The pre-launch frenzy is in full swing.  A limited or beta version of OpeningDesign.com is set to be live in time for the AIA Convention, May 12th.
 
As part of our mission to help create a more open and integrated building industry, OpeningDesign.com will be soft launching the first collaboration forum for architects, engineers, and contractors that features an integral whiteboarding markup tool.  We call this tool Sketchspace, and it allows multiple people, in remote locations, to sketch and chat together, in real-time!  It’s the next best thing (or perhaps, better) to being huddled around the same table with a roll of trace.
 
SketchSpaces can be used privately within established teams, but we encourage its ‘open’ use as well.  There’s no better way to garner and share the expertise of fellow building professionals.   Whether you need additional insight on a difficult waterproofing detail or simply a few fresh design ideas from fellow designers.  As our video states, we like to think of OpeningDesign as 51% community and 49% collaboration tools.
 
Since it’s only a ‘soft launch’, we’re still hard at work building out other cool features—stuff like:

• document management (version tracking)
• peer-mediated reputation systems
• creating and managing your own group
• following or subscribing to the activities of fellow professionals
• enabling content sharing (CAD/BIM details and/or business templates)

Obviously there’s a lot more that needs to be done, but with all the work we put in thus far, we were giddy to share it with others who are excited about the prospects of a more open and collaborative construction industry.
 
If you are headed to the AIA Convention in New Orleans, be sure to say hi to founder Ryan Schultz and COO Mary Beth Jaworski.  They’ll be the folks with giant white umbrellas, handing out sketchpads (although, with SketchSpaces, you won’t need them!) outside the entrance to the convention hall.