Jared Curtis
Username
Jared Curtis
Proposer First Name
Amanda
Proposer Email
amanda@existingconditions.com
Proposer Last Name
Zaslow
Proposer Company/Organization
Existing Conditions
Proposer Job Title
Public Relations Associate
Boston 2023 Areas of Focus
Proposed Session Description
The building industry is increasingly dependent upon accurate digital models of the built environment. To properly analyze, improve, and renovate any building, architects must have a reliable point of departure. With the growth of remote workers over the past few years, the number of architects visiting the site has decreased thanks to high-quality 3D laser scanning. By lowering commute times, reducing vehicle carbon emissions, and reducing health and safety hazards, these technological advances can create a more sustainable future. Applying these technologies at scale is a vital skill for architects looking to make a positive impact.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Our session will address how to develop a company culture in which innovation is a requirement and something that comes naturally to each member of the team. Accurate documentation positively impacts communities of all kinds and will revitalize entire communities in addition to individual structures. We will be sharing a short case study example of our project at the Independence Wharf, located at the historic site of the Boston Tea Party Museum. The architects at SGA were tasked with improving the building's amenities and enhancing the environmental performance of this 100-year-old building. Through reality capture technologies, Existing Conditions could detect significant floor deformations, likely caused by the building being adjacent to a water channel. As a result, we alerted the client and the new building owner to give them situational awareness of this challenge. By understanding the building at a more comprehensive level through laser scanning, BIM, and drone surveying techniques, the project team will be able to produce their best possible work, serving both the future tenants and the broader local community. In Boston's Seaport neighborhood, walkability, a sense of place, and social cohesion have improved dramatically. Resources are conserved, natural areas are protected, and community connections are enhanced.
Learning Objectives
Assess the impact of high-quality 3D laser scanning on both short- and long-term sustainability.
Observe a case study on the Independence Wharf regarding how to improve the building's infrastructure, tenant experience, and enhance its environmental performance.
Determine how to leverage a variety of reality capture processes and tools.
Apply reality capture services on a global scale and on their largest and most difficult buildings.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Session Format
Workshop or skill-building session
Presentation followed by facilitated discussion or breakout groups
Session Format Details
We will begin with a 10-minute case study presentation; A 50-minute hands-on workshop will come afterward.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023
Comments about your speaker roster
The Independence Wharf case study will be presented by Kurt Yeghian, and the workshop will be demonstrated by Brian Ely.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
This session will begin with a short, 10-minute case study where the audience will be able to observe the importance of high-quality, accurate documentation and will be able to ask any questions they might have. After the presentation, they will get the opportunity to examine several types of construction-grade laser scanning equipment in a hands-on workshop. The main lesson to be learned is that digital documentation has both a short-and long-term impact on sustainability in the AEC industry.
Reviewer 1
Tilton, Clay
Proposal #
173
Committee Decision
Rejected
Presenters
Full Description
This session is important because it describes not only the short-term impact of not getting architects on-site but the long-term impact of being able to have a reliable point of departure so architects can make ambitious sustainable design proposals. Every day, major decisions are based on assumptions and guesswork, limiting the capability of architects and building industry professionals. Many architects still rely on old paper drawings, incomplete CAD files, or unreliable PDFs. The World Counts reports that paper accounts for around 26% of landfill waste. Deforestation, massive energy, and water use, as well as difficulties with waste and air pollution, are all consequences of paper production. Eliminating paper drawings will increase your company’s sustainability. Additionally, it allows you to integrate reliable digital documentation into your operations. While technological advances have enabled architects to understand the built environment in amazing new ways, there is a widening skills gap between architects' core competencies and the available technological output. In particular, applying these technologies at scale on large projects is a vital skill for architects looking to make a positive impact. Among other benefits, businesses can help save the environment and cut down on printing costs by switching to digital paperless plans.
As an example, Independence Wharf, located at the historic site of the Boston Tea Party Museum, is undergoing a major renovation. The architects at SGA were tasked with improving the building's amenities and enhancing the environmental performance of this 100-year-old building. While the Independence Wharf team had never used laser scan data before at this scale, they found the 346,225-square-foot digital twin extremely helpful. They will use it well into the future for a variety of project needs – from feasibility analysis, climate action goals, community benefit studies, and much more.
The Existing Conditions team will perform a live survey to instruct participants on how to document a building properly. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a hands-on workshop which will provide time to examine multiple types of construction-grade laser scanning equipment (all of which are non-disruptive and pose no threat to visitors).