Comments Off on Commercial Construction Technology: Keeping Up With The Joneses
People have been constructing high-rise buildings for centuries. In the 16th century, mud brick buildings reached 30 meters in Shibam, Yemen. What technology enabled this amazing feat? Early high-rise buildings took years and even decades to complete. Today the average high-rise building (taller than 150 meters) takes approximately 3 years to complete. This is extraordinary considering what goes into constructing a building that is 45 stories tall and the commercial construction industry continues to pick up momentum. Timelines are so compressed, it seems that as soon as the thought has entered the owner’s mind, the building is occupied and the next project is beginning. One of the primary influences abbreviating the commercial construction timeline is technology.
Consider this scenario. Your IT department has devised a brilliant plan (or lack thereof) taking your business to the next level with Augmented Reality. “We will be on the leading edge of technology and this will identify us as the leader in commercial construction” they say.No one in your IT department has given any thought as to how it will help your business help your customers and in turn making your business more profitable. Everyone is walking around with VR headsets on, no one knows how to use this or why they are using it, the IT department does nothing but play video games and Michael from Accounting just fell down the stairs. So now you have invested an extensive amount of money, the IT guys are ordering Mountain Dew by the truck load and your experience modification rating (EMR or safety) is virtually off the charts. This is not a good method for embracing new technology in commercial construction. However, if you are an architectural firm that specializes in high-rise buildings, giving the owner a “virtual tour” of their new building can reduce their cost in many ways.
So now you know how you can help your customer with technology but will this make your business more profitable? Research, plan, research and plan. Questions need to be asked and answers need to be produced. Do your customers want this technology? Will this technology bring in more customers? How will you pay for this technology? How long before you will need to replace this technology? Who in the company will be using this technology? How much training is necessary? How will this enable you to bill more? Etcetera. Set goals. Everyone should understand that you are looking to deploy this technology for specific reasons (IE: assist your customer, be more profitable) and those reasons should be outlined. If you come to the realization that you cannot reach your goal with this solution, you can stop and reevaluate. Once you have answered these questions and set your goals, you can start testing. You should always test with a small group. As depicted earlier, starting off by just purchasing Augmented Reality for everyone in the company will probably not work. Get feedback. Ask the people using the technology what they think about this new technology. Getting buy-in from your end users will minimize resistance of the change using this new technology. Once your users are masters and proponents of the new technology, deploy in small doses. Get feedback from your customers and make changes as necessary.
This is not an exact play book for deploying new technology in commercial construction. The point is that just because the technology is available does not mean that it will improve your business. So, when your IT department tells you about the new fleet of drones that will be deployed at the next holiday party, give them some pause. Ask yourself, how will this help your customers and how will this make your company more profitable?
At ASST, we know that commercial construction technology is like the spice in cooking. The right amount at the right time will bring everyone to the table. ASST continuously evaluates the need for new technology and how we can better assist our customers. Let us assist you with your next commercial Casework, Millwork, Solid Surface and Quartz project. Contact us today at info@asst.com.
Comments Off on Solid Surface Public Seating – Increased Performance with Thermoformed Solutions
Public seating in high traffic applications can take quite a beating. Design professionals are under increasing pressure from clients to provide seating solutions that are both durable and comfortable. Many are unaware of the flexibility solid surface provides to create seating that conforms ergonomically. The inherent performance characteristics of thermoformed solid surface materials provide an amazing opportunity to increase the longevity of public seating.
Design professionals today are bombarded with a plethora of furniture seating solutions. Unfortunately, many of these “seating systems” are poorly manufactured with planned obsolescence. Constructed of cheaper plastics, many of these systems fail soon after warranty expiration. This is hardly a strategy for clients looking to be environmentally responsible. Design professionals need to provide smart ergonomic seating solutions addressing both performance and value. These challenges seem insurmountable when industry standard public seating systems don’t fulfill your specified requirements.
ASST has the capability to help. With a state-of-the-art thermoforming studio we can create ergonomic seating to your exact design specifications. We can share past solid surface project case studies to inspire your creativity. Working in concert with your team, we provide design assistance and credible information to present to your clients. Tailored services to meet busy design professional’s needs are what we do!
Let us assist you with your next solid surface seating project! Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Making Spaces That Inspire – Stimulating Solid Surface Solutions
Can inspiration be engineered? Can the urge to do something creative be designed? What if we told you that solid surfaces could be formed into ANY shape and that flat tops are yesterday’s solid surface? Most people don’t realize that you can get the everlasting qualities of solid surfaces in whichever design you want.
Solid surfaces are known for minimizing the spread of bacteria and durability. Solid surfaces are not known for the ability to be formed into different shapes. Architects want to illicit emotions with their designs. Owners want to wow customers with a product that is long lasting and cost effective. General Contractors want a design that is uncomplicated and safe to build. How do we provide the desired outcome to all parties involved?
Because of ASST’s depth of experience we can provide a wealth of knowledge for your solid surface project. We can share creative ideas and best practices incorporating solid surfaces into your next project. Whether you are looking for curved solid surfaces, translucent backlit vertical panels or unique public seating, ASST can help. We can provide you with the project inspiration and technical details to make your solid surface strategy a success!
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Solid Surface is Reaching New Heights
United Therapeutics
SOLID SURFACE IS REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. These Corian® and 3Form® walls were fabricated for United Therapeutics.
At ASST we are going Beyond the Surface Level™. CONTACT US TODAY FOR YOUR NEXT VERTICAL SOLID SURFACE PROJECT.
This unique Dupont Corian solid surface staircase was fabricated and installed for Nestle Corporation. The possibilities of solid surface are endless. At ASST we are going Beyond The Surface Level.
This desk is being fabricated using a laminate base, Corian solid surface top, aluminum stand offs with 3Form decorative blinds. At ASST we are Going Beyond the Surface Level.
Comments Off on Custom Solid Surface Wall Cladding with Lighted Thermoformed Bump-outs
Custom solid surface Porcelanosa Krion wall cladding with lighted thermoformed bump-outs in NYC. Mancini Duff is the Architect. ASST is the fabricator. At ASST we are Going Beyond the Surface Level. www.asst.com
When the leading manufacturers of solid surface design a trade show display to showcase their product they call on ASST to fabricate. At ASST we are GOING BEYOND.
Comments Off on Solid Surface Wall Cladding – Why Going Beyond Horizontal Surfaces Makes Sense
About fifty years ago, DuPont invented a surfacing material called Corian® . In the early years it was primarily marketed as the newest durable material for residential kitchen countertops and then for vanity tops and shower pans. Since then, applications for solid surface have expanded to include vertical surfaces as well. Design Professionals, Manufacturers and Fabricators have pushed for vertical wall cladding solutions to expand solid surface’s use beyond “typical horizontal countertops.”
Building Owners with high traffic corridors had only a few choices for durable wall protection solutions in the early years before solid surface. Design Professionals were limited to recommending materials such as vinyl wallcovering, marble, granite, concrete and plastic laminate. The shortcomings of these materials were many ranging from cracking and delaminating to requiring total replacement when damaged.
It was not until the late 1990’s that vertical solid surface wall cladding started to become popular. ASST and other leading fabricators and manufacturers helped to push applications beyond the horizontal countertop. ASST created SCULPTCOR® Textured Surfaces in the early 2000’s to provide better design solutions for interior as well as exterior cladding. Architects and Interior Designers have helped to continue to push applications. Technological advances in CNC machining and thermoforming have also helped solid surface wall cladding move to more mainstream applications such as airports and other high traffic public spaces. Today, solid surface wall cladding is widely utilized by Design Professionals across a variety of end user markets from K-12 and Collegiate Education to Corporate Space and Healthcare environments.
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications you require in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond™ to address your exciting project challenges. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
About fifty years ago, DuPont invented a surfacing material called Corian® . In the early years it was primarily marketed as the newest durable material for residential kitchen countertops and then for vanity tops and shower pans. Since then, applications for solid surface have expanded to include vertical surfaces as well. Design Professionals, Manufacturers and Fabricators have pushed for vertical wall cladding solutions to expand solid surface’s use beyond “typical horizontal countertops.”
