Office computer systems:

A desktop set up will be provided to each employee on the premises and they will all receive the same systems to ensure compatibility and easy management of technical issues if they arise. Windows operating systems will be used due to its compatibility to most software platforms being greater that that of Apple Mac, along with its open community on software and hardware making alterations possible, whereas Macs and Mac Os is a closed controlled system. Any sections on specific equipment from here onward will be to gage approximate expenses in the future when the equipment is purchased for practice operations in 2026. Under the predictions of Moores law transistor counts in computers doubles every year which has proven accurate over the laws 60+ year history, with the doubling in transistor count the cost is also predicted to half every two years which has not proven overly accurate, however dramatic reductions in cost do occur and continue to do so. The actual cost reduction is approximately 30% every two years, but only on higher powered computers, lower powered computers reach a point of cost stagnation until they become obsolete and are no longer produced.

 

Computer systems used in the office must be high powered to fulfil the needs of day to day work load and occasional extreme computing loads. The system must be able to carry out standard plotting ,BIM and rendering software, as well as administrative software.

 

Two monitors will be provided to each office member to provide adequate digital workspace, this is required as architecture is an increasingly digital profession often due to the drive for accuracy and precision, especially as BIM is further integrated into the working process. Monitors will be purchased in full as screen technology progresses far less rapidly than computers and there for has a longer life due to format support.

 

A server will connect all computers throughout the office to ensure, simple access to job files throughout projects and allow for shared access to digital resources of the business. This server will also operate within the cloud so that files are accessible when not in the office or at varied meetings, access would be heavily monitored to ensure confidentiality where necessary.

 

Example Equipment:

Computer tower:

• The Chosen example is the HP Z4 G4 computer tower, at this point in time it is the prime example of a Cad work station that is capable of continuous heavy workload. Features include; a 256gb SSD primary storage, 1 tb Hdd secondary storage , 16GB of ram and a 2.9Ghz quad core configuration.

 Methods of purchase/ leasing/ rent:

• Singular upfront payment - £1375.20 (Inc VAT)

• Weekly rental - £11.47 ( Exc VAT) 3 year lease - no end ownership - £1789.32 total cost

• Weekly Lease – £13.50 ( Exc VAT) 3 year lease – after 2nd year early upgrade is available, computer can be purchased for £1 at end of lease period - £2106 total cost

• * All rent and lease figures calculated through Hardsoft LTD*

 Computer Monitors:

• The chosen example is the LENOVO L27i-28 Full HD 27" LED Monitor, at this current point in time it is relatively cheap at £129.00, while offering a HD quality ( the current quality standard) with a refresh rate of 4ms, allowing quick response to input. The extensive 27” screen offers a large interface that allows for a greater amount of content to be shown increasing work efficiency. This example is selected primarily to demonstrate the price point of an industry standard monitor in 2019. This price point in 2026 will provide a far more advanced product beyond that pf todays highest standard, so quality is ensured.

• Monitor cost:

• -£129 per unit

• -£1290 for 10 units required

Computer Mice:

• Mice technology progresses extremely slowly due to the lack of need for such advancements , with the most recent being the wireless mouse. Due to this slow progression I believe the technology and price will remain relatively static through 2026

• Mice are a personal preference to digital based professionals so it is presumed that employee’s will bring their own to suit fit and use, however a standard wired mouse will be provided to bridge any gap between employment at the employee selecting their own preference.

• The selected Mouse is the Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse, with high customer satisfaction rate and a low price of £8.19

Mice Cost:

• £8.19 per unit

• £40.95 for 5 units required

Computer keyboard:

• Similar to Mice , keyboards technological advancement its relatively slow due to the lack of reason for progression, its most recent major advancement was wirelesses

• A full size keyboard with a number pad is a necessity as certain input keys are required for various software’s with specific commands

• The example keyboard selected it the Microsoft Surface Wireless Keyboard, due to its customer satisfaction, full keyboarded layout and a 12 month battery life before recharge required – for £71.99

Keyboard Cost:

• £71.99 per unit

• £359.95 for 5 units required

Graphics Tablet:

• A graphics tablet is required a point of input for more creative processes where a mouse cannot suffice due to the inability to hold it in a manner to draw.

• The example selected is the Wacom Intuos CTL – 4100k-N 5” graphics tablet, this Is due to the input precision resolution and high rating for its very low price of £55.99, where its competitors pass the £100 mark.

Graphics tablet cost:

• £55.99 per unit

• £279.95 for 5 units required

AR platform:

• AR (Augmented Reality) will be used to consult customers on their commissioned designs, AR has been selected over VR as objects and forms are more truly represented when placed in the real world and there for conveys the design to the customer, where as VR creates and entirely artificial reality that can create a feeling of disillusion for users. There is also a common sentiment with company’s at the moment prioritising development of AR over Vr. Currently Ar is available mainly on mobile platforms , with apple currently a world leader in Ar software and hardware. The upcoming trend is Glasses with integrated Ar displays to over lay images and reality, an early version of such tech is Google glass and Microsoft HoloLens 2, the latter is widely used in manufacturing and design industries, it also offers compatibility with sketch up viewer. With further development it could possible aide as an active design tool. Due to the infancy of the tech a 2026 price cannot be currently estimated. The current price for a HoloLens 2 is ether $125 per month including support or a one off payment of $3,500. But this price will fall dramatically over the 6 year period until the business starts.

 

Computer Software:

 Due to nearly all software platforms changing their business models , payments are now made in a subscription based format instead of the Singular purchase cost that is traditional. These new software leasing formats of purchase are based on a singular year of the platform for a fixed cost, each year as the subscription is renewed new software and capabilities are released to Improve usability and entice uses to re-subscribe. Some subscription services allow Monthly Instead of yearly payments, however they full year term must still be payed if subscription is cancelled.

Adobe Creative Cloud

• Adobe suite is a cloud platform that has such software’s as; Photoshop, illustrator , InDesign and many others. These creative software’s are crustal aspects of creative visuals and documents for formal project materials.

Selected plan:

• Creative Cloud All Apps – This provides continued access to all available Adobe Applications and any future or past versions for compatibility reasons. The only thing that is not included is Access to the Abobe Image library for limited use as its additional cost was not justified by its limited use and applicability to the business.

Cost:

• Per licence:

• Monthly payments - £59.00 (Exc VAT)

• Singular Annual payment - £708.00 (Exc VAT)

 

Autodesk:

• Autodesk is a large software platforms that provides access to various computer aided design software’s and analysis tools, Each plan is dependent of content and profession.

AutoCAD:

• Autocad is a design and drafting software platform that is a point to point plotting system, used by architects often to plot 2D plans, elevations, sections and detail drawings. It also has the ability to create 3D form using the point to point system. The software is capable of more than architectural drawings and is often used for creating forms for 3D printing. The software’s capabilities are vast and have greatly progressed the workload capability of the modern architect.

Revit:

• Revit is a BIM (Building Information Modelling) software that enables the creation of plans and models, while providing tools for analysis to improve or correct building elements or design. Plans , sections and models are all updated when change is made to either, avoiding clashes and errors during construction. In live or active projects the model can be shared and built upon by external companies to ensure all relevant information is shared and correct. This increase construction accuracy, quality and accountability. A key feature is Clash detection, this encompasses many areas from Hard clashes, Soft clashes and Workflow clashes. If any error is detected it is highlighted and project managers are alerted. Revit also supports the use of Vray to render images to provide photorealistic representations of projects for customers and the public 

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Cost:

Plan: Revit Only

• Singular Monthly subscriptions – £336 (Inc VAT)

• One year subscription - £2,664 (Inc VAT) singular payment  or £222 (Inc VAT) monthly payment

• Three year subscription - £7,194 (Inc VAT) singular payment or £200 (Inc VAT) monthly payment

 

Plan : Architecture, Engineering and Construction collection

• Includes: Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, NavisWorks Manage and 3ds Max

• Singular Monthly subscriptions – £408 (Inc VAT)

• One year subscription - £3258 (Inc VAT) singular payment  or £272 (Inc VAT) monthly payment

• Three year subscription - £8,796 (Inc VAT) singular payment or £244 (Inc VAT) monthly payment

 

Selected plan: Revit only

• This selection was made due its lowered cost and higher relevance to the company’s projects and methods of construction. The majority of the software selection offered in the ‘ Architecture, Engineering and Construction collection’ was irrelevant to the Company and only increased a costly figure, the only software that would be preferable to pair with Revit is AutoCAD, however with the correct training Revit can be used to perform all key functions of AutoCAD.

 

Vray for Revit:

• Vray was selected over Lumion due the superior render quality on final output, which would aid in the customers understanding of the final project, the ability for monthly payments also makes it far more financially accessible than Lumion which requires a large singular purchase:

 

Plan: Vray for Revit

• Monthly payments - £30 (Inc VAT)

• Yearly payment - £220 (Inc VAT)

 

Microsoft Office 365:

• Is the international standard for Administrative softwares, there for requiring little justification for selection of the platform. This would be used continually throughout day to day office operations, from Finances, Documents, Presentation and Communication.

 

Cost:

Plan: Office 365 Business

• Includes; Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint. This plan also provides Office One Drive, a cloud system that syncs all documents to the cloud and ensuring easy access to documents when needed, this cloud system also alleviates the need for a hardwired network within the office.

• £7.90 per user per month ( year contract )

 

Plan: Office 365 Business premium

• Offers all the same software and cloud systems as Office 365 Business, the only additional offering is collaborative software that enables the sharing or recourses and multi user documents

• £9.40 per user per month ( year contract )

 

Plan: Office 365 Business Essentials

• Offer same content as the Office 365 Business Premium bundle however the Applications are only available for use in a web browser not an installed app

• £3.80 per user per month ( year contract )

 

Selected plan: Office 365 Business Premium

• Selected due to is availably of software through native applications, the Cloud storage system that is provided will also enable safe storage of project data while enabling easy access and sharing. The Collaborative tools of the higher platform are not a tool required in this business and the essential plans reliance of web portal application would cripple the business operational capacity if the internet connection was severed

 

Norton 360 and Anti-Virus:

• Norton was selected due to it being an industry leader in adaptive online and digital security. There new systems offer safety from virus and hacking attempts, while also protecting personal information from VPN tracking.

Cost:

Plan: Norton 360 standard

• Security coverage for 1 PC, Mac or Tablet

• Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware, and Ransomware Protection

• Firewall

• Secure VPN

• 10 GB Cloud storage

• 1 year - £24.99 (Inc VAT)

• 2 years - £69.99 (Inc VAT)

 

Plan: Norton 360 Deluxe

• Security coverage from 5 PCs /Macs or Tablets

• Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware, and Ransomware Protection

• Firewall

• Secure VPN

• 50 GB Cloud storage

• 1 year - £24.99 (Inc VAT)

• 2 years - £89.99 (Inc VAT)

 

Plan: Norton 360 Premium

• Security coverage from 10 PCs /Macs or Tablets

• Anti-Spyware, Antivirus, Malware, and Ransomware Protection

• Firewall

• Secure VPN

• 75 GB Cloud storage

• 1 year - £39.99 (Inc VAT)

• 2 years - £99.99 (Inc VAT)

 

Selected plan: Norton 360 Premium

• The features across all plans are fairly similar however the key factor for selecting this specific plan is the Fact that it can cover 10 PCs/ Macs or tablets, as even though the starting number of staff is 5, the potential devise count is higher and may staff maybe been hired later on. This larger coverage plan allows for expandability.