Background

Dwell Design Studio is a growing architecture firm with offices across the U.S., including locations in Atlanta, Washington, DC, Richmond, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Orlando. With a staff of around 200 employees, Dwell specializes in multifamily and commercial projects and has been in business for over 15 years. 

The challenge

Before adopting Part3, Dwell was using manual processes for construction administration. They used Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and AirTable (a spreadsheet-database hybrid software) to handle their RFIs, submittals, and field reports. 

While the firm was able to manage projects with these tools, they recognized that as the company scaled, they needed a more tailored solution. The team required a system that would enhance collaboration, improve data tracking, and reduce the time CAs spent on administrative tasks. This would free up the CAs to focus on supporting clients, rather than managing paperwork and chasing RFIs and submittals.

The shift

Dwell knew they needed a cloud-based solution that was cost-effective, easy to set up, and simple to use across multiple offices. They also required a system that could help keep their information organized, especially when liability issues such as claims or discrepancies arose. Protecting themselves from potential legal risks was a priority.

After evaluating several solutions, including Newforma, Autodesk Build, and Procore, and conducting a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, Dwell determined that Part3 was the right fit. Many of the alternatives were either too costly or complicated to implement, and none fully met Dwell’s specific needs for scalability and ease of integration across multiple offices.

Dwell ultimately chose Part3 for its specialized construction administration management tools. Part3 offered streamlined collaboration and a user-friendly interface, making it an ideal solution for Dwell’s growing team.

The results

Since adopting Part3, Dwell has experienced notable improvements in construction administration efficiency. The firm transitioned from manually tracking data in spreadsheets to a centralized, cloud-based system that streamlined the management of RFIs, submittals, and deadlines. This shift enabled more efficient collaboration across the firm’s multiple offices.

Tasks that once took hours, such as field reporting and managing submittals, are now completed in a fraction of the time. Clerical staff time spent on CA tasks has been reduced by 75% (from eight hours to two). This reduction is thanks to the automation of RFIs and submittals—what once required extensive manual work is now handled with just a few clicks.

The Procore integration has streamlined Dwell’s workflow even further. With about 50% of their jobs connected to Procore, the CA team now receives RFIs and submittals directly in Part3. This seamless connection eliminates the need for manual uploads, saving significant time and simplifying the process of managing external systems.

With over 100 active projects, Dwell now benefits from a more centralized, accessible platform for managing documentation. The cloud-based access and ease of use have enabled the firm to scale its CA processes efficiently across multiple offices.

By using Part3, Dwell has been able to uphold its core values of communication, consistency, and quality. The platform enables the team to stay consistent with their procedures and policies, and to communicate quickly and effectively—both of which have contributed to higher-quality construction administration performance.