IT for architects, engineers and design studios in Adelaide
When a Revit model takes ten minutes to open or a drawing set won't sync before a deadline, the whole studio waits. We look after the workstations, the storage and the network that hold your project files, so your team can draw, render and issue on time from the office, home or site.
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The short answer
Architects, engineers and design studios need IT built around very large files. WaTo Consulting supports Adelaide design firms with CAD and BIM workstation specification and care, fast file storage on a NAS, server or cloud, remote access that works with big models, licence management, tested backups and secure file sharing with clients and consultants. We've been Adelaide-based since 2001.
IT for design firms
Design work pushes ordinary office IT past its limits. CAD, BIM and rendering software (AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, SketchUp, 12d and the like) needs workstations with the right graphics cards and plenty of memory. Project folders run to tens or hundreds of gigabytes, so cheap storage and slow Wi-Fi turn into hours lost every week. Cloud sync tools that suit a normal office can choke on big models or create conflicting copies. And project archives often have to be kept for years. Good IT for a design firm gets the right files to the right people quickly, wherever they're working, and makes sure nothing is ever lost.
What we do for design firms
CAD and BIM workstations
Workstations specified for the software you actually run, with the graphics card, memory and fast drives it needs, set up the same way every time and kept updated without breaking drivers.
Storage that handles big files
A NAS or server sized for your projects, fast wired networking to every desk, and cloud storage set up so large models sync properly instead of making conflicting copies.
Remote and site access
Secure remote access that works with heavy files, whether that's working on the office machine from home or syncing a project to a laptop for a site visit.
Licences and software
A list of who has which licence, renewals before they lapse and new staff set up with the right software on day one.
Backups and project archives
Live projects backed up offsite and kept separate from the network, finished projects archived where you can find them years later, and regular restore tests.
Sharing with clients and consultants
Secure ways to send and receive large drawing sets and models, without relying on staff's personal accounts or email attachments that bounce.
Who it's for
- Architecture and interior design practices.
- Civil, structural, building services and surveying firms.
- Drafting, landscape and design studios working in CAD, BIM or 3D.
- Firms whose file server, NAS or cloud sync can't keep up with the size of their projects.
How it works
- We look at how you work. The software you run, the size of your projects, where files live and how staff reach them from home and site.
- We find the slow and risky parts. Underpowered workstations, slow storage or Wi-Fi, sync conflicts and backups that haven't been tested. You get a plain-English report with costs.
- We fix what's costing the most time. Often that's storage and wired networking first, then workstation upgrades, done after hours or between deadlines.
- We look after it. Managed support for the studio: patching, monitoring, help desk, licence tracking and on-site visits when something needs hands.
- We plan ahead. Workstation replacement dates, storage growth and archive planning, so a big new project doesn't fill the server.
Why WaTo for design firms
- We size workstations and storage for your software and your files, not for a typical office.
- Changes are planned around your deadlines, not dropped on you the week a tender is due.
- One team for the workstations, the storage, the network and the security.
- Adelaide-based since 2001, with technicians who come on site.
- Published rates, and real people answering the phone.
Design firm IT questions
Why do our Revit or CAD files take so long to open?
Usually it's the storage or the network, not the workstation. Large models opened over Wi-Fi, a slow NAS or a cloud sync tool that's still downloading will all feel slow. We test each part, then fix the slowest one first, which is often fast wired networking and better storage.
Should we keep project files on a NAS or in the cloud?
Many design firms do both: fast local storage in the office for live projects and cloud or offsite copies for remote access and backup. The right mix depends on your file sizes, internet speed and how much you work away from the office. See cloud vs on-premises.
What workstation do we need for CAD and BIM?
It depends on the software and the size of your models. We match the graphics card, processor, memory and drives to what you run, then set up each workstation the same way so staff can move between them. See device procurement.
How do we work on big models from home?
The usual options are a secure remote connection to the office workstation, or syncing the project to a capable laptop. Remote connection keeps files in one place and suits heavy models best. See VPN and remote access.
How long should we keep old project files?
Many firms keep project records for years because of contract, insurance and legal obligations, so check with your professional body or insurer. We set up an archive that's backed up, searchable and cheaper than keeping everything on the live server.
Services design firms use
- Managed IT services
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Device procurement
- VPN and remote access
- Cabling and infrastructure
- SharePoint and OneDrive
Guides on this topic
- Cloud, on-premises or hybrid: what suits a small business?
- How to test backups and recovery before an outage
- How to manage the life of business computers and devices
- Why is my business Wi-Fi slow or dropping out?
Want the studio to stop waiting on files?
Tell us what's slowing you down, whether that's opening models, syncing or working from site, and we'll find the bottleneck and tell you what to fix first.
Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm
