Ulrich Planfiling

Case Study - Southwestern Central School


Flat File and Rolled Drawings

Drawings stored in flat file cabinets, rolled on shelves and hanging clamps

Southwestern Elementary School in Lakewood, NY recently moved from a building that had housed the school for over 70 years to a new structure. The new lot is adjacent to the middle school and high school with greatly improved technology and facilities to house the K-5th graders that attend.

What first looked like a need to merely contain the prints that had been used in the most recent construction, quickly became an archival project. Prints were found that involved water, electrical, structural and heating, drawings spanning back decades and numerous elementary, middle and high school buildings for the Southwestern Central School district.

Ulrich Planfiling donated several Planfiles to aid the school district in organizing and maintaining historical documents that highlighted the school’s changes over many years of operation.

Ulrich Cadfile Cabinet

Two Planfiles hold all of Southwesterns current drawings with plenty of room for future projects.

The drawings were organized and installed into the Planfiles by Ulrich employees, a project which was no small feat.
The newest drawings are referenced frequently to maintain the current facility and make any necessary changes.
The easy accessibility and organization makes such upkeep possible for the numerous contractors and laborers that work on the building.

Filing the same number of documents in flat file cabinets would have required six flat file sections. The flat file cabinets would have required twice the floor space and cost over 25% more than Ulrich.

Planfile cabinets save space

At only 11 inches deep Ulrich Cadfile Cabinet stores active projects in any office area. Keeping important drawings close at hand.

While increased storage is a plus at the new Southwestern Elementary, floor space is readily available due to the space saving technology utilized by Ulrich’s vertical filing system. Lastly, for the newest and oldest drawings the cabinets provide fire and water resistance; therefore, keeping the documents intact for years to come.