The Division of the State Architect (DSA) has initiated a pilot program—E-Doc 101—to improve their submission process by switching to a paperless system. In an effort to green the way they do business, increase their overall efficiency, and minimize errors, DSA is working exclusively with HMC Architects during the early phases of development to work through all the issues upfront in order to create the ideal electronic transmission process. 

“It is an honor and a privilege to be the architectural firm selected by DSA for this groundbreaking program,” announces Nancy Martin, who manages a department at HMC that is dedicated to interfacing with DSA on behalf of HMC’s projects and clients.

For the first phase of this initiative, all administrative documents to and from DSA will be created, transmitted, and filed electronically. This step will remove the waste created by printing documents for markup, photocopying, and sending documents via express delivery, which requires gas, emits pollution, and uses non-recyclable materials. The goal is to eventually have all of their documents, including plan checks, DSA comments, and markups transmitted and created electronically to eliminate printing entirely.

Currently, DSA requires that all projects less than $400,000 have plans submitted electronically, and they prefer electronic submission for those projects more than $400,000 but less than $1,000,000. This new pilot program will establish a workable system to handle all projects electronically, including those more than $1,000,000.   

For HMC Architects, their involvement is an extension of their ongoing commitment to meet the 2030 Challenge, and hopefully inspire others to do the same along the way. The 2030 Challenge is a call to all architecture firms—initiated by the American Institute of Architects—to improve the sustainability of their day-to-day operations, design buildings that use significantly less water and energy, and educate staff how to do both, all by the year 2030. The desire to go paperless does seem to be a growing trend since HMC Architects is encountering interest from other government agencies to team up and switch to an e-doc system for submissions and information exchange.   

“It’s exciting to see agencies taking this paperless possibility so seriously,” says Pasqual Gutierrez, AIA, HMC’s director of architecture. “It’s a great combination of sustainable ambition and effective problem-solving.”

According to HMC’s chief practice officer, Chris Taylor, AIA, LEED^® AP, “HMC is committed to a sustainable future and we believe that we have a responsibility to be leaders in this effort. We take our work with DSA and our commitment to the 2030 Challenge very seriously by consistently looking for ways to promote sustainability in all aspects of our practice—and for our clients as well.”