Archinect - Features

Meet the Architects Designing Software to Fight Climate Change

2021-06-14T13:57:00-04:00

The 21st century has seen rapid advances in technology, allowing an ever-increasing portion of the architectural and urban planning process to move into digital space. At the same time, our understanding of the climate crisis and momentum to address it have also gathered pace. Responding to both technological advances and climate awareness, architects and designers have begun to embrace software not just as users, but as creators. To explore this further, we speak with four architecture and design studios who are developing digital tools that respond to the climate crisis. From BIM software plug-ins and carbon calculators to interactive tools that generate location-specific environmental design strategies, these four teams are carving a potential future path for the profession; one with responsibility for the design of both digital and physical systems.

Exploring Virtual Design Possibilities Through BIM and Modular Construction

2019-12-19T09:00:00-05:00

Demand for individuals with an expertise in Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasing throughout the job market. A modeling platform that has changed the the building industry, many firms have transitioned to using BIM over the last decade to take advantage of the inherent potential for collaboration and coordination the technology offers, both in the studio and on the job site. (For a nuts-and-bolts view of what it's like to work as a BIM Specialist, see Archinect's recent story unpacking the ins and outs of the job title)

Due to BIM's multi-disciplinary scope, construction firms like Windover Construction use the BIM framework and other visual design technologies to bring efficiency to complex construction projects, like those that utilize modular and prefab building components.

To learn more about the implementations of BIM and virtual design within this realm, Archinect spoke with Windover Construction Director of Virtual Design and Construction Amr Raafat and Senior Pr...

Archinect's Guide to Job Titles: BIM Specialist

2019-12-16T15:06:00-05:00

The design, development, and construction of a building is an inherently complex ambition. For the architect, coordinating both the countless members of the project team and managing the production of the construction documents present its own set of challenges. Building Information Modeling has introduced itself as an invaluable tool in documentation, management, and project maintenance for architects and consultants in the AEC space. The intricate nature of BIM solutions coupled with the specialized knowledge needed to operate it properly has brought about the emergence of a new kind of professional, commonly known as the BIM Specialist. Critical to the health of a firm’s workflow, the BIM Specialist plays a crucial role in a project’s success. Let’s take a deep dive into this role, explore some of its common characteristics, and look at what skills and qualifications one might need to pursue an opportunity in this area.

Don't Be a Tool: Role of Software vs. Vision in Architectural Employment

2015-06-18T10:39:00-04:00

One must be smarter than the tools one is working with, but what exactly does that mean in a profession that increasingly relies on software initially developed for the aerospace industry? How important is it for a student to master Rhino or REVIT versus the intrinsic philosophy of great design itself? Most importantly, how does a student balance the need to become a high-end CAD monkey while developing creative thought?