I have been following Chris Brogan, President of Human Business Works, who  helps (mostly larger) companies with customer acquisition and community nurturing by amplifying the human digital channel, for two years now. His annual “Three Words” blog resonates with me.  It goes beyond the yearly proto-typical “goals/resolutions” exercise most of us go through. Although I have my business and personal goals set for 2012, My idea forces of “Three Words” is much more powerful.

These subconscious “rudders” steer your every day decision making. When tackling life’s OPPORTUNITIES, you can refer to them to guide your responses. In our Studio, we continue to CREATE Design Excellence, strive for remarkable Client Partnering and improve our business systems. However, I feel much more engaged when I apply some “fundaments” to the situation at hand. This creative secret power, (except now I am sharing them with you:) adds a tangible dimension to problem solving, work precesses and relationships.

This year my “Three Words” are:

“FOSTER”

“to encourage or promote the development of”

As an architectural educator at Palm Beach State College, Fostering is especially relevant. But it is more than that. To “encourage or promote someone’s development” is a Service Opportunity. Architects have been “giving-back” for thousands of years. The profession of education, internship, training and then reciprocating dates back to Vitruvius and Alberti. We can “Foster” relationships or we can Foster ides(such as Why Design Matters) We can Foster our projects to achieve their highest potential. It is a SUPER IDEA FORCE:)

“AUGMENT”

“to make (something) greater by adding to it”

My desire to build stems out of many years working in the trades with my brothers who were construction  professionals. The process of executing many small steps, bundled together, created sub-systems which then compounded to became form and eventually the finished building.  What incremental decisions, actions, etc. can we thread together  to “make something greater? In Architecture and General Contracting, Project Management(the profession of managing details) is the true validating activity that ensure success. Building upon, incrementally is how we create “greatness”.

“MATTERS”

“to be of importance”

Now many of you already know how “Matters” means to me by reading my Architectural Education blogs  on “Why Design Matters”. My  recent invitation to write five articles on “Why Design Matters in our Downtown” in the Boca Raton Tribune, lead by Rotarian, Douglas Heizer, has made me focus on specific design precedents that demonstrate architecture’s important role in Community Building.

But the cliche “????” Matters” can be applied to many situations. Personally, I can apply “???? Matters” to Family, friendships, service, health, etc. In business, I can expound beyond the general strategy of “Why Design Matters” and add finite levels of idea forces such as, “Details Matter, Color Matters, Technology, Technical Accuracy, etc. Matters…..”

What will your Three Words be this year? The Mummaw CREATE Team of Diana, Andressa, Ricardo, Andres, Steve & I wish you a safe, healthy and productive New Year! We appreciate your friendship, the opportunities to collaborate on projects and the privilege of continuing to prove “Why Design Matters” Have a great year:)))

Douglas A. Mummaw, AIA, NCARB

President - Mummaw and Associates, Inc.

Follow us on FB -  http://www.facebook.com

October 13th at 5:00 pm in the Mummaw Create Studio located at 331 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton Fl 33432.

We invite all of our Friends, Clients and Design Collaborators to stop by to toast our historical milestone. We will have Libations snackies and live entertainment. Please stop by so we can personally thank you for your support in our on-going commitment to prove why DESIGN MATTERS.

Mummaw 25th Anniversary - Invitation Front Cover

Diana, Andres, Steve, Andressa, Hevelyn  and I thank for the continued Opportunity to Collaborate with you.

Mummaw 25 th Anniversary - Back Cover

We look forward to beginning this next Chapter as the world recovers from the recent financial turbulence. I see many strategic planning, urban strategies developing which will significantly improve our Public Realm. Governmental Bodies, committed Design & Construction Professionals and private Developers are re-setting their standards  to emphasize Design Excellence!!

All of these initiatives will benefit our neighborhoods, Business Centers and Public Spaces. This gives us a positive view of the Horizon and what may be CREATED in the Future:))))

Thank you friends,

Douglas A. Mummaw, AIA, NCARB

South Florida has a new Sports Performance Facility. State of the art equipment, Expert Sport Science “GURUS” and Coaches, Advanced Physical Therapy Training Rooms and a world class environment to take elite athletes to THAT NEXT LEVEL!!

Jason Jarome, Director/Owner is no stranger to High level athletic performance. His experience at the University of Miami yielded multiple ACC titles, olympic athletes and and overall enhanced training & conditioning levels respected throughout Division 1 Athletics.

The Mummaw CREATE team Conceptualized, Designed and Constructed the Facility in less than five months. That’s right, FIVE MONTHS!!! With summer approaching the project had to be set up and PROCESSED at sprinter’s speed while maintaining Design Excellence on every level.

Enjoy these preliminary photos of the environment that will most certainly produce the areas top athletes in all sports Genres.

The Architecture has a unique collaboration of STRENGTH, VELOCITY & CENTRICITY Idea Forces that guided all decision making. Diana’s complimentary finish materials consisted of Reef Stone Flooring, Bamboo Woods, Cambridge Carpeting, Accented Mosaic and glass wall tiles, Kohler Plumbing Fixtures, Sherwin Williams Specialized glazed metallic wall paint and MDC Impact wall Panels.

They were the exact compliment to the UCS strength racks, Woodway tredmills and the Big Daddy machine- The Woodway Ice Skating tredmill. – Yes, that is right, a tredmill to train ICE SKATING.

The Facility is located at 7815 NW Boca Raton Blvd. Suite 201 in Boca Raton.

Follow them on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/IMPACT.Sports.Performance2

BTW – My daughter Demi and 3 of her friends who are playing soccer in college next year have been training there this summer. I almost don’t recognize them anymore. The have transformed into Elite Athletic Women!!!

When I began this journey, such a long time ago, it never occurred to me that the PROCESS of evolving through the profession of architecture would be sooo dynamic. Today, I explain to my young student Architects at Palm Beach State College that their “journey” will be rich with wonderful experiences, remarkable discoveries and enriching CREATIONS. It has been for me.

On October 15, 2011, Mummaw and Associates, Inc. turns 2 5.
It seems congruent, that on such a milestone, that we should reflect back to remind us of what we have accomplished and then look to the future for inspiration forces that will stimulate continued Design Excellence.

As you all know, We love to COLLABORATE with our Clients! We also love to engage in challenging deign projects with our Consultants. One particular “DESIGN PARTNER” I frequently collaborate with, is South Florida’s esteemed graphic artist David Savage. We have worked on many Projects together and his input and design solutions always stimulate great dialog in the “whys and how to’s” of what we attempt to CREATE. This PROCESS is identical to what we do with your projects.

Original Logo – Mummaw CREATE Team

+/- 20 years ago we CREATED the Mummaw corporate logo. The idea forces then, still resonate through its image today. Permanence, Order, Regulation, Composition and Balance all represent (or at least what we aspire to:)) our Design Excellence Objectives. Now, as we approach our 25th anniversary, I felt the urge to “freshen” up our Brand. Was this possible? Should I do it? Diana & I debated on whether we could make it better. My staff & I tried and it became obvious that we were going to be challenged. That is when I brought David in. Actually, I had to beg him to take on the project. Because -  True Artists do not like to start with someone else’s work. Their need to conceive and then validate ideas into their own solutions is an inherent trait. Reluctantly, David dove in and the Re-Branding begun.

I thought you all would enjoy a “BACKstory” on a simple project like a logo, and hopefully you can all relate it to your own Design Projects. This PROCESS of Conceiving an idea, Designing Options and then Creating Final Solutions is the essence of our firm’s Methodologies. Interesting enough, David created a dynamic FRESH new Mummaw logo, that in itself, represents all of the phases of our design process when we produce Architecture & Design Projects. This  “discovery” element in the composition is what makes Remarkable Design and is a goal we have for all of your Projects.

Design Elements within the Composition

Preliminary Concept Sketch – D. Mummaw, AIA

The day of the presentation came. Diana was convinced we could not improve the Design. I secretly agreed, but knew if it could be done, David would find a way. The ideas and precedents unfolded. David explained his analysis, the theory and support for his NEW interpretations and then finally the finished solution. OMG!!! the Logo looked partially like one of my concept sketches and “CREATED” like our 4D technology based renderings (or final design solution). How did he do that?

25 Year Anniversary Logo

Preliminary Logo Design by David Savage – Graphic Artist

He added historic(classical Roman) lettering with serifs and then anchored the Composition with Architectural Vocabulary, hatching, guidelines which resulted in a dynamic, eye moving, piece of Art…. and although it is not quite finished yet, we are proud to show you the PROCESS so far.

October 15, 2011 will be our 25th Anniversary. This “journey” has been remarkable. We look forward to celebrating Design Excellence through unique collaborations with you (Our Clients and friends) for many more years to come.Thank you for the “Opportunity” to Collaborate with you:)

Doug Mummaw. AIA

Why do we sometimes feel static in spaces we frequent? Is it the banal composition of square, disorganized or spatially tense spaces? Is it the color scheme or non-contributing furnishings and accessories?

It is all of these factors The internet and media around us is blazing by us at light speeds. We feel lucky when we can capture a moving news banner beneath a TV Program being aired. The highlight reels of info commercials, upcoming media events and REAL TIME events bombard us with information that pressures our haptic senses(hearing, smell, touch, etc…) and our cognitive minds are being called on to respond instantly.

The same interaction occurs when you experience architecture. I will be doing a series of sensory case studies on how architecture is woven into everyone’s world on a daily basis. Even if you don’t realize it,  Architects and Interior Designers do. And they are ethically bound to provide that unique experience through their work. DESIGN MATTERS!! And for professionally trained, empathetic and public welfare serving designers, it is a MANDATORY Standard of Excellence.

What makes a great space? Why are “lay-persons “drawn” to great cathedrals?  Can public spaces serving thousands of citizens be comfortable? Why is the color blue soothing and the color gray depressing?  Creative paint brushes and tools  of our profession, Architects and Interior Designers cultivate their craft using these platforms to create great environments for the public to experience.

Mummaw and Associates, Inc is approaching it’s 25th Anniversary on October 15, 2011. The CONCEIVED, DESIGNED & CREATE  Team in our Studio strives for Design and Construction Excellence in every Project we do, so that our Clients AND the Public will be experience Why DESIGN MATTERS through our Interior Design, Architecture and Construction endeavors.

Stay tuned for more case studies in the very near future….

Douglas A. Mummaw, AIA – Founding Principal of Mummaw and Associates, Inc.

How do you Conceive idea forces to guide the design of a new Elite Athletic Training Facility? The Create Team in Mummaw’s studio began with the concept of S P E E D. What is it? How do you gain it, capture and use it? Soon to be South Florida’s Premier Athletic performance facility for aspiring High School & Collegiate level athletes, IMPACT SPORTS PERFORMANCE and CO-Owner/Director Jason Jerome will immediately set the pace in state of the art sports performance training and sports medicine treatment techniques.

This facility will include a Professional Sports Agility Training Field, 40 yard dash track, Intense Strength Training Area and the latest Bio-Science Cardiovascular training Equipment. Supporting its premier athletes will include Athletic performance evaluation rooms, Cutting-edge sports medicine treatment rooms and lushly appointed locker rooms.

As I contemplated the first big design move I interviewed  Director Jason Jerome and quickly(no pun intended:) realized he was an elite professional, experienced in Division 1 athletic training, a passionate student of the science of physical fitness and a contagious personality to Create “THE NEXT LEVEL” of Athletes.

Impact Sports Performance "BRAND"

How could we use Design Excellence to create a world-class training facility to match its emerging Brand?  For me, it always begins with CONCEPTS. This project had many, but I immediately gravitated towards Centricity, Velocity & Strength.

Centricity -  The nucleus of a physical or psychological center of an element

Velocity - Rapid Movement in time

Strength - Physical power and energy

Impact Logo Designed by David Savage

The Facility is zoned by specific training initiatives so that multiple teams and athletes can train simultaneously thereby energizing the “Strength” of the Space.  Centricity begins upon entering a very tight & “ovalesque” shaped form that appears to be rotating in a spiral direction. This movement continues to unwind rapidly(with visual Velocity) into a curved trajectory along the training & cardio fields. Internal treatment rooms, Professional Locker rooms and staff areas statically balance the dynamic movement of the speed and vascular training equipment.

Impact Sports Performance Equipment Layout

Mummaw and Associates, Inc. will be fulfilling its  Unique Design Build Capabilities by providing Architecture, Interior Design, Brand Development, and General Contracting services to complete this Facility by May 2011. Jason Jerome and his expert team of trainers, Physical therapists and kinetic science guru’s :) will be making an IMPACT on South Florida’s premier athletes this summer. Stay tuned for advanced renderings as Mummaw & Associates, Inc. CREATES another case study in proving why DESIGN MATTERS.

How does a nationally prominent association EMERGE out of the worst residential real estate periods in our country’s history?

The Mummaw and Associates CREATE Team is currently designing 2 of their locations in Boca Raton & West Palm Beach. How does a national association use Design Excellence to improve its member services?

Create a Social Environment - The Mummaw team integrated a new social interactive Co-Working Lounge to provide professional Realtors a convenient, “hip” coffee-house type environment in which to meet Clients, Collaborate with other Real Estate Professionals or research properties through the Realtor’s Association of the Palm Beaches hi-tech digital research systems. Similar to a Starbux, the Co-Working Lounge includes a coffee, beverage bar, casual tables, club chairs with lap-top arm rests and a “quiet rooms” for closing and meetings.

Realtors Association - Boca Raton OFfice

Create an “Open Plan”, socially interactive, administration work environment. The Corporate Offices of the RAPB are located in Suffolk Construction’s LEED Certified building at One Harvard Circle in West Palm Beach.  Therefore, many LEED design strategies were deployed including maximizing “day-lighting”, Open plan configuration of staff work zones together with placing offices on the interior vs. exterior . This strategy provides maximum exposure to the positive natural day light.

Realtors Association - West Palm Beach

Diana Mummaw, Director of Design then selected all environmentally sensitive, low or no VOC composite finish materials in  a beautiful color palette of creams, blues and greens, together with natural organics of bamboo and silver.

Carol Van Gorp, Chief Executive Officer states  We want each of our members to think “I couldn’t do what I do without the help of my association”. Our goal is to be on the innovative edge for them. We have a very dynamic leadership team and Mummaw and Associates is perfectly translating our needs for interactive space into two beautiful locations. In order to stay relevant, we need an environment to “get the juices flowing” and we are going to have it! The members will have their own areas to co-work and find just the right property for their clients. We are all so excited and can’t wait to move in!”

Realtors Association - West Palm Beach

Both Offices expect to be completed by mid Spring and will be an immediate resource for the 7,500 members and its 18 plus staff. The Associations ranks 19th out of 1,500 nation wide. The total number of association members in the United States is just over 1.1 million. That is a lot of Realtors

This project was a true COLLABORATION by Carol Van Gorp, CEO, Ervin Hein, Director of Facilities, Frank Guilisano, Past-President & Chair of the Building Committee, Bill Richardson, current President and Bonnie Lazar, President-Elect.

Over its 25 year history – The Mummaw  Architectural & Interior Design -  team has Conceived and Designed real estate offices for current REALTOR ASSOCIATION members – Coldwell Banker, The Keyes Company , Lang Realty, Gimelstob, Arvida,, Balistreri Realty and Prudential Realty.

As we all EMERGE from the this very challenging period, how will you integrate Design Excellence into your sales offices, administrative efficiencies and marketing brands?

The “RECONCILIATION” of the Construction Industry over the past 3 years has  decimated many general contracting firms. Between the volume of work decreasing (almost to a trickle) and the disappearance of available capital to finance new projects, Construction firms have struggled to maintain their core personnel and subcontracting teams. This has certainly impacted the Mummaw CREATE team.

Labor costs have plummeted, while material costs have either plateaued or even risen. Overhead Staff has all but disappeared and we are all (whoever is left) are battling through intensive bid processes to earn Work. A recent Tenant Improvement Project included five (6) bidders. In the past, we have had to compete against 2-3  other firms. I have heard examples of public work projects bidding with 20-30 General Contractors. That is an inordinate amount of competition and it becomes quite obvious that the low bidders are actually doing work BELOW their costs. The facts do not lie. Everyone pays the same for materials, It takes “x” amount of time on average to install the Work. So the only factor left is labor and a reasonable amount of overhead to pay for critical must-haves like, Liability insurance, licenses, and basic administration services.

This is not the first time we have been through such a down-turn. Over TWENTY-FIVE years we have seen now three of these cycles. Certainly and without question, this is the worst. However, as General Contractors in South Florida, navigating this turbulence, we must stay focused on the essential ingredients that will enable success and Client satisfaction.

Mummaw and Associates, General Contracting Division strives for these THREE CORE OBJECTIVES:

Being Competitive – Have a strong dependable subcontractor team that knows how to build and is structured to provide affordable Labor YET still maintain enough margin to operate their business.

Service, Service, Service - Give the Client MORE than they expect and help them transition their relocation into new space so THEY CAN OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS more efficiently.

Quality Control - Do not let your quality go down just because the price has. Once built, your Work is permanent. Let it be a testimony to your reputation. Your Client will “experience” your Work every day. Let them feel pride in knowing they selected the right Construction Team.

In order to build successful projects, Mummaw and Associates is managed by experienced service oriented staff. It then deploys state of the art construction management, schedule and contract management systems as if it was large public general contracting firm. These technology advantages enable us to  streamline necessary mundane processes in order to focus on being competitive, servicing our great Clients and providing exceptional quality.    Let us show you how our budgeting, competitiveness and quality Construction Management systems can make your project successful.

Because we BUILD relationships first and then the project second, our general contracting services are just another extension of our overall Firm Methodology to Conceive, Design & Create dynamic projects. What can we CREATE for you????

Chris Brogan, co-author of “TRUST AGENTS” recently blogged about now being the time for New Year’s Resolutions. He further stated that for most of us, these resolutions or goals for the year are quickly broken or forgotten.  As such, he offered a new IDEA FORCE that he had been implementing for several years. Instead of making a list of “I intend to …….” type resolutions, he conjures up THREE WORDS that have connotative meaning and can be widely applied to many circumstances. Specifically, he said, “These are not goals, per se, but words that will keep you focused on those things you want to improve in 2011.”

This immediately struck a nerve with me. For as long as I can remember, I have been setting yearly goals, ranging from typical health, education and family to business oriented objectives. At this point in my life , where the goals have become somewhat static, this IDEA FORCE of Three Words impacted my thought Process and in a very brief moment, I conceptualized my own Three Words :  Collaborate – Strengthen – Create.

These words will be used as underlying rudders in the daily and yearly approach to 2011. Just ask the question in each life situation you encounter – How can I strengthen ……., Can we Collaborate on this task to ……. What can I CREATE today?

October 15th 2011 will be our 25th Anniversary. This journey has been incredibly rewarding, enriching and yes sometimes challenging(especially in recent years). As we emerge from this generation altering period, and begin the journey through 2011, I began to think about Mummaw and Associates‘, THREE WORDS, we published as our “tag line, methodology, or process” two years ago. How do these apply to what Chris Brogan is saying?

CONCEIVED – The Art of Conceptualizing an Idea

1101 South Federal Highway Retail Center - Boca Raton

DESIGNED – Developing &  validating an IDEA through a diligent Design Process

1101 South Federal Retail Center , Boca Raton

CREATED - The physical manifestation of an IDEA through construction management systems and processes

1101 South Federal Retail Center - Boca Raton

These Core Methodologies serve as our Firm’s rudder every day. Implemented by the CREATE Team of Diana, Andressa, Steve & Andres. This passionate group of Design & Construction Professionals continue to innovate and seek design excellence in all of their responsibilities.

THREE WORDS, THREE IDEA FORCES that guide our short term and long term objectives. It seems oddly coincidental that a blog post by one of the most forward thinking. social media experts could resonate so clearly through our existing BELIEF System at the Mummaw Design Studio. Then again, I am always astonished at how Creative and forever shrinking(remember my 6 pixel blog?) our world can be.

Thank you Chris. And thank you to all of our valued Clients, Consultants and Construction Partners. I look forward to CREATING a productive and successful 2011 and continuing to prove why DESIGN MATTERS….

Doug Mummaw, AIA

The CREATE Team wishes you the very best this Holiday Season

Mummaw MERRY CHRISTMAS