Do you still use a rotary phone or have you upgraded to a smartphone? Do you use a map while driving or GPS? These may seem like funny questions as it may seem silly to continue using obsolete technologies for reasons other than nostalgia. Why is the design and construction industry still using 2D drawings to relay ideas to clients?

Our design and build industry has been business as usual for the past couple hundred years.  Clients are shown 2D drawings to understand their home or structure and then build based off of 2D drawings. Why is this?

Michael Rath, CEO of Trilogy Partners, asked himself this question in 2008, he was fed up of the old ways where clients had an architect, builder and designer all essentially speaking different languages and not communicating to each other. This old model of how to build leads to projects being over budget, over scheduled and not the exciting and satisfying process that building your dream should be. He decided that it was time to break the mold and figure out a way where he could bring everyone together in one efficient working process. Michael found the 3D Modeling program SketchUp and he knew that this was how he was going to change how things would be done.

Michael wanted to create a collaborative process where everyone works from an exact 3D virtual model of a structure that is to be built. Where everyone involved, especially the client, knows exactly how the structure will look, feel and that every design and construction detail, down to the last nut and bolt, is answered for ahead of time. Ahead of any expensive mistakes! And so, Project Management Modeling was born.

Project Management Modeling (PMM) is a residential BIM (Building Information Modeling) solution combining project management, interior design and BIM that creates the most transparency and best results for our clients while saving money every step of the way.

“I love technology, I love being creative, I love collaborating with my clients and my subs and my engineers and I wanted to create an environment where everyone can do the best work possible and show it with everyone else in a collaborative open environment.” Rath

In most design and construction, especially in the residential genre, an architect will take the project so far and then usually hand it off to the engineer who hands it off to the builder. And then an interior designer steps in and you realize your Grandma’s heirloom bed wont fit into the guest room! The client is looking one way and then the next while those disciplines are not talking to each other. Everyone is separate. “It’s not well integrated. It is frustrating!” There wasn’t a BIM alternative for residential projects and something had to change. For Michael, the clients are the most important thing. “It’s my job, my duty to create the best possible house for them.” And so it was important that he would create a solution in order to achieve this.

It is time for our industry to change. We need to take advantage of technological advances and have a little fun doing it. “We have VR now!” The subs, the builders, and the clients can “walk around” the model of the house to be built and see how it will look. They will witness where they need to make changes as if the structure is already built. This allows for changes to be made quickly and without any cost involved.

By utilizing the latest technologies we are able to avoid costly mistakes, be more efficient and sustainable but also be more creative and trying things we wouldn’t have been able to do before. Can you image having a waterfall in your living room? You don’t have to imagine, we can show you in a 3D Model. If you love it, we can build it! Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling is giving you the ability to try new things, to make a custom home truly unique for our clients. If we have the technologies to achieve great things then why not take advantage of this? At Trilogy, we are capitalizing on these technologies and we want you to join us on this exciting adventure.

To find out more about our Project Management Modeling that combines project management, interior design and residential BIM you can click here or contact us directly. We would love to chat to you.

Building Information Modeling and Project Management Modeling might be viewed as the same thing, heck they sound kind of similar, right? They have similarities, sure but to put it simply, the main difference between the two is that BIM is for the big guys doing huge multi-million dollar projects, and PMM is BIM plus project management for the rest of us.

“BIM is for the big guys, PMM is for the rest of us.”

BIM is used for large projects: skyscrapers, bridges, huge multi-family condos in large cities. But there was no residential BIM solution, so we needed to create one ourselves. We had to invent our own process that works for every stakeholder in a project, especially the client, with an added bonus of project management (not an aspect of BIM), and so Project Management Modeling was born.

“PMM was born out of a need for a simple client-focused project management tool.”

We wanted everyone to be on the same playing field and to serve the client first and foremost.

Project Management Modeling uses a geo-located 3D model of the home or structure to be built that has data of every single element needed to create the model in real life, even down to the interior finishes. We like to say that we build the structure twice, once in the computer and then again in real life. PMM allows us to show clients design details like the tile layout of an entire room in a 3D model as opposed to a piece of tile on a sample board, we vet the structure for build-ability to find issues and fix them before we ever break ground. PMM saves time, saves materials, saves money.

The PMM model is then used for project management. Framers can put on Virtual Reality glasses to see how the structure is framed, masons look at the model for stone layout, electricians can measure the model to see exactly where their electric box needs to go, plumbers know where to run lines to. All of this equals less supervision time and less mistakes on the job site. Again, cost savings every step of the way with PMM. Our estimating is so precise because every piece of the home or structure is in our PMM model. We estimate down to the last door handle so there are no surprises for our clients.

What does PMM do that BIM does not?

We took the best aspects of BIM (3D modeling, vetting a structure before building, having all subcontractors on the same page) and applied that to PMM. Then we kept going to add in project management and interior design. This saves large amounts of money on supervision costs and eliminates the unknown or a designer saying “trust me” when it comes to design decisions. It is BIM plus MANAGEMENT!

“Working with Trilogy Partners and their Project Management Modeling process I can be part of the design process and a decision maker in how the design looks and works, which makes it easier to fabricate. With other contractors I simply put their design into action which is not always considered from a welder’s point of view. Having my input be part of the process ensures a high-quality finished product that I am extremely proud of.” Brian Dunphy, Ark Fabrication

What about Structurals and MEP?

We are now putting structurals into our models. MEP (Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing) is not a complicated issue in single family residences. It will be in the commercial project we do and so we will include it there.

What is the biggest benefits to using PMM? 

Interiors and finishes. Data management. Not having to traipse around with client from one design store to another or deal with small samples and risk management. Using PMM for estimating and having our subcontractors use the model.

Are there any problems that face PMM?

The only problem we face is that a lot of our subcontractors don’t own a computer or iPad where they can view our 3D Model but where theres a will there’s a way. We incorporate workarounds. SketchUp Mobile Viewer is helpful and subs can use their smartphones. For something like tile we print out photos from our PMM model and hang it right in the room the tile is to be installed. A picture is worth a thousand words so our subs have a few thousand words of instruction around them.

What about geolocation? Can you do this in PMM?

Absolutely. It empowers our clients to know the exact view from their kitchen sink or master bedroom. We also use geolocation for solar studies so we are sure to optimize the sun’s warming effect in the winter and minimize that in the summer.

 “PMM is a solution for little guys and single family residence builders for whom BIM doesn’t work.”

Why doesn’t BIM work for the little guys exactly?

BIM is beefy and expensive to use. It was created for huge projects like the Freedom Tower in NYC or large bridges. It is expensive for a small contractor to employ on their projects. If BIM worked for us as a single family homebuilder then we would be using it. But it didn’t which is why we created Project Management Modeling.

Why should the industry be using PMM?

Lower costs, less mistakes and more efficient design are just a few of the reasons. If we can lower the cost of housing throughout the country and the globe then more people can afford housing. That is the big goal, to enable those who want to own a home to do so. We also want to be kinder to the the environment by having less waste. Houses can be designed better and smarter which means more efficient sizes, less heating costs, better environmental impact.

We use PMM because it works and builders love it, subs love it, designers love it. But most importantly our clients love it. That is reason enough for us.

Trilogy Partners is to attend The American Institute of Architects Conference in Orlando this April 27^th-29^th. Trilogy will be the guests of SketchUp at the conference, where they will be demonstrating and talking about Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling and how this process complete with SketchUp software is changing the way homes are designed and built across America. Trilogy wants to educate the industry and market about their process, and the close relationship Trilogy has with SketchUp is helping them achieve this.

Michael Rath, CEO of Trilogy comments “Trilogy Partners is thrilled to be invited to the 2017 American Institute of Architects convention to present our Project Management Modeling process to 25,000 architects and industry professionals. We are excited to share our process that puts clients as the center of a project while showing every design detail of a home’s exterior and interior, all while being more efficient with time and materials. We think PMM is going to blow the roof off of AIA!”

From all of us at Trilogy we would like to say a big thank you to our friends at SketchUp for your continued support of our Design Build firm in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Please see our recent interviews with SketchUp on their website.

Part I 

Part II 

Tune in to Trilogy Partners Facebook Page  March 29th and March 30th from 8am – 8pm MST every hour on the hour for Design in a Day.

One Team.

One House.

One Day.

Can they do it?

What do you do when you have the best lot in Breckenridge but the house on it is antiquated and does not honor the stunning mountain and lake views around it? You hire Trilogy Partners.

We are going to create a totally new home design concept for this magnificent piece of land by employing the creativity of our in-house design team and our Project Management Modeling process that leverage’s Trimble SketchUp Pro software to turn this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. The end result will be a stunning 3D model of a new home design complete with kitchen, bathrooms, tile, trim, furniture…everything that makes a house a home. And we are going to do it in 24 hours.

Can it be done?

We think so. Would any other design build attempt to do this? Definitely not. Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling is unlike any other project management tool as it integrates 3D virtual models with highly organized efficiency. SketchUp’s Chris Brashar even says that he is “personally astounded by what Trilogy are doing with SketchUp for whole project management.” 

Mark your calendars and follow us on Facebook to watch the progress of this transformation on Wednesday, March 29 and Thursday, March 30 from 8am MST

Tune in to Trilogy Partners Facebook Page March 29th at 8am MST for the first Facebook Live session of Design in a Day

Part 2 of our Interview with SketchUp is Live!

You can find Part 1 of the Michael Rath interview about 
Trilogy Project Management Modeling™ here.

At the summit of the beautiful state of Colorado a change is in the air. Trilogy Partners has teamed up with global leader Trimble SketchUp to design and build living, breathing 3D virtual models. Infused with heart and soul, art and just the right amount of construction DNA, Trilogy models reproduce into stunning mountain homes their clients cherish for generations.  

Read the second part of Trilogy CEO Michael Rath’s interview about Project Management Modeling with SketchUp’s Mark Harrison and learn about the transformation starting right here in Summit County!

Are you interested in implementing Trilogy Project Management Modeling™ for your project?

Contact us to start the most creative and empowering process possible to design and build your development project or dream home anywhere in the world!

Trilogy Partners is paving the way for both clients and industry professionals with its revolutionary Project Management Modeling process. Trilogy Design and Build team members have been working closely with Trimble SketchUp team members, building an important relationship between the two companies as they work to further develop the SketchUp based Project Management Modeling process to become an industry standard for the home building industry. 

Today is Part One of a Two part blog post release from SketchUp where Director of Marketing at SketchUp Mark Harrison interviews Trilogy Partners’ CEO Michael Rath. As Rath says in the interview, “a well executed SketchUp strategy, like the one we are using, not only results in a fantastic model, but also lowers project costs. That’s because we resolve construction problems in the model and not on the construction site, and because we embed supervision into the model, we save money.” It’s a no brainer. 

Read more about our Project Management Modeling process and contact us today to start the most creative and empowering process possible to design and build your dream home anywhere in the world! 

Welcome to the future of design and build, where seeing is believing.

SketchUp Blog: Project Management Modeling at Trilogy Partners: Part I

From our Client:

My wife and I began our journey to build our custom vacation dream house in Breckenridge Colorado, by reviewing reputable contractors in the Summit area that were building inspired homes of high quality and exceptional craftsmanship. More importantly, we were looking for a design/build firm that would manage both the design and construction process. Since this was to be an extremely custom “period” home, we knew we needed a firm that would understand our unique vision, be collaborative and provide inspiration. We ultimately selected Trilogy for our project and were not disappointed.

Building a second home a thousand miles from where you live, can be a scary proposition. However, it can be accomplished if you don’t have to separately manage an architect, interior designer and builder. This is where Trilogy, as a “Design/Build” contractor, truly shined. Additionally, what made Trilogy stand out for us was the 3-D modeling services that were provided every step of the way. From schematic design to interior finishes and ultimately furniture selections, the 3D modeling process and the ability to view and edit the design remotely and real time, made the project not only that more successful but a lot less stressful.

Trilogy is a true “concierge” builder. They handled every step of the process from site surveys and initial schematic design, to assisting with the final furniture selections and sourcing of antique reproductions. Monthly budget forecasting allowed us to make informed decisions of where to best spend our money. This is our third custom home, and the Trilogy staff, without exception, were some of the best professionals and craftsman we have ever had the pleasure to work with.

From our Design Build team:

This home was another unique collaboration between owner (an engineer with decades of construction experience) and Trilogy Partners. Trilogy was entrusted as Design Build Project Manager and retained bhh Partners of Breckenridge, Colorado for basic architectural design. The home concept is based on a family homestead that grew over the years from a simple sheep station to a farm and then an entire 3 wing house with a completely separate but attached in-law dwelling. Trilogy modeled the entire home in 3D in preparation for an exquisitely detailed interior design selection process. Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling process allowed the owners to be involved in every design decision from thousands of miles away. This home is energy efficient due to closed cell foam insulation. An air exchange and humidification system provide optimal indoor air quality. Passive solar enhances a high efficiency in floor radiant heating system. The outcome is a unique home that encapsulates the historical vision of the owners and functionality of two separate living quarters in one homestead.

THE HOMESTEAD STORY

This home, though built recently, has a long history. It’s an old story about a family with a hardworking father and a loving mother and three kids who lived in Denver, butloved the mountains more than anything. About 1908 they decided to buy an old sheep station outside of Breckenridge.

At first they lived in the simple shepherd’s cabin they referred to as the “Station House.” As the children grew, so did the family’s passion for horses, ranching, hunting, and fishing and the great outdoors, and it wasn’t long before everyone in the family began to refer to the Station House as home. Denver just became Denver, and it was certainly not where their hearts longed to be. A heavy bell large enough to be heard for several miles, which became known as the “Dinner Bell,” was installed by the front door to call the kids home for supper. After a few years, the family built a pole barn for the horses and a carriage, and then it became the place where they parked the Model T.

About 1923 the eldest son returned from college. His first duty was to supervise the construction of “The Manor House.” Now that mother and father had the time to spend not just summer, but most of the year in the valley, it made sense that they build a real house. The Station House could be used by guests. The son had a lot to do and not much time because the house had to be finished in time for a very important event. A wedding, his wedding, was to happen in the spring, barely a year away. So the Manor House, built with local timbers and many local hands, rose up between the old Station House and the Pole Barn. And there was a first marriage at the house. As the family continued to grow, it seemed the Manor House had to grow with them and over the years, it reached out to either side until finally, it was connected by a long front porch to the Station House, just to the south, and the Pole Barn just to the north. The dinner Bell was installed beneath the gable in the front porch because children still needed to be called home from the hills.

Fifty years passed and the fact that dozens of mothers, fathers, children, and grand children and even great grandchildren spread all over the country still called it Home didn’t seem strange to any of them. For this was where they came to share the most important things with the rest of their family. They came in the summers and winters, stayed sometimes a week, often longer, but at least once a year, if not a couple times more.

They came for the most memorable days of their lives, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and sometimes for no reason other than they needed to be with their kin. On those saddest days, when one had passed away, they gathered to remember at the Manor House. They would bury their own in the family plot where the sheep once graced in a meadow that the elk favored in winter. There would be hugs, and tears. But for all, it was far better being sad ere than anywhere else.

And now, a hundred years have passed since a family of five first set for in the valley. And the Manor House, the Station House, and Pole Barn all deserve a little sprucing up in time for another important event. For in the spring comes wedding number 32.

Many homeowners forget about the smaller details when planning their home design. This is simply because they are too focused on the bigger features. However, the smaller details are what help to add a finished touch to the design. The following are a few examples of decorative hardware that you should use for inspiration when taking into account the details of your design:

Source: Houzz

• Sleek metal pulls – If you have modern cabinet and drawer styles in your kitchen, then metal pulls are the perfect compliment.

• Vintage glass knobs – Clear glass knobs go great with pretty much any décor. To add contrast to your cabinets or to simply brighten up the space, pick out some vintage colored glass knobs.

• Bronze or blackened steel handles – These are a great option for warm wood doors if you’re looking to compliment them instead of adding contrast such as chrome or nickel.

• Round handles – If your space is full of right-angled forms, then adding round handles to your rectangular cabinetry is a great way to break up the visual monotony.

These are just a few ideas for using decorative hardware. For additional home design advice, contact us at Trilogy Builds today.

Homeowners considering a build-out of their home are wise to consider all of their options. A second story is expensive and time-consuming, but building out also can provide more space, add a particularly functional room, and add significant value to your property. Here are a few of the simplest ways to accomplish this goal:

Enlarge a Room – One of the easiest ways to improve a kitchen, family room or other communal area is to give it a little more room. Relocating a single exterior room is quite affordable and provides significant bang for the buck in terms of money spent versus room created.

Add a Room Over the Garage – While a little more expensive, the area over a garage provides a space where almost anything is possible – a media, craft or game room.

Build an Outbuilding – Adding some extra entertainment space is as easy as adding a pool house, a pergola or a backyard work space. In every case, you will free up space in the main house.

For more information on planning a home or its expansion, please contact us at Trilogy Partners.

If you’re renovating the home, you have a lot of building material options available for use. Consider the following materials to add a beautiful, unique look to your dream home:

• Limestone can make your home’s walls stand out. By texturing the limestone, you will be able to accentuate the shadows, giving your wall a dramatic effect. This texturing will visually soften the hard material, giving your home an elegant, inviting look.

• If you are looking to style up the shelves in your home, you can use a patinated aluminum material that features a spiderweb pattern. This will give your shelves a bold look, making it enjoyable every time you go to grab your socks or clothes. To vary the spider web patterns, the horizontal pieces can be flipped.

• For a truly bold look, you can combine different materials together, such as round glass tiles, terrazzo and wood slats. The contrast can add a lot of intrigue.

For more information on these kinds of building materials, contact us today.