Graphisoft North America News

Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD 13

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

New release expands to Macintosh users

Budapest, November 3, 2009 - GRAPHISOFT, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, today announced the release of the Virtual Building Explorer solution for ArchiCAD 13. This new release for ArchiCAD 13 introduces Virtual Building Explorer to Macintosh users as well. Supported operating systems are now Mac OSX 10.5, 10.6 and Windows XP, Windows Vista 32-64-bit, and Windows 7.

The GRAPHISOFT Virtual Building Explorer (VBE) allows architects to present their virtual building projects in a revolutionary new way. It combines the fun and easy navigation of a first-person video game with the power of intelligent virtual building models to allow users to easily share designs with colleagues and partners. New features of VBE for AC13 include:

Option to save self-running application cross platform (Win/Mac) project files
Option to measure distances in imperial or metric units
New Ray-tracing rendering engine ("Headlight") with optional sun shadows (F3)
New rendering styles ("Goraud" and "Metal") for quick navigation in larger models
New Background Options: Sky, Black, Gradient
Option to display the Sun Flare during navigation

The upgrade for VBE for AC13 is free for all VBE for AC12 customers. VBE for AC13 can be downloaded from the VBE website. VBE for AC12 customers can use the same license serial number and password to run VBE for AC13 but must first deactivate their VBE for AC12. The pricing and product options (VBE/VBE G with Radiosity) for new customers are identical to the previous version. For information on purchasing VBE for AC13, please contact your nearest ArchiCAD reseller.

ArchiCAD Team Wins Best Project Award at "Build Live Tokyo 2009 II"

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, November 2, 2009 - Team Stream, led by Shimizu Corp., has brought Graphisoft its second consecutive win at Build Live Tokyo, by capturing the Best Project award.

The competition, which was held on September 9-11, is the Japanese version of the international BIM Storm event. Competing teams were given the task of replacing existing apartment blocks in the Kanagawa area. It was a close finish, with Shimizu Corp. (ArchiCAD), Maeda Corp. (ArchiCAD) and Taisei Corp. (Revit) competing in the "final." Team Stream's strategy was to challenge BIM by using curved lines on the buildings instead of conventional vertical and horizontal lines. Their command of BIM stunned the audience, especially given the fact that they only started working with ArchiCAD in April of this year. An interesting twist in the victory of Shimizu Corp. is that they used Revit Structure (while Maeda used Tekla), which clearly proves that ArchiCAD's "Open" strategy in integration with engineering is a perfect fit.

Among the three finalists, two teams were ArchiCAD users, including Skunk Works, the Grand Prize winner of the previous Build Live Tokyo event held in February. In addition to the top prizes, Team Stream and Skunk Works together received the "BIM Technology Award," while Team 48, another ArchiCAD team, received the "Environmental Design Award."

The "Build Live" competition series is organized by the Japan Association of the buildingSMART™ International Alliance for Interoperability as a means to promote open interdisciplinary collaboration. The results of this most recent competition proved once again the increased recognition of ArchiCAD among large Japanese architectural firms and construction companies as a key to improving productivity with BIM.

Wisconsin's First LEED Platinum Home Designed with ArchiCAD

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Boston, MA - October 19, 2009 - A new eco-friendly Wisconsin home designed with ArchiCAD recently became the Badger State's first LEED Platinum certified residence.

The Ross Street House in Madison, Wisconsin, was designed by (and is the new home of) Carol Richard of Atlanta-based Richard Wittschiebe Hand (RWH) Architects. The 2,700 square foot 3-level residence achieved 102 out of a possible 136 LEED certification points, and is one of only about 200 LEED Platinum homes nationwide.

Richard's sustainable design features include large south facing windows with sunscreens, permeable paving, tankless water heaters, solar panels, a variety of recycled and regional materials, an energy efficient furnace, and rainwater collection system for irrigation. ArchiCAD played a particularly important role in helping Richards capture as much of the winter southern sun as possible while providing shade in summer. Using a Building Information Model (BIM), she created a controlled "light box" to model sunlight patterns and louvers that would allow the sun to penetrate the home between October and February, while shading the windows between May and August.

Being a good neighbor was also an important design goal. The house sits on a small lot among a mix of postwar Cape Cod style homes and a few 1960's modern homes. The architect and her husband wanted to maintain the scale of the neighborhood and utilize its familiar materials. Richards used ArchiCAD to model the adjacent houses to see how well her design fits into the neighborhood.

As a lover of modern design, she felt it equally important to create a space that reflected her own design sensibilities, and which would feel comfortable in scale. "With ArchiCAD, we were able to design and view all elements of the project inside and out and share it with our integrated design team to spot and solve problems up front rather than discovering them when it was too late," said Richard. "When we decided to move to Madison, we were determined to create a new livable and efficient home for ourselves. We are interested in the environment and want to be good neighbors to the people who live on our street and to the world in which we live. Being able to model your design, site, environment and green strategies all within a single BIM model made attaining this goal much easier."

BIM Technology Helps Build Care Home for Children with Life-Limiting Conditions

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Ryan House Provides Unique Respite and Palliative Care

Boston, MA - October 13, 2009 - The nation's first multi-generational respite and hospice facility is being built in Phoenix, Arizona, with the help of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology from GRAPHISOFT. When complete, the Ryan House will provide a unique, comforting environment to support children with life-limiting conditions, while also supporting their families. Adult hospice patients will be cared for as well.

Ryan House is a non-profit organization formed by local community members, businesses and healthcare providers, including not-for-profit Hospice of the Valley. The new facility, designed in ArchiCAD by Orcutt | Winslow, a Phoenix-based architectural firm, will offer palliative care in a supportive home-like setting. Pediatric palliative care is provided by a team which aims to identify and address the physical, psychological, spiritual and practical burdens of illness from a child's perspective, treating the child holistically. The Ryan House design reflects and supports this key objective, said Nabil Abou-Haidar AIA, architect and senior living studio director at Orcutt | Winslow.

"The architectural challenge was to design a state-of-the-art health care facility with a home-like environment. The design had to support the staff's goal of providing an active and total approach to care, embracing all the physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements. Working with a 3D model in ArchiCAD enabled us to experiment and collaborate with the staff in a variety of designs, tailoring each space to its unique care-giving function," he said.

For example, the facility will include innovative services - such as art, music, hydrotherapy and pet therapy - for the comfort and enjoyment of children and families. It will also include a sensory room and a fully accessible playground.

GRAPHISOFT donated ArchiCAD software to the building contractor to facilitate collaboration with Orcutt | Winslow architects and accelerate construction using a BIM model.

Family support is another critical objective of Ryan House. Families often care for a seriously ill child 24 hours a day over many years, putting them under enormous emotional, physical and financial strain. Family relationships can suffer, a parent's career may have to be abandoned, brothers and sisters often feel left out, and typical family activities can become impossible.

Family suites will be available for parents or caregivers who wish to stay at Ryan House with their children. A reflection room and memorial garden will offer a comforting place for families, friends and caregivers to spend quiet time.

Ryan House, expected to be completed in February, 2010, will serve as a national model for pediatric palliative care.

Brian Ledesma of Orcutt | Winslow was the project's BIM Manager and Construction Administrator.

First Look: ArchiCAD 13

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

"[The] New version from Graphisoft has a familiar look, but new Teamwork 2.0 and BIM Server may rock the world of BIM....

...ArchiCAD 13 is a major release; in fact, some of its new features could be classified as game changers for the world of building information modeling (BIM)..."

ArchiCAD 13 Review

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

"Graphisoft has just released the next version of its popular BIM application, ArchiCAD 13. It is an exciting release as it includes a server-based collaboration solution, making it the first BIM application to have this capability. With a flexible element reservation system and a technology that detects and transmits only the changed elements between the client computers and the server - shrinking the average data package size from megabytes to kilobytes - ArchiCAD 13 has the potential to revolutionize BIM-based collaboration by allowing team members to work together easily and quickly in real-time on modeling projects, from anywhere in the world where a standard broadband Internet connection is available..."

ArchiCAD 13 Starts Shipping Today

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

September 14, 2009 - GRAPHISOFT announced today that ArchiCAD® 13, the next version of its award-winning Virtual Building™ modeling solution, has started to ship on both Windows® and Macintosh® platforms today.

The International, German, US, Australian, New Zealand, French, Italian, Austrian, Hungarian, Finnish and Russian versions of ArchiCAD 13 are shipping this week. Other localized versions will ship shortly after. For information regarding the availability of ArchiCAD 13 in your local market, please contact your nearest authorized reseller.

Locate a reseller near you

Italian Architecture Firm Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, September 11, 2009 - Architect Enrico Bonilauri of Emu Architects has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "Experience BIM" competition.

Enrico Bonilauri, Italy

"Before starting my own company, I had several jobs as a draftsman in architecture in Italy and Australia. We used a 2D CAD to do the actual design and detailing, then we had to build a 3D model for renderings, and we used a separate spreadsheet to calculate project costs, material quantities, element schedules and so on. All of this was incredibly time consuming and subject to process errors.

In most of these companies the people who were in charge of the IT had never been draftsmen themselves, so they just did not understand the huge difference between a common 2D CAD and the BIM concept.

ArchiCAD allows for an incredible amount of control over the whole design process, with much higher productivity and precision than any other 2D CAD I have ever used. Also, ArchiCAD provides me with a wide range of design and documentation tools such as 3D documents, fly-through and sun study movie maker. More design and documentation software like EcoDesigner, Virtual Building Explorer and Google Earth Connections will simply make printed media a thing of the past as far as communicating architectural design.

The Interactive Training guide provided a quick learning experience to understand the basic workflow and the concept of BIM. More free learning material and the ArchiCADWiki website are available to improve the productivity in everyday use, and the online forum community is always ready to help out with answers and comments based on years of experience."

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month's free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

GRAPHISOFT and Tekla Team Up for Best-in-Class AEC Workflow

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

GRAPHISOFT and Tekla Structures announce a global partnership to offer a best-in-class software solution for architecture and structural engineering practices. Workflow-level integration of ArchiCAD and Tekla Structures - unique in the AEC market - enables true collaboration among the disciplines.

For more than 20 years, GRAPHISOFT and Tekla have been dedicated to offering the highest quality BIM (Building Information Modeling) software in their respective fields of architecture and structural engineering. In recent years, increasing numbers of AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) practices have adopted a BIM-based workflow. Model-based collaboration among the different professions, however, is still relatively immature, even between practices that use software solutions from the same vendor.

"The real issue with integration is not file compatibility but workflow compatibility," says Viktor Varkonyi, Chief Executive Officer at GRAPHISOFT. "Opening each other's files is not nearly enough; handling each other's model in an intelligent way is what makes a BIM collaboration workflow truly productive."

"Both Tekla Structures and ArchiCAD cover the entire design and documentation workflow till the end of a construction project," says Risto Raty, Executive VP of Building & Construction at Tekla. "Together, they support the BIM process in a unique way and are thus the preferred partners that ensure the highest-quality end result in any project. The benefit of using these tools is above all the downstream constructability they offer, from conceptual design to erection and site management."

For more information, please contact:
Risto Raty, Tekla Corporation; tel. +358 40 5444 470, risto.raty@tekla.com
Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, GRAPHISOFT; tel. +36 1 437 3000, szovenyim@graphisoft.com

About Tekla

Tekla's model-based software products make customers' core processes more effective in building and construction and infrastructure management. Tekla Corporation has area offices and partner organizations worldwide. International operations account for more than 80% of net sales. Founded in 1966, Tekla is one of the longest operating software companies in Finland. Tekla Structures, the most advanced BIM (Building Information Modeling) software on the market, provides an accurate, dynamic, and data-rich 3D environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers. More information at www.tekla.com

ArchiCAD 13 Revolutionizes BIM Collaboration

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, September 2, 2009 - GRAPHISOFT® today announced ArchiCAD® 13, the latest version of its award-winning architectural design software. ArchiCAD 13 includes a state-of-the-art BIM Server™ (patent pending), introducing a new paradigm in design file sharing. The software allows anywhere anytime access to BIM files and relieves workflow management bottlenecks.

"With the rapidly growing adoption of building information modeling, architectural firms have reached scalability limits with their model-based design and documentation workflow," said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Vice President of Product Management at GRAPHISOFT. "To overcome these limits, ArchiCAD 13 with Delta Server Technology™ introduces design teams to an unprecedented level of accessibility and management of BIM projects. With ArchiCAD 13, the physical location and distribution of your workforce becomes almost immaterial, benefitting both small practices and large, distributed firms."

ArchiCAD 13 Overview

ArchiCAD 13 introduces unique leading-edge technologies that revolutionize design file sharing and deliver mission critical productivity improvements for the design and documentation workflow.

1. Design File Sharing

Building Information Modeling brings unique challenges to the design team: when implementing BIM on a large scale, architects often run into bottlenecks in model accessibility and workflow management. ArchiCAD 13 includes GRAPHISOFT BIM Server - a first of its kind solution for on-demand access rights management and project access for teams of any size, both within the office and over the Internet.

Speed

In ArchiCAD 13's collaborative environment, long waiting times for server synchronization are a thing of the past. The leading-edge Delta Server technology dramatically decreases network traffic, so team members can collaborate on BIM models in real time. The same technology makes BIM projects accessible through standard Internet connections from virtually anywhere in the world.

Data Safety

Data corruption due to network or hardware failure is a major concern for CAD/BIM Managers: a single faulty computer literally can ruin the work done by the whole office. But the BIM Server's robust system architecture ensures the integrity of the BIM project at all times. Any data errors from malfunctioning components are blocked, preserving the project's integrity on the network.

Workflow

ArchiCAD 13's new Teamwork, with on-demand element access and server-level conflict management, combines the flexibility of 2D workflows with the coordination power of the model-based world. Companies can utilize their workforce much more efficiently with a dynamic and centrally controllable design workflow.

2. Productivity Improvements

ArchiCAD 13 continues the trend of delivering mission critical productivity improvements in each major release. In this latest version, important global and local user requirements have been fulfilled to further improve ArchiCAD's workflow. The impressive list of productivity improvements in ArchiCAD 13 includes:

Annotated Schedule Drawings

Door and window previews can be annotated associatively, right in the Interactive Schedule window. This feature alone saves significant drafting time for the documentation team.

Oriented Views

In ArchiCAD 13, the project alignment is completely flexible: simply rotate the view on screen to a perpendicular position. This way, diagonal wings can be edited naturally, while annotations adjust automatically to the final layout orientation.

Intelligent "Soft" Insulation

Although fills have been around since the advent of CAD, modeling soft insulation in composite structures has been always a problem. ArchiCAD 13's soft insulation is a perfect solution for both 2D and 3D Documents.

Improved Object Handling

Global model view options help control the display and handling of library objects at a project level. Project specific library parts can now be saved into the ArchiCAD project file itself, ensuring the complete integrity of the project now and in the future.

DWG Enhancements

ArchiCAD 13 makes significant progress in the development of DWG file exchange. New features include improved layer management and the ability to export multiple layouts into a single DWG file.

Data Exchange with Engineers

ArchiCAD 13 supports the classification of BIM elements as either load-bearing or non-load-bearing structures, for more accurate export to programs used by structural engineers. Thousands of standard steel products are now available from within ArchiCAD 13.

64-bit Support for Windows

As the natural next step after introducing multi-processor support for ArchiCAD 12, the latest version of ArchiCAD is available on Windows with native 64-bit support.

Availability

ArchiCAD 13 will ship starting in mid-September with a very compact release schedule that brings all 26 local versions to the market in the fall season. You can find out more about ArchiCAD 13 here.

Norwegian Architecture Firm Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, August 17, 2009 - Architect Andreas Henschel has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "Experience BIM" competition.

"Although ArchiCAD 12 is a versatile program with almost unlimited opportunities, getting started is very easy. Not only because of the intuitive user interface, but also because it includes several comprehensive localized object libraries and template files adapted to European standards.

It's a huge advantage that ArchiCAD runs on both Mac and PC and that it is compatible with a number of other files. ArchiCAD is a unique solution for architectural 3D modeling and documentation and has also lots of possibilities within 2D drawing, layout and graphic design. Using the Interactive Training Guide you get an easy to understand step by step introduction to ArchiCAD?s main principles which makes you want to start your projects right away and learn more about the program."

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month?s free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

International Fund for Animal Welfare Headquarters a Top 10 Sustainable Building of 2009

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

ArchiCAD-Designed Building Reflects Group's Focus on Environmental Advocacy

Boston, MA - July 13, 2009 - The new headquarters of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was picked as one of the United States' top 10 best examples of sustainable architecture and green design by the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE). The COTE Award is the AIA's top green award, honoring projects that demonstrate a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.

The 54,000 square foot global headquarters building on Massachusetts's Cape Cod was designed by Boston-based DesignLAB architects. A worldwide organization devoted to protecting wildlife, the IFAW sought a sustainable building that maximizes the organization's global advocacy, strategic planning and communications.

DesignLAB utilized a Building Information Model (BIM) designed with Graphisoft's ArchiCAD® software to design a headquarters that facilitates open communication, collaboration and interaction. Using ArchiCAD helped to accelerate the schedule of the project and ensure accuracy with early building estimates. The project manager, contractor and architect/engineering team formed an early partnership to fast-track the process and control cost. A 3D BIM model that integrated delivery system approvals, pricing, and early release packages enabled the team to condense what would have been a 37-month design and construction process into 26 months.

The technology also helped the team raise the project's LEED rating. While the design initially aimed for LEED Certified or possibly Silver status, the project team continuously monitored project costs, procurement, and materials use throughout the construction process. As the project neared completion, the team realized it had achieved more LEED points than previously expected. When presenting this information to IFAW, they identified several areas where small additional expenditures or efforts would put the project over the Gold threshold.

"We used ArchiCAD for the design of the IFAW headquarters in part because our structural engineer partner on the project already used BIM for all of its designs, and working with one BIM model facilitated work between our two firms," said architect Sam Batchelor of DesignLAB. "The ability for both architects and engineers to access the same product database and to collaborate on the 3D model saved time and money, a bonus for the client."

The IFAW world headquarters was designed to minimize the negative impact of the built environment on the natural one, demonstrating IFAW's environmental priorities through their own architecture. Water conservation, habitat restoration and energy efficiency were as important as space, value and other typical office design concerns.

Three simple, clean structures are arranged around a reclaimed brownfield site, establishing a central gathering space reminiscent of a coastal ridge or rural Cape Cod meadow. To fit in with the local Cape Cod architecture, the building utilizes iconic elements of the simple, unadorned barns that abound in this rural area, incorporating two-story, barn-like structures, white clapboard, and even a coastal meadow in the design to recreate the natural beauty of the Cape Cod landscape.

Sustainable features include the reconstruction and clean-up of a contaminated site; the restoration of habitat with native shrubs, trees, and grasses; rainwater treatment through the use of bio-swales and rain gardens that absorb rainwater runoff, and the on-site treatment of all wastewater produced in the building through a state-of-the-art septic system. Other sustainable initiatives include utilizing energy efficient mechanical systems, materials with high-recycled content, and certified wood from managed forests. In addition, passive solar technology is utilized on the wrap-around glass curtain-wall to maximize the benefits of sunlight while minimizing the need for heating and cooling.

In addition to the COTE award, the IFAW headquarters received the AIA award for interior architecture and three additional awards from the Boston Society of Architects, including an honor award for design, an interior architecture award and a sustainability award.

ArchiCAD 12 Connected with CINEMA 4D's Best-in-Class Free-form Modeling Software

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Friedrichsdorf, Germany, June 23, 2009 - Graphisoft, pioneer in developing Virtual Building Solutions, and MAXON, leading 3D modeling and rendering software specialist, today announced the immediate availability of the latest CINEMA 4D add-on for ArchiCAD 12. The new update functionality now enables users to merge changes made in ArchiCAD into their existing CINEMA 4D visualizations.

ArchiCAD users can take advantage of CINEMA 4D's intuitive organic modeling toolset to create or modify breathtaking architectural structures of almost any shape. Functions like Bend, Twist and Magnet give architects complete artistic freedom for their creations. ArchiCAD projects can also be sent to CINEMA 4D to produce high-end visualizations and animations.

"One of the most important factors of quality of any software connection is the level of workflow support," said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, vice president of product management at Graphisoft. "ArchiCAD and CINEMA 4D made a tremendous job to make a 'round-trip' communication workflow virtually seamless.

"We are delighted about the depth and quality of integration Graphisoft and MAXON can deliver to our mutual customers. We are confident that we will be able to tremendously extend the creative possibilities of the architect of the 21st century," states Harald Schneider, chief technology officer at MAXON.

Availability

The new plug-in is available via MAXON online updater and requires the latest CINEMA 4D add-on from Graphisoft that can be downloaded at:
http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/solutions/cinema4d_download.html

About MAXON Computer:

Greek Architecture Firm Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, June 9, 2009 - Architect Nikos Terzakis has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "Experience BIM" competition.

"Until now, 2D drawing and 3D modeling required different applications. Now the BIM solution by ArchiCAD gives an all in one experience. The interactive relation between drawings and the model, the process of creating final presentation images, the logical user interface... put together they are just like the way architects think!" said Nikos Terzakis, owner of Nikos Terzakis Architect, Athens, Greece.

"I was able to make a model after learning with the interactive training guide. The interactive training guide is the best approach to the BIM world and to become familiar with its best representative ARCHICAD."

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month's free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

Graphisoft EcoDesigner Starts to Ship Today

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, June 5, 2009 - Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, announced that Graphisoft EcoDesigner™, a building energy evaluation tool for ArchiCAD 12 starts to ship today.

Graphisoft EcoDesigner is an integrated, easy-to-use energy evaluation tool for architects. EcoDesigner enables architects to control the energy consumption of their buildings, and sets new standards in sustainable design, making ArchiCAD the leading software solution for contemporary architectural demands. With EcoDesigner, architects will have easy access to much needed energy information concerning their project in the early design phase, as opposed to relying on outside professionals to analyze the buildings when the design is well advanced and decisions are irreversible.

"Graphisoft EcoDesigner has generated great interest among architects at the 2009 AIA convention in San Francisco and continuously thereafter," said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Graphisoft Global Marketing. "Designers welcome this integrated 'one-click' energy evaluation solution that helps them make informed design decisions even at early design phases."

The English version (for INT, US, AUS, NZE, SWE, DEN and NOR versions of ArchiCAD) and the German version (for GER, CHE and AUT versions of ArchiCAD) ship immediately; further language versions will ship in the coming weeks. For more detailed information about the Graphisoft EcoDesigner product, please visit its product website.

werket arkitekter AB chooses ArchiCAD

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, June 2, 2009 - After a deep analysis of different BIM-software on the market the choice fell upon Graphisoft's flagship ArchiCAD. Werket will use ArchiCAD to cover all the companies processes related to BIM in order to further strengthen their position on the Swedish architectural market.

"We see clear advantages in choosing a mature and proven system like ArchiCAD", says Owjan Pourmetrahi at Werket. Infrastructure and Graphisoft Swedens competence together with the size of the user base where among the important factors in deciding. Graphisoft's proven support for independent IFCs is also a very important fact that makes not only Werket but many other firms go with ArchiCAD as a future BIM platform.

Owjan points out that for Werket it was very important to have their users become productive very fast after changing to a new software with different methodology. Owjan continues "Architects make money on producing drawings. ArchiCAD has the methodology, support and knowledgeable users. To produce drawings and get them published is one of the strong "cards" in ArchiCAD."

ArchiCAD has a well developed methodology and very knowledgeable technical support and in Sweden a very big part of the Architects are using ArchiCAD so it is very easy to find educated Architects that know the tool well.

About werket arkitekter AB:

Werkets office lies within the beautiful Vaksala square in the center of Swedish town Uppsala. The view is both that of a market and in the background the new concert hall is arising. Werket has an expression about openness in their way of working and their range of knowledge consists of creative, experienced Architects and specialists in developing new exciting solutions.

Werket has a broad base of clients and the spectrum of projects is vast, from the little extension of the family house to large residential projects. Urban planning and investigations is also part of the portfolio. Owjan Pourmetrahi and Martin Karlsson, both responsible for IT, CAD and IT related trainings at Werket are the ones that made the extensive evaluation of the future platform for Werket.

Finland's Biggest Ecological Business Park Designed with ArchiCAD by C&J Architects

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, May 26, 2009 - A new futuristic and eco-friendly Business Park in Aviapolis, Vantaa, in the Helsinki metropolitan area, was designed with ArchiCAD by the Finnish Cederqvist & Jantti Architects.

The Econia Business Park will be built in Aviapolis, Vantaa, the fastest growing business district in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Econia is being built according to the principles of ecological efficiency and sustainable development. The developer, Julius Tallberg Real Estate Corporation, and the builder, Hartela Group, have developed a unique futuristic business park concept. Its design emphasizes environmental solutions as well as a comfortable working environment.

"In Econia, ecology is high-tech," states Tom Cederqvist of C&J Architects, the company that designed Econia. The principles of sustainable development and ecology were taken into account in locating the building, which features solar panels on the facade, thermal comfort, and ecologically friendly operation.

Econia comprises four seven-story office blocks. As the blocks are horizontally connected, the flexible spaces can also be expanded from one building to another. The spaces are tailored to meet the needs of the users. Total rentable area is 23,000 m2. Since a positive working environment has a significant effect on working comfort and efficiency, special attention is paid to room air quality, acoustics, lighting, and room temperature.

About C&J Architects:

C&J Architects is led by two young Finnish architects, Tom Cederqvist and Vesa Jantti. Their team consists of 15 designers, and further back-office staff. They use the BIM method and ArchiCAD in all of their design projects. The office is committed to providing high-quality architectural solutions that address the issues of construction, technology and sustainability in a pragmatic way. The process is driven by design intent - not a predetermined design style - and a will to create solutions that are intimately connected to function and context, and which are both beautiful and practical. C&J has worked on projects in Finland, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.

Graphisoft Strengthens Presence in Middle East and Egypt with BIM Engineering Solutions

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, May 20, 2009 - Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, has announced that BIM Engineering Solutions will distribute Graphisoft's award-winning suite of 3D architectural design products in Egypt, United Arab Emirates & Saudi Arabia.

"At BIM Engineering Solutions, the BIM package consists of architectural, structural and MEP, and now will include ArchiCAD as a core feature. Working in a market where BIM is needed but not practiced, the scope for the services offered by BIM Engineering Solutions has created an incredible awareness among architects, engineers, construction companies and contractors in the region," said Jonas Salih, International Sales Manager for Graphisoft.

"There is a tremendous amount of potential in BIM that has yet to be tapped, and the current global market downturn is the right climate to show the benefits of using BIM in the Middle East. Our approach is to offer BIM solutions with services to the construction market, making it easy for clients to move forward. Graphisoft's Virtual Building Solutions further enhance our product offering and will cement our current position as one of the Middle East market leaders in BIM solutions and services."

About BIM Engineering Solutions:
With offices in Dubai, Cairo and Alexandria, BIMES is well positioned to serve all Middle Eastern markets. A core team of 55 qualified engineers, architects, modelers and project managers located in the region offer full service solutions with a total BIM package including software applications, training, support, implementation and modeling & engineering services. BIM Engineering Solutions is also the official reseller of Tekla.

New Zealand Treehouse Restaurant Documented with ArchiCAD

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, May 13, 2009 - The Yellow Treehouse restaurant was the brainchild of an Auckland advertising agency. The idea was to show that just about anything - including building a restaurant up a tree - could be done, using the services advertised in the Yellow Pages. But since its construction, the treehouse has taken on a life of its own, capturing imaginations around the world.

Photographer: Lucg G

The Yellow Treehouse restaurant was built on a north-facing site near Warkworth, New Zealand. But this was no ordinary site - it was 10 meters up a 40-meter redwood tree. Architect Peter Eising says his team took many unusual considerations into account when selecting the tree and figuring the logistics.

"Because this was essentially an elaborate ad, the site needed to accommodate a tower for filming the building process. To promote light, a great outlook and easy access, we selected a north-facing tree on the edge of a stand of trees. Building up a tree also presented difficult engineering concerns for which there was no real precedent," says Eising.

"The project is inextricably linked to its surroundings, so sustainability was at the front of mind. We employed many environmentally friendly practices, including short cuts of glue-laminated pine for the building's geometric exterior fins, which minimized waste, and we even employed an arborist to look after the welfare of the tree," he says.

About Pacific Environments
Pacific Environments is a recognized pioneer in the field of sustainable design and has nearly 50 years' experience in residential and commercial architecture. They draw inspiration from New Zealand landscapes, meaning their projects faithfully reflect the environments they are built in.

MEP Modelling: Plugging Coordinated Services Design into Building Design!

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, May 12, 2009 - BDSP Partnership uses 3D model-based design to create coherent, easily communicated building services designs for even the most complex buildings.

Building services - heating, cooling, water supply, recycling, fire and security alarms, telecommunications, etc. - account for a growing proportion of the value of many major construction projects. However, the coordination of these services is often a major headache. From initial design stage, the size and complexity of the services has to be carefully planned.

Ivan Jovanovic, environmental analyst for BDSP Partnership says "We need to effectively coordinate our building services design and installation with the architectural design: firstly, to produce the most efficient buildings, and second, to ensure that our work does not clash with other aspects of the building."

BDSP is a 100+ person strong international consulting engineering practice, specialising in the design of sustainable, energy efficient buildings. It works with many big name architects including Foster and Partners, Aedas, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Snohetta. It is currently working with Hopkins Architects on the Velopark for the 2012 Olympics, and, Central Market a 750,000 m2 three towered scheme designed by Foster and Partners for central Abu Dhabi.

"The first job on any of these projects is to calculate the plant sizes required and the space that you have to house them in," says Jovanovic. "Then, you have to assess the best layout for multiple services that operate over wide areas of buildings. This is difficult to do in 2D. However, using the Graphisoft MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) Modeller, we can create 3D models of the services and ensure that they don't clash with the architectural design. Architects, especially, are enthusiastic about our models because it gives them detailed but readily understandable information on the technical aspects of the project."

BDSP director, Ian Dunscombe, says: "Using model-based design and the MEP modeller saves us loads of time and we can produce not only all the information needed but be confident that our own work is fully coordinated. And the information produced is something that architects, and even the client, can understand easily, making it great for coordination and communication purposes. The 3D model has great benefits at every stage."

BDSP models all of its work using ArchiCAD and MEP Modeller, which are helping BDSP to take coordinated building design to the next level. BDSP's experience of how 3D models can help communicate even the most complex of building services designs has assisted it to win, and then successfully complete, many high profile and technologically innovative buildings.

French Architecture Firm Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, May 7, 2009 - Architect Eric Aguera has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "Experience BIM" competition.

"ArchiCAD offers integrated model based design. You design the project entirely in 3D, which presents a new level of interactivity with the plans, sections and elevations. Any source of error in the design process is eliminated. Changes are automatically reflected in all views," said Eric Aguera, architect and owner of CUBIK-architecture, Lyon, France. "The 'Experience BIM' interactive training guide is an aid to assess and demonstrate the power and ease of ArchiCAD - a design tool with the vision of an architect."

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month's free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

Graphisoft EcoDesigner - "Green" Becomes Organic Part of the Architectural Design Workflow

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Budapest, April 28, 2009 - Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, today announced Graphisoft EcoDesigner™, a building energy evaluation tool for ArchiCAD 12.

"The majority of design decisions influencing a building's energy performance are made by the architect in the early design phase," said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Vice President of Graphisoft Product Management. "At later design phases, engineers can only make adjustments by applying special building materials and mechanical systems. Graphisoft EcoDesigner provides architects with a unique easy-to-use tool in their native design environment to make energy-conscious decisions even during the early phase of the design."

The Graphisoft EcoDesigner will start shipping by the end of May. If you are interested in a product demonstration, please visit the Graphisoft Booth #1551 at the 2009 AIA Convention.

Award-Winning ArchiCAD-Designed Home Combines Eco-Friendly Living with Aging-in-Place Convenience

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Boston, April 22, 2009 - A new Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house designed by Portland, OR architects, D.P. Design, recently took top honors at the Home Builders Association awards, thanks to the elegant way it combines art deco, eco-friendly and aging-in-place design features.

The "Evergreen" house, designed with Graphisoft ArchiCAD software, won the "Best New Home" category at the awards, a particularly impressive feat in a Pacific Northwest region brimming with new innovative architecture.

Evergreen was designed for a mature couple who work from home and plan to make it their final residence. It was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's "Usonian" homes, and includes art deco details throughout, including a four-foot stepped eave overhang, horizontal rift oak paneling, custom molding, and a see-through fireplace.

Architect Diane Plesset, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, designed the home to provide easy accessibility, comfortable stairs and other smart-aging design features with which the spaces can be easily adapted over time to accommodate the life path of older residents.

The other key design objective was sustainability. The Evergreen house was built with insulated concrete forms, and has energy-efficient radiant heating throughout. The flat roof home is designed to accommodate wind turbines and solar panels with maximum exposure. Custom low-voltage LED lighting illuminates the main living areas, and large dual-glazed windows on all sides of the home offer sufficient ambient light during the day. Sustainable cork flooring was used throughout the home.

Plesset has been designing residences with ArchiCAD for nearly a dozen years. Facing a tight budget and limited timeframe, working with an ArchiCAD building information model (BIM) allowed her to greatly accelerate the design process by enabling frequent collaboration and cost-cutting revisions with owners, the builder and trade contractors.

"ArchiCAD allowed me to build and share a virtual model of the home with all the stakeholders, either in person or through online "virtual' meetings," she said. "We could rapidly make unlimited revisions without it interrupting the schedule. In the end, we were able to complete the project within 1% of the project's budget. The result is a home that reflects the older couple's unique lifestyle and taste, while maintaining the architectural integrity within a reasonable budget."

Graphisoft Team Wins Grand Prize at "Build Live Tokyo"

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Competition Highlights ArchiCAD's Edge

Budapest, March 30, 2009 – “Build Live Tokyo,” a competition aimed at raising awareness of BIM (Building Information Modeling), was held February 25-27. Build Live is the Japanese version of the international BIM Storm event. Graphisoft Japan was part of the Skunk Works team, led by Maeda Corporation, which won the Grand prize.

The six participating teams were tasked with designing an environment technology research center, including a collaboration research facility, conference center, and exhibition space, at the Tokyo Bay site. Three out of the six teams were using ArchiCAD.

Graphisoft Japan was a member of the Skunk Works team led by Maeda Corporation Building Design Department.

The Skunk Works team tackled the time-limited task by implementing an impressive BIM workflow and brand-new technologies. Right from the start, they produced small-scale models using a 3D printer. The final presentation included a VBE (Virtual Building Explorer) file – a newly released Graphisoft feature for use with ArchiCAD - to enable the judges to view the building in 3D.

The jury members especially appreciated the high level of detail and thoroughness involved in the end product submitted by Skunk Works.

“As the design process progressed, it incorporated the results of the light, shadow, wind, construction and other simulations. The team developed a BIM process which is transparent and trustworthy.” The juries commended the Skunk Works submission in the categories of “Professional BIM” and “Design Build BIM”.

Team Skunk Works included professionals from:

Maeda Corporation Building Design Department
Tekla K.K
Graphisoft Japan
RIK Corporation
Advanced Knowledge Laboratory Inc

Build Live Tokyo was organized by the Japan Association of the buildingSMART™ International Alliance for Interoperability.

Images and comments of the juries from the competition can be viewed on the Build Tokyo Live website (Japanese).

Maeda Corporation:

Maeda Corporation was established in Fukui, Japan in 1919. Since then, it has progressed to become one of Japan's leading building and civil engineering contractors. Maeda has a well-earned reputation for completing contracts with high-quality work and technical standards within short construction periods. Since 2001, Maeda has invested in an advanced design system to integrate building information consisting of several domain-specific BIM design processes, such as architectural, structural and HVAC. Recently Maeda has a high reputation for extensive engineering and consultation services, such as designing a manufacturing process for a production facility. Maeda keeps innovating technology and providing the best of service. More information at http://www.maeda.co.jp/english/outline_e.html

Virtual Model of Historic City Comes to Life

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, March 24, 2009 – Students at Finland’s Tampere University of Applied Sciences are creating a 3D model of the historic town of Viipuri (Vyborg) as it looked in September 1939.

The aim of the project, run by Project Leader Harri Miettinen, is to teach 3D modeling during the different stages of the construction process. Meanwhile, students gain valuable experience by using 3D modeling and cutting-edge technology to store historically and culturally significant construction information in electronic format.

With this project, students are trying to digitally replicate the cultural heritage of the town of Viipuri as it was in September 1939, when it was still a Finnish town.

The 3D modeling project is published on the Internet in 13 languages. When the project is complete, users will be able to virtually move around the town at the street level, with items closer to the user appearing in more detail. Virtual Viipuri will be enlivened by moving people, cars, trams etc.

History of Viipuri

Viipuri (Vyborg) is a town currently part of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus and located 38 km south of Russia’s border with Finland. Viipuri was founded in 1293 during the Third Swedish Crusade and was an important trading town under Swedish rule, fortified by towers, a fortress and walls. In 1710, the town was conquered by Peter the Great and came under the rule of the Russian empire. The completion of the Saimaa Canal in 1856, followed by railway connections, boosted Viipuri’s importance to regional transport, and the town expanded rapidly. With the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, Finland achieved independence. City leaders made provision for the recording and restoration of Viipuri’s many archeological and architectural relics, some dating from medieval times. The start of the Second World War brought an end to these developments. By mid-February of 1940, the town was empty of civilians and all civic activities had ceased. In the Treaty of Moscow, Finland lost 10% of its area, including Viipuri, to Russia. Twelve percent of the population had to leave their hometowns. The Finnish town of Viipuri was no more.

Russian Fresh Graduate is the Next Winner of the Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, March 18, 2009 – Architect, Dmitry Timchenko has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the “BIM Experience Kit” competition.

Dmitry Timchenko is a Masters student graduating this year from the Southern Federal University. After becoming familiar with ArchiCAD during the course of his studies it was a natural step to advance his professional experiences by downloading the Graphisoft’s BIM Experience Kit. He currently is employed with the Bureau of Reconstruction.

“With the BIM Experience Kit, I immediately recognized ArchiCAD’s excellent performance with complex projects, its good compatibility with other programs and graphic packages, and its elegant handling of BIM. I can fully realize all the benefits of ArchiCAD in my daily practice.“

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month’s free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio Named European Business Awards Finalist

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

"Marketing Strategy of the Year Award"

Budapest - March 12, 2009 - Graphisoft's ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio has been named a finalist - "Ruban d'Honneur" - in the "Marketing Strategy of the Year Award" category of one of Europe's most prestigious business awards.

The European Business Awards is an independent awards program designed to recognize and promote excellence, best practices and innovation in the European business community, in line with the broad aims of the European Union and business representative groups across the member states.

The ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio introduces a unique approach in helping architectural users of 2D CAD become familiar with working in 3D building information modeling (BIM). The Graphisoft BIM Learning Studio is a complete suite of voice-led resource learning materials that assist experienced architectural practitioners in gaining relevant hands-on experience of BIM.

"The European Business Awards nomination is especially important for us since ArchiCAD is a leading BIM solution in most of the European markets," said Ákos Pfemeter, Director of Global Marketing. "Since we introduced the BIM Learning Studio, more than a quarter-million people have downloaded and used it to have their first practical experience of building information modeling with the kit."

ArchiCAD Helps BrightBuilt Barn Project Produce Innovative "Net Zero Energy" Design

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Boston, MA - March 10, 2009 - Designing and constructing a building that produces more energy than it consumes and requires no furnace even on the chilly mid-coast of Maine was not just a science project for architectural firm Kaplan Thompson Architects. It was a serious effort to develop new sustainable building techniques, then offer them free to anyone interested in environmentally sound construction.

Naomi C.O. Beal Photography

Kaplan Thompson's BrightBuilt Barn, designed with Graphisoft ArchiCAD software, is a 700-square foot structure with two bedroom/studio spaces and a loft heated by thermal solar. Its "Net Zero" design means that it will produce more electricity in a year than it consumes, and its flexible layout enables it to adapt to new uses without consuming more energy and building materials. Kaplan Thompson plans to post the recently completed building's final designs on the Web for free use - a sustainable design version of the software world's "open source" development model.

"We wanted to do something unique that met many innovative requirements for sustainability, affordability, replicability and what we call 'disentanglement,' of utilities and support systems" said Kaplan Thompson architect Phil Kaplan. "It's a concept that the systems within the building are not completely intertwined, so they can be moved around with much greater flexibility than can be done with regular construction. That makes it easier to modify and add onto the structure."

Deceptively simple from the outside, BrightBuilt Barn is packed with innovative materials, techniques and technologies. A prominent display panel and a external "skirt" around the building's exterior enable owners to monitor its energy production. BrightBuilt's external walls are 13 inches thick and made of 8 layers of insulating material. The walls include anywhere from 10 to 12 items to support disentanglement; a regular wall has about 5 items.

Naomi C.O. Beal Photography

BrightBuilt Barn was built 90 percent offsite by Bensonwood Woodworking, a New Hampshire timber frame company known for energy efficient panelization process, and other building professionals. The precise specifications required to make BrightBuilt's energy-efficient design work demanded close collaboration between Kaplan Thompson and Bensonwood. Kaplan Thompson used ArchiCAD to produce 3D BIM models of the building that visually communicated to Bensonwood the precise dimensions needed to make the building fit together as designed on the construction site in Rockport, Maine. The models showed every detail of BrightBuilt, down to how the sun would strike it for maximum solar energy production.

"ArchiCAD enabled us to do shading and shadow studies we could see where windows were covered, where there was enough overhang or too much," Kaplan said. "The site work had to mesh very closely with what happened at the factory. This wasn't a site-built project, where the construction crew could just cut a new window if they needed one. Everything had to arrive at the site ready to go. With ArchiCAD, we could talk back and forth with Bensonwood in 3D mode through the BIM models."

ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio Named 2009 CODiE Award Finalist: "Best Workforce Training Solution"

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Boston, MA - March 4, 2009 - Graphisoft's ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio has been named a finalist for a CODiE Award for "Best Workforce Training Solution." It is the second consecutive year the company's training software has been nominated.

The 24th annual CODiE Awards, sponsored by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), celebrate outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital information and education technology industries.

Through a unique peer review process involving both media specialists and industry experts, the CODiE Awards recognize 71 categories of outstanding products and services. Graphisoft is among 345 finalist companies which have demonstrated outstanding successes in technology and business. Nearly 190 judges, encompassing tech trade journalists, consultants, educators, IT and product specialists, and other knowledgeable yet neutral experts, have reviewed all of the products entered. The finalists were chosen from more than 850 nominations submitted by 600 companies.

The ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio has been recognized for its unique approach in helping architectural users of 2D CAD become familiar with working in 3D building information modeling (BIM). The Graphisoft BIM Learning Studio is a complete suite of voice-led resource learning materials that assist experienced architectural practitioners of BIM in gaining relevant hands-on experience. The suite includes a core of technology tools called the BIM Experience module, which won the 2008 International Stevie Award for Best Training Technology and was a finalist in the 2008 Codie Award for Best Workforce Training Solution.

"These awards and nominations are important feedback for us, but the real benchmark for our success is the number of users we help to migrate to the BIM workflow," said Ákos Pfemeter, Director of Global Marketing. "Since we introduced it, more than a quarter-million people have downloaded and used the kit to jump-start their mastery of building information modeling."

Norwegian Construction Company Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, March 3, 2009 - Rolf Pettersen of Nordhordland Grunn og Betong AS has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "BIM Experience Kit" competition.

“We downloaded the BIM Experience Kit as one of several products in an evaluation. My first impression of ArchiCAD is that it is built-up very logically and it is essentially easier to use than other CAD-programs I have been looking at”, said Rolf Pettersen, Project manager of Nordhordland Grunn og Betong AS., Mongstad, Norway.

“The BIM Experience Kit is very informative and helped me work in 3D easier and faster. Thanks to the interactive training material I think we can save a lot of time.”

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month’s free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

Beechwood National Memorial Centre Awarded Best Institutional Project by Canadian Wood Council

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Boston, February 24, 2009 - The Beechwood National Memorial Centre in Ottawa, Ontario has recently received the Canadian Wood Council WoodWORKS Award for Best Project in the Institutional < $10M Category.

Designed in Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD, the memorial centre is in located at Beechwood, the home of the national cemetery of the Canadian armed forces, and was created to accommodate the diverse faiths of an entire nation.

The WoodWORKS Design Awards honor creators of new projects that push the limits of wood design in structures that demonstrate excellence in the use of wood. Winning projects showcase the special qualities of wood such as strength, durability, beauty, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. The Institutional Category includes schools, churches, hospitals, long-term care facilities, libraries, recreational facilities and municipal buildings with construction budgets less than $10 million.

The Beechwood National Memorial Centre is a circular hall designed with input from the major faith groups in Canada to ensure that appropriate symbolism in the architecture could apply to all. The space can be configured for remembrance rituals and traditions of all types, while not privileging one faith over another.

Designed by Ottawa-based Robertson Martin Architects, the National Memorial Centre is the new crown jewel in Beechwood’s 160 acres of stunning landscaping. It includes reception rooms and support spaces sized to suit different scales of memorial and cultural events.

According to architect Robert Martin, “ArchiCAD was a key factor in the project’s success, right from initiation and early concept sessions through design development, contract documentation and construction phases. It’s spectacular ease of use, powerful tools and ability to integrate all team members toward common goals is streaks ahead of other CAD software on the market.”

ArchiCAD Virtual Building Models Made Accessible for Anyone - Anywhere

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Interactive Game-like Environment for Exploring BIM Models Created in ArchiCAD

Budapest, February 13, 2009 - Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, today introduced an interactive Virtual Building Explorer solution for ArchiCAD 12.

The Graphisoft Virtual Building Explorer (VBE) allows architects to present their virtual building projects in a revolutionary new way. It combines the fun and easy navigation of a first-person video-game with the power of intelligent virtual building models to let users easily share designs with colleagues and partners.

Users can navigate through building information models (BIM) using different graphical renderings, such as Hidden Line, Shaded Open-GL and Global Illumination. Self-running navigation environments can be saved and provided for clients, consultants and builders who then can freely explore the entire virtual building without holding a license of VBE or ArchiCAD.

"The best thing about the Virtual Building Explorer is that building elements keep their intelligence even in this navigation environment," said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Vice President, Product Management at Graphisoft. "You can filter elements by switching layers on and off, you can make accurate measurements in the model and you can query detailed information of building elements with just a single click."

Availability:

The English, German, Hungarian and Japanese language versions of the Virtual Building Explorer ship immediately; further language versions will ship in the coming weeks. For more detailed information about the Graphisoft Virtual Building Explorer product, please visit its product website.

"Training Camp" for CAD Teachers Encourages 3D Design

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Graphisoft Conference in ChongQing, China, Builds ArchiCAD Skills

Budapest, February 10, 2009 - Graphisoft sponsored "Chinese Educational Partners Conference on 3D Virtual Building Design and ArchiCAD" has been hosted by ChongQing University and ChongQing Bopeng Technology Co., Ltd., on last November.

This event brought together teachers and professors of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) from 19 Chinese universities and institutions. These participants have been introduced to 3D architectural design using ArchiCAD’s functions and workflow.

“With this type of event, we are hoping to deliver our design method to future Chinese architects, and the university is the critical place for delivering these skills,” said Dr. Zhong Qi, Graphisoft’s Managing Director for South-East Asia and Greater China.

“This event is a great opportunity for our CAD teachers,” said Wang Jingyang, CAD Studio Director, Architectural Design and Urban Planning College of Chongqing University. “As a Graphisoft Educational Partner, we can learn more about ArchiCAD and how to teach it in our classrooms and studios. We hope this type of conference will take place every year.”

Represented universities: Dongnan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xi'an University of Technology, Beijing Industrial University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Xi’an Jiaotong University.

ArchiCAD Tops Rivals in UK Survey of User Satisfaction

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, February 3, 2009 - A satisfaction survey in the UK, covering a cross section of the architectural community, has revealed detailed findings about the relationship of architects to their design software tools and their service providers.

Revelation Research, a UK-based business intelligence company, conducted a CAD user experience survey among UK architectural practices in November 2008. The study, reflecting the views of almost 1,000 architects, concluded that over 60% of architects in the UK still use a variety of 2D solutions as their primary design software. ArchiCAD, the preferred software of 22% of respondents, emerged as the clear market leading BIM solution in the UK.

“We are very proud that the survey highlights ArchiCAD’s pedigree as a mature and carefully crafted software aimed at meeting the many design needs of architects.” said Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Vice President, Product Management at Graphisoft. “The survey also indicated that 83% of the ArchiCAD users would recommend the product to fellow architects, which is a strong endorsement of our continuous effort to focus on our customers’ needs.”

To download a copy of the research findings go to: www.revresearch.co.uk/sector8.html

Italian Design Firm Wins Monthly "Experience BIM" Competition

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, January 27, 2009 - Rosaria Di Mento has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "BIM Experience Kit" competition.

The winner: Rosaria Di Mento (center)
ArchiCAD distributor:
Stefano Rehar of Cigraph Trading S.r.l. (left)
ArchiCAD dealer:
Giovanni Zamboni of AB Informatica Urgnano (right)

"Ever since I became an architect, I've been used to working with 2D and 3D separately using different software. I've always found it really uncomfortable to switch between one and the other, every time missing something on the way", said Rosaria Di Mento, Italian architect.

The BIM Experience Kit introduced me to a brand new form of integrated model based design. With the interactive training material, it was a magnificent and easy experience!"

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month's free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

Graphisoft Announces the Next Winner of Its "Experience BIM" Competition

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, January 13, 2009 - Pedro Manuel Roca L. and Noelia Máiquez H. of Mairoc Interiorismo has won a free commercial license of ArchiCAD 12 in the "BIM Experience Kit" competition.

“Embarking on the business of changing our design tool was a difficult process. Only after we considered pros and cons of available software, we became determined to make the change. Although it is always challenging to learn a new program, thanks to the BIM Experience Kit, we were able to learn the workings of the program before making the change. We were able to save a lot of time.” said Pedro Manuel Roca Lechuga, founder of the interior design firm of Mairoc Interiorismo, Murcia, Spain. “After we implemented ArchiCAD, we learned even more with training. We were able to maintain our productivity as if we were working with the previous software. Soon, we were able to achieve even greater productivity compared with our former workflow. It has been a rewarding experience. The more you use the software, the more you get surprised at its ability to expedite work.”

To participate in the competition and get a chance to win the next month’s free ArchiCAD license, please visit: http://experienceBIM.com

Bilkom Corporation to Distribute ArchiCAD in Turkey

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Budapest, January 12, 2009 – Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, has announced that Bilkom, the Apple distributor of Turkey will distribute Graphisoft’s award-winning suite of 3D architectural design products in Turkey.

Jonas N. Salih
International Sales Manager
Graphisoft

“We are very proud and excited about assigning Bilkom, a Koç holding company as our new exclusive distributor in Turkey. This will strengthen our position on the Turkish market and we are certain that this will bring further success to delivering ArchiCAD BIM solutions to Architects all over Turkey. With 72 million inhabitants and 35.000 Architects there is a great business potential which we are planning to develop in close relation with our new distributor Bilkom.” Said Jonas N. Salih, International Sales Manager at Graphisoft.

“We, as Bilkom, are very proud to be the only authorized distributor of ArchiCAD. Our aim is to establish a channel which gives product support to architects and enable skilful architects to concentrate on creativity of their work” said Erkan Tüfekçio?lu, Marketing Manager Bilkom.

Erkan Tüfekçioğlu
Marketing Manager, Bilkom

About Bilkom:

Viktor Várkonyi Named CEO of Graphisoft

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Veteran Graphisoft R&D Officer to Drive Innovation in New Role

Budapest, January 6, 2009 – Graphisoft®, developer of ArchiCAD® the award winning Virtual Building™ solution, today announced that its board of directors has appointed Viktor Várkonyi as the company’s new chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Dominic Gallello, who has served as CEO for the past five years, is handing over the helm to Viktor Várkonyi.

“Let me congratulate Viktor for his appointment as CEO of Graphisoft and wish him great success in his new responsibility.” said Gábor Bojár, chairman of the Graphisoft board of directors. “I would also like to thank Dominic Gallello. During his five-year tenure as CEO, he successfully put Graphisoft back on a dynamic growth path and led the company through major transitions including the acquisition of Graphisoft by the German Nemetschek Group. I would like to express my greatest appreciation in particular, for the impressive development of the executive management team of Graphisoft. I believe this is what a CEO can be most proud of.”

Viktor Várkonyi comes from Graphisoft’s Product Group, where he was responsible for driving all product strategy and engineering activities.

“The 16 years I spent with Graphisoft provided me with the unique opportunity to witness and influence the dynamic evolution of model based design,” said Viktor Várkonyi, CEO of Graphisoft. “I am convinced break-through innovations in Building Information Modeling (BIM) are still yet to come and I am extremely excited to take part in this and to lead Graphisoft in these stirring times.”

Viktor Várkonyi joined Graphisoft in 1992 as a software engineer. He has continued to deliver breakthrough technologies, including a globally unique 3D editing environment for model-based design software in 1998. He has held various executive positions at Graphisoft and most recently led the company’s product development. Várkonyi holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the Budapest University of Technology.