In what is being described as "a strategic alliance to collaborate to transform the construction industry" software company Trimble has acquired Gehry Technologies. The alliance will offer other architects and designers use of the technology to collaborate on projects more efficiently.
Press release:
Trimble and Frank Gehry Announce Strategic Alliance to
Transform the Way the Construction Industry Works
SUNNYVALE and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 8, 2014—Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and Frank Gehry announced today that they have entered into a strategic alliance to collaborate to transform the construction industry by further connecting the office to on-site construction technologies. As part of the alliance, Trimble has acquired Gehry Technologies, the software and consulting services business that has been instrumental in delivering Frank Gehry’s visionary designs while keeping cost and schedule in line for his clients.
The alliance combines deep Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry experience with advanced construction technology to empower visionary designers such as Gehry Partners to build groundbreaking projects on time, under budget and without change orders—enabling designers, builders and operators to collaborate more efficiently.
"This merger is a dream for me. In Trimble, we find a partner who has like-minded ambitions and goals to create efficiencies in the AEC industry that allow the creativity of the architectural profession to flourish and deliver value-added creative solutions within the realities of our economic times. I am very excited to expand our mission with a great new partner," said Frank Gehry.
“We are honored to enter into an association with Frank,” said Steven W. Berglund, president and CEO of Trimble. “His unique architectural vision has always challenged the conventional. Equally impactful are his views on the potential for transforming the entire design-build-operate continuum. Gehry Technologies has been key in allowing Frank to realize the potential of his designs without compromising cost or schedule. Together, we expect that our common commitment and our combined capabilities will accelerate the adoption of technology in this trillion-dollar industry with resulting breakout benefits. We are delighted with the prospect of working with Frank as he continues his strong personal advocacy for change in the construction industry.”
Based in Los Angeles, Calif., Gehry Technologies is an AEC technology company that provides design and project management solutions, consulting services and project collaboration software tools. Gehry Technologies solutions include GTeam™ software, a Web-based 3D file management and project collaboration platform, building information modeling (BIM) technology as well as advanced project delivery services for leading owners, architects, engineers, builders, fabricators and industry professionals worldwide. The solutions allow customers of all sizes to communicate more effectively, improve design and construction quality, and accelerate project cycle times.
Gehry Technologies’ consulting services aid in the design, execution and management of the build environment. With a globally distributed team of architects, engineers, builders and computer scientists, the company delivers solutions that define and optimize project delivery processes and tools, enabling creative architecture with integrated engineering, high-precision fabrication and assembly, and improved risk management.
The combination of Gehry Technologies solutions and professional services with Trimble’s broad technology portfolio in positioning, BIM, analytics and visualization, automated machine guidance and real-time telematics accelerates total lifecycle solutions that will allow architects, engineers, contractors and owners to access data captured during the building planning, design, construction and renovation phases, providing deeper insight, better operating decisions and better asset performance.
Gehry Technologies will be reported in Trimble's Engineering and Construction Segment. Financial terms were not disclosed.
About Gehry Technologies
Gehry Technologies grew out of the pioneering efforts of Frank Gehry and his team at Gehry Partners to adapt methods derived from the aerospace and automotive industries to complex projects of architecture, engineering and construction. By working in a shared 3D digital environment and collaborating across disciplines to bring fabrication expertise into the design process, Gehry Partners achieved unprecedented projects while realizing tight control of budgets, schedules and quality.
Gehry Technologies was established in 2002 to advance and share the development of these methods. Since then, the company has become an international leader in technology-driven project delivery. It provides Web-based 3D project collaboration, BIM technology and advanced project delivery services to leading owners, architects, engineers, builders, fabricators and industry professionals worldwide, allowing customers of all sizes to communicate more effectively, improve design and construction quality and accelerate project cycle times. The company currently maintains a staff of architects, engineers, builders and computer scientists in offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Seoul and Sydney.
In addition to assisting in the design, engineering and construction of Gehry Partners projects such as Fondation Louis Vuitton, New World Center and Eight Spruce Street, Gehry Technologies has provided services for major projects including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York (Diller Scofidio + Renfro); Beijing National Stadium (Herzog & de Meuron); Louvre Abu Dhabi (Ateliers Jean Nouvel); KAUST Solar Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (HOK); Projecto Marina, Mexico City (Juan Pablo Serrano); and One East Island, Hong Kong (Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.).
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user.
Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
17 Comments
Ha! Hope we learn something from this, this proves even Gehry can make more money doing software than architecture.
Really no other comments on this??
why, fred? whats on your mind?
Just seems … significant,.
Fred this should be linked with the Autodesk and The Living news feed.....maybe we want to change the name of the current Architecture degrees offered in the US by leading schools to - Creative Constructive Geometries (licensure as a side benefit).
instrumental in delivering Frank Gehry’s visionary designs while keeping cost and schedule in line for his clients.
LOL, I almost fell out of the chair laughing.
don't worry, Fred. We're all quietly watching. In four years, everyone will say 'yeah, I saw it coming all along' about whatever change is hurtling down the pipe.
side note: at a tech conference/road show type thing a few years ago. White haired old timer gave his presentation amidst all the parametric kids. The oldest, most 'practical' guy in the room turned out to be the biggest futurist.
Yeah, there's definitely some kind of acquisition trend in the air.
If you can not make or find creative smart types...acquire them.
can I pose as a rebel and be acquired please?
Or it is simply branding for marketing purposes.
CitiField, Gehry and the Guggenheims, the Martha Stewart collection at KMart, etc. are all branding for marketing purposes.
Name branding is an essential part of marketing. Brands are marketable commodities in themselves and trade frequently. Buying a brand is sometimes intended to "enhance" the perception of the product line or corporate image or to increase market share and or reduce / eliminate competition. Substantive products are often irrelevant.
I think this is highly significant. One of the world's largest geospatial solutions company and surveying equipment manufacturers is now partnered with the number one architectural design consultancy firm in the world. Trimble is also close with the Google guys in Sunnyvale. Let that sink in for a minute and ask yourself how it will affect the future of the built environment.
Miles you have no idea what you are talking about. What they do as a team and product no one else can do at their level. Ferrari just isn't a brand - its a damn good performance car.
FYI, Dassault Systemes bailed on Gehry Technologies a few years ago and took Digital Project with them (they owned 100% of it). Since then, GT has turned from a software development outfit into mostly a services consultancy focused on helping people do complicated stuff with Revit.
gwharton, Dassault take any staff with them from GT or just the software?
You're right, Olaf, quality tops profit every time in corporate America. It tops integrity, too. Profit is the very last consideration.
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