Sutton was particularly impressed when the plug-in caught something no one had realized—a pinkish block color had been selected based on the existing building, but the submittal rendering brought up a brown block. It was then discovered the original plan called for brown block, but it had been changed to the pinkish block during the original construction. This was a game changer for Sutton, who is not only a fan of masonry, but often has it widely requested in North Carolina’s Research Triangle.
“We often specify split-face and smooth-face block because it works really well for lab and research projects where block is used,” he said. “We have unlocked more ability to experiment with masonry and have achieved an even higher level of accuracy in texture and color pattern.”
Choate Interior Construction’s Jim Baker, Assoc. AIA, also worked closely with Sutton to get the accurate color match for the two new buildings.
Baker was intrigued by what Sutton was seeing virtually, as it was exactly what his team was seeing in reality on the jobsite.
“The process was tricky because the blocks had three different colors and stripes—with light colors, you might get away with nuances, but a burgundy stripe is another story,” says Baker. “This also presented a design challenge because the original building was designed by a different firm.”
When the Choate team power-washed 11 years of grime from the existing structure, it was apparent they made the right choice.
“It really had to be an exact match, and they nailed it,” noted Baker.
Improving estimation and integration with other trades
“The original design was way over budget due to increased parking space requirements and the complex configuration of the two additions,” says Baker. “During the renovation, we also contended with the Town of Cary’s stringent building requirements, pandemic delays, and the need to continue with scheduled swim meets. Masonry iQ gave us the flexibility to change things up to accommodate these challenges on the fly.”
With an improved software system, Sutton created a 3D drawing of more simplified steel configurations and relocated electrical components, reducing the scope and helping to stay within budget.
“The team was also able to perform a detailed analysis of the design to arrive at a more accurate estimate earlier in the process—all without having to go back to the drawing board multiple times,” added Baker.
For a project with an extremely tight budget, getting the design right to avoid in-the-field issues was critical.
Sutton relied on the plug-in’s ability to extract unit shapes, materials, and quantities directly from the design model to provide a more precise take-off and materials list for Baker and his team.
