Laurel Ulland Case Study

In fact, having your computers and network up and running quickly and smoothly facilitates the other million and a half tasks that a budding young firm needs to get done. The people at Laurel Ulland Architecture (LUA) realized the importance of a quick start, and turned to The Foundation to make it happen.

When I found myself in need of setting up a new office network quickly, I knew I could count on The Foundation, said Laurel Ulland. I have enjoyed working with The Foundation in the past, and knew The Foundation would plan and install my computer network efficiently and with great expertise - it worked!

LUA got a jump on things by involving The Foundation early in the design of the office and the planning of the computing and network infrastructure. Meeting on site, before walls and wiring were in, The Foundation helped plan locations for all network devices-from data jacks to printers and servers. Close work with the telephone and wiring contractors ensured a seamless coordination of efforts, and even resulted in an efficient wiring center neatly housed (and hidden) in custom cabinetry.

As a four-person office, LUA needed all the benefits of a high-speed network with file and print serving, but didn't want the expense of solutions aimed at larger organizations. The Foundation found ways to provide a high performance environment at low cost and with expansion in mind.

When move-in day finally arrived, The Foundation was there to get the office computers up and online. Installation was intelligently planned to get users working fast, while delaying less critical back-office tasks until later in the day.

Sarah Hughes, who coordinated the move for LUA, notes The Foundation's ability to coordinate ahead of time with our phone, wiring and internet service providers made it possible to be up and running on day one. During the setup process, Eric (Olson) was also simultaneously teaching us how to operate and manage the network, printers, and a variety of software for our day-to-day use. It has been a headache-free experience and has allowed us to focus on our work, knowing our network is efficient and reliable.