German Firm Uses Building Information Modeling (BIM) Process for Large-Scale Hospital Project in the United Arab Emirates

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — October 7, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced that OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten GmbH, one of Germany’s largest architecture and engineering consulting firms, has received an Autodesk BIM Experience Award. The firm is being honored for its use of a Building Information Modeling (BIM) process to coordinate projects and facilitate sustainable design within an integrated architecture, structural engineering and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) practice.

The award also recognizes the firm’s early adoption of BIM in 2005, as well as its continuing use of Autodesk software for BIM for integrated design, analysis and documentation. Autodesk core BIM software used by OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten includes Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit Structure and Autodesk Revit MEP software. In addition, the firm uses Autodesk 3ds Max Design software for animation and daylighting analysis and Autodesk Ecotect Analysis software for sustainable design. The firm’s in-house design disciplines all use software based on the Revit platform and centralized project models to coordinate their designs and to facilitate sustainable design and integrated practice.

“We use BIM for rigorous, interdisciplinary coordination between our firm’s technical departments, as well as for more effective collaboration with external consultants,” said Burkhard Junker, director of the corporate buildings division for OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten. “Our multidisciplinary project teams now use Autodesk solutions for BIM from the earliest design phase through project delivery.”

Exemplary Use of BIM Process on United Arab Emirates Hospital

One of OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten’s recent BIM process-based projects is a new $825-million hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Owned by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, the 688-bed hospital includes surgical, family medicine, rehabilitation and critical care centers, as well as specialized trauma, orthopedics and sports medicine facilities. The project also includes the UAE’s first stroke unit.

FAUST Consult, one of OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten’s subsidiaries specializing in hospital facility design, led the project team, with more than 50 architects and 100 engineers. The team included OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten personnel and external engineering partners in both Germany and Abu Dhabi. OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten managed the planning of the building’s MEP and structural engineering requirements for the project. The geographically dispersed design team coordinated between and across design disciplines through information-rich Revit models.

Early in the design process, FAUST Consult used Revit Architecture software to help create and evaluate alternative building layouts to better support efficient healthcare delivery workflows. As the design progressed, the team used the integrated Revit 3D model for improved cross-disciplinary coordination, enhanced communication and collaboration, and earlier and more accurate quantity takeoffs and cost estimates. The team used the Revit model and 3ds Max Design software to help create near-photorealistic design visualizations and animations for improved project communication and to support the client’s marketing efforts.

About BIM

BIM is an integrated process for exploring a project’s key physical and functional characteristics digitally before it’s built, helping to deliver projects faster and more economically, while minimizing environmental impact. Coordinated, consistent information is used throughout the process to design innovative projects; better visualize and simulate real-world appearance, performance and cost; and create more accurate documentation.

About OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten

Founded in Munich in 1958, OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten is one of Germany’s largest independent architect and engineering consultants. The firm offers integrated planning and design for building, transportation and environmental projects. The firm has more than 1,200 employees around the world in its numerous subsidiaries and associated companies. OBERMEYER uses WEYER Systemhaus in Munich, Germany as its reseller.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries -- including the last 15 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Ecotect, Revit and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2010 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.