Firm is honored for use of Revit Architecture in the design coordination and development of green hospitals

PARIS, France, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Brunet Saunier Architecture has received a Revit BIM Experience Award for their use of Revit Architecture software on several, large-scale hospital projects. One of France's most prestigious architectural studios, Brunet Saunier uses Revit Architecture for informed decision-making -- including early validation of financial viability -- and improved design coordination, as well as to incorporate elements of sustainable design. The Revit BIM Experience Award honors firms for their innovation and excellence in implementing the Revit platform for building information modeling (BIM) to create quality, complex designs and collaborate across the building design disciplines.

"We commend Brunet Saunier's use of Revit Architecture to create hospital designs that are environmentally responsible," said Jay Bhatt, senior vice president, Autodesk AEC Solutions. "Autodesk is committed to furthering the practice of sustainable design, and recognizing innovative, environmentally responsible firms such as Brunet Saunier that use building information modeling to create greener buildings."

Founded in 1981, Brunet Saunier Architecture specializes in large healthcare projects and cultural and academic facilities. The firm was recently selected for a design commission at 10 major hospitals in France and Switzerland, including five 70,000-square-meter projects in Toulon, Lagny, Geneva, Belfort and Nantes. An Autodesk customer for more than 10 years, Brunet Saunier adopted Revit Architecture in 2005 and was one of the first architectural firms in France to implement BIM. The firm has used Revit Architecture to support its pioneering "Monospace" approach to hospital design, which maximizes flexibility in use and location of spaces throughout the design process.

Currently, Brunet Saunier is utilizing Revit Architecture on the Belfort Montbeliard Hospital in Belfort, France. The 65,000 square meter, 612-bed hospital project has 10 operating rooms, 10 radiology rooms and four obstetric suites. As the design for the various hospital departments evolved, Revit Architecture provided Brunet Saunier with the flexibility to easily make changes to the designs at all stages through to the delivery of the finalized designs. With the single building information model created in Revit Architecture, the design team has been able to easily collaborate while working separately in individual worksets created for each individual hospital function: one workset for the building structure, another for the core, and two others for the exterior facades and internal courtyards. Revit Architecture has allowed Brunet Saunier to maintain a comprehensive, coherent understanding of the project as a whole, while also controlling each individual departmental area.

"Moving to BIM has given our architects a comprehensive and cohesive understanding of each project and has helped provide the creativity and innovation needed to produce sustainable designs," said Jacques Levy- Bencheton, Brunet Saunier Architecture. "Revit Architecture is providing us with the organization and collaboration tools needed to create designs more efficiently, which has given us an excellent competitive advantage over other firms."

About the Revit BIM Experience Award

The Revit BIM Experience Award celebrates building industry professionals and educators around the world who are helping to drive transformation of the building industry through building information modeling. Autodesk honors firm with this award for innovation and excellence in implementing the Autodesk Revit platform for building information modeling including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP on one or more projects.

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.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., 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.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. - 06/27/2007

CONTACT:
Noah Cole of Autodesk,
503-612-2448, noah.cole@autodesk.com
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com