Ingenuity Summer 2019

Pond Ingenuity Summer 2019 13 providing results prior to project completion. With the VR technology, Pond can br i dge any po t en t i a l communication gaps between the client and technical staff. The immersive visual elements remove the language barrier by creating a universal experience for the viewer rather than simply showing them. A client can put on the VR goggles and have access to the full scope of their future space with 360° panorama rendering— a method that far exceeds the impact of a noninteractive experience. As a result of formatting the plan in this way, the client can now easily seek clarification on certain specificities, make informed requests and truly grasp what their deliverable will be. The VR technology helps to nurture a mutual understanding between the designer and client on a much deeper level. “The technology is not only useful for the client’s benefit, but it also aids the designer in combing through the finer details and inspecting the plan’s elements to employ the most efficient building strategies,” says Bryan Schroeder, Pond’s Director of VR. As the firm continues to enhance the Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes of generating digital images to represent the functional and physical characteristics of places, VR propels the initiative forward. An extra layer of information is added to the bank of data, eliminating inconsistencies and minimizing error. With the foresight VR allows, Pond can increase production value by delivering the highest quality, most financially-sound projects. VR technology proves to be versatile enough to be implemented across the wide range of services Pond provides. For designers, VR can give clients the opportunity to visualize the space. They can “feel” the size of the rooms, sense the ceilings and observe the open atriums. For planning purposes, VR can be used for 3-D scanning, to complete careful documentation of existing structures, create fly-thrus and renderings for fundraising and stakeholder information. Construction teams at Pond can conveniently share models with different areas of the firm, report progress along each milestone, and produce punch list documents. The inclusion of this technology into Pond’s firm improves the efficiency and ease of practices to ensure collective consistency. Picture this: You’re strolling through your organization’s new operations HQ. You make your way through the break room and poke your head into a collaborative space. You cross the threshold into your office and turn to look out the window. “I like it,” you say. “Approved.” You remove your VR goggles. You weren’t in your new operations HQ – in fact, it hasn’t been built yet. You were in Pond’s VR lab reviewing your new facility’s BIM model. This is the power of VR; its ability to provide a unique, memorable experience for the client will reinforce the idea that Pond i s f ocused on exceed i ng expectations and being their first choice. Adopting VR into the services offered adds to Pond’s competitive advantage. By incorporating this technology into planning, design and construction projects, Pond is distinguishing themselves from competitors with minimal extra effort and cost. Pond is proving to be a firm that can strategically adapt to the industry landscape by adding new tools to serve clients. With a dedication and inclination towards innovation, Pond is only scratching the surface of what can be achieved.  Bryan Schroeder, AIA, Director of Virtual Design and Construction We envisioned an environment in which our clients and designers could not only see the project coming together but experience the space before any ground is broken