Firm Honored for Use of Building Information Modeling Process for Innovative Mass-Customization and File-to-Factory Fabrication

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) has announced that ONL [Oosterhuis_Lenard], a multidisciplinary design firm with offices in Rotterdam and Budapest, has been selected to receive a Revit BIM Experience Award. The firm is being recognized for use of a building information modeling (BIM) process for innovative mass-customization and file-to-factory fabrication strategies, and for employing an integrated Revit Architecture and Autodesk 3ds Max Design software workflow for visionary, non-standard architectural designs. The award also recognizes ONL's use of Revit Architecture software for sustainable design strategies.

"As buildings become more complex, the need to control the huge amount of data required for engineering and production will depend heavily on data sets arising from BIM processes that include every aspect of the building," said Gijs Joosen, senior project architect, ONL. "Making all this information available in a digital model will help enable high levels of quality control, data synchronization and CNC-enabled production processes."

Founded in 1989, ONL currently employs a staff of architects, visual artists, web designers and programmers, and is known for the design of non-standard architecture and for the construction of affordable, custom components for geometrically complex projects where none of the base elements are the same. The firm's diverse portfolio includes the WEB of North-Holland, the Saltwater Pavilion and the F-side housing project in Amsterdam. To support the need for high-quality, coordinated design information, ONL adopted Revit Architecture for BIM in 2004, integrating its use with Autodesk 3ds Max Design software. MonArch Kft and MacroCad B.V. provided Autodesk software and implementation support.

ONL has demonstrated exemplary use of the BIM process on several projects, including the CET, a mixed-use development project located in the heart of Budapest on the Danube River scheduled to open in 2010. For this project ONL was challenged to transform two 19th century warehouses into an eye-catching integrated design intended to visually echo the contours of the Danube River near the site. The design incorporates a glass roof spanning the two existing parallel warehouses to form a gallery that extends into the interior of the new space. The firm used Autodesk 3ds Max Design software to develop the undulating skin of the structure. The ONL team imported the 3ds Max Design into Revit Architecture to flesh out the scheme by draping a curtain system over the faceted surface model. ONL's designers then used Revit Architecture to generate the architectural drawing set and schedules, and Autodesk 3ds Max Design to generate photo-realistic design visualizations for client and city official reviews. The elements of the CET's curtain wall system will be digitally fabricated by generating data from the Autodesk 3ds Max Design surface for computer numerical control (CNC) machining. For sustainable design, the Revit Architecture model was used for lighting and thermal studies.

About BIM

BIM is an integrated process built on coordinated, reliable information about a project from design through construction and into operations. By adopting BIM, architects, engineers, contractors and owners can easily create coordinated digital design information and documentation; use that information to more accurately visualize, simulate and analyze performance, appearance and cost; and reliably deliver the project faster, more economically and with reduced 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, Revit and 3ds Max 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) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.