Via Christi Medical Office Building, image courtesy of Howard & Helmer Architecture

Wichita, KS - Via Christi Health System, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is a non-profit organization providing health care services throughout Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. In October 2009, Via Christi Health System began construction on a new three story, 60,000 sq. ft medical office building. The $5 million+ facility will be used by physicians, surgeons, and other health professionals of the nearby hospital, with plans to include home health and infectious disease control services. Expected to be complete for occupancy in July 2010, the project is currently using Submittal Exchange for submitting, reviewing, and tracking shop drawings and construction submittals electronically.

Prior to the use of Submittal Exchange, many of the project team members were handling the construction administration process manually through marking up and mailing multiple hard copies. "Submittal Exchange has saved me an enormous amount of time and it's an extremely easy tool to understand. You're not working with a complicated software program that requires an extensive knowledge of technology," stated Josh Vogel, Project Manager with Simpson & Associates Construction Services. Serving as the General Contractor on the project, Simpson & Associates Construction services specializes in commercial structures with an emphasis on educational and healthcare facilities. "Many of our projects include institutional and 25 to 50 year buildings, where customers occupy the structure for a long time," stated Vogel.

"With Submittal Exchange I have everything that's going on with the job site at my finger tips. It has definitely created project time and cost savings."
Derek Basinger, Construction Administrator, Howard & Helmer Architecture

Howard and Helmer Architecture, the architect on the project, is a full-service architecture firm with offices in Overland Park and Wichita, Kansas. Established in 1981, the firm employs 25 professionals and works with a wide scope of projects including educational, healthcare, and religious facilities. The firm has enjoyed the ability to have one central location where project information may be accessed at anytime. Derek Basinger, who is serving as the Construction Administrator on the project stated, "With Submittal Exchange I have everything that's going on with the job at my finger tips. It has definitely created project time and cost savings."

Time spent managing the 130+ submittals has been greatly reduced with the use of Submittal Exchange on the project. "The number one advantage of using Submittal Exchange is time savings because you don't have to deal with mailing hard copies around. You're not thumbing through papers on your desk trying to find a submittal - it's just all right there. Also, with everything electronic, we're only marking up one set of drawings instead of six to eight," stated Vogel. Basinger, who has been in the construction industry 14 years agreed, and added, "Submittal Exchange has saved us time because we're no longer mailing items back and forth. Having the project information available, online, and in one location, has worked great on this project because the client is very involved with the submittal process. We have consultants, architects, engineers, and the client all doing a concurrent review of an item."

As well as time savings, team members have enjoyed additional benefits by using Submittal Exchange. "The support team has been excellent. If I call or email with a question, they have an answer immediately and everyone is really friendly," stated Basinger. Vogel felt Submittal Exchange has significantly simplified the distribution of documents and commented, "In the past we had to email ASIs out to the project team or hard copy it to each subcontractor it affects, but now it's all posted in one location where everyone can access it. As a leader on the project, I have the ability to add anyone to a given project or anyone who needs to be involved in the process."

"Even we were skeptical at first with the implementation and getting everyone on the project team up and running, but everything went great. I would definitely recommend Submittal Exchange."
Derek Basinger, Construction Administrator, Howard & Helmer Architecture

When asked if they would recommend Submittal Exchange to fellow construction professionals who may be resistant to technology, Vogel, stated, "I was in that same position about a year ago. A majority of the subcontractors on this project were too, but I can say from personal experience that Submittal Exchange is a very easy tool to use." Basinger agreed and added, "Even we were skeptical at first with the implementation and getting everyone on the project team up and running, but everything went great. I would definitely recommend Submittal Exchange."