Transforming the design, construction and management of buildings delivers a lifetime of savings

The influence of architects on new corporate and commercial buildings will, in future, extend beyond aesthetics.  Building designers can now facilitate the delivery of efficiencies and financial savings that will be felt throughout the life of a building - right up until its demolition. 

New technology is transforming how buildings are designed, built and managed. 

Replacing the repetitive drawing process currently used to create conceptual architectural images and building plans, technology is used to create virtual building models, from which architects extract the images they require, accelerating design time, streamlining their practices and boosting service levels.

The benefits of a virtual model extend beyond the swift creation of building plans.  Design information contained in the model remains ‘alive’ for re-use throughout the life of a building. 

There are efficiencies that benefit the construction process, crucial for South Africa’s building industry, which is facing shrinking margins.  The technology-driven efficiencies are also invaluable in fast track projects, helping contractors to finish on time and within budget. 

Once construction is complete, information captured at the design stage of a building can be used as the foundation for space planning, facilities management and maintenance.  Building model owners can also utilise information in move management, energy analysis and digitally integrated cost estimating.  The design data can also be exploited during refurbishment programmes and renovation phase planning.

Access to design information contained in a building model eliminates re-drawing, delivering significant financial savings, particularly in the retail and office sectors where tenant turnover is high and space has to be re-designed to cater for the requirements of new tenants.

The new technology, Autodesk Revit, is from the design technology company, Autodesk.  With six million users, Autodesk, which is renowned for its development more than 20 years ago of the first PC-based design software, is world’s leading design software company.

Autodesk Revit, launched to Port Elizabeth architects today (17 February 2004), replaces computer-aided design (CAD) software with a technique called 'building information modelling', which is the foundation of building lifecycle management – an approach that focuses on the optimum management of a project’s entire asset and risk management cycle – from concept to demolition.

According to the MD of Autodesk Africa, Errol Ashwell, initial demand for the product will be from progressive architectural practices that appreciate the benefits of technology-driven process improvements. 

"Property owners and developers will also drive up demand for the software by requesting digital models, rather than paper based images and plans."

He says entrepreneurial architectural practices that deliver the extra value contained in digital models, can boost their revenue streams by seeking reimbursement for the models. 

"Property owners will quickly recover this additional fee out of all the savings they achieve," says Ashwell.

About Autodesk
Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services.  Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes.  For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.co.za or phone 012 664-8115.