United States site instead?US design firm moves to a Virtual Building modeling approach
Budapest, October 05, 2005 – Graphisoft, the global leader in Virtual Building™ solutions, has signed California-based Gelfand Partners Architects to its worldwide roster of Archicad 9 users. Gelfand Partners selected Archicad® based on its proven functionality, interoperability and prevalence of use.
Specializing in designs for public buildings, including schools and community centers, Gelfand Partners previously used AutoCAD® to meet the strict project bid and submission formatting requirements set by local review boards, which only accept files in DWG. The firm sought an advanced 3D modeling software that would allow its staff the freedom of design and still meet the formatting demands of public proposals. Additionally, Gelfand Principals wanted a solution that new employees could already have experience with, or could learn easily, reducing training time.
“Interoperability and file format compatibility were critical factors for us in evaluating building modeling solutions. We also required that the software we selected be able to manage large amounts of building information with ease while supporting our architects’ creativity and design processes,” said Lisa Gelfand, AIA, Principal at Gelfand Partners Architects. “Archicad’s DXF/DWG translator enables us to meet project submission requirements and ensures that no data or time is lost in the conversion process. It was the only solution that met all of our criteria and surpassed our expectations with its capabilities.”
The firm first saw the benefits of working with Archicad in its designs for the renovation of Mission High School in San Francisco, Calif. Originally built in 1926, there was little repetition in the structure, which included hundreds of individual classrooms. Gelfand Partners is using Archicad to design and model the project, and then track all building information. This ranges from renovations required to meet the American Disabilities Act to the exact latch on any specific door. “Archicad’s Virtual Building model has allowed us to manage this tremendous level of information with ease,” continued Gelfand.
“Gelfand Partners Architects set a high bar for its building modeling software, and we’re pleased that Archicad has met its standards,” said Donald Henrich, Vice President and General Manager of Graphisoft North America. “This win with such an innovative firm as Gelfand Partners is a true testament to the value our solution delivers.”
Archicad helps users to win more business by assisting them to design more creatively, analyze earlier, generate documentation rapidly and efficiently coordinate projects both internally and externally. In a recent global Return-on-Investment Survey, Archicad on average was found to contribute 12% to a practice’s profit, and lift productivity by 39%.