Methods of Network Communications

A recent computer survey sent by the NJIT School of Architecture to thirty-one, mostly American design schools, including twenty-nine architecture schools, indicated that all but one had networked design studios. This is clear evidence that digital methods are becoming routine in architecture schools and firms. In addition, the Internet and web have resulted in new methods of working.

Since the first virtual distance studios, where students collaborated over the internet with students in other physically remote studios, in 1994 by Wojtowicz and colleagues, such studios have to relied on web-based databases to store shared design information. 

I remember in our studio in 1988 that we attempted to collaborate with an architect in Oregon for video conferencing and digital translation live between Oklahoma State and the Oregon based conceptual project. At the time, it all sounds very sci-fi and exciting.  However once it actually occurred, there were technical difficulties and honestly....a huge let down. 

Imagine playing Xbox now and then trying to be satisfied with the original TRON game....not! A great effort by our professors to try and push us into the next century but honestly the technology at that time wasn't ready for us.

It seems that universities are the first to try something "unique and experimental" in the engineering technology before architecture firms decide to take that leap.  Primarily due to the need for firms to provide a financial profitability first rather than push the cutting edge. As it probably should be.  universities have the ability to work with students (a larger number) and with many times grants to assist in the funding.  Or even using the current technology in a completely different way.

Since then, the advancement of technology has led to some very sophisticated connected studios where students exchange and develop each other's designs. A model for this kind of exchange, and perhaps the most advanced web-based infrastructure for studio teaching, is the Arc-Line project at ETH in Zurich, part of a university-wide web infrastructure project called “ETH World.” Here, up to 170 first year architecture students have a collaborative environment allowing project submission, viewing and reviewing of design projects, and access to design resources.


Digital design requires digital presentations of which distributed design reviews are an extension. Here, a physically remote critic, connected to the same display over the Internet by some collaborative software (such as Microsoft Windows Messenger and NetMeeting) participates in the critique over the web. In architectural practice, the office of Norman Foster (Foster and Partners) has pioneered the use of “extranets” (a restricted portion of the internet) to enable collaboration with consultants and distant branch offices.

At Ionic DeZign Studios in Virginia Beach, we have utilized the technology to assit in collaboration between consultants whether they are located in the building next door, down the street or in Atlanta, Columbus Ohio and San Francisco like is currently being done on a new prototype for Wendy's. We utilized the messenging systems and document sharing in various methods to connect offices the branding company located in California with the client headquarters in Ohio and their construction division in Atlanta. With all the coordination at hand, our office facilitated the design and construction documents with our structural engineer a few miles away.  Once we completed the design and was ready for permitting, the fast paced process allowed to expedite the permit process as well as execute contracts and processing for bids from our contractor and his subs.  All this information, once completed was able to be shared on an extranet system with other architects around the country ready to produce and permit their locations for the new design prototype.

There is still a long way to go form where we are now to where it should be.  For example, the client sends his construction coordinator from Atlanta every week to visit the two local jobsites for two days.  time and money spent where video monitoring of the site could accommodate much more.  The contractor still uses paper drawings (sometimes not necessarily the most current set) out on the jobsite.  piles of paper that could eventually be eliminated by use of possibly an ipad or similar product.


Clearly, a major issue that all architecture firms face now is implementing the change within a traditional process of "how we have always done things". It will happen....just give it some time and few firms willing to make the leap.

Adapted and edited from George Proctor's writing submitted the the white paper report by ACADIA 2003