that lends itself to the licensing process and a non-accredited degree.  They learn that some of them may never use their license to “stamp” plans, but that the process of becoming registered adds another level of expertise to their qualifications.   

They learn how large our teams can be.  And they wonder how we keep it all straight.  Time permitting they spend time with someone from each of our major operational areas including building design, interior design, project management, construction administration, client relations, specifications, quality assurance, and upper management.  Longer term commitments allow us to arrange for a student to visit people outside the office so as to gain perspective into the profession from their points of view.  These people may be owners, consulting engineers, and contractors.

They learn why most of us entered this profession in the first place.  They come to realize that for most of us, the reason we chose this as our profession is that we share a common desire to have a positive impact on the built environment.  We all know that as people we will build…something…at all times.  Having a positive impact on what is built manifests itself in many ways.  As a result, we want to be leaders who show owners, contractors, communities, and the world that “building” can and should be done responsibly, i.e. with an eye toward quality, sustainability, low environmental impact, and longevity.  As architects this is our right and therefore our responsibility.  
 
Time permitting; they visit a construction site or two.  They see the payoff.  They see the built results of what may have been a few months or a few years of work.  They instantly understand why it takes so much time and effort to plan a project and quickly learn to appreciate the roles everyone plays in delivering a project.  They also learn to watch their step, to look around often to see where they are in relation to construction activity, and to keep their hard hats on. 

At the end they learn quite a bit.  They see what architects do.  They see the many individual roles of team members, and form a sense of how all the individual efforts lead to a completed project.  Most importantly, they gain a better sense of whether or not architecture is the profession for them…and they are always welcome back. 

Paul W. Schmidt, AIA 
Project Manager

Driving past a wind farm in southeast Minnesota, I am struck by the beauty and rhythm of renewable energy at work, as hundreds of white blades rotate in unison.  They are tall, stark white, and prominently visible from their raised elevation.  They are unapologetic in their stance yet elegant in their simplicity.  The image of these 200 foot tall turbines becomes a powerful symbol for clean energy and environmental responsibility.  The turbines serve as a teaching tool in an expressively built form.  We can easily see and understand how they work, and apply that message to our own environmental impact.  We may even run out and buy a hybrid vehicle.  Likewise, symbols and forms have been used in architecture throughout history to evoke contemplation, thought, and action.  Architecture can impart knowledge, affect behavior, and send a message.  Today, a critical lesson that architecture can teach is the same as the wind farm - environmental responsibility. 

Like the image of the wind farm, sustainable design can be taught in the way we express architecture, and how that architecture can become a symbol for changing the way we interact with the environment.  It is true that green roofs, rain barrels, native grasses, deep overhangs, vertical fins, mechanized louvers, re-purposed materials, solar collectors, rammed earth, and recycle bins are all devices that reduce our impact on the environment, but they do much more.  When expressed prominently in architecture, they become a teaching tool for everyone that comes into contact with them.  They cannot teach if they are hidden.  How truly effective is a green roof if nobody can see it?  Sure it provides a great benefit for the building, but it is doing nothing to educate the public about that benefit, and promote its use beyond.  How about underground cisterns for harvesting rainwater?  Again, very beneficial for the building they serve, but out of sight and out of mind.  In Madison, Wisconsin, our firm is designing a new fire station that seeks high level LEED^TM Certification.  I believe we would be missing a huge opportunity if the design looked conventional and failed to express its sustainable principals. 

At Madison Fire Station No. 12, we deliberately “let the green out.”  For example, we are designing four giant rainwater harvesting tanks on the north side of the fire station, collecting water from the sloping roof.  These tanks are prominently displayed and unapologetic, as an integral part of the design composition.  Equally important, they are a teaching tool.  Like the wind turbines, we can see them working, and apply that message to our own environmental impact.  It becomes an understood and accepted practice.  Some of us may even run out and buy rain barrels for our own houses.  Message sent and message received.  Of course we may not be able to express every principal, but we can describe them with integrated signage and graphics.  Certainly it is impractical to “showcase” ground source heat pumps without a glass lid over the entire site, but we can implement placards, kiosks and “building dashboards” to educate the public about less obvious and less understood sustainable systems.

Design professionals have the duty to design sustainably.  However, we can do more.  For too long we have relegated the importance of teaching environmental responsibility to nature centers and rain forest exhibits at zoos and museums.  That is hardly enough to educate the public.  Design professionals have the opportunity to expand the message.  Let us consciously design architecture to not just include, but clearly express sustainable principals.  Resist looking conventional and let the green out!

John Holz, AIA, NCARB, LEED_AP
Senior Project Designer / Associate

Using Natural Systems In Environmental Planning

Because of their complexity natural systems are not fully understood making environmental planning an imprecise process. Implementation of conservation planning is best done incrementally where the management plan is continually evaluated, revised and adjusted.

Basic principles that guide conservation planning include:

• • Large areas of habitat sustain more species than small ones
  • Where not possible to preserve large habitats, many small patches of habitat will help sustain regional diversity
  • Design the shape of habitat space in a manner that creates interior habitat space
  • Avoid fragmenting large patches of natural habitat with roads
  • Avoid use of isolated habitats
  • Maintain or create corridors of similar vegetation to connect habitats
  • Connect water corridors by continuous corridors of natural vegetation
  • Create a mixture of habitat types
  • Allow for transition areas between habitat types
  • For plantings use native species

Management of water on a site is central to conservation planning. The goal is to protect and improve water quality through proper treatment of runoff prior to discharge into down stream systems. This is best achieved through the creation of a “storm water treatment train.” There are a variety of design practices that can be utilized to protect water quality by managing runoff before it enters the drainage system. The key elements in these practices are the use of vegetation to control run off, which slows down storm water runoff and promotes infiltration, removal of pollutants and displacement of solids.

The creation of a storm water treatment train is achieved through the combined use of the following pretreatment control practices:

Dry / Wet Swale
The vegetative swale contains native grasses and plantings to collect runoff from hard surfaces and conveys it down stream.

Filter Strip
Filter strips are areas of close growing vegetation located between polluting sources and ponds, lakes or streams. These filters process water and reduce pollutants such as sediment, organic matter and trace metals.

Vegetative Buffer
A vegetative buffer is a natural or heavily landscaped strip of land that is located adjacent to bodies of water. Their purpose is to provide vegetative treatment of runoff before it enters the waterway.

Water quality protection is a regional watershed issue with the managing of run off at the source having the greatest impact on down steam effects. There are a variety of mechanisms that can be used to reduce run off quantities and promote water entering into soil and recharging ground water.

Infiltration Basins
Infiltration basins are excavations that allow infiltration of storm water runoff. These treatment structures are not intended to trap sediment so they need to be used in conjunction with pretreatment systems.

Bioretention Area
A bioretention area is a shallow water basin pond or landscaped area that utilizes engineered soils and vegetation to promote infiltration and treatment of storm water.

French Drain
French drains are a drainage system that utilizes a system of perforated pipe set in trenches filled with porous stone. Runoff percolates out of the drainpipe and into the soil.

Outlet control measures are designed to treat runoff collected and transported to them through the drainage system. These control practices treat runoff at the point of discharge through settling, biological uptake of substances and infiltration.

Phytozone
A phytozone is a small wetland located at the edge of a lake or pond. They are designed to receive runoff from the storm water drainage system where water is treated before entering the main body of water. They are sized to treat runoff from small storm events.

Constructed Wetland
This constructed structure behaves like a natural wetland. It removes pollutants through settling and vegetative uptake. Wetlands reduce storm water flooding, filter pollutants, provide wildlife habitat and are attractive site design elements.

Dry Detention Basin
Dry detention basins temporarily detain a portion of storm water runoff then release the water slowly to reduce flooding and remove a limited amount of pollutants.

Vegetative Outlet Structures
Vegetative outlet structures include grassed swales, filter strips and buffer zones. They reduce run off through infiltration and transportation and removal through settling and uptake. These structures should have a minimum water traversing length of 25 feet.

In-Line Filters
These are man made filters that treat water flowing through them. They use peat, sand or granular activated carbon to treat runoff prior to down stream discharge. They require active maintenance and inspection.

Dan Becker, AIA, LEED_AP
Project Manager

It seems we are bombarded daily with information about looming environmental catastrophes brought on by global warming.  There is now a much greater emphasis in the media on “green design,” what it means for the human population to live sustainably, and what we all need to do to reduce our carbon footprint.

Many of the mundane decisions in our daily lives are confusing when considering environmental impact.  For example, is it more environmentally friendly to shop at the nearest suburban big-box retailer, with its large asphalt - paved parking lot and roof areas that contribute to overloading storm sewer capacity, or shop online, where your order is air-freighted from some distant location?  Is it preferable to specify a rapidly renewable flooring material like bamboo, grown in Southeast Asia, or a more locally produced material such as oak, which takes longer to mature for harvesting?  Are rainforests saved if the hardwoods grown there have value for something more than firewood?  What about the commuter who drives a hybrid vehicle 40+ miles to their workplace every day?

One of the most intriguing aspects of the growing movement toward more environmentally - friendly design is the need for critical analysis when selecting products, systems, and techniques that are truly beneficial to the environment and a building’s occupants.  There is also the need to cull products from manufacturers guilty of “greenwashing” when they make exaggerated or even false claims of the environmental benefits of their products.  It is imperative that architects, engineers, and designers now ask ourselves if the decisions we make are truly reducing the impact upon the earth.

For example, decisions made early in the design of a hypothetical building, such as the selection and placement of windows, can reduce daytime cooling and power loads by taking advantage of free daylight and ventilation.  Construction savings accumulate when fewer light fixtures are specified, and the chiller plant can be downsized because less artificial lighting generates less heat.  Less cooling requires smaller ductwork.  Looking further up the chain, the glazing system, if locally manufactured, reduces transportation costs.  Financial and environmental benefits are realized the day the building is first occupied, and continue throughout its life cycle. 

We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our approach to building.  This requires us to think critically about the impact our decisions have upon the planet, and decide if the way we constructed buildings in the 20^th century are still the most viable in the current environmental and technological contexts.

The question is not whether global warming is a reality, but whether we all are using available natural resources in the most efficient manner.  Addressing these factors early on in the building design process will help reduce the impact upon our environment.  Doing so does not increase construction costs significantly, especially when considered over the life cycle of the building. 

Michael Schaefer, AIA, LEED^_AP
Project Manager

As a business or building owner, do you have a service-related business such as a law or accounting firm? Do you offer a product or service that could be utilized against humanity? Are you a drug company that produces a highly sought after drug? Are you contemplating a building project in the near future or moving to a new location?  If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be interested to know that your building plans might not be as protected as you think from getting into the hands of those that seek to harm you, your company or your employees.  You might be asking yourself, “How do I protect my assets from terrorists, thieves or disgruntled employees?”

In today’s technologically advanced society, one needs to be very aware of the security measures available for documents that are put onto the Internet.  In the past, plans, building sets and blueprints were issued by architects and then returned after construction with no issue.  With advances in personal computers and laptops with wireless access to the internet and project websites, anybody can access plans from pretty much anywhere at anytime.  With the advent of 24-hour print and copy stores being almost as common as Starbucks nowadays, modern thieves have access to more information at a click of their mouse with no identification necessary to receive your building plans.  And if you don’t know, these plans are an expensive asset that detail out every specification of your mechanicals and security systems. Even if your building has been standing for years, your plans might be located in the Public Archives, which allows free access to plans so long as you are reviewing the plans there.  You might even recall a scene from the movie, “National Treasure,” whereby Nicholas Cage’s character was able to review plans in order to break into the National Archives Building in Washington D.C. Now, imagine that scenario only with regards to your building. To put even more of an emphasis on this, over 160 plans were approved in the City of Milwaukee alone in 2006, according to the Milwaukee Development Center, which now means those plans are out in the public eye and available for anyone to review.

Obviously there are a multitude of things that can happen if these plans are stolen or worse yet are “borrowed” or randomly downloaded.  For instance, someone can steal plans and incorporate them in their building design making your building, which was thought to be a one of a kind, now a cookie cutter design.  Or worse your plans could be downloaded for the sole purpose of harming you.

P.J. Vidani, President of Green Bay Blueprint Company, explains how this can happen in his article entitled, “Security on the Web.” He also details out for you how to protect plans, which include the following:

• Demand that you be notified in writing as to how your plans will be distributed.
• Request that your plans not be allowed to be uploaded to websites that can be downloaded and routinely printed.
• Request that your plans be only placed on secure websites.
• Demand that reprographers issue your plans to only authorized subs.
• Require all plans to be issued with a deposit and that they are returned after the bidding process is over.
• Request the reprographer notify you of who is receiving your plan in writing.

Here at Plunkett Raysich Architects we not only support Mr. Vidani’s tips listed above, but we also suggest the following additional tips:

• Follow AIA guidelines for controlled plan reproductions
• Know who lists your plans – track that information
• Control who receives your plans and hold them accountable
• Provide & implement a “standard electronic file release document form”

Case studies of companies and organizations taking appropriate steps regarding plan security include AIA Wisconsin and AE Graphics. AIA Wisconsin has stepped up to include as part of their B151^TM contract the following under Article 6 Use of Architect’s Instruments of Service:

“AIA Wisconsin supports a policy of not allowing an outside agency, including but not limited to contractors, reproduction companies, and clients, permission to use an architect’s copyrighted documents, in either hard or electronic form, without prior agreement and to treat the release of these documents to owners or any other outside agency as a service. Documents created by an architect are copyrighted and intellectual property and permission to duplicate or use these documents should not be granted without obtaining an inclusive liability release.”

This type of leadership regarding protecting intellectual property and security should be followed by all as well as what A/E Graphics, Inc., a reprographics company located in Brookfield, Mequon and Milwaukee, WI, has mandated as protocol. According to Steve Wellman at A/E Graphics, “once a customer orders a distribution project, their company information is taken and used to populate a plan holders list. This list is used by A/E Graphics to notify plan holders of changes to the original distribution documents. It can also be used by the company issuing the distribution to see who has a set and what coverage in the bidding process they have. At the end of the bidding phase, A/E Graphics takes in the distributed plan sets returned by plan holders.”

Tom Taubenheim, President of A/E Graphics, has the following to add regarding plan security:

“PRA has a licensed, password protected planroom to control the process of document distribution for the bidding and construction phase of a project.  Only authorized users may access projects that they have permission to view.  Individual files are posted in low resolution so bidders may view the files on the screen but would produce poor readability when trying to print a plan full size.  These PDF files may be downloaded by the online user if allowed.  Each user’s action is automatically documented including what files were viewed, ordered, downloaded, dates andtimes.

Prior to the internet, only hard copy documents were distributed to bidders.  Here are a couple of “manual” steps that were taken at that time to protect information:

A/E Graphics did blueprints of nuclear submarines for Newport News Shipbuilding.  Any prints that we made that were bad reproductions would typically have been thrown in the garbage, but Newport News required that we must return all documents produced to them as a safeguard of their designs.  This was the exception for plan documents so much that I still remember it.

We also have printed and distributed many correctional facilities over the years.  A large portion of these drawings were of security system schematics.  We took great care in getting company information and signatures from bidders for documents that were released.  A record was kept of each person and company that ordered the bid sets.      

Whether hard copies of information are distributed or someone chooses to post any information online with any software available today, there is a risk of tampering with the data.  It becomes a matter of balancing security with the convenience and speed that consumers demand.

We try to educate our clients to think about their files floating around in e-mails or on the internet with no controls, limitations and tracking of what was sent, viewed or changed.”

If you would like to discuss additional ideas on how to secure your building plans, feel free to contact Gregg R. Golden, AIA, at 414-410-2931 or ggolden@prarch.com.

Gregg Golden, AIA, CDT, CSI
Associate, Project Manager

My first exposure to Form / Reform was in 2001 in Chicago.  This national conference on environment and art for Catholic worship is held every two years, bringing together building committees, pastors, liturgical consultants, architects and artists from throughout the United States and Canada to “address the issues related to the building, renovation, or restoration of a worship space in light of current church documents.”  The conference was well attended and in addition to Catholics, many other Christian denominations also participated.

The Chicago conference was very timely and somewhat controversial.  The guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Built of Living Stones – Art, Architecture, and Worship” had been published the previous fall in November 2000.  This document essentially replaced the Conference of Bishops statement, “Environment and Art in Catholic Worship” published in 1978.  For many the Chicago Form / Reform Conference was their fist introduction to the landmark “Built of Living Stones” guidelines.

The controversy during the conference involved a front page story in the Chicago Tribune on the second day of the conference regarding the somewhat contentious renovation of St. John’s Cathedral in Milwaukee, in which many of the classical interior design features of the Cathedral were removed or significantly modified.

Since 2001, key members of PRA’s religious facilities design studio attend the Form / Reform Conference.  Project Manager, Mike Stancl, traveled to conferences in Houston and Kansas City.  Project Designer and Associate, John Holz attended Form / Reform in Los Angeles.

This summer, Milwaukee will host Form / Reform for the first time.  Scheduled from August 1-4, 2007 in the downtown Hyatt Regency and Milwaukee Art Museum, Form / Reform will offer church building committees, pastors, and worship committees a tremendous opportunity to experience the latest trends in environment and art for Catholic Worship.  There will also be a seminar track on issues impacting worship space for Lutheran congregations.  Other Christian denominations considering building should also attend the conference.  It truly is a one-stop shop to meet with architects, liturgical consultants and artisans that typically work with most denominations.

The theme for this summer’s conference in Milwaukee is “Resurrection Witnesses: From Empty Tombs to new Encounters and Biblical Stories in Conversation with Architecture for Worship.”  Judging from past years, the seminars lead by national experts, should be very informative.  The keynote addresses will be presented by Gordon W. Lathrop, Professor of liturgy Emeritus at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, presenting “New Dawn: On Orienting the House of the Church towards Resurrection”, Dr. Gail Ramshaw, scholar of liturgical language, presenting “Encountering the Imagination”, and Reverend Bryan Massingale, Associate Professor, Marquette University, presenting “Allowing Conversion”.

In addition to the above, PRA, together with fund-raising consultants, the James Company, and contractor, Miron Construction, will be presenting our popular “Building Visions and Futures Seminar”, which outlines the 15 steps for a successful religious project.  We have been presenting this information seminar, both live and over the internet for the last 7 years, with over 400 people participating.  In addition, we will be exhibiting our award winning religious projects in our booth, and will have maps available for those that would like to visit several of our recently completed churches in the Milwaukee area.

At this time, together with the James Company and Miron Construction, we will also be hosting a new networking event on Thursday night, tentatively titled, “Ask the Experts”.

To find out more about and to register for this summer’s Form / Reform Conference in Milwaukee, click on the following link to the conference website, www.formreformconference.com.  Also, we will post on our website updates on our involvement in the conference.

We look forward to seeing you at Form / Reform in Milwaukee on August 1-4, 2007.

Mark Herr, AIA
Partner

Have you ever experienced that oddly silly but nauseating sensation that you get from watching a dog or cat chase its tail?  It is this type of sensation that reminds me of the notorious strategy within the A/E/C industry of chasing every project that comes through the front doors. While, it appears that your project count increases as your total number of RFP’s produced goes up, what is it doing to your profit margin?  If you can’t answer that question, you might want to find out before you go down a road that isn’t easy to hit a U-turn.

While pursuing more is attractive in its own right, one has to analyze the affect on your profits. More projects yes, but smaller they have become, which essentially will produce less profits and only run up your overhead.  You might even see steam coming out of your marketing staff as they are asked to produce more with less time.  You will ultimately end up diluting your efforts to the point that your sales staff can’t spend the right time pursuing their Top 10, which ends up in a tug of war of where they should be spending their time.  End result, you begin to lose the bigger projects that you once aspired to achieve as the “must-have” clients.

What do you do to turn the corner on this “factory-styled” pursuit assembly line?  That seems to be the million dollar question, as the goal is always to achieve your highest revenue goals, while servicing the clients to the highest level.  After attending a recent PSMJ Bootcamp, it seems most firms are challenged with this very same issue.  Some firms have the opposite challenge, which is that all of their eggs are in one basket, but most are either ignoring or side stepping one basic necessity, the “Go No Go Process.”

PSMJ does a great job of determining positioning for a project.  Their five page long process makes most people run the other way or shutter at the thought of putting more time into a pursuit.  However, it is well worth the effort in the long run.  It not only gives you the true positioning of your firm against the competition, but it also identifies what your proposal strategy should be to WIN.    Even if your current Go No Go Process is working there is always room to improve and always something you can take away from what other firms have found to be successful.

Having been through two of PSMJ’s Bootcamps over the last several years, I would highly recommend the two-day training sessions. If you are also looking for a family vacation destination, I would also highly recommend the Swan & Dolphin Hotel on the Walt Disney World Campus.

Dorothy Snow
Vice President of Marketing

According to some studies, nearly one-third of American adults are considered obese, defined as having a body-mass index over 30, and projections are that this segment of the population will continue to increase.  Overweight and obese populations are more prone to a wide range of health issues, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, various cancers, and sleep apnea.  Also, many hospitals are now providing bariatric surgery services such as gastric bypass or Lap-Band® procedures.

Obesity also contributes to low self-esteem, accessibility issues, and poor body image.  The design of healthcare facilities needs to incorporate their specific needs to accommodate this population to the fullest extent possible.

Subtle and sensitive design decisions can provide flexible spaces that can serve normal and overweight populations simultaneously.  For example, inpatient rooms are made larger to accommodate bariatric beds.  Since the patient’s spouse may also be overweight, wider convertible couches may be needed for overnight stays.  Doors can be designed as a standard 3’-0” leaf, with a smaller inactive leaf that typically remains latched until needed.  Toilets can be floor mounted instead of hung from the wall.  To address negative self image issues, mirrors should be discreetly sized and placed.  Providing grab bars in excess of code required minimums in toilets and showers assist with maneuvering not only for the overweight, but also the elderly, the frail, and those recovering from surgery.  You might also locate scales in alcoves, with the readout not visible from public circulation areas.

Not only must exam and inpatient rooms be considered, but all spaces offering a continuum of care:  waiting rooms, registration stations, sleep labs, operating rooms, surgical recovery bays, elevators, equipment storage spaces and so on.

While many “barrier-free” requirements mandated by code may accommodate this population, some special needs may exceed code defined requirements for compliance with ADAAG (Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) mandates.  For example, bariatric wheelchairs will exceed the typical 5’-0” turning radius, and toilets may need to move further away from the sidewall to permit staff assistance.  Weight limits for shower seats may need to approach 750 pounds, and require a chair in lieu of a flip down bench.

Medical equipment needs must also be anticipated.  Not only must ceiling mounted patient lift tracks be coordinated with lighting and mechanical services, but their route from bed to toilet must be as direct as possible.  Bariatric wheelchairs in widths wider than a standard door opening are now becoming commonplace.  Beds are wider and longer with greater turning radii, and clearances within the room must anticipate these conditions.

Ultimately, the goal in the design of spaces for the obese population must convey dignity and respect, and provide for access for people of all ergonomic needs.

Michael Schaefer, AIA
Project Manager

In his 2005 book entitled, “Design,” business guru Tom Peters states boldly that, “design is the Number 1 determinant of whether a product or service stands out – or doesn’t.”  He goes on to describe in great detail how companies as diverse as Apple, Target, BMW and Nike all have one thing in common – their almost fanatical attention to the appearance AND function of the products they make and sell.  Since then, every year seems to bring ever more elegant products from these and other like-minded companies, and the buying public gobbles them up, proving again and again that good design sells, and sells BIG! 

Right here in Milwaukee, we have seen a surge in the appreciation of and demand for great architectural design.  The recent completion of bold new design statements such as the Milwaukee Art Museum and the 6th Street Viaduct are prime examples.  At PRA, we find our clients to be more receptive to new ideas, anxiously looking beyond the tried and tired ideas of the past.  The evidence is becoming clearer that intelligent and inspiring design can not only sell products and services, but can also help retain the best and the brightest employees, an increasingly valuable commodity in our service oriented economy.

So what will this growing belief in the power of design bring in 2007?  At PRA, we expect the trends to include:

1. The continued use of curvilinear and other complex, non-symmetrical geometries.  With careful planning, breaking the box does not need to break the bank, as we have seen on our own office building, and at Fire Station No. 1 in Waukesha, WI.
2. Clients will continue approving bolder color palettes for the interior of their buildings.  Again, when used judiciously on easily repainted walls as we did at Findorff’s new building in Milwaukee, a paint roller is all you need to keep up with changing trends!
3. Computers will continue to allow designers and their clients to visualize what has never been seen before, taking the guesswork and risk out of the bold decisions needed to set a design apart.
4. With the growing threat to our global environment, clients will continue to demand that environmentally responsible materials and methods be employed on their projects, as we did at Tri-North’s new headquarters in Madison, WI, with particular attention on improving indoor air quality for their employees.
5. Helping clients establish a powerful Brand Identity and the emerging Experience Economy will force designers to understand their clients like never before and share in the responsibility to grow the businesses they work for.

It is an exciting and challenging time to be a designer in today’s design focused business environment.  Those who recognize the benefits and power of good design will reap the rewards.

Michael Brush
Associate, Senior Designer

Every space you enter affects the way you feel and how comfortable you will be in that place whether it is a residence, hospital, office, resort or spa.  Today more building owners are becoming aware of the hidden potential in their buildings and turning to the ancient principles of Feng Shui to make, residents, patients, visitors, workers and worshipers more comfortable, productive and healthy.

Feng Shui principles create a harmonious relation between people, the earth, and built environment.  Building elements including site placement, views, building shape, materials, colors even the placement of furniture and objects in a room are influenced by Feng Shui.  The result is occupants who are at ease and have a positive frame of mind.

Clients such as hospitals, spas, and hotels have been quick to capitalize on these ideas to create relaxed, healing environments.  The list of clients is constantly expanding with corporate office, residential, long-term care, retail and restaurant projects using Feng Shui to create spaces people can work in with greater job satisfaction and productivity, live in with a sense of well being, and business environments that attract repeat customers.

We at Plunkett Raysich Architects have been helping clients in all building types realize the hidden potential of their projects through Feng Shui to the benefit of owners and users alike.  We also have a Feng Shui Master on staff who can help you get the most out of your project.

Michael Sobczak, AIA
Partner