OT: Paper Drawings and Flat Files

[phansford]

The idea of a paperless office seems grand, but I do seem to be printing things less and less.

I don't seem to be printing drawings as much within the project process. I get a set of final schematics or construction docs for myself. They typically end up on the wall rack or in one of those small cardboard storage boxes sitting next to the desk.

I am sitting here looking at my 8 drawer flat file in my small 200 SF office and wondering what the hell it is doing here ..... other than a place for me to shove stuff I don't know what to do with, such as some old photos.... some foam core.... old posters. It certainly isn't getting used like it did when we did hand drawings and I was looking for a place to store original drawings during the project process.

I am seriously thinking its time to put the old boy on Craigslist. Although it is nice for temporary storage of presentation drawings and boards. But maybe I can do that with a small vertical space or box.

I was wondering what others are doing........ Are you even pulling out paper sets when you get a phone call.... or do you just open up a PDF or the original PowerCADD file?

[pbacot]

I look on the computer for most reference material. However I like having prints for meetings. I don't have a rack so my flat files, which are not huge, shall remain for current projects. Also it's a place to organize sketches I make or sets that I receive from others for a project. And it's another horizontal surface in the office...

I think that, overall, computers have used up more paper. Made it easier to run too many prints. Where possible, I try to set up a digital relationship with clients and builders. Currently I am using PlanGrid to send out Ipad sets.

At the same time there is still a cachet with prints that, I think, give clients a higher valuation of your work, as opposed to the constant immersion in digital images on their devices. Not a realistic reaction, but I think it's there.

[phansford]

Thank you for your thoughts.

Yeah.... I still give paper copies to clients, as well as electronic copies. There is nothing like seeing a full-sized set of drawings and the PDF allows them to make additional copies if necessary.

Sketches end up being folded and placed in the project file folder. (We do mostly additions and renovations.) And my concepts, when they are hand-drawn, will get scanned so I can place them in a PC file and add notes and titles. Then I can send PDF's and make prints as needed.

Honestly - we aren't hand drawing much anymore.... lots of sketching still, usually over base drawings in CAD and them making multiple concepts in CAD.

The fact that I end up with a final drawing (hand or not) in an electronic format means I don't have tons of bumwad tracing anymore. That has been reduced, but as you said..... paper copies are printed constantly during back checks and reviews.

I guess what I am saying is if I were more diligent in dead filing projects when they are complete, I could move to a smaller flat file or even move it out of the office to my basement somewhere. (My wife would be thrilled. )

[patrickm]

I sold my flat file in about 1998 and my drafting table shortly thereafter. I figured I had better sell them while I still could. With the advent of PDF files, I rely on full-size prints less and less. I do give clients full sized sets, but prefer 50% reductions for my own use. Instead of a number of sets of plans hanging on the rack, I have a small stack of plans on a corner of my desk.

[jmartinarch]

Speaking of half-size sets....I'm liking 11x17 so much that I'm not sure if I'll replace my aging D-size hp designjet.
Did a tenant improvement recently where the jurisdiction actually accepted submittals on 11x17! Others are accepting .pdf's too.
It is a changing world!

[pbacot]

I've been interested in a different format, more like a book. Still for larger plans, there has to be a way for more to be shown at a readable scale. An architect friend who attended an AIA event in Europe said they use more of a book format there, but I have no examples of that.

I like a vertical (portrait) format for some presentations and am looking at that.

I could just about survive without a large printer and just email the jobs to the printers. but I can still make superior prints to what I can get locally, and often I prefer to do that.

[phansford]

I've done "books" before. Typically for smaller projects. I'll have the normal spec sections and the appendix will be drawings and photos of the work. I did this for a coffee bar and a first aid room renovation for a large corporate client. Then we emailed the packet to the bidders as a PDF and they did the printing themselves.

I have also done it for projects where I might have one or two full-size sheets (Arch D). The paper copies are printed like a project manual with a manilla envelop bound in the the back with the drawing folded/inserted in the envelop. PDF's have the drawing as an appendix and identified as an Arch D sheet. Again, just email the packet to the bidders.

The State of Ohio has accepted PDF's for permit submittals on several small projects at the local state university.

Definitely a changing world.