When Phase Zero Design hit Lumion's realism ceiling on their 500 Veterans megaproject, they pivoted to D5 Render - and now deliver 18 weekly projects with military precision. Discover how cinematic lighting and real-time collaboration transformed this 3000-employee firm's client presentations from "maybe" to "approved" in record time.

‍Key Takeaways

1. Revolutionized Workflows: Phase Zero Design transitioned to D5 Render in 2023, boosting realism, efficiency, and overall design capabilities.
2. Seamless Collaboration: Team licenses enable real-time collaboration across offices, supporting up to 18 projects weekly while eliminating delays.
3. Exceptional Realism: Advanced ray tracing and an extensive asset library deliver lifelike visuals that enhance presentations and client trust.
4. Scalable for Complex Projects: D5 Render allows the firm to handle large-scale, detailed developments like the 500 Veterans project.

If you saw where we were eight years ago compared to today, we look like a completely different firm. D5 Render has elevated our skills and up-leveled us as a design team.

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Studio Overview

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Phase Zero Design is an innovative architectural and interior design firm dedicated to client-focused, collaborative workflows. Recently merged with Collier's Engineering and Design, the firm operates across six sectors: academic, retail, hospitality, multifamily residential, corporate interiors, and healthcare, with 450 design professionals in a 3000-employee organization.

In 2023, Phase Zero Design embraced D5 Render, transforming their approach to architectural visualization. The decision transformed their workflows, elevating both the efficiency and realism of their projects. “D5 has really helped us showcase projects in this new level of realism that I don't think our industry has really seen yet,”said Phase Zero Design Associate Principal, Lindsay Corsino.

The Challenge

Before adopting D5 Render, Phase Zero Design relied on Lumion for their rendering needs. However, as Lumion's updates fell short in delivering the desired level of realism and efficiency, the team began exploring alternatives.

Key challenges they faced with their previous software included:

• Limited realism, particularly with lighting and textures.
• Technical constraints that made handling large-scale projects difficult.
• Inefficient workflows due to file transfer delays, slowing down collaboration across offices.

The firm needed a rendering tool that could not only overcome these hurdles but also enable them to scale their projects and deliver exceptional results to clients.

The Solution: Adopting D5 Render

Stephen Schwab, Design Tech Manager at Phase Zero Design, led the transition to D5 Render. The decision was driven by D5's unmatched realism, ease of use, and robust features like its asset library and AI tools.

“What drew me most to D5 was the quality of the library and the ease of use. The realism of lighting and textures is unmatched, and it was incredibly easy to transition our team to D5”

Notable Project: 500 Veterans

One of Phase Zero Design's most significant projects using D5 Render was the redevelopment of a golf course into a mixed-use community in Rhode Island. The 500 Veterans project included residential units, retail spaces, and senior living facilities, all surrounded by carefully designed landscapes.

“This project was on a scale larger than anything I've worked on before. Thanks to D5 Render, we created a detailed fly-through animation of essentially an entire city, which ran beautifully despite its complexity,” he emphasized.

This project was a true team effort, with five members working collaboratively across Revit and D5 Render. By leveraging D5's team licenses and worksets, they divided tasks efficiently—some focused on vegetation, while others handled building textures and lighting. This clear division of responsibilities streamlined the workflow and ensured a cohesive, detail-rich result.

The final renderings and fly-through animation showcased D5 Render's ability to handle complex, large-scale developments. These visuals brought the design to life, making it easier to communicate the project's vision to stakeholders.

Phase Zero Design's Workflow: Delivering Realism from Start to Finish

“D5 has really helped us showcase projects in this new level of realism that I don't think our industry has really seen yet.”

Rendering is integral to Phase Zero Design's workflow, starting at the concept stage and evolving with the project. This workflow ensures that renderings provide clients with a clear and accurate vision of the final design.

The team primarily uses Revit, allowing seamless integration of 3D modeling and construction documents.

“As we're modeling, we're also developing construction documents with the design in mind. If we're showing it in a render, our clients can know this is actually what we're going to provide for them,” he explained.

The firm replaces traditional sketches with 3D renderings, enabling clients to make decisions early in the process. While the hyper-realism can set high expectations, it strengthens communication and accelerates collaboration. “It gives our clients the ability to come in and make decisions early in the process,”highlighted Lindsay.

D5 Render has elevated this workflow, delivering unmatched realism that builds trust and secures approvals.

Key Benefits and Impact of D5 Render

Efficiency and Collaboration

D5 Render's team licenses streamline real-time collaboration across multiple offices, removing delays caused by file transfers and boosting productivity. This enhanced workflow allows the team to manage more projects simultaneously and deliver results faster.

Realism and Visual Quality

Advanced ray tracing and a robust asset library provide Phase Zero Design with lifelike visuals and quick scene population, helping clients better visualize their projects. Stephen noted that D5 Render's lighting and texturing capabilities have made client presentations more compelling.

On Cost Savings

The transition from Lumion to D5 Render has not only improved quality but also offered scalable solutions at a similar cost.

“We had four Lumion licenses before switching to D5. Now we have 12 D5 licenses, and the cost difference is about the same. The scalability has been a huge benefit for us," noted Stephen.

Scalability for Complex Projects

D5 Render enables the firm to tackle larger, more intricate projects, such as 500 Veterans, a mixed-use development. “Especially in the last year of using D5, we've taken on higher-end, large-scale projects with mixed-use and detailed landscapes that we couldn't have done before," commended Lindsay.

Conclusion

For Phase Zero Design, D5 Render has become an essential tool that enhances their architectural visualization, improves client satisfaction, and streamlines workflows. From faster rendering to lifelike realism, the transition to D5 Render has empowered the firm to push boundaries and take on larger, more ambitious projects.

As Phase Zero Design continues to innovate, D5 Render remains a key partner in their journey toward design excellence.

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