The roll-out of VectorWorks 2008 finally ended this month as we launched 2008 in our last and biggest market: Japan. Biplab Sarkar and I took a part of the U.S. roll-out tour to Tokyo and Osaka as guest presenters, though the interpreter gave up on trying to simultaneously translate the product demonstration. Luckily, customers in the other ten cities on the tour got to see a full Japanese presentation.
This was my first visit to Japan where Building Information Modeling (BIM) seemed like an important topic to many of the larger architectural firms. Japan is an interesting place to watch technology adoption. Despite their high-tech reputation, I've found the Japanese take a very conservative approach to technology. Once a technology is proven, however, there is a nearly instantaneous shift in the marketplace to adopt it. I'll be curious to watch how BIM technology is adopted in Japan and which phases of the marketplace move first.
Speaking of BIM, recently our VP for Integrated Products, Robert Anderson, one of our architects, Jeff Ouellette, and beta tester Stan Rostas participated in Onuma BIMStorm™ LAX. This was a technology showcase that demonstrated how teams of architects and urban planners around the world could collaborate on concepts to redevelop a part of downtown Los Angeles. Using the Onuma Planning System as the collaboration platform, our team used VectorWorks Architect to submit a concept to the project. Although other parts of the world appear to be embracing this use of BIM more than the U.S., I see great potential for this to bring BIM to architects faster than integrated construction techniques. If you are interested in how BIM techniques can be used at city-wide planning level, you should definitely check out the results by going to Onuma BIMStorm™ LAX.
Regards,
Sean Flaherty
CEO, Nemetschek North America
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RenderWorks Users Invited to Participate in Image Competition: LightWork Design is sponsoring an Image Competition, awarding an 8 GB Apple IPod® touch for the best image rendered with a LightWork Design application, such as RenderWorks. VectorWorks with RenderWorks users are eligible to enter. The competition is being held quarterly, and the first due date is Wednesday, April 30, 2008. READ MORE
Free Viewer for VectorWorks 2008 Now Available: A free, downloadable VectorWorks Viewer application is now available. This Viewer has been updated for VectorWorks 2008 and includes all quality improvements which were recently released in Service Pack 2. The Viewer enables those who do not own the program to view and print projects created in all VectorWorks 2008 software products.
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Nemetschek North America Co-Sponsors and Participates in BIMStorm LAX: Nemetschek North America was a co-sponsor and participant in Onuma BIMStorm™ LAX, an international event involving a wide cross-section of building industry professionals to design—in real time—over 30 Los Angeles city blocks encompassing 30 million square feet. The event demonstrated how new technology and processes can improve design. READ MORE
VectorWorks 2008 Reviews: Several print and online publications have given VectorWorks 2008 very positive reviews. MacCompanion says VectorWorks 2008 is "near perfect… It beats the socks off AutoCAD." This and other reviews by Macworld, Cadalyst, and Live Design can be found on the VectorWorks web site at www.nemetschek.net/news/reviews.php
Tutorial Manual for VectorWorks Landmark 2008 Now Available: New Zealand publisher archoncad has released its VectorWorks Landmark 2008 tutorial manual and CD-ROM for Vectorworks 2008. Manual written by Jonathan Pickup, features a series of projects designed to teach landscape professionals how to use VectorWorks Landmark. For more information go to http://www.archoncad.com/landmark-tutorial-manual-for-vectorworks-.html
Nemetschek North America Donates VectorWorks to Help Rebuild New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward: Nemetschek North America has donated VectorWorks Architect 2008 to the Design Studio at the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA). The Design Studio at NENA will use the software to assist in its efforts to help residents of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward rebuild their neighborhood. READ MORE
2008 GRAMMY Celebration® Staged with VectorWorks Designer: Angel City Designs and Along Came Mary Productions, Inc., used VectorWorks Designer to help design and stage the largest awards show celebration in the entertainment industry for The Recording Academy®. READ MORE
Messana O’Rorke Architects in the News: Projects by New York firm Messana O’Rorke Architects are featured in several current magazines and online publications this month. Slow Home spotlights Tank House Loft , an urban retreat incorporating an old rooftop sprinkle tank; Ten Broeck Cottage, a modern addition to an 18th-century homestead; and Storefront Loft, an ultra-modern East Village living space. "Bright Idea" in the January/February issue of Elle Décor also features Storefront Loft, and British Homes & Gardens showcases Ten Broeck Cottage in "Brave New Work" on pages 55-61.
Washington Post Features Local VectorWorks Landmark User: Landscape designer Jeffrey Stann modeled a classical temple in his back yard on one found in Prince Charles’ Highgrove estate garden, which has earned acclaim for its overall sustainability. Made of pressure-treated lumber, Stann’s monument is a practical take on the ancient stone structures and echoes Prince Charles’ ecologically-sensitive version, which is made of green oak and bleached deadwood.
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Doug Farr Publishes Book on Sustainable Urbanism: Architect Doug Farr used VectorWorks to create some of the most instrumental drawings in his book Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature. Doug Farr is the founding principal and president of Farr Associates, a Chicago-based architectural firm dedicated to sustainable urbanism. He has served as co-chair of the Environmental Task Force of the Congress for the New Urbanism, chair of the AIA Chicago Committee on the Environment, and chair of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Core Committees. READ MORE
Kevin Shertz Wins AIA Award: Chestertown, Maryland, architect Kevin M. Shertz, AIA won a 2007 Citation for Architectural Excellence for his Hollywood Beach House project. READ MORE
Raymond Beeler Architect PC Wins Three AIA Awards: Raymond Beeler Architect PC was awarded a 2007 AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapter First Honor Award and a 2007 AIA Long Island Chapter "Archi" Award for the Syosset Public Library Expansion. The Pelham, New York, firm also received an "Archi" Award commendation from the AIA Long Island for its Baldwin Public Library Expansion. READ MORE
Custom Title Block: In this tech tip, we demonstrate step by step how to create a custom title block and configure it to interact with the Object Info Palette. WATCH
Dormers and Skylights: In this video tech tip, we demonstrate step by step how to create and insert dormers and skylights into roofs. WATCH
Trade Shows
Feb 21-23: LAbash 2008, Guelph, ON
Mar 06-08: SETC, Chattanooga, TN
Mar 20-22: USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo, Houston, TX (Booth #880)
Mar 28-29: JLC Live New England, Providence, RI (Booth #908)
Apr 02-03: Residential Design Show, Boston, MA (Booth #428)
Apr 21-23: ASLA Central States Conference, St. Louis, MO (Booth #26)
All Trade Shows
Training
Feb 25-26: 3D Modeling and Rendering, San Francisco, CA
Mar 03-05: Intro to VectorWorks and Landmark Fundamentals, Columbia, MD
Mar 12-14: Intro to VectorWorks and Spotlight Fundamentals, Las Vegas, NV
All Training
User Group Meetings
Feb 26: Eastern PA VectorWorks User Group Meeting
Feb 26: Connecticut VectorWorks User Group Meeting
Feb 27: New York VectorWorks User Group Meeting
Mar 11: Northern CA VectorWorks User Group Meeting
Other Events
Feb 26: Integrating CAD and Green Design, Chicago, IL
Along Came Mary Productions, Inc. & Angel City Designs: The GRAMMY Celebration is the largest awards show celebration in the entertainment industry. With 6,000 guests, this year’s celebration covered 98,000 square feet of party space—the size of three football fields. It took four months to plan, but planners only had four hours to transform Hall A of the Los Angeles Convention Center from the pre-telecast show into the post-telecast party. Pre-eminent high-end special event and catering company Along Came Mary Productions, Inc., pulled it off with the help of many hands and VectorWorks Spotlight. From the initial conceptual design by Angel City Designs to the placement of every last chair by Classic Party Rentals, every detail was executed in VectorWorks.
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AnimationWorks 1.2 is an add-on for VectorWorks 11, 12 and 2008 that allows you to create complex camera or object animations entirely within VectorWorks, then save them as QuickTime® movies that can be viewed by anyone who has QuickTime installed (available for free download from Apple). For more information, visit http://www.ozcad.com.au
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