Architects
Martina Bacarella
AIA, NCARB member and founding principal of Martina Bacarella Architect. Licensed in NY and PA with expertise in new construction and historic building restoration.
Martina Bacarella Architect
“BidLight's AI-based classification system is a game-changer for complex projects. It's incredibly accurate and helped us win client trust in early design phases.”
The Estimation Challenge
Martina's team traditionally spent weeks on takeoffs for complex facilities, manually counting fixtures, measuring spaces, and calling dozens of subcontractors. With BidLight, the AI automatically extracted quantities from Revit models, classified materials instantly, and provided real-time pricing. When design changes occurred, what used to take days of re-estimation now happened in minutes. This speed allowed Martina to offer preliminary cost estimates as part of early design packages, creating a new revenue stream.
Featured Projects
Susquehanna Recreation Center
Susquehanna County, PA
2023
85,000 sq ft
Large Recreation Center
The Susquehanna County Recreation Center represents a transformative community investment, bringing year-round athletic and wellness facilities to rural Pennsylvania. The massive indoor turf field allows for soccer, football, and lacrosse activities regardless of weather, while the multi-court gymnasium hosts basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. The facility also includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, group exercise studios, a commercial kitchen and café, childcare facilities, and flexible community meeting spaces.
Project Impact
680
Hours Saved96%
Confidence$170k
Cost Saved$510k
ROI Value
How BidLight Transformed the Estimation Process
Traditional Takeoff Challenges
The project included over 2,000 light fixtures, 500+ HVAC diffusers, specialized sports flooring systems, retractable divider curtains, and commercial kitchen equipment. Manual takeoff would have required 3-4 estimators working for 2 weeks.
BidLight Solution
BidLight's AI automatically identified and counted all fixtures from the Revit model in under 2 hours. The system recognized specialized equipment like scoreboards and gym dividers, pulling current pricing from multiple databases. This allowed Martina to defend design decisions with facts at her fingertips.
Design Changes Made Easy
When the client requested layout changes to add more meeting rooms, BidLight instantly recalculated quantities and costs. What would have been a 3-day manual revision took 30 minutes. Every revision showed cost impact in real time, eliminating blind spots.
Subcontractor Integration
Instead of calling 20+ subcontractors, BidLight's database provided instant access to regional pricing for specialized trades like sports flooring and commercial kitchen installation.
Business Impact & Revenue Generation
By offering conceptual estimates during the schematic phase, Martina's firm added a new billable service. The county appreciated the cost transparency, leading to faster approvals and positioning her firm as both design and budget experts. This approach increased their win rate on public projects by 35%.
Complete Case Study: Susquehanna Recreation Center
The Challenge
The Susquehanna County Recreation Center presented unique challenges with its 85,000 square foot multi-purpose design. The project required precise estimation for a 56,000 square foot indoor turf field, multiple courts, exercise rooms, fitness center, childcare facilities, and commercial kitchen - all while maintaining strict budget constraints. The county needed cost certainty before committing to the project.
The Solution
Using BidLight's advanced AI classification system, Martina's team could quickly categorize and estimate costs for diverse facility components. The platform's integration with Revit allowed real-time cost tracking as designs evolved, ensuring budget compliance throughout the project lifecycle. Martina labeled estimates as 'preliminary conceptual budgets' to manage liability while providing valuable early-stage cost guidance.
The Results
Achieved 680 hours of time savings, 96% client confidence rating, and $170,000 in cost savings while successfully implementing all planned amenities within budget. The firm now charges for feasibility studies that include BidLight cost modeling, generating additional revenue.
Key Features
- 56,000 sq ft indoor turf field estimation with real-time updates
- Complex MEP system cost analysis - know instantly what changes cost
- Multi-purpose room configurations - adapt estimates with ease
- Commercial kitchen equipment budgeting - skip the estimation bottleneck
- Childcare facility compliance costing - build trust with data
“Having cost estimates during conceptual design gave us the confidence to move forward. It showed the architects understood both our vision and our budget constraints.”
890 Broadway Historic Preservation
Manhattan, NY
2022
64,000 sq ft
Historic Building Restoration
890 Broadway stands as a testament to New York's architectural heritage. This 8-story building, constructed in 1896, features glazed Roman brick facades, ornate terracotta capitals, copper cornices, and limestone details. The restoration project required meticulous attention to historical accuracy while upgrading the building to meet modern performance venue requirements for its prestigious tenants, Ballet Tech and the American Ballet Theater.
Project Impact
768
Hours Saved94%
Confidence$192k
Cost Saved$576k
ROI Value
How BidLight Transformed the Estimation Process
Traditional Takeoff Challenges
Historic restoration required detailed documentation of thousands of terracotta pieces, decorative ironwork, and custom millwork profiles. Each element needed individual assessment and specialized contractor pricing. Estimators were too slow and too expensive for the tight project timeline.
BidLight Solution
BidLight's image recognition helped catalog facade elements, while its historic materials database provided accurate restoration costs. The system connected to specialty restoration contractor networks for precise quotes. This gave Martina the ability to justify design decisions with numbers, fast.
Design Changes Made Easy
When the Landmarks Commission requested additional facade details be restored, BidLight quickly assessed the scope change and provided updated costs within hours instead of days. No more panic about new costs and contracts - every revision showed cost impact in real time.
Subcontractor Integration
BidLight's network included specialized historic restoration contractors, eliminating weeks of phone calls and site visits for quotes on custom terracotta and metalwork restoration. The platform's done-for-you service option handled complex material sourcing.
Business Impact & Revenue Generation
The ability to provide quick, accurate estimates for historic work helped Martina's firm stand out in RFPs. By showing cost control expertise alongside preservation knowledge, they increased their success rate on landmark projects. The firm now offers BidLight-powered feasibility studies as a separate service.
Complete Case Study: 890 Broadway Historic Preservation
The Challenge
890 Broadway, an 8-story building from 1896 in Manhattan's Ladies Mile Historic District, required meticulous restoration of its glazed Roman brick, terracotta capitals, copper cornice, limestone sills, and water tables - all while maintaining historical accuracy and meeting modern safety codes.
The Solution
BidLight's platform provided detailed cost breakdowns for specialized restoration materials and techniques. The system helped track expenses for hanging scaffolds, facade repairs, decorative cast iron lintels, and compliance with NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements.
The Results
The restoration was completed with 94% client satisfaction, saving $192,000 through accurate material predictions and efficient scheduling. The project generated $576,000 in value while preserving the building's historic character.
Key Features
- Historic material cost database
- Specialized restoration technique pricing
- Landmark compliance cost tracking
- Facade restoration estimation
- Period-accurate material sourcing
Ricardo Torres
Award-winning architect specializing in sustainable commercial design with over 15 years of experience in creating innovative spaces.
AECIS Arkitektura
“BidLight transformed how we approach project estimation. What used to take weeks now takes hours. Finally, estimates that speak our language—Revit.”
The Estimation Challenge
Ricardo's innovative modular designs created unique estimation challenges. Each module required detailed component lists, sustainable material specifications, and coordination with prefab manufacturers. BidLight's AI learned from his modular library, automatically applying assemblies across projects and instantly calculating costs for custom configurations. This capability allowed Ricardo to show clients real-time cost impacts during design meetings, closing projects faster.
Featured Projects
Koncept Home
Barcelona, Spain
2023
25,000 sq ft
Modular Residential Complex
Koncept Home reimagines urban residential living through innovative modular construction. Each unit is prefabricated with sustainable materials, featuring solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and passive cooling systems. The complex includes shared green spaces, community gardens, and electric vehicle charging stations, creating a blueprint for future sustainable communities.
Project Impact
160
Hours Saved95%
Confidence$40k
Cost Saved$120k
ROI Value
How BidLight Transformed the Estimation Process
Traditional Takeoff Challenges
Modular construction required precise counts of repeating elements across 40 units, each with slight customizations. Sustainable materials needed special sourcing and pricing research. The firm was tired of spending hours estimating each variation.
BidLight Solution
BidLight's pattern recognition identified modular assemblies and automatically applied them across all units, adjusting for customizations. The sustainable materials database provided instant green certification compliance costs. Say goodbye to ambiguity—real-time estimates appeared as Ricardo modeled in Revit.
Design Changes Made Easy
When clients requested balcony additions to half the units, BidLight recalculated structural requirements and costs in real-time, maintaining the project timeline. Clients kept changing the design, but BidLight adapted with ease—no manual recalcs needed.
Subcontractor Integration
BidLight connected directly with modular manufacturers' pricing systems, providing real-time quotes for custom module configurations without manual RFQs. This skipped the bottleneck of waiting for estimator responses.
Business Impact & Revenue Generation
By showcasing cost control during early design phases, Ricardo's firm now charges for feasibility studies. The ability to instantly show cost impacts of sustainable materials helped them upsell eco-friendly options. Their win rate on sustainable projects increased by 40%.
Complete Case Study: Koncept Home
The Challenge
Koncept Home's modular design approach required precise coordination of prefabricated components, sustainable materials, and custom assemblies. Traditional estimation methods struggled with the complexity of modular construction and sustainable material sourcing.
The Solution
BidLight's AI-powered system analyzed the modular components and automatically classified materials based on sustainability criteria. The platform provided real-time cost updates as design iterations evolved, ensuring budget alignment throughout the project.
The Results
The project achieved 160 hours of time savings, 95% client confidence, and $40,000 in cost reductions through optimized material selection and accurate modular component pricing.
Key Features
- Modular component cost tracking
- Sustainable material database
- Custom assembly estimation
- Real-time design iteration costing
John Myklebust
John Myklebust, AIA Emeritus, IESNA, IDA - Seasoned architect and lighting designer with decades of experience spanning architectural design, theater lighting, and project management.
M CO Design, Inc.
“The integration with Revit is seamless. BidLight has become an essential part of our workflow. Cut our budgeting time by 80%.”
The Estimation Challenge
John's expertise in lighting design meant projects had complex electrical and control systems. Traditional estimation required extensive coordination with lighting manufacturers and controls specialists. BidLight's specialized lighting database and automated fixture scheduling reduced weeks of catalog research to hours of verification. The on-premise cloud offering was perfect for John's enterprise clients who required data security.
Featured Projects
Smokey House Visitor Center
Wisconsin
2023
15,000 sq ft
Educational/Visitor Center
The Smokey House Visitor Center serves as both an educational facility and a living laboratory for climate adaptation strategies. The building itself demonstrates sustainable construction techniques, while interactive exhibits teach visitors about regenerative agriculture, forest management, and ecosystem restoration. The center anchors a 5,000-acre property where innovative land management practices are tested and refined.
Project Impact
144
Hours Saved98%
Confidence$36k
Cost Saved$108k
ROI Value
How BidLight Transformed the Estimation Process
Traditional Takeoff Challenges
The visitor center incorporated experimental sustainable systems including geothermal heating, living walls, and smart building controls. Each system required specialized contractor expertise and pricing. John was frustrated by guessing what experimental systems would cost.
BidLight Solution
BidLight's green technology database provided instant access to emerging sustainable system costs. The AI recognized experimental technologies and suggested proven alternatives with comparative pricing. Know instantly—see real-time estimates while modeling innovative systems in Revit.
Design Changes Made Easy
When grant funding required additional educational technology integration, BidLight quickly priced interactive displays and AV systems without delaying the project. A change in design no longer meant panic about new costs and contracts.
Subcontractor Integration
BidLight's network included green technology specialists, providing instant access to installers experienced with experimental systems and their associated costs. The done-for-you option handled complex system integration pricing.
Business Impact & Revenue Generation
John's firm leveraged BidLight to create value-engineered options that maintained sustainability goals within budget. By providing cost clarity at concept stage, they built trust with the non-profit board and secured additional funding. The firm now includes preliminary BidLight estimates in all proposals, clearly labeled as 'conceptual' to manage liability.
Complete Case Study: Smokey House Visitor Center
The Challenge
The Smokey House Visitor Center Living Lab required integration of cutting-edge climate adaptation technologies across a 5,000-acre property. The project demanded precise cost estimation for experimental sustainable systems and educational facilities.
The Solution
BidLight's platform seamlessly integrated with Revit to provide real-time cost tracking for innovative green technologies. The system's ability to estimate costs for experimental sustainable materials and systems proved invaluable for this forward-thinking project.
The Results
Achieved 144 hours of time savings, 98% client confidence rating, and $36,000 in cost savings while successfully implementing experimental climate adaptation technologies within budget.
Key Features
- Climate adaptation technology costing
- Living Lab experimental systems
- Educational facility estimation
- Green technology integration
- 5,000-acre landscape planning