The Company
BuildingWorks, Inc. (BWI) was formally organized in 1997. At the time, architectural clients continually requested important information regarding their buildings and properties -- information that had been lost, misplaced, thrown away, physically changed or scattered among multiple persons and/or organizations. Early on, we identified a critical need for a better way to catalog, store and access plans and drawings, as-builts, equipment manuals, warranties, mechanical and electrical configurations, and other pertinent building data into one easy-access repository. Thus, the idea of electronically storing this "single version of the truth" in a searchable format was launched.
Leveraging the best, and most stable, existing technology, and the best data management minds available, BuildingWorks Inc. created electronic "building manuals" that included virtually every detail of the physical building process, including: contacts related to all aspects of the building, photos and locations of all major pieces of equipment, plans and as-builts; plus important legal and ordinance documents, such as building permits. This made it possible to create a true electronic close-out manual: saving contractors, building owners, and property managers storage space, valuable time wasted in retrieval of documentation and (of primary importance) money.
Additionally, because 60% to 75% of the total lifecycle cost of the building comes after construction, it became apparent that a system that documented the repair history of the building would also be invaluable. This information could then be used to create a detailed report that provided useful, timely and relevant knowledge; assisting the owner/property manager in making informed, judicious decisions.
Through Schwetye Architects' extensive contacts within the industry, BuildingWorks Inc. selected several pilot companies to partner with to test and further develop the attributes and explore the benefits of the data storage software. The goal of the software was (and still is to this day) to be easy to use, yet sophisticated enough to satisfy the owner/property manager's information needs by providing it all "under one roof." In 2001, the software -- now known as Datasphere™ -- was fully functioning.
Today, BuildingWorks Inc. gathers and inventories all key building data from contractors and/or building owners and property managers and creates a repository of detailed information on one easy-to-access electronic disc. The company continues to make improvements on the solution, and has added other valuable services --such as full-building audits -- to complement our deliverables.
