Polk County RC
September 12, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
Hoffman Construction teamed up with ARCHITECTS Barrentine. Bates. Lee. for their Design / Build Proposal submission for the Oregon Military Department’s Polk County Readiness Center.
“Time is money, track it wisely.”
July 30, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
I’ve recently had enough friends and colleagues ask how I track my time I thought I’d share it here. I spent the better part of two years trying out multiple CRM’s, project management, and time tracking software, in search of a simple but effective app. that allowed me to quickly and effectively track my time and expenses, and invoice clients for a reasonable fee. Around the middle of 2008 I finally found Harvest Time Tracking – two years later I’m still using harvest and I’m as happy as can be!
It’s web based – location based applications require me to download, install and maintain a piece of software, it also requires me to physically be in one location to use it and if I want a remote employee or contractor to have access they also have to download install and maintain it. Web based not only simplifies my life, by being accessible from anywhere via the internet it allows me to be more effective in the use of my time.
It’s cost effective – Most applications have an arcane pricing structure geared towards large corporations with bizarre price steps that have little relationship to my needs and how their application meets them – typically these plans have steep setup fees and monthly plans around $10/user but they often require a minimum of 10 users which = $100/month which is a great price on a per user basis… but I don’t have 9 employees so for me that’s a waste of money. Harvest’s pricing is based on the number of users starting at $12 for a solo plan.
I can track my time on my terms – Several of the more expensive time tracking applications I used had prescriptive project workflows that were counter to the way I need to work. What an application doesn’t do is just as important as what it does do. Harvest is simple yet flexible – it allows you to enter your time in a number of ways different ways meaning you can make it work the way you need rather than be forced by the application into a rigid process that doesn’t do what you need and frustrates end users.
Third party integration – It also integrates well with many other useful productivity applications for small businesses like PayPal, Basecamp, Quickbooks, and your iPhone.
Great Design – The first time tracking application I used literally required a web based GoToMeeting with a trainer for several hours just to get up and running, which is partially why the setup fee was so expensive. No employee will consistently and effectively use a piece of software to track their time that requires hours of training. With Harvest the interface is so simple I was instantly able to create a project and start tracking my time and billing with no training or even reading any instructions. By simply designing their software better they’ve created a tool that costs me less money to use and more accurately tracks our time.
I’ve been using Harvest Time Tracking for over two years now and I can honestly recommend it without reservation!
Open house!
July 8, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
Art Department (one of my co-tenants) is having an open house tomorrow (Thursday July 8th from 5pm-8pm). Everyone is invited, there will be free alcohol, a pinata and a water-balloon fight.
Mens Luxury Clothing
July 2, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
An exclusive retailer of mens clothing looking to expand in NYC was interested in purchasing a property. Wanting assurance any modifications would be complimentary to the image of their directly adjacent historic- and exclusive – hotel, the property owner asked the buyer to present an image of their vision for the space. With only a week to prepare, Montalba Architects were asked to put together a design and some images to present to the property owner.
Montalba Architects provided a set of sketches and reference images and asked me to produce a couple of renderings depicting a restrained but modern and contemporary interpretation of the retailers typically more traditional branded environments. With such a tight schedule I enlisted in the help of the uber talented Stephen Miller of Ambient Light Digital Renderings here in Portland. Working through the weekend and staying up all night before the deadline, we were able to finish on time and present a couple of alternatives for the awning and signage.
The Drawing Studio
June 29, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · 2 Comments
As much as I enjoy drawing I find it hard to set time aside for it without some external commitment to push me. So I’ve finally started drawing again, and to keep myself honest I’ve been going to Phil Sylvester’s The Drawing Studio. Phil is a great instructor and his classes have been hugely influential in my architectural work and life beyond drawing.
Wiles Law Group
June 28, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · 2 Comments
I snapped a few photos this weekend of a project I designed a little over a year ago. I hope to get Chris Hodney to take some professional shots for me one of these days.
PIXELS
June 25, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
PIXELS by Patrick Jean from ONE MORE PRODUCTION on Vimeo.
Came across this fun short film.
Backbridge Station
June 25, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
Path Architecture and The Kaiser Group needed some images for pre-construction sales of thier new development.
“Backbridge Station is a 41 unit mixed use development located in North Portland, close to downtown, in the center of a rapidly revitalizing neighborhood.
As more Portlanders want to operate a small business from home, and small businesses want to own rather than rent, there is an opportunity to develop buildings that are move in ready for live-work uses. PATH Architecture and Back Bridge Station LLC have worked with the City of Portland to create a pre-approved live-work design to ensure that purchasers can move in with a residential or business use, or both, without the need to apply for additional permits.
The larger of the two buildings includes 36 live-work units with floor to ceiling glass, large exterior decks, and a living privacy screen outside each bedroom space. The smaller building includes 5 second-floor residential units, with two bedrooms each, and large double height covered decks. A colonnade wraps around the entire site to provide shelter, circulation and outdoor seating opportunities for retail spaces on the ground floor.”
- text from http://www.architecturepath.com
Pixelpool Open house
June 21, 2010 by Josh Ashcroft · Leave a Comment
Last friday evening Pixelpool hosted an open house to celebrate their relocation and expansion so I decided to poke my head in and meet some local 3D artists at their new office in the Pearl District. They’re a good bunch of guys and I’m happy to find some local 3D people to geek out with!