Corgan Has Selected VisiSpecs

Portland, Maine (March 13, 2024) – Corgan, a leading architecture and design firm, has selected VisiSpecs, The Visual Specification System, to deploy for enterprise-wide specification writing.

Corgan was encouraged to evaluate VisiSpecs based on strong recommendations from a Texas specifications consulting firm. The team also evaluated other spec writing applications but selected VisiSpecs based on time savings compared to other spec editing software, the ability to quickly import their current Master specification library and the improvement of product quality via the QA Report.

Corgan trialed VisiSpecs using their own masters and projects, finding the upgrade to be fast and easy. The learning curve was minimal because VisiSpecs is a Microsoft Word-based tool that users already have installed, are familiar with, and prefer to use as their editing platform.

The Corgan team found the QA Report saved time and improved quality instantly, as it automatically catches errors that get missed when users attempt to check for coordination issues manually. Valuable time will be saved while publishing their submissions as there is not enough commercially available time to manually check for errors that the QA Report finds in seconds.

“We’ve mandated the use of VisiSpecs on all projects in 2024 and plan to start implementing BIM and Keynoting integration along with submittal report generation next to continue taking advantage of the process efficiencies VisiSpecs enables,” stated Chris Johnson, Director of Technical Design Services.

“We are pleased to see highly respected firms like Corgan evaluate, compare, and select VisiSpecs as their spec writing and BIM integration platform,” stated Seamus McGrady, COO and Founder of Chalkline, Inc.

Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about the VisiSpecs applications, request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials and download product information.

About Corgan

Corgan is an employee-owned architecture and design firm with 17 locations and nearly 1,000 team members globally. Corgan works with clients in a variety of sectors including aviation & mobility, data centers, education, health, mixed-use, multifamily, office and workplace. Since 1938, Corgan has developed a strong reputation for agility in design by anticipating marketplace changes and leading clients to thoughtful, data-driven design solutions. Our research insights and design expertise empower us to foresee emerging changes and develop solutions that minimize risk, create flexibility, and maximize longevity. To learn more about Corgan, visit www.corgan.com.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

TechSpecs Principal Falls in Love With Spec Writing Again

Portland, Maine (March 7, 2024) – Chalkline, Inc. has published a case study on the evaluation, selection, and subsequent success that Mark Clemmensen of TechSpecs Consulting Inc. experienced after deploying VisiSpecs. Read the full TechSpecs case study and customer testimonials here.

Email info@chalklineinc.com to inquire about a VisiSpecs implementation so you can see similar benefits at your company!

Visit chalklineinc.com to more about the VisiSpecs applications, request a free 30-day trial, register for live webinars, read customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

RLGA Doubles Annual Revenue After Implementing VisiSpecs

Portland, Maine (June 6, 2023) – Chalkline, Inc. has published a case study on the evaluation, selection, and subsequent success that Ron Geren of RLGA Technical Services experienced after deploying VisiSpecs. Read the full RLGA case study and customer testimonials here

Email info@chalklineinc.com to inquire about a VisiSpecs implementation so you can see similar benefits at your firm!

Visit chalklineinc.com to more about the VisiSpecs applications, request a free 30-day trial, register for live webinars, read customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

Chalkline Releases VisiSpecs v23.0

Portland, Maine (February 20, 2023) – Chalkline has released a major update based on new feature requests and process improvements made by its customers.

VisiWord®️ now includes a project tree filter that enables customers to focus on specs that need to be worked on, such as red status flag docs, parameters such as volume, discipline, or revised date, or even a mix of these options. Projects can have hundreds of documents, so the ease of working on a filtered set saves time while also reducing errors and omissions.

VisiWord now includes new reports to help owners and project managers identify when the spec used in a project is older than the source master document that was originally inserted. The report also enables the differences in the documents to be reviewed and updated as needed.

Customers are seeing the upgrade process to VisiSpecs®️ for writing all their projects is streamlined based on the advanced importing routines. VisiSpecs supports the broadest number of master templates and specifications while providing the easiest tools to learn and use. New local backup options have been included to further support and streamline the process.

VisiRevit®️ has a new management solution for model key links enabling a variety of projects to be automated, coordinated, and verified without changing the BIM model. The advanced project management is similar to the keynoting file management and coordination within VisiSpecs. With import and export options and new automated backup routines, both the keynoting and model key link integration are user-friendly and powerful.

Keynoting in VisiRevit includes new functionality for selecting and editing keynotes during placement reducing the delays often found during the keynote management process. Importing keynotes also includes the ability to assign those keynotes to the model elements and materials which used to take customers many manual hours and inevitably incurred errors.

The v23.0 release also includes customer-requested user interface updates, help and messaging updates, and performance updates that help new users learn how to use VisiSpecs. All customers have been updated with the v23.0 release. Many current and prospective customers got to see the v23.0 release at the recent AHR Expo in Atlanta.

Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about the VisiSpecs applications, request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, or download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

Chalkline Releases VisiWord v22.2 with Free Community Masters
Kalin Associates Short Form Masters & National Master Specification (NMS) Masters

Portland, Maine (June 9, 2022) – The v22.2 VisiWord update has been released and includes a new VisiSpecs BPM Selector enabling fast research and selection tools and improving efficiencies in project product and material selections. Chalkline is partnering with the leading BPM search sites to provide integration for fast access based on the spec being written in VisiSpecs. The intuitive BPM Selector includes a simple drag-and-drop of selected BPMs and products for insertion into the project specifications. Customizable BPM comments, tags, and selection tracking are included. BPM selections include hyperlinks in the product specs for optimal access by the designers, contractors, and owners.

The VisiSpecs BPM Selector enables fast research and selection tools improving efficiencies in project product and material selections.

The VisiSpecs BPM Selector enables fast research and selection tools improving efficiencies in project product and material selections.

The BPM Selector also includes customizable options for customers to set up their own preferred research sites. Additionally, the Basis of Design language required for each project, spec, or product can easily be set up based on design preferences and selected for insertion with the BPMs and products ensuring project requirements are met.

Chalkline is partnering and including Free Community Masters through the VisiSpecs Cloud Server for all customers. Initial partners include Kalin Associates Short Form masters and the National Research Council of Canada National Master Specification (NMS) masters. NMS masters are available in MasterFormat and UniFormat and in both English and French versions. As partner master specifications are updated, all VisiSpecs customers will have access to those updates via the VisiSpecs Cloud Server.

VisiSpecs is document-neutral, meaning it supports all Word/PDF-based specifications as well as the SpecsIntact (UFGS) specifications used in USA government construction projects. Now with the inclusion of Community Masters, VisiSpecs customers have additional out-of-the-box options available. Specification master providers such as clients maintaining their own masters or subscription-based master providers interested in enabling their masters to AECO firms through the Community Master program should contact Chalkline at info@chalklineinc.com.

The v22.2 release also includes customer-requested publishing features to quickly update previously created project manuals with documents updated or arriving later than expected, customizable PDF manual bookmarks, track change and markup initial view options, and new French MasterFormat and UniFormat project formatting options.

Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs and to request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

VisiSpecs Publishes Sheet Specs in Newly Released v22.1

Portland, Maine (March 23, 2022) – Chalkline has released newly developed publishing functionality for sheet specs placed on drawings.

Customers who place their specifications on the drawings need a clean process to create, edit, and publish their sheet specs. VisiSpecs is now enabling the creation and editing of the specs direct in the familiar Microsoft Word application. The drawing size is also larger than the page layout offered in Word. VisiSpecs provides the ability to easily edit and publish the sizes required. Additional automation in VisiSpecs can filter the larger specifications into the shorter specs required.

VisiSpecs now enables customers to easily create, edit, and publish their sheet specs for placement on drawings.

VisiSpecs v22.1 also includes features such as Global Search and Replace throughout the project documents and Design Guide Template management functionality improvements. All customers under subscription have been updated with VisiSpecs V22.1.

Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs and to request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

White Paper – Integrating the BIM and Spec Design Process

Portland, Maine (February 15, 2022) – Chalkline has a new white paper outlining the benefits, challenges, levels of integration, and steps to successfully integrate the BIM model and Spec Design Process.

Architectural and engineering design deliverables include the BIM models and design specifications. The BIM modeling and spec writing processes have been performed by different users, on different timelines, and even different companies. The difficult manual process of coordinating the two design efforts results in RFIs and addendums due to errors and omissions which have not been identified by the tools used in practice. There is a huge opportunity to reduce time, save money, and deliver higher-quality products with integration and coordination between these separate processes and deliverables.

White Paper - BIM Integrated Specs Design Process

The paper’s goal is to address past issues and questions so firms can take steps to achieve the benefits of an integrated BIM and spec design process. The integration of these processes should flag inconsistencies in the models and specifications helping ensure all team members are aware of the selections and changes being made. Issues found earlier in the design process require less time and cost to fix enabling time to be spent in other areas.

Request the white paper, testimonials, case studies, and more by clicking here.

Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs and to request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

VisiSpecs v22.0 Released: BIM Integration, Keynoting & Reporting

Portland, Maine (February 1, 2022) – Chalkline has released the v22.0 major upgrade to VisiSpecs, The Visual Specification System. This major upgrade includes a new Keynote Panel, navigation tools for integrated spec and BIM data, a new Document Explorer, custom outline reporting templates, and more.

The VisiSpecs Keynote Panel in Autodesk® Revit® enables advanced keynote filtering, assignment, editing, placement, verification, and coordination features.  The keynoting solutions within VisiSpecs have been adopted more rapidly over the past two years due to the integration and automation with the specifications. The VisiSpecs Keynote Manager and Keynote Assigner now include easier and faster placement options and verification filters available directly in the model rounding out a full suite of integrated keynote, BIM model, and specification tools for designers and modelers. Additional keynote, spec, and model coordination filters and alerts have been added improving model design and drawing calloffs early in the design cycle as well as prior to submission for higher-quality product delivery.

The VisiSpecs Keynote Panel provides editing, assignment, placement, and verification filters saving time while improving design coordination and quality.

VisiSpecs v22.0 also includes customer-requested publishing features such as the Table of Content’s new automated table option for improved formatting, volume publishing by doc parameter selection, and improved addendum tracking with Accept All Track Changes batch updates. During document import into VisiSpecs, customers will now see the requested status flag assignment rather than having to wait until the docs are already in the project. Company templates have been included helping firms create standard queries and report formats improving product delivery.

Single install of VisiRevit for all versions of Revit used improves the ease and speed of installing and upgrading the VisiSpecs BIM application. Many additional improvements in messages, dialogs, processes, features and reported issues have been included as well.

All customers under subscription have been updated with VisiSpecs V22.0.  Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs, request a free trial, register for live webinars, read customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

VisiSpecs v21.0 Released with New Reporting, Collaboration, Keynoting, and BIM Integration Features

Portland, Maine (June 16, 2021) – Chalkline has released the v21.0 major upgrade to VisiSpecs, The Visual Specification System, providing customer-requested features such as flexible data reporting, collaboration markup tools, advanced BIM model integration and query tools, SpecsIntact UFGS integration, and more.

BIM integration and coordination help to find discrepancies between the specs and the model elements, which improves product quality and reduces errors and omissions. New VisiSpecs functionality in the coordination process helps users to filter and focus on the alerts they need to respond to. Specifiers not familiar with the modeling tools can now easily access the data and model views directly from the VisiSpecs tools they are familiar with.

Customers have also asked for access to any of the spec data for export to Excel Reports. Mockups, Pre-Installation Conferences, Submittals, Extra Materials, QA, Testing, and more are now easily exported to Excel with the ability to save and reuse the Template Reports across the company. Outline reporting helps teams focus on the areas of interest and the level of detail needed throughout the design stages.

Collaboration among the team members has been difficult using multiple tool sets, manually comparing the markups to the documents of record, and not being able to store the markups directly within the editing tools.  VisiSpecs now enabled specifiers to set the level of restriction desired for collaborators such as Read Only, Track Change, Comment Only, Comment Only, or Full Edit Rights. The document markup status is easily viewed in the Project Tree with the ability to archive markups as child documents for easy view/retrieval as needed. Project Team members can edit in the Word application they are already familiar with. Adding related documents such as cut-sheets, submittals, and links to other sites are all organized within the VisiSpecs project tree further saving time and improving collaboration.

The VisiSpecs Keynoting applications are integrated with the specs, helping firms automate the selection of the keynotes for detailers to use which reduces time and errors in drawings. The advanced keynote assignment through the Link Console listing all the Elements and Materials in the model further saves time.  VisiSpecs now includes the ability to Zoom to Keynote and Element which opens the views and sheets and automatically zooms so the user can quickly fix and verify the coordination. New keynote editing features also include the automatic reordering of keynotes as insertions are made and drag-and-drop keynote organization features.

VisiSpecs v21.0 also includes the Federal SpecsIntact UFGS integration.  Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) are a joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (HQ AFCEC), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  The integration enables better design coordination with the model and the specs as well as delivery of the linked project to the client.

All customers under subscription have been updated with VisiSpecs V21.0. Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs and to request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.

Chalkline Releases VisiSpecs Integration with Federal SpecsIntact UFGS Specs

Portland, Maine (June 8, 2021) – Chalkline, Inc. released the BIM integration and coordination tool set for Federal SpecsIntact projects utilizing the Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS).  New functionality developed in VisiSpecs include UFGS Master synchronization tools, SpecsIntact project management tools, and integration and access of the UFGS project specs directly in Autodesk Revit applications. The BIM integration will result in higher quality and coordinated design documents as well as an integrated project delivered to clients.

VisiSpecs with SpecsIntact UFGS Integration

Chalkline has released VisiSpecs Integration with the Federal SpecsIntact Unified Field Guide Specification (UFGS) Specs

Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) are a joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (HQ AFCEC), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). UFGS are for use in specifying construction for military services.

A BIM subject matter expert stated, “VisiSpecs usage within our organization has shown time/labor savings of 4 times over our previous MS Word editing process and supports the wide variety of projects and masters used here.” VisiSpecs integration with Microsoft Word enables easy access to specs and related files, a quick learning curve, support for the widest variety of specs, and the robust and familiar Microsoft Word feature set.

VisiSpecs enables the integration of documents with the BIM model without any model changes required facilitating design and construction coordination and ease of data access. The BIM SME added, “Where VisiSpecs really shines is the simple and intuitive linking between our Autodesk Revit content and the required spec sections enabling a more seamless design process. The integration of the model and specs can be shared with the Client for use in review, construction, commissioning, and other processes. Now the coordination between our designers and the spec writers is seamless, they all work out of a unique platform.” Additionally, VisiSpecs provides keynote management, keynote assignment to BIM elements, and verification tools to improve design quality while saving coordination time.

The new VisiSpecs SpecsIntact (UFGS) integration enables central storage of all project design specification data directly from Microsoft Word, yet the familiar editing with the SpecsIntact Editor. The automation and coordination of the required UFGS project specs based on the model key links saves time while decreasing errors and omissions. Ease of access to the linked UFGS specs based on the selection of a model element facilitates data access through the visual 3D model. Delivery of the integrated project model and specs enhances the client access, verification, and future build phases.

The VisiSpecs SpecsIntact integration is bundled with VisiSpecs subscriptions without any additional licensing fees. Visit www.chalklineinc.com or email info@chalklineinc.com to learn more about VisiSpecs and to request a free trial, register for live webinars, see customer testimonials, and download product information.

About Chalkline, Inc.

Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs® is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord and VisiRevit. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company’s cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. For those who do use model applications, VisiSpecs provides direct access to the project specifications and documentation. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.