Return to Design 95 top pageWherever you're marketing your services, chances are that Callison, now estimated to be the eighth largest architecture firm in the world, is already there. And now, with a new generation of on-line services, Callison can stay there -- and come back home, too.
Callison OnLine has made it very easy to pass everything from construction drawings to meeting notes around the office and across the globe.
Callison OnLine is based on the groupware product called First Class, from SoftArc, Inc., of Toronto.
Macintosh and Windows computer users can make use of the easy, graphically based screens. And virtually any type of computer can access the intuitive text interface.
There are a number of ways to link up with the service. So far, modem connections are the most common. The user installs software provided by Callison, and spends a few minutes answering questions on the screen related to her computer set-up. After that, she need only type a password and Callison OnLine will dial the phone and make the connection to the server.
Callison OnLine was placed on the Internet this month. Now any authorized user who also has a connection to the Internet can access the service without incurring long distance charges. Internet communication is potentially many times faster than standard modem communications.
Callison has a home page on the World Wide Web. The homepage has plenty of curb appeal and is used primarily for marketing purposes. And once you look into the windows, there's a lot more to like. Authorized project team members can configure their Web browser software, such as Netscape, to surf Callison OnLine either graphically or via the text interface.
All users can get private electronic mail to anyone in the world with an Internet Mail account (including businesses and commercial services such as America Online, Compuserve and Microsoft Network). All users also have access to news and information from Internet newsgroups covering topics related to architecture, construction and computers.
Meanwhile, everything from CAD files to office gossip is secure.
Maintaining control while opening up the design process to faster and wider participation is one of the challenges that the firm addressed.
Callison issues subconsultants and clients their own custom-designed "keys" to the "foolproof" system, in the form of configured software, according to David Morton, Callison's in-house on line services designer. Those without a key will find only marketing and help file dead ends at CallisOn Line.
With a staff of over 300, 20-year-old Callison Architecture has been estimated to be the fourth-largest architecture firm in the nation. Based in Seattle, Callison also has of office in San Diego.
Much of the impact of Callison OnLine is close to home. The new communications capabilities have already shifted staffing away from small branch offices and back to Seattle.
In southern California, rumors recently had the San Diego office closing up in response to the poor economy there. In reality, according to Callison's Eric LeMay in a San Diego Daily Transcript article, half of the employees were about to return to the Seattle "mother ship," equipped with new interactive technology. They are now able to work and expand in the San Diego market with the aid of electronic messaging, real time conferencing and CAD files.
Meanwhile, back in the "mothership," the crew is enjoying expanded horizons.
Callison employees and contractors can use Callison OnLine over the company's local area network. Through this connection, they can use all of the features available to others on Callison OnLine plus several available only to Callison employees: computer technical support, company news and databases.
An electronic clipping service supplies Callison and clients with the latest newswire information on architecture, engineering and construction and on key client industries such as retail and healthcare.
Finally, the system offers access to a wide selection of computer shareware and public domain computer programs and utilities.
Callison principal Jim Rothwell admits that the firm's clients are far behind subconsultants in using Callison OnLine. It's only a matter of time, though, until they become comfortable with it too, according to Rothwell. And when they experience the ease of access to their own project and all of the quick and efficient ways to meet around the electronic table, they won't want to do business any other way.
On line services have established the firm at new levels of client service, where clients can help themselves.
For large, complex projects, a client might pay a $45,000-per-year salary for an in-house project manager to organize files and keep them accessible.
"Now we can keep the files for you," said LeMay. "We're adding more value."
He thinks overseas clients will be among the first to log on.
Jets can get consultants to clients and building sites around the globe, but stretching services across time zones can get in the way of real-time communication.
On line services and internet communication is beginning to change that. No more waiting until it's dawn overseas to pick up the phone.
Now, "You don't have to have a person on the phone to deal with things," said LeMay.
With Callison OnLine, any member of the project team (clients, consultants or Callison staff) can get access to the latest drawings, meeting minutes, project schedules -- or virtually anything else relating to a project, from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.
Extremely complex drawings can be sent in the format in which they were created, show to the client or other designated people, and redlined or redesigned on the spot.
With this new way of doing business, "Distance is not a bad thing," said LeMay. "Distance is a non-thing."