ArchiCAD Case Studies: 2004: feedback

Ben Wallbank of Hurley Robertson Architects showed a range of the work done by the practice, and then zoomed in on some details of work for an atrium and facade details in a major refurbishment of part of Finsbury Circus. The interaction of 3D and 2D construction detailing was truly amazing.

For me, this was the highlight of ACUe! ArchiCAD is being used in Ben's office in exactly the way I want to use it myself. The model information is not only being used for the flashy images, but also enriches the working drawings with accurate and extremely clear 3D sketches to accompany the details (if only AC could dimension the 3D sketches like SketchUp does...). AC is a communication tool, and the drawings we saw spoke volumes. Ben is an honest and engaging speaker, and this was a great opening session. (Karl Eckermann)

Ben's talk made me realise how little of ArchiCAD I actually use! (Mike Johnson)

Ben Wallbank showed some stunning images and documentation drawings from his current project at HRA in London, proving that with vigilance and a carefully managed process, the virtual building concept can prove extremely beneficial. His discussion ranged from the need for the model for simple clash detection to a complete and efficient production of construction documentation. (Ben Frost)

Ben demonstrated the enormous benefits and opportunities in producing hard construction information from the virtual model. "It forces the designer to resolve the difficult 3D junctions" was a memorable and resonant comment from the speaker. Beautifully organized drawings of great clarity. (Richard Swann)

Very good presentation (but I would say that wouldn't I!) Very impressive and demonstrated the advantages of 3D modelling in the working drawing stage. (Derek Davis also of HRA)

Very interesting lecture, the detail drawings he has shown set standards, I am grateful for some of his very useful tips and tricks. (Susanne Welcker)

Excellent to see how a big practice is using the software productively. Stimulating images, including the 3D detailing; some more on the practicalities of this would have been interesting. (Nigel Walter)

Very interesting to see images of the everyday work of an Architectural company and very important for everybody to get confirmation that our involvement in the BIM, has been made by large companies too, and the result is Here !"Bravo" Ben. (Til Breton)

Impressive presentation of well-organised office on a large scale, showed how Archicad can be successfully used on a major project. (Alan Wahlers)

Truly inspiring to see how a large office tackles the use of the programme. (Marie Sofie Larsen)

Great to see a large scale firm and hear their pro's and con's for 3D modeling. Also, nice to know how they presented their drawings and with the use of 3D-models for clearer details. (Susanne Ollsson)

I am sure that there will be very many people wanting to comment on Ben's presentation. I will be surprised if any of them differ very far from my own feeling that these drawings were some of the best I have ever seen. Full stop. No further comment necessary. Well done! (David Emery)

Mind blowing, I stopped using AutoCAD when I started with ArchiCAD in January 2003 and this will ensure I never use another package. How does he do all that in ArchiCAD? I did not think it was possible. I'm going to have to persuade my head of school to let me have more time with ArchiCAD. Ben was an approachable chap too. [John Littlewood]

I always like to see what other architects are doing, both in terms of presentation and production drawings, Using 3d to explain 2d drawings.
Artlantis sketch renders with very little colour. I think that we can all learn a lot more from our fellow practioners. (Chris Johnstone)

Ben is now a familiar figure to ACUE and this year gave a highly professional illustrated resume. Ben talked eloquently of the process of integrating 2D and 3D output for best visual presentation of design ideas and production information. I found this to be the best presentation I have seen yet of the potential power and flexibility of output from the BIM. I mentally rubbed my hands together with expectation for the rest of the conference. (Richard Payne)

Case studies of this nature are always the most important feature of ACUE. Could we please have more of this type, by more firms next year. I was impressed by his work last year, at that time working as a one man band. Having moved to a big firm of Architects the scope has widened and is even more impressive. (Mathilde Kaplan)

Very impressive and inspirational. (Roger Pratt)

Brilliant, well done Ben ! As one who has often struggled against time and money constraints to use AC exactly as it should be used like this - the most complex working drawings become so much easier to read, easier to use, and hopefully cheaper and quicker to turn into reality - it was a huge pleasure to see what happens when one has more budget, more resources. I have also noticed many times in office situations that encouraging the production of documents that do their job and actually look great is an excellent way of keeping a job team motivated - even in these technological days the simple fact of producing beautiful drawings is always a rewarding pleasure in itself.
So great admiration and encouragement for HRA, I can see why Graphisoft want to get hold of this presentation as a case study. One of the high points of ACUE for me. (Peter Bennison)

Coming from the same office as Ben, I'try not to sound too parochial. I was impressed by the way that the 3d capabilities of ArchiCAD and its add-ons - both rendering and simple line drawings - can be used to communicate a design at all stages. (Rowan Murray)

Mitch Boryslawski, View by View has been project managing the Letterman Digital Arts Institute for George Lucas, in San Francisco for the last couple of years. What started out as doing some renderings from the original architect's AutoCAD drawings turned into a full blown project management job with a 3D ArchiCAD model containing all structural, HVAC and other services information, all backed up with Navisworks as a means of checking the overall progress of the job and clash detection of services and structure.
NB, Mitch is not the architect, and not to be blamed for the architectural criticisms that some people have made.

I think I have to travel to SF to see if this is a real project or not! I was overwhelmed by so much money being spent on something so alien. Sure Navis Works and AC can do fantastical things, but I left the session wondering what has happened to architecture! Can't people open a window to get some air instead of plugging into a mechanical ventilator?! Mitch talked about architecture as a machine - I think the Lucas team are confusing reality with CGI and want to assimilate their employees to the Borg collective... (Karl Eckermann)

I found Mitch’s quickfire evangelist approach exhilarating and simultaneously strangely worrying. If the person coordinating the design and construction of the building so closely is 'the contract manager', where is there room for the 'visionary architect' who has a clear conception of how things are to be at the outset? i.e the strategy. My cerebral clash detection determined a real problem area here! (Richard Swann)

Fascinating talker and presentation (even if he never did answer the question regarding the file size of the model!) Certainly the way to the future, but whether it needs an independent consultant is arguable. (Derek Davis)

Mitch Boryslawski took Ben's presentation a step further in demonstrating the importance of the virtual building model to project managers and contractors with his letterman digital arts center project. He takes full responsibility for the production of the model himself in his position between flatCAD consultants and the contractors. In a similar, but bigger and more complex, than Kajima last year, he further reinforced my belief that the change in the industry to BIM solutions will be led by the contract team rather than from the design consultant field. (Ben Frost)

Mitch was a very charming speaker. The problem with the coordination of M & E contractors is very well known. Disappointing was the mainstream architecture he has shown, but I could understand his view as the project manager. But rather spending their money on IT equipment and taking the software to its limits they really could have spend more consideration on the design. (Susanne Welcker)

Interesting for the scale of the project - having someone using the software at this scale (like Kajima last year) is important - showing how seriously parts of the industry take what we are able to offer in the 3D model. Mitch's style of presentation was a bit heavy, which was a shame. (Nigel Walter)

Interesting to see how the Americans do it their large scale projects, will we be following them shortly? Best contribution from the floor! re: controlB for last tool! (Chris Johnstone)

First contact with this huge personality. The proof that whenever it's needed our preferred software can help in managing and building. Every body listening to Mitch had this quite proud feeling : "hey guys we all are working with a tool chosen for the Geoge Lucas of Star Wars !" No kidding It's just like if the five episodes had just entered definitely in our offices! Navisworks had been shown last year, and this year it entered in our dreams. Mitch has shown us one of the directions architecture and BIM concept are taking, and has shaken us, saying "Hey you it's not for tomorrow, it's NOW" (Til Breton)

Superb, impressive presentation with Archicad/Navisworks used almost to their ultimate at present I suspect... rather a long presentation which lost a bit of my attention towards the end I am afraid... Both of these first presentations seemed to have little relevance to my situation as a small practice user, although both superb examples in their own right. I wonder how new/novice users viewed these 2 presentations. (Alan Wahlers)

At long last my infatuation with 3D design starts to make sense. Before I came to Nottingham I thought my use of 3D was a bit over the top at times, only to find out that it was nothing compared to what others were achieving or still trying to achieve. In particular Ben and Mitch have taken 3D design very far in a focussed way. Seeing what they were doing made me realise that what I was doing was not over the top and that the boundaries could be pushed much further.... The virtual building, not just as a nice presentation but as a serious tool! Well done!!! It gave me focus on how to proceed with my own efforts. (Daniel Dusoswa)

I found the scope of Mitch’s work with ArchiCAD and Navisworks quite breathtaking, especially given his almost complete lack of experience with either programme at the outset. Here was the ultimate example of the BIM – without a 3D model I suggest it would have been impossible to design this project to an acceptable standard. Mitch also demonstrated that however good the model (and this one was VERY good) sometimes only the designer’s intimate knowledge of the project – and his regular presence on site – can prevent mistakes occurring. (David Emery)

Compared to Ben, Mitch came with a different perspective and a different presentation style which I found confrontational and very soon I was struggling to identify the good parts of the message. Too much of telling me how brilliant he was at finding faults while running bazillion copies of AC and how big the budget was.... Mitch didn't seem to want to tell us the file size (or maybe couldn't) and I headed for the bar. Looking back it was a Brit bumping into a US style. (Richard Payne)

Interesting presentation by a very interesting guy, again proving over and over that what one feels instinctively - how can you design without thinking of 3D implications ? But isn't this what the architect should be doing within AC, or NavisWorks if the project can justify it, don't really want to hand everything over to the construction manager.
I completely understand that we weren't asked to look at the architecture, but my own taste and common sense clash detectors were working overtime here.
I wasn't joking when I asked Mitch if he needed any experienced AC operators in San Francisco, but he edged out of that one too ... (Peter Bennison)

This is what 3d modelling should achieve - an accurate check that the design will work. The problem is getting recalcitrant consultants to supply their information in a 3d format so that it can all be compiled together. (Rowan Murray)

Ben and Mitch certainly set the pace and at my level of Archicad use they could have arrived from another planet. It was certainly eye opening. (Ed Sharpe)