Check it out!

Phil Bowers, VP of Business Development at ACS, was recently featured on the Woodworking Network's blog with a great article on embracing technology within the casework manufacturing industry.

Be sure to check it out here!

The ACS Catalog Goes 3D

By Kyle Rennaker, ACS Draftsman

 

The 1960’s marked the beginning of the CAD Revolution with the invention of “Sketchpad” by Ivan Sutherland, the CAD industry continued to flourish by leaps and bounds over the next five decades with the creation of BIM software such as Autodesk Revit (originally created in 1998 by the Charles River Software company).  As architects and engineers latch on to this BIM technology to help improve the process of constructing and designing buildings; manufactures must be able to keep up with new demands of 3D material.  And that is where Advanced Cabinet Systems comes into play.

In June 2012, Advanced Cabinet Systems released its first ever Advanced Cabinet Systems Revit Catalog.  Up to this point, architects were responsible of creating “generic” casework as “fill-ins” for specifications in their 3D projects.  Manufacturer-created 3D models, also known as Revit Families, help remove this trouble for architects by allowing them to easily download and drop them into their project. 

Easy accessibility is just one benefit of having manufacturer-created material; there are many more reasons why it’s beneficial.  One of the big benefits would be that each cabinet is to the standards of Advanced Cabinet Systems.  Every size that is available is easily accessible through a “type catalog”.  A type catalog gives all of the size options available through a pick-list without bogging down the model, thus keeping a relatively small file size.  Finally, another great benefit is that specifying the cabinets in a project is easier because the matching product number associated with the physical catalog is included with each model.  By loading in the “custom casework tag”, every floor plan would include the product number by being placed over the matching cabinet.

By having the manufacturer create their own Revit models, it creates a more stream-lined process for designers and architects in the overall build process.

Retail Security Solutions

Working in the retail fixture industry, Advanced Cabinet Systems fulfills numerous requests from customers wanting their displays to be as secure as possible. Would-be thieves are getting craftier and often times it seems that if a product is not nailed down, there is the potential that it will grow legs and walk right out of your store. If your security devices can be picked, cut, deactivated, or broken off, someone will find a way--resulting in a loss of profit for your business and loads of frustration for you.

In order to offer our customers the best security devices to meet an ever-growing list of needs, we try to stay as up to date as possible on what the market has to offer. Below are a few of our go-to products that we have found to be reliable options for combating retail theft. This may seem like a paid advertisement for one company, but trust me it's not, we just really like their products!

1. Invue Series 1000 Impact Display Stands

These stands feature an internal recoil mechanism that returns the product to the display position each time it is handled. It also has a built-in alarm that will sound if the device is disconnected from the stand--and speaking from experience, it is a loud alarm that no one in the store is going to miss! These stands provide users with a lot of flexibility, giving them the option to secure dummy phones, charge live phones, or provide customers with an interactive display that is triggered when the device is lifted from the base.

2. Invue Locking Gridwall Hooks

 

Many of our customers stock their accessories on grid wall panels, and these locking hooks from Invue are a great way to keep products secure, while still being quick and easy for employees to remove when necessary. 

3. Vanguard Cell Phone Security Stands

Similar to the Invue stands above, Vanguard Products Group offers a wide range of security options for hand held devices, tablets, and accessories. These devices offer the same user-friendly options when it comes to displaying products, while providing peace of mind that items are safe and secure.

4. Invue Cabinet Lock

Invue cabinet locks are great choice for retailers looking to retrofit existing cabinetry--with no tools or drilling required, installation is a snap. This lock features PowerTouch technology that transfers power from the key to the lock, meaning you will never have to worry about replacing batteries, providing years of worry-free security.

5. Invue LTO2 Tablet Security

New to Invue, this product can power up any tablet on the market while keeping it secure and functional when on display. The display stand allows the product to be mounted either vertically or horizontally, while remaining virtually invisible from the front--keeping product displays clean and uncluttered.

A large portion of my design work is geared toward the technology industry and I realize that is where most of these security solutions would be most useful. So, I would love to hear from you--what kind of security measures do you take to ensure that your merchandise doesn't fall prey to sticky fingers?

sources: one . two . three . four . five

Building Information Modeling

In June, Advanced Cabinet Systems announced the release of their Revit Families Catalog. This was a significant step for the company in providing resources that meet the ever-changing demands of technology in the architectural community, while also allowing ACS products to be integrated into their drawings. In light of this release, I wanted to take a look at Building Information Modeling (BIM) and how it is helping to change the face of building construction.

The National Building Information Modeling Standard Project Committee (try saying that three times fast), defines BIM as "a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition." Now, after reading that definition I was still a little in the dark about what BIM actually was, so in case you are too, hopefully the rest of this post will clear it up a little better...

Building Information Modeling goes beyond the standard 2D drawings often used in construction, and renders the entire space in 3D--while also allowing the user to see the time and cost associated with each phase of the process. This allows for quick extraction of different views of the building, saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent on the drafting table, and allowing the project to proceed without delay. If problems are detected within the drawing, elements can be easily changed while also maintaining an updated schedule of materials for ordering and tracking purposes.



Another major benefit of BIM is the ease of which a job can be handed off from one person to the next. Gone are the days of having to keep track of page after page of changes and revisions, with BIM each worker adds to a single drawing file and hands it down to the next--lowering the potential that information will be lost in the process and reducing the chance that costly mistakes will be made as a result.

With tight schedules and budget constraints, Building Information Modeling helps architects, builders, and designers work quickly and efficiently by allowing them to visualize the space from start to finish. This allows them to work out any potential problems before construction even begins; saving valuable time and resources, and often leading to projects that finish ahead of schedule and under-budget.

sources: one . two . three . four

Wood v. Chemical Resistant Plastic Laminates

For years, wooden cabinets have been the go-to solution for the storage of equipment and chemicals in science laboratories across the nation. From middle school labs to the more advanced labs found in higher education buildings, the general consensus among fixture specifiers seemed to be that wood was the best solution for these areas. In recent years, however, companies like Wilsonart and Formica have worked to change the minds of these individuals with the introduction of chemical resistant plastic laminates.

Although wood has the ability to withstand the physical wear and tear that a typical lab is routinely subjected to, it naturally omits acids and other pollutants, with oak (most often used) being the worst offender. The porous nature of wood allows it to easily absorb odor and contamination, as well as potentially harbor mold and other bacteria, all of which can be detrimental to sensitive test results. The density and hardness of plastic laminate means that it omits very little chemical gasses, and as long as it is glued to an NAUF substrate, offgasing of this material should also be of little concern.

Wilsonart’s Chemsurf and Formica’s ChemTop2 lines are an affordable alternative to wood cabinetry, wainscoting, and in some settings, are even suitable for use as counter tops. Each line carries a large variety of colors and patterns, making them great choices for lab areas that need to make a big statement. If the customer desires the look of wood with the functionality of laminate, they also come in a wide range of realistic wood grains. Each product's ability to resist harsh chemicals, stains, and mild abrasion make them a durable, long-lasting option for intermediate-type labs in hospitals, schools, and factories.

Over time, as wood surfaces are exposed to strong chemicals, excessive cleaning, and in some instances heat, they tend to lose their protective finish--leaving them susceptible to corrosion and staining. However, in rigorous product testing, both Wilsonart and Formica's chemical resistant laminates held up beautifully, with only a slight change in color or gloss when exposed to bright light and certain chemicals over prolonged periods of time.

While wooden casework needs routine cleaning and polishing to maintain its durability, with chemical resistant plastic laminate you simply wipe the surface clean--no scrubbing or harsh cleaning agents are required--offering years of superior performance that is unmatched by its competitor.

sources: one . two . three . four

Environmental Effects on Learning

By: Anna, ACS Intern

Over the last two months I have had the opportunity to team up with Advanced Cabinet Systems to conduct a study examining the effects that environment has on learning. Throughout my time spent researching and designing the ideal classroom setting, my eyes have been opened to the inefficient practices used within the majority of classrooms in today's school systems, as well as the great need for designers to create learning environments that will have a positive, lasting effect on the next generation. The following is an excerpt of my research that will be released in its entirety later this month. 

No two individuals think exactly alike, therefore, there is no easy way to know what is best for every person in a specific scenario. What if the environment of a classroom could be manipulated by architects and designers to create a space that is more conducive to learning? The face of education has changed immensely over the past century--so why hasn’t the classroom? 

Numerous studies have shown that classrooms found in today's schools are typically designed to meet the needs of the educator, while often disregarding the needs of the student. A classroom set up around the needs of the educator is usually only beneficial to one person--the educator. This can present a serious stumbling block for a student's success in school. When the only choice is to listen, watch, and learn in a space that is rarely comfortable and highly constrictive, educators are left with lasting results that are less than impressive. As a future designer, this leaves me to question why the current design of classrooms largely favors the educator, when education at large was established to target the children? 

By understanding the different styles of learning from one student to the next, we can better understand how to effectively tailor our designs to reach the needs of all people in an educational environment. When each style of learning is uniquely analyzed and incorporated into the classroom design, a space can be created to meet the needs of all students and assist them in furthering their education. The idea of teachers researching each child and tailoring their teaching methods to fit their specific style of learning is a relatively new approach to education. Traditionally, schools have used linguistic and logical teaching methods to assess students, but this approach is becoming outdated and irrelevant to the modern learner. Much like the traditional approach to teaching is being reassessed, so should the spaces where education is taking place.

The intergration of technology in the classroom is quickly changing education and learning environments. Most students in school today have a cell phone, an iPod, and commonly their own personal laptop. Though these items are great tools for research, communication, and innovation, students are often found using them within their learning environment as tools of distraction, leaving educators to wonder if they truly deserve a regular place within the classroom. When used correctly technology has the ability to decrease student distraction and increase engagement. Educators have a variety of options for creatively intergrating technology into their lesson plans, from using cell phones as clickers for answer questions, to using laptops for immediate research and collaboration. If done correctly technology can be an effective tool that engages students in their work.

If designers and educators come together to make these changes the classrooms of the future will have very little in common with those of today, allowing young minds to develop in an environment that is conducive to their learning style and encouraging them to be more than they could ever imagine. 

Be sure to check back during the week of July 23rd for another excerpt from my research on how designers can combat the decline of the classroom and create spaces that are tailored to give all students an equal opportunity at finding educational success.

sources: one . two . three . four

Space Planning

In continuing our series on retail design, this week I thought we would take a look at a few ways to optimize your retail space. Whether you run a small specialty boutique or a large discount warehouse, it is important to consider customer flow and product placement in order to utilize the space to its full potential and help drive sales.

There are three areas that are important to keep in mind when you are planning the layout of your store:

1. Entrance
2. Sales floor
3. Check out area

Specialty retail is a very competitive field and with so many other stores vying for a shopper's attention it is important to have an enticing entrance. Well executed window displays will often give a customer a nice glimpse of what they can expect to see in your store. Once you get their attention, it is important that the entrance be spacious to avoid the bottleneck effect that comes with funneling too many customers through an opening that is too small. While it may make sense to place your best products at the entrance, research done by Envirosell, a company that studies customer behavior, have shown that these items often get overlooked by shoppers eager to get inside the store. As people have the natural tendency to go right when they enter a space, better placement for these products would be about 15 steps in on the right side. This will allow the customer enough time to gain their bearings of the space and begin the shopping process.

When laying out the sales floor, it is important to consider the main circulation path that customers will take as they walk through the space. A well thought out path will lead shoppers through the most important departments of the store and prevent areas from being under-shopped. The type of circulation path that you use will depend on what your store is selling, but it ultimately comes down to making people comfortable as they shop in your store. If a shopper is confused and overwhelmed by your space, it is likely that they will turn around and walk out pretty quickly, leading to a lost potential sale. Customers that are engaged and find it easy to locate the products they are looking for will often shop longer and purchase more.

While there are a number of circulation path layouts that can be utilized, here are a few of the most common:

• Pathway: This plan is great for clothing stores, as it easily moves the customer toward the back of the store on a path that is unobstructed by fixtures.
• Hub and Spoke: This plan features a clear anchor point with pathways branching off into various areas of the store.
• Varied: This plan works well in stores that primarily display their products on the wall, such as shoe and jewelry/accessory stores. It draws attention to special displays areas and showcases wall displays.
• Straight: This plan leads the customer to the back of the store by dividing main areas with walls to display merchandise, making it great for a variety of stores.
• Loop: This plan works great for grocery stores, as it leads the customer through all of the major areas of the store and encourages impulse shopping.

The circulation path you choose will often dictate where you place your check out area. Customers should have a clear understanding of where they need to go to complete their purchase, and in many cases, it is important to provide a sense of privacy during the transaction. As technology continues to evolve, many retailers are moving away from providing a physical cash wrap to complete the sale and equipping their sales team with hand held devices capable of doing the job of a traditional cash register--and often faster. This allows associates to move freely about the store, making them more accessible to the customer.

A few more things to consider during the space planning process...

1. Pace: In order for a customer to enjoy their experience at your store, they must be the one to set the pace at which they shop. Providing areas for customers who wish to shop longer and at a slower pace, as well as accommodations for those that need to get in and out of the store quickly, will ensure that everyone is satisfied.

2. Product Placement: The placement of merchandise throughout your store must make sense to your customer. However, what makes sense to one person may not make sense to the next and this is where cross merchandising--placing the same product in different areas throughout the store--helps to make products easy to find while decreasing customer confusion (and frustration).

3. Building Codes: As building codes can vary significantly from one city to the next, it is important to know the codes in your area before investing valuable time and money into a space plan that doesn't meet all of the requirements.

4. Market: Know the market you are trying to reach and set a limit on how much product you will display at any given time. Crowded stores often reflect lower prices, while fewer products on display typically gives a higher-end feel.

5. Flexibility: Make a plan that is flexible and can be changed around easily without tearing the entire store apart. This will not only save your staff time but will also save you money.

6. Privacy: Give your customers enough room to move. Avoid stressful situations for your shoppers by providing space that is out of the flow of traffic where they can make buying decisions without being interrupted.

What tips do you have on creating a successful retail space plan? Have you found that a particular type of circulation path leads to increased sales? Let us know in the comments below!

sources: one.two.three.four.five.six

The Effects of Color on Design

Throughout the design process of our most recent line of retail fixtures, I was approached numerous times with questions pertaining to color; what color should the pieces be, the flooring, the walls? Choosing the wrong color for any of these elements held the potential to throw off the atmosphere we were working so hard to create.

Since color has the incredible ability of evoking an emotional response in most people, it plays a huge role in either making or breaking a design. A well thought through color palette can do wonders for mediocre design, while a poor choice of colors can put a damper on even the greatest of designs.

Let’s take a look at the feelings colors are able to stir within us, as well as a few great applications of color throughout the design world...

Red: 

• Excitement, passion, attention, love
• Red can make a small room feel even smaller--try incorporating it on one or two accent walls.
• Pairing red with bold prints and patterns can help tone down the saturation of the color.
• Studies have shown that predominately red rooms may lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure.

Orange:

• Playful, energetic, cheerful
• Orange has all of the personality of red without being as aggressive.
• It pairs nicely with white, modern furnishings and bold prints. 
• Orange is a hunger-inducing color.
• When it is closer to peach in hue, orange has the ability to enhance some complexions, making it a great choice for a restroom or changing room. 

Yellow:

• Sunny, tropical, safety
• Yellow is a great choice for poorly lit spaces as it helps to brighten the area more effectively than white. 
• Pair yellow with white accents for a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere. 
• Yellow walls combined with black accents will create an unexpected modern twist in an otherwise elegant setting.

Purple:

• Royalty, wealth, intrigue, creativity
• Purple combines the stability of blue with the energy of red.
• It is believed that purple helps to develop imagination in children, making it a great choice for playrooms and classroom settings.
• Like the majority of highly saturated colors, purple pairs nicely with an otherwise neutral palette.

Green:

• Relax, inspire, nature, renewal
• The relaxing qualities of green make it an excellent background color for meditation and tasks that require a high level of concentration.
• Deep shades of green will produce a more opulent atmosphere, while lighter shades tend to create a fresh, lively setting.

Blue:

• Relax, refresh, inspire
• While blue holds many of the same relaxing qualities of green, light blue can make large areas feel cold and bleak while may lead to distress in people confined to the space for long periods of time.
• Mixing white accents within a blue room creates a light, airy atmosphere, making this combination perfect for sunrooms, reading rooms, and bedrooms.

White: 

• Purity, cleaness, calm
• White is the perfect neutral background for all other colors.
• Under-stimulation with this color can lead to restlessness and difficulty concentrating, therefore, great care shoul be taken to balance a stark white room with enough color to add warmth and visual interest to the space.

Gray:

• Neutrality, stability, respect
• Similar to white, gray provides an excellent neutral palette for other colors and textures.
• Dark, saturated hues of gray can be used to create an elegant atmosphere, while adding warmth and sophistication to the space.

sources:one.two.three.four.five.six.seven.eight