Van Sachs
© 2006 Signature Sight and Sound
Developing a plan for the design and integration of presentation technologies is a complex process. The use of technology in today's "houses of worship and other performance and presentation venues is significant. Multiple systems are required and they must work in concert to achieve optimum results.
Understanding what is possible and how to achieve your goals requires much study, time and a level of specialized knowledge. It is rare to find individuals in your church or organization that have this level of knowledge and expertise in all areas.
So, how do you proceed: consultant or design-build? This is a debate that has been going on for quite some time. First, we need to define the roles of the participants in the process.
CONSULTANTS
Consultants typically meet with the client, establish the needs and budget, develop the design, attend construction and planning meetings and provide drawings and documents to the architect, GC and owner. These drawings and documents are the design blueprints for the technology systems.
Once completed, the design is then put out to bid to integration companies. Integration companies can include electrical contractors, communication companies, security and fire alarm companies, music retailers and audio/video contractors.
There are also various kinds of consultants. Some may specialize in theater or stadium systems, some in acoustical systems, others may be part of an architectural or electrical firm. Integration companies provide the equipment specified by the consultant and install the systems. The consultant typically oversees the project.
DESIGN-BUILD
Design-build technology firms meet with the client, establish the needs and desires, and help the client understand what is possible and how to get there. They establish budgets, create the design, attend construction and planning meetings and provide design drawings and documents to the architect, GC and owner. These are the design blueprints for the technology systems.
At this point in the process, the design-build firm establishes a "guaranteed turnkey price" for the project. The design build firm installs the system(s), provides all equipment and materials needed, provides technology system project management, system calibration and set up, training and service.
As with consultants and integrators, design firms can specialize in various areas. Some may focus on only audio and video. Some may include theatrical lighting and acoustical. Some may include audio and video pre- and postproduction. Some may include staging and curtaining.
So what is best for you, the client?
There are all kinds of thoughts and opinions out there and it can get confusing.
Some people suggest that you bring a consultant in on your project only if the technical budget is going to exceed $50,000.00. If $50,000.00 or less, they suggest you get three quotes from AV contractors and choose the best system. What does that mean? Do they think smaller projects do not require expertise? Do consultants feel that they can't be bothered with smaller systems? Is there not enough money in the budget to make it worthwhile for the consultant to get involved?
Some people suggest you should always bring in a consultant to ensure there are no equipment biases. In theory, the consultant is a neutral party that has no affiliations to manufacturers. They will not be providing and installing the equipment, so the recommendations they make are based on what is best for the client. Their choices are not affected by pricing programs, discounts or long term relationships with manufacturers.
What does this mean? Of course consultants have preferences for the equipment they are recommending. These preferences are based on their experience, how they learned their trade, where they may have worked in the past and their level of knowledge. And if a consultant has a close relationship with an integrator, he may choose equipment that is germane to that particular installation company.
Another theory is that once a consultant had created the design, the client can put the installation scope of work out for bid. The idea here is that there are more cost controls for the client.
What are the down sides of using a consultant?
There is no guarantee that the design created by a consultant is going to be the best design for your project. A consultant will tell you that if you talk to three av contactors, you may get three very different design concepts. This exact statement can be made if you talk with three consultants.
We have seen design documentations created by consultants that are nebulous and in some cases, incomplete. The level of detail required on the design documents is critical. The installation firm has to have very detailed information to install the systems properly. Nothing can be omitted. Communication, project management and construction schedules suffer if accurate schematics are not provided.
A huge issue is accountability. What happens if the systems do not function as promised? Who is responsible - consultant or installer? Are these problems because of the design, or the install? Who determines this? Who provides calibration? Who provides training? Who provides service? What is the warranty for the design? What is the warranty for installation? What level of complexity does this bring to the project? These are the questions that must be asked when entering into this type of arrangement.
A design-build firm has the ability to do the entire project.
This is all inclusive: client consultation, planning and construction meetings, establishment of budgets, design, equipment procurement, project management, installation, training and service - and all for a guaranteed, turnkey price.
The client works with one company. Accountability becomes a non-issue because the same people who designed the systems will be installing the systems. There are no questions regarding who will be doing what. The design-build firm is 100% accountable to the client.
A true design-build firm is not an equipment reseller or a storefront. They have access to hundreds of products and choose the right products for each project based on the scope of work, room dynamics and what the client wants to accomplish. A design-build firm does not put monetary limits on a project, and the right design-build firm is capable of handling a project of any monetary size, large or small.
Every project is going to require discussions about what is needed or wanted; a design; interface with architects, GC and subs; equipment; installation; training and service. Doesn't it just make sense to deal with one firm, a design-build firm?
