ArchiCAD 17 provides a one-of-a-kind BIM-based documentation workflow – that can handle a large building complex – providing automatic junctions, live 3D plane cutting and more. With the new features found in ArchiCAD 17, architects will enjoy a simplified modeling and documentation process – on building models that are made up of extremely high levels of detail.

Even with such complexity – the model in ArchiCAD’s end-to-end BIM workflow will stay live until the very end of the project. That’s thanks to improved industry-first background processing support, so you can generate even the most complex model details without slowing down your work.

It has never been simpler to go green with your design – as ArchiCAD 17 includes improved energy evaluation built in to the software. Now you can conduct energy evaluation with standard compliant technology with support of multiple thermal blocks.

In addition to your free trial version, you can download a whole series of interactive training guides to smooth your learning experience.

Have your passport stamped when you stop by our booth (3710), get the remaining sixteen stamps and then return it to the passport collection bin at the expo entrance and you’ll be entered to win one of three iPads.

How often do you get to win something, just for showing up? Take a look at participating exhibitors on the form and plan your route now. The sooner you collect all your stamps and turn in your completed passport, the better your chances are at winning! Only one (1) passport can be submitted per person. You do not have to be present to win.

GRAPHISOFT is exhibiting in booth #1731 at the 2013 Dwell on Design (DOD) show taking place at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles next week. The show starts on Thursday and lasts through to Sunday.

We are proud to announce that GRAPHISOFT is also hosting a special speaker presentation during the DOD convention. The topic “BIM for Interior Design” will be presented by Product Manger, Yanni Alexakis and Mackenzie King of Tracy A. Stone Architect. King knows from her work that BIM is very useful in interior design. She and Alexakis will discuss how ArchiCAD provides an affordable, effective, and efficient tool for communicating ideas, analyzing and evaluating space, and helping to forecast the performance of a finished building.

The workshop, scheduled for Friday the 21st at noon allows participants to gain personal experience utilizing BIM technology in a real-world application. Participants will see the benefits of BIM firsthand and learn how the technology is positioning interior designers to be more competitive, productive, and profitable.

SEA as a company employs innovative and unusual materials to achieve environmentally conscious design. Work by SEA includes custom residential projects that are visually interesting and definitely outside the norm.

One such project involved the compelling use of the wings of a 747 aircraft to create a house. “We use ArchiCAD for numerous innovative projects. The wing house was probably the most unique of late.”

The components of the plane were challenging to use since the trimming of the walls and windows as they intersected was, at the time, not a standard operation in the model. As the firm evolved, using each iteration of ArchiCAD from version 8 to version 16, the team found ways to capitalize on their expertise with ArchiCAD with each new version, improving workflow.

“The most significant workflow enhancement happened for us between version 9 and 10. The back and forth between individual project managers became extremely efficient.”

The firm deals with high end custom jobs and large commercial projects as well. No matter what the size of the project, David believes the ability to model in 3D and have the entire project visualized removes any disconnect between the client and the designer.

“There is no better way to describe the selling point that 3D is. With ArchiCAD you have the added tool of BIMx, which literally makes your renderings come alive.”

SEA has created renderings that serve to help clients move a project forward on a community level; photo montages provide a realistic portrayal of how the building will fit in a particular location, facilitating developers to get the green light for a project.

In situations where SEA has to collaborate with another company that is operating a different BIM software, ArchiCAD allows them to work seamlessly.

“It has never mattered in my experience when we’re dealing with someone using anything other than ArchiCAD. All those other programs are trying to be ArchiCAD in my opinion, since ArchiCAD is the first and only true BIM software. Making the investment into ArchiCAD, as far as realizing the coordination of construction data into the model, the collaboration of that data with other programs, has allowed us to be more productive on more projects.”

Pictured left to right: Gaudi Nunez, Rori Wade, Zaynab Shalaby, Angela Corpuz, Hee Suh Dennis, Christiaan Davis, Richelie Ruby, Sharon Goematt (Project Manager), Fabiola Ettiene, Rahid Cornejo, Libertad Lauren McLellan (Mock-up Team Leader), Angelika Los, Daniel Beltran, Paolo Coticelli (Structure Team Leader), Brian Petrucci

The group project, asks the students to design and eventually build part of a train station that could hypothetically be installed in Newark NJ’s Ironbound section. The Masonry Contractors of NJ and the International Masonry Institute co-sponsor the Masonry Build Competition, which culminates in the construction of fragments of the train station on nine 6X8 concrete foundations that line the promenade of Weston Hall, site of the NJIT architecture school.

There were fifteen second year students in the group, led by Project Manager Sharon Goematt – dubbed “Team Orange”- that decided to use ArchiCAD and the presentation tool, BIMx, to create and demonstrate their project, a bold move considering none of the students had any first-hand experience with the software. In fact, they had been introduced to ArchiCAD through an on-campus demonstration given by Zoltan Toth, GRAPHISOFT BIM Consultant, and Charlie Cooper, GRAPHISOFT Regional Sales Manager just days before the project began. It was at that presentation that the group decided to work on the project with ArchiCAD.

Mock-Up Team leader, Lauren McLellan, explained that in spite of a tight deadline, unfamiliar software, the chance to actually build something, and a final grade being on the line – none of her project team members felt intimidated. “There was so much riding on the execution of our project, but we didn’t get bogged down by that. The environment at NJIT has helped us learn how to learn by doing. Our professors are not afraid to push us on a regular basis. We were ready for this challenge and never regretted choosing ArchiCAD.”

McLellan says the students all look forward to actually getting to build something in the course of this project. Some teams chose to use traditional building techniques and created a design with cribs (a brick stacking technique), but Lauren’s team employed a folding masonry technique – one field of brick.

Taking inspiration from the work of South American architects – they employed the notion that, if you take a piece of paper and fold it, you understand structure – every action has a counteraction to make it stand up. Throughout the design phase, masons were brought in to review the soundness of the design and doubted it would work.

Eventually the team got a much needed endorsement from their studio professor, architect Ersela Kripa. Kripa has become known in her profession as one who pushes limits. She resoundingly vouched for the students, their concept and future in the industry – supporting the students with her professional experience throughout the project.

Kripa says, “When students master the ability to present the layered complexity of their work in a tangible and enthralling way, they are capable of entering the architectural profession at a sophisticated level, empowered with the tools of the next decades.”

The morph tool found in ArchiCAD 16 proved helpful to the team during the initial design phase as they applied materials. But what really gave the project an advantage over others in the class was the ability to employ BIMx to show the space and take judges through the model – in 3D. The students had thought about creating the presentation in 3DSMax, but dropped it in favor of the higher quality found in BIMx.

“We are so glad we chose to make our presentation in BIMx, it definitely gave us that wow factor. Up until presentation day, we had kept the fact we were using ArchiCAD sort of hushed,” explained Structural Team Leader Paolo Coticelli. “When we handed out the 3D glasses, we could tell right then we were about to make an impression, and we did.”

The team pointed to some trouble with the way 3DSMax handled lighting effects as a contributing factor to choosing another 3D program. The fly-through capability as well as the capacity to configure a play station controller provided a plus in the BIMx column for the team.

Prior to this demonstration, in the ten year history of the competition, no NJIT team had created a presentation in 3D. Lauren and Paolo say they have no doubt that they’ve raised the bar and set a precedent for next year’s competition.

“The schools required a different mindset from a house. What I’ve done is learned to make the most of my models; I see them as a very effective tool. It is powerful, but if you don’t use it well, it can be akin to trying to cut paper with a band saw. Sure you can cut it, but the end result might not be what you’re looking for.”

What Rawlings consistently looks for are ways to be efficient and effective at the same time. The ArchiCAD model helps him achieve this.

“I get the most out of the model; I get client approvals quickly because I don’t show 2D drawings like elevations and sections that can be hard to visualize for a person without any architectural background. Because the 2D drawings typically require embellishment and notation, by only showing 3D images and plans, I avoid duplicating work when changes are requested during the design process. The 3D model makes it all clear because the client instantly understands what they’re getting. At the same time, the building information modeling process generates real walls. I have my composite structure set up and I line up my concrete foundation from the beginning.”

Rawlings explains further, “I have been able to create permit drawings from the beginning and generate an entire house that is not just a box. I’m building with dimension, eliminating confusion in the field, and working with builders who’ll understand what’s going on from the model. Start to finish, I can create a home design in 50 billable hours.”

Not only is ArchiCAD helping Rawlings to be efficient, he’s being proficient – designing forty houses in a single year in 2012. According to him, architects can create a lively practice by focusing on homeowners and helping them bridge the gap between simple, boxy homes and million dollar mansions – whether designing directly for the homeowners or providing quality spec home designs for a builder that are unique and specific to a single lot.

“Homeowners do want a spec house that is well designed; the demand is huge. Cookie cutter homes offer cost savings, but the spec house market has very few options, especially for upper middle income earners that can’t afford the time or expense to custom build. My opinion is you can save money on a home and still get a unique and well-designed house if your architect can make the most of their model. Many talented builders are looking for an edge to stand out from the pack to fill this void and an efficient architect can help them produce the custom spec houses that sell.”

Rawlings works to create a model he knows can be transformed right into permit drawings without any readjustment. If he knows there will be a brick wall at one location in the home, he’ll select it from his customized list of “favorites” containing composite walls, floors, roofs, equipment, fixtures, etc. The schematic translates to construction documents because all the components are there – an efficiency he knows is not possible with other BIM software programs.

“I honestly know I could not create this kind of efficiency using anything else but ArchiCAD. Those 3D visuals are critical to my producing something my clients understand, so I can get their approval. I draw it once with all the information and get it done.”

Location: Price, Utah

Course title: Residential Architecture – the study of basic concepts to help the students grasp ideas that will help them pursue and further their education in architecture and related studies through the use of ArchiCAD. Students are introduced to the concepts of drafting, design and basic architecture. Students are tasked with building a cabin model in ArchiCAD to help them explore the software; learn how to change the walls, properties of the elements and so forth. As the students progress, they are given an area and an income limit and must research and create a home that fits within those restrictions. Their final project includes creating foundations, walls and coding the building processes as well as obtaining permits and acquiring certifications.

Professor: Elias Perez – “The functionality in ArchiCAD is very conducive to the learning environment. My students learn to manipulate the planes, create better representations of surface and so on. ArchiCAD gives them the ability to make changes effortlessly; relocating doors with one click instead of a cumbersome click and drag process. The elevations and projections in our previous workflow were time consuming – but with ArchiCAD it is a byproduct. There’s no need to draw anything more than once. The section views are done, elevations are done, every item that you have and component is cataloged – windows, doors, everything is there. I really like the way the roof wizard works, I find it is a great tool for my students. By teaching my students how to use ArchiCAD, I believe I’m helping them be more creative, more productive and become sought-after candidates for employers down the road.”

The coolest.

So take that “cool” and add the chance to have a face to face meeting of those “socially networked” people so they can shake hands, share ideas and really be social and you have THE social event of the month.

The GRAPHISOFT sponsored AIA 2013 TweetUp.

What’s a TweetUp?

The name “TweetUp” comes from mashing “meet up” to “Tweet” – what is done on Twitter – and basically involves an informal get together where people who for the most part only know each other through an @user name to shake hands, network and socialize over snacks and cocktails (if that’s your thing).

The best part? No 140 character limit!

When is the TweetUp?

It’s happening on Friday during the AIA Conference in Denver – at Booth #3319 from 3:00 – 4:00.

How much is the TweetUp?

It’s free!

Who is going to the TweetUp?

GRAPHISOFT is sponsoring it, so we’ll be there for sure. There’ll be a quick speech and you’ll be invited back to our booth to look around and continue the fun. Pretty much anyone who’ll be at the AIA Conference on Friday can attend. To get an idea of who’ll be there ahead of time, monitor the hashtag #AIA2013 and #ArchiCAD to round up your list of user names to meet in person, maybe for the first time!

Why go to the TweetUp?

You’ll be getting a chance to transform the connections you already have online (which are virtual) into reality. You’ll be networking IRL (or “in real life”)

So make some time to get to know the user behind the @username and go to the TweetUp, you’ll be glad you did!

Not going to be at AIA?  No Worries.

(If you won’t be at the AIA Conference, don’t worry! You can still participate – the TweetUp will have a virtual element to it as well. Just follow the #AIA2013 hashtag on Twitter to keep up with the conversation. We’ll post photos and let you know what the buzz is about.)

We are so looking forward to this year’s AIA National Convention. That’s when GRAPHISOFT will showcase the latest version of its premium BIM software. ArchiCAD® 17. It will be the first time in the U.S. that GRAPHISOFT will demonstrate the new solutions and key customer focused initiatives found in ArchiCAD 17.

The live demo of ArchiCAD 17 will give you a chance to see first-hand how the use of the software simplifies the modeling and documentation of buildings. This is true even when complex models contain high levels of detail – and it lets your models stay live until the very end of the project. No more switching to 2D to create construction documentation. Priority based connections built in to the model automatically provide level sections and details – making all the work you’ve put into the BIM useful to the very end of the project.

You can find us at booth #3710 in the Colorado Convention Center, June 20-22.

And that’s just one of the many highlights of the show. On Thursday, GRAPHISOFT is sponsoring a show floor education session; “Creating Your Ecosystem”. This session, scheduled for 2pm on the AIA Convention Floor in CE Theatre C will discuss how to use ArchiCAD17 to create unique solutions that result in successful projects.

Led by Russ Sanders, Orcutt Winslow AIA and Monte Chapin, GRAPHISOFT Business Process Leader, North America the discussion will include ideas about how to develop a BIM team that you trust. They’ll describe ways to create a seamless, collaborative workflow and take advantage of all the capabilities of ArchiCAD 17 so that all team members – architects, engineers, contractors, and owner representatives can successfully pass files back and forth across time zones, platforms, and tools throughout the life of the project. Each member of the team can design and output work faster and more accurately by implementing IFC exchange, building information modeling (BIM) server technology, and other file sharing and checking tools.

The webinar demonstration of ArchiCAD 17 is coming up next month. It will feature and use the actual model of one of Moscow’s most prestigious buildings, the Mosfilmovskaya Street multi-functional complex, designed by Sergey Skuratov Architects with ArchiCAD.

Scheduled for June 18th, the webinar will give you a chance to see how ArchiCAD 17 provides a one-of-a-kind BIM-based documentation workflow – that can handle a large building complex – providing automatic junctions, live 3D plane cutting and . With the new features found in ArchiCAD 17, architects will enjoy a simplified modeling and documentation process – on building models that are made up of extremely high levels of detail.

Even with such complexity – the model in ArchiCAD’s end-to-end BIM workflow will stay live until the very end of the project. That’s thanks to improved industry-first background processing support, so you can generate even the most complex model details without slowing down your work.

It has never been simpler to go green with your design – as ArchiCAD 17 includes improved energy evaluation built in to the software. Now you can conduct energy evaluation with standard compliant technology with support of multiple thermal blocks.

Registration is open, click here to see all the sessions for locations worldwide.