Sales & Marketing Materials That Make a Difference: Iowa’s First Urbanism Development

Download the Project Spotlight PDF version HERE for more information and pictures.

Project Spotlight: Site Maps, Exterior Renderings, Fly Through Video, Floor Plans, and Future Capabilities

QA Graphics recently was granted the opportunity to work with another local company, D.R.A. Properties L.C. from Ankeny, Iowa.

D.R.A. Properties L.C. is an Ankeny, Iowa-based real estate development company founded by Ankeny native, Dennis Albaugh. Albaugh took his first steps into real estate in 1992, with the goal of wanting to create a positive impact on his hometown of Ankeny, Iowa. Mr. Albaugh is also CEO and owner of the globally known agriculture chemical company, Albaugh, LLC which is recognized as the largest wholly-owned formulator and packager of crop protection products in the industry.

The first steps for the Prairie Trail project in Ankeny was awarded to D.R.A. in 2005. Prairie Trail is the first community in the state of Iowa to embrace the concept of New Urbanism development which cultivates with diverse and distinctive homes, neighborhood stores, offices, schools, and parks. This walkable development boasts more sidewalks and trails to connect the entire development to the City of Ankeny. At 1,031 acres, this planned urbanism community is built on the tradition of Iowa’s great neighborhoods. With the metro city as one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., Prairie Trail is in the center of it all.

“We (QA Graphics) typically do most of our work nationally and saw this opportunity to work locally, wanting to showcase our complete commercial building skills, start to finish, to the surrounding area,” said Dan McCarty, Owner of QA Graphics an Ankeny native.

QA Graphics provided a full design solution for D.R.A., enhancing the visibility of The District. Utilizing their award-winning 3D design team and state of the art 3D technology, QA Graphics provided a versatile design tool which will be used for multiple marketing and presentation opportunities.

Using 3D design will enable potential tenants to view the property with photo-realistic views to aid in the decision-making process and on-site selection for the potential build site. QA Graphics used many existing assets from the development process including Revit files, ariel maps, and civil design topography. The final product will allow anyone wanting to see The District in an accurate 3D perspective including business and potential growth of the development.

This leads to the following services that QA Graphics provides:

Site Map

QA Graphics worked with D.R.A. to provide a full 3D rendering of an overall view of the targeted area The District. This overall view will be used to show potential clients and builders the possibilities for site selection. Several different types of sitemaps were created, depending on the various marketing needs. The one pictured above consist of The District as it stands today with three potential buildings added in. This particular sitemap also contains “ghost” images of mock buildings to represent potential site locations. D.R.A. can use images like this for a variety of areas such as: showcasing to potential clients the area, helping the residents view the potential district for public voting on a bond referendum for future public facilities, or marketing and sales materials to name a few.

QA Graphics also provided 3D exterior perspectives of the existing buildings in photo-realistic 3D, providing D.R.A. with multiple angle or view of those buildings.

Exterior Renderings

QA Graphics worked with D.R.A. and their architectural firm to provide photo-realistic 3D exterior perspective renderings of over 120,000 square feet of the prime retail/office space. The local architecture firms provided Revit wireframe models which allowed QA Graphics to model them accurately with a higher amount of detail. Giving the sitemap even more of a dynamic look and feel, just as if you were viewing Prairie Trail in person.

Fly Through Video

Fly through videos are creating a virtual environment. Their purpose of being created is to market a property development to secure future tenants or showing the public future proposed public buildings. A fly-through of The District was a key option that D.R.A. wanted to be developed for these exact purposes. Bringing the development to life to help sell the vision for this first of its kind neighborhood.

These materials can be easily created into a general fly through video of The District or a 360° panoramic view to use in presentations as the graphics are already in place. Graphics enhancements like these will truly aid customers who are unable to visit the physical site to have an excellent experience of the site and feel of the area.

Floor Plans

D.R.A. also wanted accurate 3D renderings of specific building floor plans based on the tenants need. This provides a realistic look at what their building and space might look like. The client provided the construction document of the buildings to create the detailed information for the project, as this is a quick process for QA Graphics to complete.

Future Capabilities

QA Graphics has become a one-stop graphics shop for commercial buildings over the last ten years. This provides opportunities for our clients to continue to take the assets we have already created for them and allow us to provide even more deliverables for marketing materials. A future option QA Graphics can provide for projects like DRA includes a digital kiosk. This is a highly customizable option that can work with the sitemap and assets already created. The kiosk can host interior fly through to showcase tenant’s use of space, acting as stopping points along the sitemap.

HVAC graphics such as floor plans and site maps can even be created to assist Facility Managers with utility locations such as storm sewer, lighting, ductwork, etc. These graphics will allow the relationship between the site and building automation software controlling those buildings. Creating a holistic view that ensures all items associated with your facility are cohesive and well maintained. These are several options that numerous clients are taking to bring their materials to the next step and just a few of QA Graphics capabilities and areas of expertise. For an area like The District and many commercial building locations, options like mentioned above can bring life to the site and market the neighborhood as a whole. The process of creating a 3D image is complex and requires a lot of skills and decisions to be made. Many details need to be adjusted in making The process of creating a 3D image is complex and requires a lot of skills and decisions to be made. Many details need to be adjusted in making

These are several options that numerous clients are taking to bring their materials to the next step and just a few of QA Graphics capabilities and areas of expertise. For an area like The District and many commercial building locations, options like mentioned above can bring life to the site and market the neighborhood as a whole. The process of creating a 3D image is complex and requires a lot of skills and decisions to be made. Many details need to be adjusted in making an object appear realistic. D.R.A. was able to quickly see the power of 3D, along with the timeliness and quality of service QA Graphics can provide to their potential customers.

To learn more about our 3D process click HERE.

Download the Project Spotlight PDF version HERE for more information and pictures.

QA Graphics

QA Graphics is a leader in the building automation and green building industries. The company specializes in HVAC graphic development services, system graphics, floor plan graphics, and Energy Efficiency Education Dashboards™ (EEEDs). Since 2006, QA Graphics has served as an expert design resource for the building controls industry and is able to provide BAS graphics for any type of building automation. The company also provides marketing solutions such as interactive applications, 3D design and animation, UX design, videos, and more. Visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.