Technology and Computers at Moriyama & Teshima:

Moriyama & Teshima's computer capabilities make an important contribution to our productivity and are an integral part of our design process. Our computers, run the Apple Macintosh OS X and Windows operating systems, or both under Parallels on an Intel Mac. We are all connected together on a high speed wired and wireless network sharing central file servers. Everyone can access and share information on the internet quickly via our high speed connection.

In 1995 we were the first Canadian Architects to have a web site which features our staff, projects, awards and history.

Apart from early hand drawn design sketches and some conceptual drawings, most work is done using the computer. Foam, cardboard and foamcore models are still made, and we do go through rolls of sketch paper, but not as many as before.

We use SketchUp or 3ds Max for three-dimensional modeling at the design stage of all projects. AutoCad and Microstation are used to produce presentation drawings, design development drawings, and contract documents. Every person in the design studio, including all project architects, have been trained in AutoCad and most also know SketchUp. Models can be rendered in Artlantis, Podium For SketchUp and V-Ray. Our building designs can be integrated with their sites in 3-D using SimuTerra. We produce three-dimensional walk-through computer models and Quicktime movies of our designs so clients and users can experience the space long before it is actually built.

We have established office standards and these are published in our M&T Handbook. This not only covers CADD but all the documents we produce. Our core programs are Microsoft Word (specifications, minutes of meetings, letters, transmittals, faxes etc.), FileMaker (client databases, door and room finish schedules), FastTrack Schedule and Microsoft Project (project time scheduling) and Microsoft Excel (spreadsheets). We use Adobe Acrobat and Bluebeam to exchange and distribute PDF documents to ensure full compatibility with others on our project teams. All our project costs and time usage are monitored with Ajera financial management software and Microsoft Excel.

For graphic design, desktop publishing, and preparation of presentations we did use Quark Xpress for many years but have switched primarily to InDesign along side Illustrator and Photoshop. Most of our promotional material is produced in-house. With our scanner, and our digital still and video cameras, we can capture, manipulate and incorporate digital images, drawings and photographs into presentations and reports. With our projectors connected to a laptop, we present our ideas in words, pictures and with sounds in PowerPoint or Keynote.

Before the growth of the internet we hosted our own First Class M&T Online service to share information with clients and consultants in any location. We now use Project Web Sites to enable our teams to share documents (drawings, minutes, schedules and photographs) and communicate with one another over the internet in a secure environment anywhere in the world.