Archetype 3D

The time has come for a change. Archetype 3d has moved to a new location. First off here is our new address for you to update your records

Archetype 3D

1020 Carbon Ct. Unit F

Erie Colorado 80516 - 2435

Our phones have stayed the same. You can still reach us at 303-449-0878 and my cell number is also on the website if needed.

When the time came to find a new locations we looked far and wide for the best, most suitable site for our new shop. There were a lot of available spaces but not many of them would work for us. Living in beautiful Boulder Colorado, we did not want to have a marathon commute. We also needed a space with a flexible shop area, an attractive reception area and a separate space for our technical equipment.

We found everything we need to build the best marketing models and prototypes in Erie Colorado plus a few things that we did not expect. The best surprise is the natural light available from three large windows and four skylights in the shop. During the day there is practically no reason to turn on the lights. The town is centrally located within one half hours drive from Denver, Boulder, and Denver International Airport so it is easy to visit for all of our local clients. Another nice surprise is the beautiful views of the mountains. Traveling from Erie back to Boulder each day is a joy with the entire front range spread out before us in all of its many forms. Today we are seeing the snow covered mountain and the towering form of Longs Peak creating a dramatic white profile to the vast Colorado sky and unique cloud cover. I have never seen such interesting clouds as here in this state which give us the most beautiful sunsets I have seen anywhere.

We were quickly able to customize the space for our electrical and equipment needs. There is plenty of layout space for our architectural and engineering models as well as storage space for materials. Our spray booth, laser cutters and 3D printers are all up and running. We are now working on several projects so the shop is humming along as we speak.

Craig Martin

Simple Objective--Delivery Your Model in One Piece

Delivering your 3D scale model projects as promised is as important to us as the information we receive from clients to build it. Once webegin to discuss the details about your scale model’s plans and vision for its use, we start thinking about how it’s going to be packed, shipped and delivered.

Is it going to be fixed in place on a pedestal at its destination or is it going to be moved from place to place for temporary display? First and foremost in our mind is delivering the model to you the way it left us —in one piece. Believe it or not, some of the largest models are split into multiple sections that require some complex crating and packing for shipment. So delivering a model in one piece takes on a completely new meaning.

The painted sign on the custom built plywood shipping container for the model says, “Warning: Handle with Care.” Models are fragile and must be “handled with care.”  When it comes to crating them for shipping we put a tremendous amount of time in building a suitably sized crate with foam padding all around and adequate support to enable it to survive in transit.  Nothing is guaranteed so we always make sure models are insured when being shipped by freight carrier.

Two Types of Crates

We do not advise standing on your model's crate!

There are two types models and crates to ship them. The most common are the durable and functional plywood crates built for models of all types and that can be reused if shipping to trade shows at multiple locations. The second is a rolling “roadie” style crate like the ones used for musical instruments and for models that will be moved from one viewing location to another by the client to promote their project. These are a more elegant and easier for many clients to handle. Often these are used for smaller models that have to be brought into meetings and conference rooms. 

 Enclosures are Made of Plexiglass

Plexiglas display enclosures are different from the shipping crates models are shipped in.  Custom Plexiglas enclosures protect the model for a longer life. People are curious and love to get their hands on the models in places like museums, showrooms or training centers. Enclosures keep “itchy fingers” from breaking them and altering their design. Practically speaking, enclosures keep dust off the models, or spills from staining them.  Enclosures assure a longer life for a model--especially if you anticipate making changes to it in the future.

Case Study: Doyle Drive Model--Shipped in Four Roadie Crates 

Last year, Dave Thorp, Manager of Design Visualization at Parsons Brinkerhoff, had us build a model for the proposed and planned changes along Doyle Drive from the Palace of Fine Arts to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. It was a large model about four feet wide and twelve feet long with the designated purpose of being split into parts to be reviewed by different neighborhoods and stakeholders affected by the roadway changes. 

 

Thorp explains, “initially it was going to be a one piece model but once we discussed how the model was going to be used, we decided split it into four pieces. It made it easier to move segments from one site to the next. So we had it cut into four pieces along different stakeholder’s neighborhoods and locations. With it being a long model this was perfect for moving around whether in a van or someone's car.” The “roadie” style crate was built with deep foam padding to protect each segment while on the move. The model was delivered complete with video packing instructions on how to unpack and assemble it too. So far, so good, twelve months later and no problems.

Case Study: Special Packaging Instructions for Legal Model

Recently, Bryan N. DeMatteo, Associate Attorney at Dickstein Shapiro LLP in New York requested a model to defend a client’s patent infringement case.  Actually the project required two exact replicas of hospital nurses station pill picking systems to demonstrate the differences between his clients design compared to the claimants. The project was on a short time line to begin with but needed to be shipped overnight plus two models had to ship together. The utmost care was taken to assure the models would be delivered whole and on time to DeMatteo. This time instructions were built-into the crate in order that it could be unpacked and assembled quickly.  Ultimately, DeMatteo was able to assemble the model in court and win the case on his client’s behalf.  

Remember, the sign stamped on the outside suggested, “Handle with Care.” Crating our models for shipping is as important as building them.  Delivering your project in one piece as requested is our priority from the day you sign the contract with us to build your model.

SALE    SALE      SALE     SALE
for
ICSC 2011 Vegas Tradeshow Scale Model Special

Archetype 3D is offering a special for updating, repairing and cleaning existing models for this years ICSC show. This sale will also apply to new construction as well. I am currently offering 20% off* or our normal shop rate for models to be displayed in the 2011 ICSC trade show in Las Vegas. Let us know if we can help you wow your customers at this years booth.

*Special Requirement: All projects will have to be bid and approved before the end of April to qualify.

Economic Indicators are Pointing Up for 
Shopping Center Business & Model Makers

Retail is on the rise. I am grabbing any good economic information I can find these days. If you believe the news reports or articles from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), people are retuning to the stores for some retail therapy. As one reporter described it, there is a "burn out of frugality". 

What does this mean for us in the model making world. Surprisingly enough, shopping centers were at one point a good percentage of our business. Not much has been done with them in the last few years, and as of today I have yet to see a huge upswing in new shopping construction--but I do believe it is coming back even if it is slowly. 

With the giant ICSC show is opening in Las Vegas at the end of May, we are expecting to have new models represented on the shows floor as we have in the past. The Las Vegas ICSC show is the place were most major retail deals are made.  Attendees know, it is a great showcase for new construction. 

I would love to hear from the design and construction industry if you are seeing a change this year because personally, I am ready and looking forward to an economic boom any day now.

If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. 
Regional Airport Under the Public’s Eye for Review

The Pierre Regional Airport scale model was built to ask for the public’s opinion. Our client’s at Coover Clark Architects were very particular about details and how their design were represented. Archetype 3D's expert team of model makers led by our art director worked with their airport architect & project manager to match the materials and colors on the model essential to their design specifications and requirements. 

Edward Balkin, Coover Clark’s architect & project manager describes the effect the model had after it was delivered. "The Model was presented to the City of Pierre with great excitement.  I think it was the first instance when the public actually understood the reality of a new Terminal, as well as its design.  Overall it enlightened the community as to the architecture of the Terminal, as well as its importance to the overall growth of the capital city and the State of South Dakota.  All were pleased with the use of regional granite materials, (Dakota Mahogany) and the references made to the area in the interior were used throughout the project."

The airport may be small but it was a meaningful project and a long time coming for the City of Pierre even though this in not an international terminal with thousands of jetliners coming in and out during the year. The Pierre, South Dakota airport is a regional hub for commuter flights and hunting trips featuring some unique amenities. The model features a dog enclosure to keep pets and hunting dogs busy while waiting for flights. Plus it features a special security sections where hunters are required to allow security to screen their hunting rifles. These unique features are an integral part of the airport--specifically designed for the location and the public that it services.

 Study in Park City, UT

Showroom Scale Model of Park City at 

Slifer, Smith & Frampton Office

“The scale model Archetype 3D delivered is our office center piece—saving time and money to get to know what our clients want in  property.” 

–John Calhoun, Managing Partner                                                                                                        Slifer Smith & Frampton, Park City, UT

Today’s real estate offices are prepared for almost anything. 

Often realtors anticipate prospective clients are going to run before they step through their door and they have a chance to build rapport with them.  Strategies to overcome buyer resistance to engage are as different as  the real estate broker’s personalities. Here is one realtor's success story when it comes to winning people over as they walk into their showroom,  and getting them to open up to  talk about what they are looking for in a property. His name is John Calhoun at Slifer, Smith and Frampton in Park City, Utah. He prefers a scale model of the greater Park City area to any other tool to capture people’s attention and to start a sales conversation.

Calhoun has been in the business a long time and realized something about potential buyers above all else—they have very little time while on vacation to spend looking for property. John suggests, “You better know what they are looking for before you hit the MLS pages or  the big screen in the conference room or  venture out to drive around.”  Sound familiar to what you are exper

iencing in your office? 

 

 

Looking over model Opening Evening 

Slifer, Smith & Frampton Office

According to Calhoun, “It is much easier for a client to wrap their arms and minds round where they  are by standing over a model and looking at the landscape as if they were flying over it. Having a physical model as the centerpiece of our office reduces the amount of time needed to help a client understand the lay of the land and the properties they are interested in seeing. There is a lot of inventory on the market, and immediately, the model helps us identify exactly what area best suits the client. ”

 

 

Aerial View of Park City at 

Slifer, Smith & Frampton Office

Calhoun goes on to extol the advantages by pointing to two specific reasons, “physical models stand above anything else as a sales tool in their office.”  He went on to explain, “First, models give a place to help us get to know somebody. It opens conversation and is a safe place compared to a closed door meeting in a conference room or sitting in front of a computer browsing through available properties. Second, a scale model eliminates a lot of wasted travel time  needed  to define the exact neighborhoods or properties they are truly interested in previewing.” Models help identify where they want to buy, while  in the comfort of Calhoun’s office. Before venturing out the client knows the neighborhood and living style best sutited to them.

Archetype 3D delivers show room scale models that highlight the geography and development density in vivid 3-d detail.  Contact us today for an estimate for a scale model for your office.

Park City Model Under Construction

Archetype 3D's Model Shop

 

 

 

 

Craig Martin -President                                                               Many new things are afoot here at Archetype 3D. I have hired Bob Castellino as my marketing manager who immediately took it upon himself to change how we do things. The most apparent change to those who care about model making is the new look to our website. I was told that the home page of our old website did not pass the 10 year old test. That is, my web guru showed our home page to his 10-year old and asked him to explain what we do for a living. His answer might have been "they build condos?" but it sure wasn't "Cool, they build models!"

Now when you look at our website "Archetype 3D" We I am hoping that model making jumps immediately to your mind. Let me know if it doesn't because the other nice thing about our new website is that it is easily changeable. The site is not complete by any means. Hopefully we will be updating it constantly and we are currently reorganizing the portfolio pages so that samples from our vast collections of models will be easier to access. The purpose of these changes are two fold. We are making it easier for our existing clients to see samples of our work and progress on the projects that are in our shop. We also are raising our status with the search engines to broaden our appeal and introduce us to a whole new market of designers and developers. I welcome any feedback from our clients, send me any compliments that you have and feel free to forward any criticisms to Bob Castellino, bob@archetype3d.com or dial direct 303-449-0878 (he has thicker skin than I have). I hope you all are having a great summer.

Bob Castellino