I have a distinct memory from February 2009 of coming across an article on Architect as part of my usual pre-work morning reading. It featured three guys who were dead set on transforming the AEC world by affecting "processes rather than end products" with a special emphasis on, of course, the latest digital tools and information technologies. Actually, what caught my attention about this article was not the provocative business model.... nor the cool screen captures of their advanced processes being deployed on projects at SHoP, DS+R, and Grimshaw... what caught my attention was the context in which this new model of practice emerged.
2009 was a moment in time directly after our industry (and every industry for that matter) was experiencing the initial shock of the global financial crisis... and yet here was a group that was driven to invest themselves in a new service model for an industry that was in a great-recession-driven tail spin. My first thought: "These guys are either geniuses... or out of their bloody minds!"
......................................................
Flash forward to March 2012... and the CASE team had become a recognized force for innovation in the AEC world by adding value to the design and delivery process with proven leadership in the latest and greatest digital processes.
On my side of the world, the Hangzhou sports park was/is in the middle of construction in China, NBBJ was continuing their investment in firm-wide capabilities for computational design (and still is!), and this blog had grown to become home to many resources for Grasshopper and Revit....
....then an e-mail appeared in my inbox from 'that Design Reform guy' with a proposition: "I'd love to talk to you about the potential of working with a company like CASE."
What could I say? There was surprisingly very little hesitation. The answer that came into my head was immediate even before knowing the details for what Dave, Steve, and Fed had in mind. It would be a few months before finally ironing everything out, but the decision to say "YES!" to what would amount to being a significant career change was clear from the start.
They're attitude towards tools certainly reflects my own: 'use right tools for the right job... and if you don't have the tools, make them!'...but the main reason I have joined CASE is that, as an integrated project consultant, they have crafted a fresh, relevant, and optimistic vision for an industry that is ripe for HUGE transformations...
.... and I am more than thrilled to be a part of THAT.
On my side of the world, the Hangzhou sports park was/is in the middle of construction in China, NBBJ was continuing their investment in firm-wide capabilities for computational design (and still is!), and this blog had grown to become home to many resources for Grasshopper and Revit....
....then an e-mail appeared in my inbox from 'that Design Reform guy' with a proposition: "I'd love to talk to you about the potential of working with a company like CASE."
What could I say? There was surprisingly very little hesitation. The answer that came into my head was immediate even before knowing the details for what Dave, Steve, and Fed had in mind. It would be a few months before finally ironing everything out, but the decision to say "YES!" to what would amount to being a significant career change was clear from the start.
They're attitude towards tools certainly reflects my own: 'use right tools for the right job... and if you don't have the tools, make them!'...but the main reason I have joined CASE is that, as an integrated project consultant, they have crafted a fresh, relevant, and optimistic vision for an industry that is ripe for HUGE transformations...
.... and I am more than thrilled to be a part of THAT.
