Firm Honored for Use of Building Information Modeling Process on Large-Scale and Sustainable Projects

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) has announced that Dunham Associates, a Minnesota-based mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm, has been selected to receive a Revit BIM Experience Award. The firm is being recognized for its adoption of building information modeling (BIM) and the use of Revit MEP software for the design and documentation of large-scale projects. Dunham Associates is also being honored for supporting a collaborative, multi-discipline approach based on a shared Revit MEP model, and for the use of Revit MEP software for sustainable design.

"BIM has helped us significantly in the design coordination of mechanical and electrical equipment and systems within building structures," said Jay Rohkohl, executive vice president for Dunham Associates. "When we adopted Revit MEP with its 3D modeling environment we could fully visualize the emerging design. This allowed us to do a better job fitting piping, ductwork and equipment into tight spaces, which optimized space usage within the facility. And by sharing Revit-based design models with the project's architect and structural engineer, all of us could identify and resolve interferences and other design issues early in the design phase."

Founded in 1960, Minneapolis-based Dunham Associates is a mechanical and electrical consulting firm that provides engineering services to its clients across the country in aviation, commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality and retail sectors. With nearly 50 LEED-accredited professionals on staff, the firm offers extensive knowledge and experience in sustainable design. Notable examples include the Great River Energy Headquarters in Minnesota (a LEED Platinum building); the Wilder Center, St. Paul, MN, targeted for LEED Gold certification; and Dunham's own Commercial Interiors headquarters in Minneapolis (a LEED Silver-CI building). In addition to Revit MEP, the firm also uses AutoCAD software, AutoCAD MEP software and Autodesk Buzzsaw collaborative project management software. Minnesota-based CAD Technology Center provided Autodesk software and implementation support including Revit MEP content creation services to accelerate project delivery.

BIM Process Applied to Major Hospital and Green Building Projects

Dunham Associates has demonstrated successful use of the BIM process on multiple projects including the Maple Grove Hospital and the University of Minnesota Duluth's new Civil Engineering building. The Maple Grove Hospital is a new full-service, 300,000-square-foot hospital currently under construction and scheduled to open in December 2009. A collaborative, multi-discipline BIM process and Autodesk Revit MEP software were used to tackle a complex mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design, including a particularly challenging, large equipment yard that houses three electrical service transformers, two emergency generators, the chiller system cooling towers and the bulk oxygen tank. Using Revit MEP, Dunham coordinated its design across disciplines by linking the plumbing and electrical system models to the HVAC model, and also by leveraging Revit Architecture models from BWBR Architects and Revit Structure models from the structural engineer. By sharing Revit-based models, the entire design team was better able to identify and resolve interferences and other issues early in the design phase -- issues that normally might not have been found until construction.

For the new Civil Engineering building at the University of Minnesota, Duluth a BIM process and Autodesk Revit MEP were applied to target a LEED Gold rating. Currently under construction, the new mixed-use classroom/lab facility will include sustainable elements such as a displacement ventilation heating and cooling system, rain water capture, low-consumption toilets with manual dual-flush valves, automatic urinal flush valves, lighting control systems and high-efficiency motors to reduce energy use. On this project, Revit MEP software's 3D modeling environment and design visualization capabilities gave Dunham's engineers - as well as SJA Architects (principal architect), Ross Barney Architects (design architect), the structural engineer, contractors and owner -- the ability to visualize the interaction among all building components and clarify the engineering design for installation.

About BIM

BIM is an integrated process that allows architects, engineers and builders to explore a project digitally before it's built. Coordinated, reliable information is used throughout the process to design innovative projects, accurately visualize appearance for better communication, and simulate real-world performance for better understanding of important characteristics such as cost, scheduling, and environmental impact.

About the Revit BIM Experience Award

The Revit BIM Experience Award celebrates building industry professionals and educators around the world who are helping to transform the building industry through building information modeling. Autodesk honors firms with this award for innovation and excellence in implementing the Revit platform (including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP software applications) for building information modeling on one or more projects. Details of winning projects are available on the Revit BIM Experience Award site.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Buzzsaw and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

(C) 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact: Ralph Bond, 503-707-3920
Email: ralph.bond@autodesk.com

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