Flack + Kurtz Designs and Shares with Autodesk Solutions

MEP Consulting Firm Uses Autodesk Building Systems and Autodesk Buzzsaw to Build Bottom Line

Flack + Kurtz, a subsidiary of WSP Group, provides professional engineering consulting services to corporations, developers, institutions and architects worldwide. With offices in New York, San Francisco, Seattle ,Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Paris and London, Flack + Kurtz specialises in delivering sustainable and innovative design in mechanical and electrical engineering, telecommunications/IT, security, audio/visual, architectural lighting design and commissioning services for complex construction projects ranging from corporate/commercial, academic, institutional, government and mixed use properties to cultural facilities, laboratories and sports arenas.

Autodesk Building Solutions Increase Profitability

Committed to serving its clients more effectively in an increasingly competitive marketplace, Flack + Kurtz sought a new solution from Autodesk to improve its design process, create better construction documents, reduce interferences, increase quality assurance, and enable effective communication with colleagues, clients and contractors. A longtime user of AutoCAD® 14 and 2000i software, Flack + Kurtz chose Autodesk® Building Systems software and Autodesk® Buzzsaw™ collaboration services to drive increased profitability.
Flack + Kurtz immediately recognised the benefit of designing with Autodesk Building Systems. According to Reg Monteyne, senior vice president, “It’s definitely faster for creating views and sections, eliminating mistakes and saving on drawing time.” Armundo Darling, CAD manager, agrees,“With Autodesk Building Systems, one person can generate sections and elevations, and even create schedules. I’ve increased my speed in laying out drawings by up to 35%.” Further, Darling estimates Flack + Kurtz engineers are creating construction documents 50% faster and modifying them 70% quicker.

Faster Design

An immediate advocate of Autodesk Building Systems, Darling sought to demonstrate the speed and accuracy of the programme to his colleagues at Flack + Kurtz. Challenging another drafter using AutoCAD 2000i software, Darling laid out a room with diffusers, VAV boxes and duct connections twice as fast using Autodesk Building Systems. Additionally, Autodesk Building Systems increased his accuracy. “We draw in plan view, but we’re able to see the design in model view at the same time. We can see exactly how the duct and the conduit are going to lay out, where the diffusers and light fixtures will be placed, and where there might be any interferences.”

Reduced Interferences

Consulting on a downtown San Francisco tenant improvement project, Flack + Kurtz redesigned the electrical, plumbing, HVAC and security systems for each floor of the high rise, one floor at a time. With previous floors designed in AutoCAD 2000i, Autodesk Building Systems enabled Flack + Kurtz to eliminate interferences in the field. The designers successfully coordinated ductwork through existing sheer wall penetrations despite a tight fit. Wayne Gaw, mechanical engineer, said, “There’s a new sprinkler system being installed that’s been a conflict on other floors in the building. Using Autodesk Building Systems, we were able to see that in advance, making sure everything fit before construction.”

Increased Communication

As part of its Autodesk solution, Flack + Kurtz chose the Buzzsaw online collaboration service to communicate with clients, colleagues, and contractors. “Buzzsaw provides the ability to communicate and co-ordinate with other members of the project,” said Darling. “You now have the ability to markup drawings and do file transfers of any size instantly on a secured access site.” Additionally, Buzzsaw notifies other members of the team that modifications have been made. Instantly, project members are able to download changes to dimension or layout, saving time and money.

Return on Investment

Reduced interferences, fewer requests for information (RFIs) from the field, expedited design time, and increased communication all drive return on investment for Flack + Kurtz. “Autodesk Building Systems has created the next jump in productivity,” said Monteyne. Gaw concluded, “My main focus on a project is good engineering, leading edge design, and giving the owner a quality project that will be recognized within our industry and hopefully throughout the world. Autodesk Building Systems is key to ensuring that our design is fully coordinated with the architecture before we get into the construction administration phase.”