Construction is ongoing, all around the nation. When I was younger, I walked past construction sites just as the majority of people do – with no knowledge of the time, design and process in which it takes to create such a masterpiece. I viewed the industry as one I wasn’t at all interested in; a surprising view considering my career path working with a technology integration firm who works on construction sites.I began completely new in the industry five years ago, knowing very little about commercial Audio Visual (AV), the flow of a construction site, and how the two converged together. As I learned, I began to understand how complex the entire process of a construction site can be - there are many pieces to the puzzle and they all must be coordinated in great detail in order to fit together. This knowledge has played a quintessential role in my growth as a Systems Designer, and I believe that such experience can help to strengthen the technology design aspect of a project.Often time technology is an afterthought in a construction build out; overlooked by aesthetics and building codes. From a technology installer’s standpoint, there are many details that often seem to be missed and under strict deadlines, these can be especially irritating; they often result in wasted time, as well as costly change orders that do not benefit the client.
Taking direction from Technology System Design Managers and clients, CAD Technicians transform ideas into virtual plans to be used during implementation. To ensure the least amount of changes possible, CAD design is implemented after the construction phase. Although technology ideas are decided before the construction of a building, the CAD design is done once walls and structure are in place, which helps decrease the constant changing of plans.
Projects can range anywhere from a week to a few years based on the size and complexity of technology design. Some projects may require little technology integration design, as others may require a significant amount. With large scope projects, clients may update their Scope of Work (SOW) based on how implementation is fitting into their infrastructure. It happens at times that extra cabling and design may need to be worked into the scope to deliver the best end result.
Working at a professional services firm like SiteREADY has increased my knowledge and understanding on what really goes into a technology integration project on a construction site. Coordinating with our Consulting Team has helped me to pick up things that I may have overlooked during the initial design of a project; working with our Project Management Team makes the transition from the design phase to the construction and implementation phases smoother than ever. Our Vendor Management Team helps to ensure that the products we implement into our design are provided in a timely and cost effective manner. Working together as a team we are able to provide a complete “end-to-end” methodology to the several organizations in the nation who are struggling with technology integration.
WRITTEN BY: TYLER DAVIS, CAD TECHNICIAN
