High-tech unites with high nature

The High Tech High Nature learning approach to Virtual Building modeling has taken root as an inspiring method of learning, vacationing, and earning AIA credits - what's more, it's all tax-deductible. The second event is in progress right now!

The first project-based hands-on immersive ArchiCAD retreat in the U.S. was held earlier this year - in the beautiful settings of Yosemite National Park, California. The High Tech High Nature (HTHN) retreat was sponsored by Digital Vision Automation, Inc. an ArchiCAD® dealer since 1989 in Irvine, California. And due to the success of the gathering, the second "total immersion" experience is taking place all this week, securing this as a regular calendar event!

So how does it work and what makes it special? For its groundbreaking debut, some 22 students immersed themselves for four days, guided by five instructors. Students came from to California from as far away as Texas, Tennessee, New York, with a Doctorial candidate coming all the way from Norway! The HTHN Instructor Team included some of the top "ArchiMeisters" in the world: Rex Maximilian of MaxATS in Hawaii, Duane Valencia of Visual Frontiers in Palm Desert California, Karl Ottenstein of Archispectives LLC in Sandpoint Idaho and John Stebbins of Digital Vision Automation, Inc. in Irvine California. Kurt Ameringer, Architectural consultant from Graphisoft, joined the Instructor Team for a day and a half.

Inspirational surroundings

The purpose of the retreat was to immerse students in a project-based hands-on learning experience that paralleled the architectural process. And to keep things in perspective, to contrast high technology with high nature in a captive environment, far from the rigors of an office, meetings, and cell phones.

Retreat Coordinator John Stebbins bills this as a "one-of-a-kind tax deductible learning experience!" Participants will transform small projects from massing studies into finished, working virtual drawings. The program will parallel the actual architectural process and give attendees an opportunity to use ArchiCAD, in conjunction with other digital tools to create:

bubble diagrams;
site modeling;
massing studies;
schematic design;
presentations, using ArchiCAD, Piranesi®, Photoshop® and PowerPoint®;
design development; and,
working drawings.

During the course of the program, which will offer 28 AIA/CES credits, participants will be given a chance to present their work and show how the natural beauty of Yosemite Valley has inspired their architectural genius.

Emphasis and time is allocated to take breaks to "commune with nature" via short walks through the Valley and to Yosemite Falls to clear out student's heads and take in the awesome natural inspiration. Each student receives a CD ROM full of tutorials, tools, Library Parts, and other components created by the instructors. To continue the experience for the previous attendees, the HTHN Team created a private Yahoo Group to help assist the never-ending quest for ArchiCAD mastery and to develop a sense of ongoing community amongst the group.

Immersed and intense

Terje Tollefsen, PhD Candidate from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim points out that people of all levels of ArchiCAD ability can benefit in such an environment. "I appreciated the enthusiastic, intensive and positive feedback, despite my lack of skills with the program. I now have a good base for my future digital practice. I have to thank you all for making this event one of the most interesting, intense, enthusiastic, enjoyable, stimulating and fantastic experiences in my professional life. I have only this to say - first class from beginning to end - couldn't be better! Thanks again!"

Stebbins sets the scene from the previous event: "On the morning of the first day, we woke up to fresh snow and the last day of the retreat ended with more of the white stuff, with glorious sunny days in between. Students were divided into two tracks: novice and intermediate and worked independently yet parallel to each other, to produce a small project. Projects were presented on the closing day of the retreat.

"Sessions were held in the morning, afternoon and evening at the Ahwahnee Hotel, a National Historical Landmark and one of the most distinctive resort hotels in North America. Meeting rooms were transformed into a high tech architectural studio with everyone behind a laptop computer. From the windows of our studio, breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley provided natural inspiration for this remarkable learning experience."

Joseph Nicholson of Skanska USA Building, Inc. in New York, sums it up best: "I was able to apply my ArchiCAD training, from the High Tech, High Nature immersive retreat, as soon as I got back to the office the following week. Yosemite was an amazing place in which to learn this high technology. Now I am "El Capitan" of ArchiCAD in my office."

Further information and to view more images and testimonials, click here. Of course you can visit this blog website created by Greg Nutt, of Knitter & Associates in Newport Beach to get a true feel of ArchiCAD in the wild.