7 factors that help or become an obstacle to the cooperation of architects and installers

«Architects adhere to the principle of "space is the most important", and technology is perceived as a trifle, which can be screwed in the end. This is mistake! »

Julian Phillips, Whitlock

The three main words about architecture are design, feel and space. Three whales of audio-video (AV) - technology, functionality and "entertainment." These are two differently directed vectors of thought, two different working processes, so it is not surprising that the relationship between architects and AV specialists does not always develop harmoniously. As technologies become part of our familiar work environment, architects and AV integrators have to work side by side more often than before. So, can the ancient contradictions subsided?

1. On the one hand - design, on the other - technology, but ways to contact exist

Here is what Paul Andrew, Blend Technology Consultants Director, says: "Architects are generally pleased that the role of AV equipment in their projects is growing. Everything depends on the mood: if consultants and integrators are open to cooperation, benevolent, architects also become more accommodating, as a result, good working relations develop. " However, Julian Phillips, executive vice president of the integrator company Whitlock, is not so optimistic: "Relationships have not changed at all. The design of the room remains a "thing-in-itself", an isolated process. Architects adhere to the principle of "space is the most important," and technology is perceived as a trifle, which can be screwed at the very end. "

However, none of those with whom we spoke, did not mention the serious misunderstanding between AV consultants / integrators and architects. Felix Robinson of the integrator company AVI-SPL adheres to a neutral position: "I would not call these relations conflict. The architect strives to fulfill the customer's wishes for design and meet deadlines. If somewhere in the process of work there will be a delay and the final decision will not be made on time, the schedule will collapse, and until the integrator starts to work, the tasks for the architects will become very complicated. "

2. Integrators too late get down to business

The fact that AV integrators come to the project closer to the end, there are many problems. It happens that the AV specialist takes up work when the architect has already handed over the torch to the builders and there is no way to solve the issues directly.

Paul Andrew with Blend Technology Consultants says that the main difficulty is in organizing the process: "Everything that concerns furniture, joinery, is solved lastly, because of what it is impossible to understand how the AV equipment will be located relative to each other. Another trouble is the need to tear between the aesthetic vision of the architect and the approved equipment specification. "

Julian Phillips suggests that consultants who start the project of earlier integrators, be persistent: "There is another difficult question, for the solution of which many AV specialists should have acted more rigorously: if it is planned to place the AV system in the meeting room, how best to provide the necessary functional , minimizing the amount of equipment in the hall? One of the modern trends in the market is network audio systems. They allow you to locate all the technological facilities in the back room, freeing the very room for meetings from rack racks and other iron. This is great news for architects and a weighty argument in favor of negotiations with AV specialists in the early stages of the project, because in this way they can find precious in. And increase the useful area that the equipment cabinets would have "eaten" before. Participating in negotiations with the customer from the very beginning, we as integrators can not only earn more, but also help the owner of the contract save significant amounts, use space more efficiently and improve the result in terms of technologies. "

3. Designers do not take into account the features of audio and video installations in the room

What architectural problems do AV specialists have to face? "Architects love glass," Phillips complains. - glass partitions allow to visually increase the space, but badly affect the work of audio and video equipment. " Mr. Robinson confirms that such architectural features are harmful to the AV installation: "To begin with, the efficiency of the AV system largely depends on acoustics. If a large screen video screen is installed in the room, it acts as a light source. Bright content and frames that quickly replace each other, emit light, will reflect off the surfaces. "

4. The laying of cable lines is another stumbling block between architects and AV specialists

To install the equipment in the building, it is necessary to lay a fair amount of cables, for which it is necessary to provide the appropriate mortgages, which can be difficult. Often use a raised floor to create space for cables. This is the best option, but not every architect will agree to such a solution, especially if this space - from 35 to 40 cm - is necessary for other architectural elements.

5. Architects are a vision, integrators are a realization

Architects are people who have a "vision" of the project and, as has been repeatedly noted above, they are taken for work before integrators. With all this in mind, arranges AV specialists the role of the second violin?

Robinson notes that AVI-SPL specialists use 3D modeling methods of projects and says that everything suits him: "Yes and it will be - this is a food chain. The architect responsible for the creative component of the project, integrators and consultants - for its implementation in practice. "

6. Building modeling methods are in the interim period

A couple of years ago, an important role in the future of AB prophesied the methods of modeling BIM (Building Information Modeling, building information model), but since then the fascination has subsided. "It seems to me that BIM is experiencing an interim period," says Andrew with Blend Technology Consultants. - technology is used in some projects, but it can not be said that it is very popular. It is used as a tool for planning the architectural, mechanical and electrical systems of a building, and not for organizing the components of AV installations. I think that everything will change when the construction industry starts using BIM to its fullest, then AB will also follow this example. "

Robinson on the contrary notes that in the company AVI-SPL BIM systems are used actively: "Thanks to modeling, you can visualize everything, and in the work on the project, take into account the smallest details."

7. The concept of a collaborative space is a new vision of the collaboration of architects and integrators

This approach will cause architects to think differently. Now the architects think: "Here I will have a normal office, and here - a meeting room." And this will be replaced by a style of thinking: "I have a space where I would like to create an environment that is conducive to communication and collaboration."

Phillips believes that this is exactly what is now fashionable in the corporate environment. And Andrew believes that the growing popularity of spaces for joint work will lead to the fact that AB and the architecture will become closely related to each other. "AB will become part of the space, which means that the integrator, in order to make sure that everything is properly built, will have to communicate more closely with the architects."

Robinson notes that customers can also contribute to this: "Customers sometimes ask themselves to make changes to the architectural design, demanding that the technological component be included in the design."

Agree, all these thoughts and reasonings are important for the development of the installation AV business.

A source: InaVate