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Technology and Innovation Trends and Hot Topics… ......27, 38,40,43
Technology and Innovation
Elevating the HKS Design Process with Technology
by Reeti Gupta
A big part of working in a large 1400 person architecture firm like HKS is establishing firmwide standards, policies, and procedures to work with technology platforms from concept to completion. HKS’ Practice Technology team was established to focus on leveraging technology to advance our design capabilities and improve our delivery processes. Practice Technology focuses on project delivery, visualization and immersive environments, building performance analysis, technical support and software management.
Remote collaboration became vital when the pandemic hit in March 2020. With a robust infrastructure already in place to work on projects remotely, such as laptops and Citrix VDI capabilities, the switch to remote work was rather seamless. We have a number of our Revit projects on Autodesk BIM 360 Cloud that has facilitated consultant coordination and overall team collaboration on projects to be done remotely. HKS employs several other cloud-based software platforms that support Model Coordination and Bluebeam Studio, that allow for collaborative markups, reviews and coordination of our drawings and models. For ideation and design collaboration, we also adopted MIRO, a virtual online whiteboard to sketch, pin up, comment and support discussions.
On the visualization side, we participated in an exploration of NVIDIA’s latest collaborative rendering technology, Omniverse, to create highquality renderings that allowed us to generate a visual in about half the amount of time it would have otherwise taken.
At HKS, Extended reality (XR) technology is changing the way we present and communicate design to our clients through immersive experiences. Using virtual reality (VR), our clients can provide feedback and approval on the spaces we design for them, not just by
Immersive technology with hotspots to showcase areas to clients with a full 360-degree panorama presenting a rendering or an animation, but by placing them in the model and guiding them through the spaces while they are still in concept.
On a recent healthcare project proposal developed by HKS’s New York City Health Practice, VR was used to guide the client through the space which helped the stakeholders to envision proposed design solutions. The virtual environment accurately represented materials like warm woods, painted glass walls, stone, flooring finishes and other design features that are not perceived on a 2D image. The HKS team also shared multiple design options for a recovery room; each option was aimed at maximizing flexibility with the number of beds. By leveraging virtual mock-ups the team was able to quickly switch between design options with the click of a button on the VR headset. This allowed the client to clearly understand the implications of the different scenarios and pick an option that was best for their project. Photo-realistic renders were also set up in the VR experience to get a complete understanding of lighting, medical equipment, and materials for
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The Use of Electronic Validation in CQV for the Life Sciences Industry
by Neeraj Joshi
Commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV) describes an integrated quality assurance process for the performance of highly technical and deeply regulated facilities in the life sciences industry. It provides the documented evidence needed to verify that utilities, systems, and equipment are designed, installed, and operated as required. CQV is performed in accordance with industry and regulatory standards and is an exceptional tool for evaluating a manufacturing operation’s potential life cycle.
Most CQV efforts follow the guidelines established by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). Adoption of ICH’s consensus-based guidelines by regulators around the globe is critical to realizing the benefits of safe, effective, and highquality medicines for patients as well as for industry. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a major role in the development and dissemination of each of the ICH guidelines.
The successful provision of CQV services is predicated on mutual trust between the engineer and the client. Confidentiality is mandatory in this hyper-competitive market sector, as is complete objectivity on the part of the evaluation team, whose job it is to support quality programs that are unique to each client and project.
The CQV process has three distinct phases:
• Commissioning is a documented engineering process to confirm that systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.) are installed and performing according to design intent and manufacturer’s recommendations, with a focus on maintainability, testability, and accessibility. • Qualification occurs in tandem with commissioning and involves the application of a scientific and risk-based approach to verify adequate installation, operation, and performance with respect to a specific manufacturing process.
Delivery of a robust and compliant qualification program is essential for
the successful implementation of a product’s life cycle. • Validation is the collection and evaluation of data from the process design stage to commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality products. This activity is required by the Good Manufacturing
Practices.
Until recently, CQV was largely a paper-based process. A single paper copy report, sometimes upward of 2,000 pages, would be scrutinized by a group of reviewers. The process was sluggish and vulnerable to misinterpretation and loss of critical data through wear and tear of repeated handling. In an industry where speed to market and microscopic precision are paramount, this is a major bottleneck.
The benefits to using e-validation tools are many and improve workflow efficiencies while promoting uniformity in data collection and report formatting. Using e-validation tools, teams can collaboratively review documents, allowing for real-time dialogue while supporting remote working. The integrated document management systems in these platforms are a major improvement over the conventional report. The use of these platforms provides more standardized CQV documents, higher fidelity in the data collected throughout the process, and a smoother process resulting in significant time savings.
Due in part to elevated client expectations, demand for workflow efficiencies among practitioners, software advancements, and sustainability initiatives, cloud-based electronic validation platforms have become the industry gold standard for collection and documentation of CQV-related data. As the industry continues to adopt these tools, the increased collaboration promises to unlock new efficiencies in the CQV process.
Neeraj Joshi is a CQV project lead at DPS Group.
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Innovation Ties Together JM Electrical’s Past, Future
by Matthew Guarracino
Last fall, 36 years after completing our first job at the Boston Marriott in Copley Square, JM Electrical announced a major milestone with the completion of its 20,000th project. This landmark project was carried out at a global biotechnology company’s gene therapy lab north of Boston.
From our modest origins in the mid80s to servicing some of the most complex construction developments in the region, our company has grown and evolved. One of the biggest differentiators over the years has been the way we developed new areas of expertise and expanded our service offerings. As our clients became more interested in sophisticated, energy-saving systems that were better for the environment and for the end user’s bottom line, we were ready to meet their changing needs.
Making this transformation allowed us to take on many jobs each year at the region’s best colleges and universities; hotels and retail outlets; and hospitals, health care and life science centers; as well as service cutting edge companies residing in the Seaport and Kendell Square. JM Electrical ’s evolution required one thing: a robust investment in innovation. Today, our workers in the field utilize iPads allowing our foremen to see live snapshots of jobs in progress and remain in constant communication with our headquarters. From an installation perspective, Internet of Things (IoT) software and buildings with automated, smart features provide real-time updates from jobsites and facilities, so workers can remotely control settings. In addition, we currently use a program called Egnyte for companywide file sharing and leverage our accounting software to communicate, track, and automate change orders. Relying on these platforms allows us to make on-site technological and staffing adjustments instantaneously.
But our commitment to innovation goes beyond utilizing technology for internal purposes, such as streamlining how our people interact. It also provides a path forward in terms of the services we can offer customers. Currently, we are investing in a new facility designed to house our prefab production division in nearby Woburn, Mass. This timely venture will increase productivity by eliminating weather delays, creating greater efficiencies, abbreviating project timelines, and allowing for work schedules that accommodate the changing needs of our team. Equally important, prefab and modular construction offer many green benefits, including the ability to more easily recycle materials.
New digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) play a key role in the evolution of construction, helping contractors better visualize the scope of work, accurately estimate the cost of materials and labor, and eliminate waste. With its emphasis on precise advanced planning, today’s prefabrication models are increasingly innovative and economical. Additionally, this new offering will allow us to expand our apprenticeship program, hire new staff and give students the kind of real-world experience that will serve them when they enter the profession after graduating from a vocational training program, college, or institutions specializing in technology and the trades. In short, this new approach will drive greater innovation within our business and keep us current with the ever-changing construction industry.
In November, we announced the launch of a division focused solely on maintenance and recurring service. This new division offers direct, on-site service, helping building managers and developers avoid disruptions and added expenses, making the buildings we service run more efficiently. While perhaps not as flashy as a new technology, applying high-level recurring service and timely customer support to the business of commercial electrical installation is a different kind of game-changer, allowing our customers to save time and money while prioritizing on-site safety.
For over 35 years, JM Electrical has contributed to numerous high-profile projects that are visible across the changing Boston skyline. As we look to build on our legacy of service and innovation, we are proud to partner with developers and general contractors seeking more sophisticated technologies for their projects. Today, our company is uniquely positioned to install the latest devices and employ new software while also fine tuning our internal protocols through technology, enhancing our bottom line. Moving forward, embracing the benefits of new tech will provide clear and measurable insights that will shape the way we run our business and our job site engagements, all aimed toward the goal of delivering a higher level of service to our clients and the industry.
Matthew Guarracino is principal and CEO at JM Electrical Company.
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Evolving Toward Seamless Visuals in the Digital Age
by Sophie Haddock
As our world modernizes and design programs advance, we see a trend in clients looking for visuals that utilize the latest technology to provide accurate and lifelike models. While still worthwhile, hand drawings pose a challenge when design modifications are needed. Computer programs provide the flexibility for the designer to make revisions seamlessly. This efficiency is valuable to both the client and the designer.
Most high-quality rendering programs available today work hand in hand with AutoCAD to bring realistic context to designs. AutoCAD provides the base map so that every plant, swale, and light pole can be placed exactly where it is intended. Using a program such as “SketchUp,” buildings or other architectural elements can be created or imported. To add fine detail, a high-quality rendering program such as Lumion can be used for realistic detail as well as other life elements such
Digital renderings created with Lumion software
as weather, people, and animations.
Using today’s rendering software allows engineers and landscape architects to provide remarkably lifelike and accurate representations of the environment they are creating. The use of a consistent scale allows clients to see what their building will look like from various perspectives, and how effective their screening will be. Programs like these also provide an opportunity to design backward: The sizes, colors, and textures of plants are visually displayed, allowing the designer to see the full picture and find ideal positions before reflecting back onto a two-dimensional landscape plan. As technology advances, we continue to evolve and provide exceptional visuals for our clients. These technologies enable designers to be their most creative and clients to understand concepts in a remarkably lifelike form.
Sophie Haddock is landscape designer and assistant land planner at TFMoran, Inc.
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Trends and Hot Topics Salas O’Brien Puts Zero Carbon Future in Reach for New England College Campuses
by Lindsey Olsen and Scott P. Waitkus
As universities across New England seek to reduce their carbon footprint and lead the way toward a more sustainable future, their path requires a multi-pronged and integrated approach. With careful planning and life-cycle analysis, strategic investments can pay big dividends and put institutions on the right course toward decarbonization. Building on experience in the Midwest for colleges that include Ball State (Indiana) and Miami University (Ohio), projects for Amherst, Smith, and Mount Holyoke Colleges highlight how Salas O’Brien’s recent merger with BVH Integrated Services is enhancing our capacity for delivering advanced energy solutions to a variety of projects.
Amherst College plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. The guiding principles for the college’s transition from fossil fuels include curtailing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from campus utilities consumption; maximizing renewable electricity usage through virtual power purchase agreements; minimizing reliance on carbon offsets; implementing cost-effective and forward-looking technologies; and, replacing an aging, archaic infrastructure with a modern, efficient, and flexible system.
Salas O’Brien worked closely with Amherst College stakeholders to analyze multiple options. The final recommendation for the Decarbonization Master Plan was optimized for lifecycle financial performance, first-cost requirements, technical feasibility, and environmental performance, as measured by GHG mitigation.
The proposed plan includes two key principles. First, heat distribution: A steam distribution system was the solution of the last 100 years and can only be created by burning something. Converting to a hot water distribution system allows for multiple low-carbon ways to produce the heat, including geothermal/geo-exchange, solar thermal, sewage heat recovery, or other emerging technologies. Second, energy source: Assuming colleges don’t want to adopt small-scale nuclear reactors, eliminating steam and electrifying the heating load is the best way to leverage the low-carbon energy market. This is done primarily through a heat pump (ground-source, airsource, or heat-recovery).
Salas O’Brien worked closely with Amherst College stakeholders to analyze multiple options to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
The Amherst College Decarbonization Plan includes:
• Conversion from steam to a hot water district-heating network, including upgrading building HVAC systems to be compatible with hot water. • Expansion of the central chilled-water district system. • Ground-source heat pump system with a geo-exchange array. • Supplemental air-source heat pump. • Natural-gas water heaters in the boiler plant for peak and backup heating. • Electrical system upgrades as necessary to support the thermal electrification. • Virtual Power Purchase of renewable electricity and carbon offsets for remaining GHG.
The proposed plan reduces GHG
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