I had a thought over the weekend that kept me from sleeping because I was thinking about it but it appears to have been a good idea since Mary Anne, David & Bob also agreed. Nothing like a last minute change to the floor plan the day before we sign the flooring contract and meet with the architect and general contractor to get them going.
We got the last piece of the press release announcing our move today, it was the quote from Disney. We now have a quote from the mayor, the President of Walt Disney World, one of our best clients and of course our owner, Bob Allen. Not a bad group of people talking about us. The press release will be released tomorrow on Business Wire to 4000 media outlets nationwide and another 1700+ people in our company database.
Here's a link to the press release: http://www.ideasorlando.com/pdf/NewHome.pdf
Or you can find it by going to our website at www.ideasorlando.com and clicking on the purple dot.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Colors, Lights, Signage & Flowers
We went to the new building today and planted some flowers. It was driving David crazy that we have a small planter on the front steps and it's just dirt so we stopped at Home Depot and got some flowers.
Mary Anne noticed that a new sign was put up at the front of the parking lot with our logo saying no parking except for IDEAS staff & visitors. Very cool, our very own parking spaces, without security clearances.
We also bought some lights to test in the graphic/art department area. David got on a ladder and we checked out how they will look and we like them. A nice look with the ability to direct the light.
Mary Anne and Jennifer were walking the building when I left figuring out the color palate for the walls. Now that we have chosen all the flooring, it's time to pick the wall colors.
We are now officially signed with the general contractor and architect. We all meet Tuesday to lock in and get going.
Earlier this week I mentioned the article in the Orlando Business Journal about us moving, here it is: http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/02/16/story5.html
Mary Anne noticed that a new sign was put up at the front of the parking lot with our logo saying no parking except for IDEAS staff & visitors. Very cool, our very own parking spaces, without security clearances.
We also bought some lights to test in the graphic/art department area. David got on a ladder and we checked out how they will look and we like them. A nice look with the ability to direct the light.
Mary Anne and Jennifer were walking the building when I left figuring out the color palate for the walls. Now that we have chosen all the flooring, it's time to pick the wall colors.
We are now officially signed with the general contractor and architect. We all meet Tuesday to lock in and get going.
Earlier this week I mentioned the article in the Orlando Business Journal about us moving, here it is: http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/02/16/story5.html
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
First Moving Truck & Flooring Locked
This morning, about 7:30am the first moving truck showed up at our current place to take the first load downtown. The truck filled up fast with some machine room racks and a couple working desks. By the time I got down there around lunchtime Dennis & Michael already had a few things set up and were working on the machine & server rooms. Seeing the racks really makes it seem like it's our home.
We also finalized the flooring plans. We're really excited about the flooring. Some great designs and some great colors. We really enjoy working with Beth & Megen from Spectra Contract Flooring. Megen has some great input on color and Beth is a great project manager. It's really nice when you can work with a team that understands what we're trying to accomplish but is also respectful of our budget. They have worked very hard for us to give us a great look and while hitting our budget. Actually they cam in $.04 under budget.
We also finalized the flooring plans. We're really excited about the flooring. Some great designs and some great colors. We really enjoy working with Beth & Megen from Spectra Contract Flooring. Megen has some great input on color and Beth is a great project manager. It's really nice when you can work with a team that understands what we're trying to accomplish but is also respectful of our budget. They have worked very hard for us to give us a great look and while hitting our budget. Actually they cam in $.04 under budget.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy
Today started with a phone call with the Orlando Business Journal. They are doing an article on our move. The article will be in this Friday's print edition of the OBJ.
We believe we have finalized our flooring plans. After a bit of back & fourth and the usual give & take, we have hit our budgeted price for flooring. We do a final walk through with our provider, Spectra Contract Flooring, tomorrow to make sure we're on the same page. Assuming that goes well, we'll be locked in for flooring.
We also have all but finalized things with the architect and the general contractor. A couple minor paperwork things to work out and we'll be ready to go there as well.
The contract was signed for the acoustical architect so he will be with us next Monday & Tuesday to help us design our new post audio studio.
And finally, it looks like we have our brand new phone number. I'll post it as soon as it's official but we think we picked it. Not a whole lot to choose from but we think the new number has a nice ring to it.
We believe we have finalized our flooring plans. After a bit of back & fourth and the usual give & take, we have hit our budgeted price for flooring. We do a final walk through with our provider, Spectra Contract Flooring, tomorrow to make sure we're on the same page. Assuming that goes well, we'll be locked in for flooring.
We also have all but finalized things with the architect and the general contractor. A couple minor paperwork things to work out and we'll be ready to go there as well.
The contract was signed for the acoustical architect so he will be with us next Monday & Tuesday to help us design our new post audio studio.
And finally, it looks like we have our brand new phone number. I'll post it as soon as it's official but we think we picked it. Not a whole lot to choose from but we think the new number has a nice ring to it.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Staff Meeting
We had a staff meeting today. We gave an update on where everything is with the new home. Mary Anne presented where we are with the flooring. Most people seemed pleased with the choices and color palate, some were not as enthusiastic. I guess we can't please everyone. It's hard when you present carpeting in 4 samples and it's not in the environment it will be in the end. I wish everyone could go to the new building and see the flooring in that environment. I think they'd have a different opinion of it then.
Our staff seems to be most interested in seeing the shredding machine we're going to get for the clean out of our offices and the tape vault.
We also rolled out the new URL for our website: www.ideasorlando.com
We think that has a better fit for us now being in Orlando.
Our staff seems to be most interested in seeing the shredding machine we're going to get for the clean out of our offices and the tape vault.
We also rolled out the new URL for our website: www.ideasorlando.com
We think that has a better fit for us now being in Orlando.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Spending Money & Making Of Video
It's so easy to talk about what you're going to spend money on but it's another to actually start doing it. We have finalized our budget for the build out and while we're still working out some of the details, getting the people in to reset the raised floor and start with the acoustical designer for audio are done deals so you'd think it would be easy to sign their proposals and lock them in. But for some reason, I'm nervous about pulling the trigger.
We also shot interviews for our "Making Of" video this morning. I've never been shot for "official" interviews before so the make up thing was a bit weird. She kept going back to her kit for more. When we were done I felt like I was wiping off make up for hours. I think I was being interviewed for about 30 minutes, hopefully I didn't sound like an idiot. I think the video is going to be cool. Hopefully we can put together a coherent story in a couple minutes so it's not too long and boring. I'm sure Mary Anne and Sam will figure something out. Eventually we'll be posting short videos of the process on our New Home website http://www.ideasorlando.com/ideasnewhome/index.php
We also shot interviews for our "Making Of" video this morning. I've never been shot for "official" interviews before so the make up thing was a bit weird. She kept going back to her kit for more. When we were done I felt like I was wiping off make up for hours. I think I was being interviewed for about 30 minutes, hopefully I didn't sound like an idiot. I think the video is going to be cool. Hopefully we can put together a coherent story in a couple minutes so it's not too long and boring. I'm sure Mary Anne and Sam will figure something out. Eventually we'll be posting short videos of the process on our New Home website http://www.ideasorlando.com/ideasnewhome/index.php
Monday, February 2, 2009
Meetings & Decisions
David's meeting with a painter this morning. Who knew there were so many decisions to make BEFORE we even pick a color. Do we paint the wallpaper? Do we need to take the wallpaper off first? If we paint the wallpaper do we use a oil or water based primer? Will the wallpaper bubble and start to fall off? Decisions, decisions.
David's also meeting with one of the potential contractors now that our build out scope has shrunk. It's amazing how fast the money goes so we had to reevaluate the scope a bit. Hopefully we'll get to a comfortable place this week so we can get going.
Another thing, Friday when were at the new building we tested some track lights. I think the track fixtures that are in there are from 1988 so we need to do some updating. Thankfully, the tracks will work with track fixtures from this decade so that was a pleasant surprise and will be a huge help financially. It's a lot easier to get new fixtures and new fixtures AND tracks.
David's also meeting with one of the potential contractors now that our build out scope has shrunk. It's amazing how fast the money goes so we had to reevaluate the scope a bit. Hopefully we'll get to a comfortable place this week so we can get going.
Another thing, Friday when were at the new building we tested some track lights. I think the track fixtures that are in there are from 1988 so we need to do some updating. Thankfully, the tracks will work with track fixtures from this decade so that was a pleasant surprise and will be a huge help financially. It's a lot easier to get new fixtures and new fixtures AND tracks.
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