In the world of architectural design – whether it’s renovating a 19th century brownstone residence or adding state-of-the-art features to a federal office building – there is a magic that happens when art and el - egance combine with craftsmanship and function. Custom designs and decorative features, such as ornate railings, large front door showpieces, or intricate ornamental scrolls, can add both beauty and function to a dwelling or space. With this in mind, blending old-world workmanship and new world technology in architectural and ornamental metals has been the focus of the Greater Boston-based Modern Metal Solutions for more than a decade. High quality metal projects: Over the years, Modern Metal Solutions has been challenged with overseeing multifaceted, diverse, yet pre- cisely detailed metalwork projects from beginning to end – starting with concept, design, and drawing to fabrication, finishing, and instal - lation. Many of these building product manufacturing (BPM) jobs require a mix of high tech, innovative tools with hands-on, high-quality craftsmanship to expertly manage the complex design, production, and installation process. Some of their completed projects include deco- rative steel staircases in historic residences, new historically accurate entry doors of a courthouse, and artistic design elements in an award- winning custom home boasting a world-class art collection. Critical Behind the Scenes Process When admiring these types of architectural feats, what you don’t see is the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of precise design work behind the project – from initial sketches and drawings, to renderings, sophis- ticated modeling and final plans, to the fabrication and installation. Design detail: The steps and process involved in executing a design project start with understanding a client’s needs and specific design qualities and ideas. The designs begin to come to life as the team ex - plores concepts, tests options, and moves onto drawings and models to help visualize the size, shape, and relationship of spaces to each other. Final plans need to define and develop all the important aspects of the project and outline specifications and renderings to show all details, dimensions, and how it fits together. Work in progress: All designs must work with a designer’s specific aesthetic, an architect’s precise plans, and an owner’s budget and vi- sion – and there are inherently changes and adjustments to be made along the way. More than half the battle of executing a successful design and construction project is having all stakeholders and partners on the same page. The power behind amazing designs: Fueling the complex, dynamic process behind successful design work are both talented people and Innovative Technology Meets Old World Craftsmanship: A Case Study
cutting-edge technology. From its very beginning, the Modern Metal Solutions team has depended on just one mechanical design software as the heartbeat of its designs and success – Autodesk Inventor, sup- plied and supported by M2 Technologies, a Microdesk partner. M2 Technologies helps manufacturing companies, large and small, design better products and improve productivity and efficiency with industry leading engineering, design, process automation, and data manage- ment technologies. A productive partnership: With ongoing support, software updates, and training, M2 Technologies has fueled the expertise and workflows behind Modern Metal Solutions’ award-winning, stunning metalwork projects. “We trust and depend on Inventor and M2 Technologies for all our design projects and appreciate their support over the years. It is still the only software we use,” said Chris Aubrey, Founder of Modern Metal Solutions. M2 Technologies provides the essential tools for comprehensive computer aided drafting and designs, including supporting every aspect of a project’s lifecycle from initial sketching to simulation, generative design, fast and flexible concept modeling, as well as workflow automation.
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October 2022 csengineermag.com
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