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Our R&D department packs a lot of exciting features into every new release. When we ask customers about which ones were key in their decision to upgrade, DWG improvements always rank high. Although I hear reports from customers of excellent translation fidelity, I've started to imagine a better world in which DWG files aren't necessary and your entire design process remains in VectorWorks format. With the exciting growth of VectorWorks, many regions now have a high enough concentration of VectorWorks users to make this possible. What is missing is a way for all these new customers to connect with the rest of the VectorWorks user community.
In response, we're relaunching the VectorWorks Service Directory this month. This is where you can find other firms that use VectorWorks, by discipline. So, whether you need a structural engineer, landscape designer or industrial designer, this web page will help you find someone who can work with you without any translation. I encourage you to list your firm if you're interested in working with other VectorWorks users. Also, if you have suggestions about how to make this page more useful to you, please email .
As this issue is released, the first maintenance release of VectorWorks 12 is available. Thanks to everybody who took the time to help us improve VectorWorks quality by making suggestions and reporting problems. This release also forms the foundation of our translated versions, which should start launching at the end of the month. Check with your dealer if you've been waiting patiently to use the great new VectorWorks 12 features in a non-English version. For those curious about Rosetta performance, check the support area of our website for the latest compatibility information and what you need to know if you're buying a new Intel Mac.
I'd like to conclude by congratulating Mr. Roberto Roviro, winner of The Miami Monument International Design Competition. Read more about his winning entry below.
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Sincerely,
Sean Flaherty
CEO, Nemetschek North America
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Miami Sunspars
Miami, Florida
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Landscape architect Roberto Rovira designed the winning entry to the Miami Monument Competition in VectorWorks. |
 The Miami Monument Competition sought visionary designs for a marker that would celebrate the city of Miami and distinguish its skyline from that of other great cities in the world. The structure had to encourage civic involvement, as well as strengthen the urban fabric of the city by creating an iconic structure—a monument—to the pioneering and evolving nature of Miami.
The winning design
Using VectorWorks, Roberto Rovira, landscape architect and assistant professor in the landscape architecture department at Florida International University's School of Architecture, designed the winning entry.
The Miami Sunspars consist of three solar-powered towers capable of transforming from dramatic vertical lookouts into horizontal pedestrian bridges. The Sunspars communicate civic, climatological and cultural events via a streaming media bar that runs along the spine of each of the towers. Visible from both land and sea, they symbolize the dynamic nature of Miami by creating a monument that prominently defines the city's urban profile and doubles as a functional pedestrian network in a car-dominated environment, while re-interpreting the concept of a contemporary monument as a dynamic, sustainable structure.
The versatility of VectorWorks
According to Rovira, "The inherent versatility of VectorWorks makes it extremely compatible with the interdisciplinary nature of my work. Projects like The Miami Sunspars require the ability to handle complex shapes and details, while others require an interface that can quickly and smoothly generate design solutions without an overly complicated process. VectorWorks can easily handle both ends of the spectrum."
Overcoming technical challenges
The project presented several technical challenges for Rovira that VectorWorks was able to help him solve.
"Line weight control was essential, since the canopy of the Sunspars had to be very delicately rendered against the silhouetted background of the city," he explains. "In addition, the Sunspars' oblong shape had to be modeled three-dimensionally and evaluated from different angles to simulate the action of the rotating structures and generate graphics that I could incorporate into the competition boards. I used VectorWorks to generate the concave skins of the Sunspars and exported them into Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and SketchUp."
Using NURBS and Open GL renderings to test design alternatives
VectorWorks allowed Rovira to quickly test several design alternatives.
"VectorWorks' ability to manipulate three-dimensional shapes using NURBS curves, quickly view Open GL renderings and then turn these around into exportable shapes, made for a versatile process through which I could quickly test design alternatives and meet the project's deadline," says Rovira.
He adds, "In fact, VectorWorks' ease of use and intuitive interface across the board allows for a much more efficient investigation of design alternatives that, in the end, allows for better designs to evolve. VectorWorks makes this process much more approachable than other programs I've been exposed to."
Taking advantage of an object-based environment
Rovira looks forward to employing the VectorWorks object-based environment to future phases of design development, as he is exploring funding opportunities to further develop the proposal and generate 3D models.
"I am confident that VectorWorks' object-based environment and very simple, but powerful, symbol interface will prove as critical to this project as it has been to many others I have done," he affirms. "In a project of this nature, where a great many components will more than likely have to be custom, having the ability to globally adjust a symbol's dimensional qualities with one click will be indispensable. The built-in hardware and structural member libraries are great assets as well; when combined with custom-made symbols, they make for a very powerful platform capable of exploring design options very quickly."
You can read the complete case study of Roberto Rovira's Miami Sunspars entry on the Case Studies page of our website.
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How can I access the online help on a Macintosh®? |
Our online help system depends on Java™ and the Apple Java Runtime Environment. The Safari™ browser is occasionally unreliable for use with online help on the Macintosh. We are working to resolve these problems. In the meantime, please consider the following:
If you have difficulty accessing multiple consecutive help topics, try clearing the Safari cache to work around the problem. To do this, select "Empty Cache..." from the Safari menu and click "Empty" in the dialog box which displays next. Alternatively, this function is available from the keyboard as Command-Option-E.
The Firefox® browser has performed reliably and is currently recommended for use with online help on the Macintosh. Firefox is a very popular and functional web browser and can be easily used alongside Safari.
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How can I control the Flyover tool from a specific point in the drawing? |
New for the Flyover tool is the Interactive Origin Mode, the first mode in the mode bar. A quick click anywhere in your drawing will place the point of rotation, which can be in blank space or at any point on an object. Flying around in 3D couldn't be easier!
(See Image 2-1 and 2-2)
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How can I change the layer stacking order using the Navigation palette with the VectorWorks Design Series? |
Re-arranging the stacking order of design layers is done in either the Organization dialog box or in the Navigation palette. The up and down buttons have been replaced by easier the drag and drop method. Be sure to position the cursor under the stacking order column (labeled with a #) before attempting to move layers – you'll know you're in the proper location when the cursor changes.
(See Image 3-1)
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VectorWorks 12.0.1 Now Available
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VectorWorks version 12.0.1, a maintenance update for VectorWorks Designer, VectorWorks Architect, VectorWorks Landmark, VectorWorks Spotlight, VectorWorks Machine Design, VectorWorks Fundamentals, and RenderWorks is available for download. Free to VectorWorks 12 users, this product update offers several improvements and also provides new functionality.
"VectorWorks 12.0.1 offers improvements in performance and stability our users will appreciate, as well a number of new features, which will be of interest to all VectorWorks users," says Paul Pharr, Nemetschek North America’s chief technology officer.
Notable additions to VectorWorks 12.0.1 include new center snapping for regular polygons, the ability to display section views in perspective projections, the ability to import SketchUp® architectural elements into VectorWorks Designer, VectorWorks Architect, VectorWorks Landmark, and VectorWorks Spotlight, 3D image prop support in the Place Plant tool for VectorWorks Landmark, and new lighting device capabilities for VectorWorks Spotlight with RenderWorks. For complete information on new and enhanced features in VectorWorks 12.0.1, go to: www.nemetschek.net/upgrade/index.php
For more information and to download the 12.0.1 update at no charge, visit the 12.0.1 downloads page.
For a nominal fee, the 12.0.1 update is available on CD-ROM or DVD. Customers interested in the CD-ROM or DVD should contact Nemetschek North America’s customer service department. International customers should contact their local distributors for pricing and availability.
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VectorWorks User Wins Miami Monument International Design Competition
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Nemetschek North America is proud to congratulate Mr. Roberto Rovira, assistant professor of the Landscape Architecture Program at the Florida International University's School of Architecture, for winning the recent Miami Monument International Design Competition. A landscape architect and long-time VectorWorks user, Rovira used VectorWorks to design the winning entry, entitled Miami Sunspars.
"It's a testament to VectorWorks' versatility that it is part of almost every project I do, from landscape architecture to sculpture and printmaking," said Rovira. "This project afforded me the perfect opportunity to synthesize architecture with landscape and sculpture, and VectorWorks continues to be the software that allows for powerful, yet uncomplicated, design development of projects that bridge these realms."
He continued, "In a city known for its dynamic ability to change and adjust regardless of adversity—hurricanes being a prominent one in recent months—I had the opportunity to redefine the concept of a monument as more than a static entity. "
The project has generated such interest that Rovira is exploring funding opportunities to further develop the proposal and generate 3D models of the concept.
The competition was co-sponsored by the AIA-Miami and Spine3D, an architectural visualization company based in Miami.
View and read more about the Miami Sunspars at the Miami Monument website: www.miamimonument.com/winners.php
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Architosh Launches Free ToshLetter™
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Macintosh®-based VectorWorks users are invited to check out Architosh's new monthly newsletter.
Architosh.com introduced the new ToshLetter™ newsletter focused on the Macintosh CAD/3D industries in late 2005. The PDF-based publication brings a unique focus to the industry, with original content aimed at executive-level discussion, CAD and 3D industry news and analysis, and special in-depth feature articles. Each newsletter is organized around a topical range of issues and includes intelligent hyperlinks to further resources on the web.
To subscribe, visit the ToshLetter sign-up web page and complete a brief information sheet.
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Employment Opportunity at Nemetschek: Project Architect
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Are you looking for a career change? Do you know anyone who is? Nemetschek North America is looking to hire a project architect.
The project architect will work with the vice president of Integrated Products and the marketing department to test and evaluate features and process in the VectorWorks Design Series products. This individual will create complete architectural projects in VectorWorks Architect and related products to evaluate features, validate processes and establish best practices. On occasion, this individual will also make product demonstrations and presentations to groups of AEC users.
Sound interesting? Visit the Community Job Board page of Nemetschek North America's website to read the full Project Architect job description, then email a cover letter and your resume to .
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TRADE SHOW DATES |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
Mar 02 - Mar 04 |
Southeastern Theatre Conference |
Orlando, FL (Booth #13) |
Mar 23 - Mar 24 |
ITEA Annual Conference |
Baltimore, MD (Booth #510) |
Mar 23 - Mar 26 |
Labash 2006 |
College Park, MD |
Mar 24 - Mar 25 |
JLC Live New England |
Providence, RI (Booth #808) |
Mar 30 - Apr 01 |
USITT Stage Expo |
Louisville, KY (Booth #275) |
Apr 05 - Apr 06 |
Residential Design 2006 |
Boston, MA (Booth #345) |
May 18 - May 19 |
JLC Live Southern California |
Anaheim, CA |
June 2 |
SEGD Expo |
Hollywood, CA (Booth #512) |
Jun 08 - Jun 10 |
AIA National Convention |
Los Angeles, CA (Booth #4149) |
Jun 20 - Jun 23 |
PCBC |
San Francisco, CA (Booth #7441) |
Jun 20 - Jun 22 |
Skills USA Techspo |
Kansas City, MO (Booth #423)
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SPECIAL EVENT DATES |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
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Feb 18 |
Software Shootout |
Wellesley, Massachusetts |
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TRAINING DATES |
LOCATION |
CLASS |
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Feb 15 - Feb 17 |
Columbia, MD |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• Landmark Fundamentals |
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Feb 16 - Feb 17 |
Los Angeles, CA |
• 3D Modeling and Rendering |
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Feb 22 - Feb 24 |
New York, NY |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• VectorWorks Fundamentals |
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Mar 08 - Mar 10 |
Columbia, MD |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• Architect Fundamentals |
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Mar 22 - Mar 24 |
Denver, CO |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• Architect Fundamentals |
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Apr 03 - Apr 05 |
New York, NY |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• Architect Fundamentals |
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Apr 06 - Apr 07 |
Columbia, MD |
• 3D Modeling and Rendering |
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Apr 17 - Apr 19 |
San Francisco, CA |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• Architect Fundamentals |
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May 04 - May 05 |
San Francisco, CA |
• 3D Modeling and Rendering |
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May 11 - May 12 |
New York, NY |
• 3D Modeling and Rendering |
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May 15 - May 17 |
Columbia, MD |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• VectorWorks Fundamentals |
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Jun 07 - Jun 09 |
Los Angeles, CA |
• Intro to VectorWorks
• VectorWorks Fundamentals |
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USER GROUP MEETINGS |
GROUP |
LOCATION |
Feb 16 |
Mid-Atlantic VectorWorks User Group |
Nemetschek North America
Columbia, Maryland |
Feb 20 |
Wellington User Group
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Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington,
New Zealand
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Feb 21 |
Auckland User Group
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UNITEC
Auckland,
New Zealand
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Feb 22 |
Christchurch User Group |
St. Margaret's College
Christchurch,
New Zealand
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Mar 2 |
Bellingham, Washington User Group |
Fairhaven Village Inn
Bellingham, Washington
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AIA Accreditation
NNA is pleased to offer AIA Continuing Education credit for our
seminars. The VectorWorks and VectorWorks ARCHITECT classes are AIA CES certified, so attendees can earn up to 24 CES learning units. For additional information, contact training@nemetschek.net.
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