Vectorworks Cloud Services wins Cloud Based Technology of the Year 2017

Columbia, MD (November 29, 2017)—On November 16, global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc.’s Cloud Services was named winner of the Cloud Based Technology of the Year 2017 award for the Construction Computing Awards. Vectorworks Architect software was also named runner up for the Architectural Design Software of 2017 award.

“Leveraging the power of cloud computing is a huge productivity improvement, saving hundreds of hours a year,” said Lyuben Hadzhipopov, cloud infrastructure manager at Vectorworks. “Before the Cloud, computational-intensive tasks like photo-realistic rendering could take hours and sometimes even days. This would cause huge delays in work productivity as designers waited for these tasks to complete. By subbing these tasks to the Cloud, the web can handle processing, leaving your local machine free so work and collaboration can continue as planned.”

Improved Cloud Services were released in Vectorworks 2018 software this past September, and designers can now easily share designs, drawings and 3D models with clients and partners by using Google Drive, in addition to Dropbox, which was previously available. The Cloud Services web portal has also been updated for better file organization, along with an easier-to-use sharing interface and the ability to generate Web View Virtual Reality links of files in the cloud. Additionally, designers can now render a 360-degree view of a 3D model with the panorama feature, and then export the file to cloud storage, receiving a link to view the rendered panorama on a laptop, desktop or any mobile device.

“Looking forward, Vectorworks is investigating new innovations to bring to its Cloud Services, like augmented reality capabilities and other collaborative capabilities, which would give Vectorworks users new ways to interact with stakeholders in the design and construction process," said Hadzhipopov.

Vectorworks Architect is an industry-leading architectural design and BIM software that helps connect the entire design process from concept to construction in one platform. With Architect, designers can take on a project of any scale, from urban planning; to residential, commercial, hospitality, and institutional buildings; to interior renovations and fit outs.

Known as “The Hammers,” the Construction Computing Awards showcase and reward the technology, tools and solutions for the effective design, construction, maintenance and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing and civil engineering projects of all sizes.

The winners were announced at the twelfth annual gala event at the Radisson Blu Edwardian in Bloomsbury, London. Over 220 guests came to see the result of the readers’ online voting and judging panel’s considerations. A full list of the award winners can be found here. Videos and photos of the gala will be available soon, and there will be a full round up of the evening with a mention of Cloud Services in the November/December 2017 issue of Construction Computing Magazine.

Details for the 2018 awards have been announced. The date of next year’s awards event is November 15, 2018; project submissions and nominations will open in early July. More information about next year’s awards event will appear on the Construction Computing Awards website in March 2018.

To learn more about Vectorworks Cloud Services, Vectorworks Architect and other offerings

GIG HARBOR, WA – 11/03/2017 – Following a site visit to assess the damage of Hurricane Irma on the J.W Marriot Marco Island Resort — a VaproShield project in Marco Island, Florida — it was noted that 65,000 square feet of meticulously installed RevealShield SA Self-Adhered withstood the forces of the hurricane during its historic September 10th landfall. To the relief of installation crews, less than 10% of the membrane was damaged.

"When I first saw the areas with membrane still intact, it felt like a huge accomplishment for our team,” noted Aaron Gould, VaproShield Technical Manager of East Coast/Latin America. “Irma [winds] were exceptionally strong, and I believe our extensive testing paid off for the crew of the JW Marriott."

VaproShield's Technical Manager, Kevin Nolan, was approached by Walls & Ceilings magazine to write an article about rainscreen solutions for stucco cladding. The article covers:

• An examination of traditional three coat stucco over lath

• The multiple variables used to determine the depth or size of the drainage cavity

• What makes the addition of exterior insulation difficult

• NFPA 285: what it is and why it's important

• How and why to consider a sequence of components in your assembly

Latest release from Vectorworks, Inc. focuses on BIM usability, design productivity and analysis

Columbia, MD (November 21, 2017)—Global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. has released the Spanish version of its Vectorworks 2018 product line, which includes Vectorworks® Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Designer and Fundamentals. New this year is Braceworks™, a structural load analysis add-on module targeted to designers and riggers working on temporary structures. The Spanish version follows the English version, released this past September, and joins the additional language versions of the product line that will all be available by spring of 2018, including: Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Italian, Norwegian and Portuguese.

“The availability of our 2018 software in Spanish, along with the continued rollout of our other languages, solidifies our mission to empower designers worldwide, so that they can create unmatched experiences,” said Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar. “What makes Vectorworks 2018 stand out from other releases is the emphasis on robust and efficient workflows, as well as the substantial usability improvements.”

A few notable features from Vectorworks 2018 include:

• Multiple drawing views: Use multiple views of a project simultaneously, and begin work in one view pane and finish it in another. Switch effortlessly between viewports, views and visibility settings — simply set up panes and view them all at once. Instantly gauge the impact of a design change across 3D, plan, section and elevation views, and even start a rendering in one view while working in another.
• Direct section and elevation editing: Edit models directly from viewports: add openings, align and distribute windows, reposition doors across multiple layers, reshape walls — it’s all possible. Change the 3D views while in the section to see how edits simultaneously affect plans and model views. And, create better-looking, more-accurate drawings in a fraction of the time.
• Easier title block customization: Customize items such as variables and orientation, choose from an unlimited set of information to include in a title block, and use styles to more simply manage many title blocks across one or multiple projects.
• Direct site model contour editing: Edit a site model easier than ever before with improved site model settings and direct 2D contour editing. Modify each contour line as easily as editing a polyline.

Spanish Launch Events: Vectorworks Spotlight 2018, Braceworks and Vision

Vectorworks’ Spanish and Portuguese distributor, TechLimits Informática, will host two launch events that will cover Vectorworks Spotlight 2018, Braceworks and Vision, our lighting previsualization software, through a presentation from Vectorworks Senior Entertainment Product Specialist Jim Woodward, followed by a live Q&A. Vision is currently offered in the English version of Vectorworks only. Additionally, Jorge Matos, managing director at TechLimits, will present information about 2018 new features at both events. Carlos Torrijos, lighting designer at Studio & Light, will present at the first launch event, and Raúl Gómez, responsable técnico at Albadalejo will present at the second launch event. Torrijos and Gómez will both present about Spotlight. The events will take place on:

• November 29, 2017, Madrid, Spain at 15.00 – 17.15 CET
• November 30, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain at 15.00 – 17.15 CET

Register for the Madrid launch event below and the Barcelona event below.

Vectorworks 2018 can be purchased in Spanish by finding a local distributor at vectorworks.net/international. Additional information regarding Vectorworks 2018 is available at vectorworks.net/espanol and vectorworks.net/2018.

There is no such thing as a simple renovation!

Every exterior retrofit project is unique, and it takes an exceptional manufacturing partner to meet the challenges of today’s commercial construction industry.

Architect Randall Chapple, associate principal and director of specifications and material research at Chicago’s Goettsch Partners, was tasked with the painstakingly intricate renovation of the historic London Guarantee & Accident Building. The result was the $315 million, 452-room luxury LondonHouse Chicago and the year’s most anticipated hotel opening in the city.

"The goal was to breathe life into the existing building and provide an addition that would complement the existing structure," Chapple said. "We wanted to give the façade a sleek look. We wanted a material that offered good protection from air and water infiltration. Metal panels work well for the aesthetic and represent a good price point for weather and energy performance."

Randall Chapple and his team from Goettsch Partners successfully incorporated insulated metal panels into the hybrid adaptive reuse project, while meeting additional challenges including a fast-track installation schedule and confined construction site.

To learn more about Metl-Span insulated metal panels, please click on the READ MORE button below.

Inaugural program recognizes global design and BIM software developer for its innovation

Columbia, MD (October 30, 2017)—Global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. has been named a winner of BUILD magazine’s Visionaries in Technology award. This inaugural award program was launched with a focus on companies who are shaping the future of the technology for construction and architecture sectors, and who continue to innovate and develop new techniques to keep both divisions moving forward.

This award was judged purely on merit by the BUILD in-house research team with all potential winners assessed with multiple, relevant criteria, including previous accolades won; company performance over a specified period of time; influence within the industry, sector or region; and client testimonials or recommendations.

“Vectorworks Architect was on our research team’s radar before the award process began. Throughout the process, we were highly impressed by the dedication to practical usability and the focus on translating architectural concepts into workable project files without compromising design freedom,” said Daniel Hornsby, head of features at BUILD magazine. “The BUILD team felt that the Vectorworks full product suite displayed exactly the kind of intuitive, user-focused design that we wanted to celebrate with this award.”

Another core focus of the award is the ongoing modernization and digitation of the architecture and construction sectors. With BIM rapidly becoming an industry staple, a key part of the award’s mission was looking at the firms pushing the leading edge of this wave of innovation, and as noted by Hornsby, “Vectorworks’ programs are clear front-runners in the category.”

“We are incredibly honored that Vectorworks is recognized by this prestigious award after careful research and consideration,” said Vectorworks Vice President of Marketing Dan Monaghan. “Our company works hard every year to create new innovations within the AEC industry, and our success with this award reinforces our role as leaders in the BIM market and demonstrates how our work continues to make an impact within the design industry.” The Visionaries in Technology Award was launched on the back of several smaller features BUILD has run over the past year. These features were well received by their readers, and they saw a rise in the demand for a focused award that both recognized technology firms and showcased their services to the BUILD readership. You can find out more about these prestigious awards here.

As part of winning the award, Vectorworks will be featured in BUILD magazine’s January 2017 issue.

To learn more about Vectorworks and Vectorworks 2018, visit our website or follow #Vectorworks2018 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.