Visualization
Published: April 2013
Author: Sarah Erdman
This article is also published in the April issue of Automated Buildings.
As the building automation industry evolves, building performance data and other information continues to become more visual and more accessible.
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QA Graphics has been a leader in making building concepts more visual, from BAS graphics, high-end equipment models and animations, to energy dashboards. Having provided design services for the building automation industry for over a decade now, we’re proud to be at the forefront of these industry changes. We’re excited to have been asked to present at the 2013 Haystack Connect later this month, as part of a panel to discuss what we all see as industry trends for data and visualization.
Graphics and user interfaces can make a variety of building information available via desktop, mobile, and other platforms to easily access data, help the decision process and make day to day functions easier. QA Graphics isn’t directly involved in managing systems or monitoring data, but can provide graphics or interfaces that can serve as a central resource that allow users to access information in way that’s quick and easy to understand. Information can be presented in a variety of ways; it really just depends on what information you want to make available and who the end user is. We had several discussions about this with folks at the Niagara Summit last May as well as at the AHR Expo this winter.
Hiring Graphic Designer
QA Graphics is looking to hire an entry level graphic designer. View this and other job descriptions here.
QA Graphics is hiring
QA Graphics is hiring! We are currently seeking a motivated sales professional, HVAC graphics specialist and other positions. Check out the full job descriptions here.
Featured in Energy Manager Today
Excited to see our project for Apple Metro featured in Energy Manager Today. Their article, “QA Graphics Helping NY Applebee’s Target LEED Gold,” highlights the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard we created to help the green restaurant educate on the green features in place. Read the article.
Iowa Utilities Building Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard
The Iowa Utilities Building is using our' Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard to educate staff and the public on the building's sustainable initiatives. This is only Iowa's second platinum LEED certified building. A video of the application is below.
Featured in Hospitality Technology magazine
Hospitality Technology magazine has published the article, “Interactive Display Yields Immediate and Apparent ROI for Hilton Garden,” which features the hospitality dashboard that we created for Heart of America Group’s Hilton Garden Inn®/Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse® located at Olathe, Kansas. Read the full article.
Learn more about this project.
QA Graphics Helps NYC Applebee’s Educate about Green Initiatives
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
515.965.3403
serdman (at) qagraphics.com
March 19, 2013
QA Graphics, provider of the award-winning Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard®, is helping New York City's first LEED Gold-certified restaurant showcase its green initiatives.
Apple-Metro, Inc., the New York Metropolitan Area franchisee for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar®, has opened a new Applebee’s restaurant in Harlem at East River Plaza on 117th Street and is using QA Graphics’ Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard to educate on the green features in place. About 5 years ago Apple-Metro began implementing more sustainable features into their restaurant designs and found that they were on the right track for LEED restaurants if they took their designs to the next level. This new restaurant is anticipating Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s® LEED®. Apple-Metro looked to QA Graphics not only because the display helps earn a LEED credit but also for a creative way to share these achievements.
“It’s our responsibility to help inform our staff and customers on the sustainable actions that have been taken,” said Mike Berry, Director of Constructions & Facilities, Apple-Metro, Inc. “People want to know about it. And this is a great way to share the information.”
QA Graphics designs hospitality dashboard for Hilton Garden Inn
World Interior Design Network has published the article “QA Graphics designs hospitality dashboard for Hilton Garden Inn.” The article discusses the project that we completed for Heart of America Group's new Hilton Garden Inn in Kansas. The hotel is anticipating LEED silver certification and has a hospitality dashboard in the hotel lobby to inform guests about the hotel’s sustainable features. It also serves as an overall building display with access to live news, weather and the restaurant’s menu.
View the full article.
Learn more about this project.
QA Graphics Opens Second Office Space
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
515.965.3403
serdman (at) qagraphics.com
March 12, 2013
QA Graphics has opened a second office located in eastern Iowa. This new office space allows QA Graphics’ product developer to work remotely from the company’s main office in Ankeny, Iowa.
QA Graphics has focused on hiring young and innovative talent, and greatly values their employees’ long term commitment with the company. This year when the company’s lead product developer wished to relocate to his hometown QA Graphics worked with him to set up a new office space. The company is renting a remodeled energy efficient office space, located 25 1/2 S Frederick Street Oelwein, Iowa.
QA Graphics Promotions and New Hires
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
515.965.3403
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February 28, 2013
QA Graphics, Iowa interactive design firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Traci Noll to the new role of sales assistant and the hiring of Kinzy Grant as the new office assistant.
Traci has been with QA Graphics for over a year and a half, working as the company’s office assistant. In this role she was responsible for helping with customer service and a variety of internal needs. In the new role as sales assistant, Traci will work closely with the marketing and sales team to further promote the company’s creative services. She will be responsible for researching new sales leads, following up with potential and current clients, assisting the marketing team, and other tasks. Prior to QA Graphics, Traci worked at Tanworld, first as a full-time sales/customer service associate at the Cedar Falls location, and then as the store manager at the Waterloo location, responsible for new sales, marketing products and promotions, training, and other store needs. Traci earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa with an emphasis in communications, instructional technology and psychology. She also received an Industrial and Organizational Psychology certificate.
QA Graphics Creates Hospitality Dashboard for Heart of America Group
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
515.965.3403
serdman (at) qagraphics.com
February 27, 2013
QA Graphics, Iowa-based interactive design company, has created a hospitality dashboard for Heart of America Group’s Hilton Garden Inn®/Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse® located at Olathe, Kansas. The hospitality dashboard is an interactive display used to educate guests on the new hotel’s sustainable features and serve as a central resource for information.
Heart of America Group is one of the Midwest’s premier design, construction, and management companies with a 33 year history of developing award-winning properties. Located in ten metropolitan areas across six Midwestern states, their portfolio consists of 32 owned and operated restaurants and hotels, 150,000 square feet of office space, and 1.4 million square feet of retail and hospitality. They constructed the new Hilton Garden Inn following the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards. The project is anticipating earning LEED silver, with the hospitality dashboard expected to help earn an Innovation in Design credit for educating visitors on the hotel’s sustainable building features.
“Not only do we receive LEED points in educating the customer, but we wanted to have something in our lobby that stands out and was interactive as a lot of the green elements do not visibly stand out to the customer,” said Damen Trebilcock, Senior Vice President of Heart of America Group. “Customers love it and appreciate the steps we took as owners in regards to the environment.”
