This project involved the conversion of an existing Big Boy Restaurant to an IHOP on a very tight time line, five weeks. Four other separate offices were involved in Michigan, including a 2nd architectural firm, a landscape architect, an electrical engineer, and a mechanical engineer. The kitchen designer was in Wisconsin, the project manager was in Missouri, and the client was in California. Each company used different hardware and software. To facilitate transferal of drawings, an ftp site was set up; direct modeming was also used.

The existing plans of the building were never updated to reflect a change in the original construction or two additions built over the intervening the years. A 3D, as built, model was created in three days. 2D information was then extracted from the model and saved in DXF format for use by the various partners.

Since the exterior of the building was only to undergo repair, elevations were exported to be worked on immediately. An existing base floor plan was likewise generated for use by the mechanical and electrical engineers in their site investigations.

Meanwhile, the kitchen designer was sent a suggested new floor plan, again created in 3D. Approval for the new kitchen, ADA restrooms, and new dining area took a couple of weeks. First a new floor plan and, subsequently, a reflected ceiling plan were generated from the model for the engineers' final mechanical and electrical designs.

View of Entry to Big Boy Restaurant

Next all interior elevations were extracted for application of standard IHOP finishes. Door and finish schedules were reworked. Finally, the roof plan was readied for inclusion of new equipment recommended by the engineers.

Unfortunately, the project was never implemented. Two days shy of the completion date, with drawings 95% complete, the project was abandoned.