What shapes the schedule
Several things set the pace. Size and level of detail matter, and so do features like terrain, lighting and removable parts. The state of your source material matters too, as does how much coordination the project needs. For the Pepperdine campus model, we coordinated the model’s lighting with another vendor’s audiovisual presentation. And changes after fabrication starts can affect the model, its cost and its schedule, so it helps to discuss likely revisions early.
Working back from a fixed date
Many models are built for a specific event or meeting. When Pepperdine and Perkins & Will asked us for a campus model, their alumni fundraising event was just over two months away, and the presentation date helped shape the build from the start. A short deadline can change how we plan a model. If your date is tight, tell us early, and we’ll talk through what’s realistic. Sometimes a simpler finish, a different scale or fewer special features keeps the point of the model while fitting the calendar.
You don’t need finished drawings to begin
Early involvement gives us a chance to understand the purpose, discuss a budget and coordinate the model with your design schedule. You can read more in our guide to whether you need completed drawings for a model.
Allow for the trip
Packing, shipping and installation are part of the schedule too. You review the finished work before it is packed and shipped, and some projects also call for installation on site. For the Austin Mueller update, we made replacement buildings in Denver and then returned to the site to install them.
For an example, see our Pepperdine Campus project. We also have architectural models in the portfolio.