Columbia, Md., 1336511820 - Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. today announced the launch of Vectorworks Cloud Services in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. Vectorworks Cloud Services provides greater convenience, collaboration and freedom for users to access their designs from any location, at any time. It is available exclusively for members of the company’s software subscription program, Vectorworks Service Select, and is initially offered as a free service.

"We are very pleased to offer the benefits of cloud computing directly to our UK customers through Vectorworks Cloud Services," said Martyn Horne, product development manager at Computers Unlimited, the Vectorworks distributor for the United Kingdom and Ireland. "Coupled with the new mobile app, Vectorworks Nomad, this capability adds a very useful and new dimension to the Vectorworks workflow and product portfolio."

This initial Cloud Services offering will allow users of Vectorworks software to access and share files and make design decisions from any location. Changes to users' Vectorworks files will be automatically synchronized to their private cloud storage, allowing them to browse, annotate and share their designs from web-enabled devices using the Vectorworks Nomad mobile application.

Vectorworks Cloud Services also saves time by freeing up desktop computing power. Creating client presentations with desktop-design software often requires a significant amount of user investment to coordinate, monitor and wait while resources consume the desktop CPU. Vectorworks Cloud Services provides a cloud-based workflow, shifting calculations needed to generate sections, elevations, renderings and Building Information Modeling (BIM) data from the desktop to the cloud.

"Vectorworks Cloud Services will be a nice opportunity for Danish Vectorworks users," said John Hansen of MikroGraf who represents Vectorworks in Denmark. "Smaller firms, in particular, will benefit from the backup and presentation features of this inventive service."

Vectorworks Cloud Services was launched in the United States and Canada on April 2, 2012 as a free trial. To learn more, please visit www.vectorworks.net/cloudservices.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG and has been developing software since 1985. The Vectorworks line of software products provides professional design solutions for more than 450,000 designers in the AEC, entertainment and landscape design industries. With a tradition of designing flexible, versatile, intuitive and affordable CAD and BIM solutions, Nemetschek Vectorworks continues to be a global leader in 3D design technologies. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net.

About Computers Unlimited Design Department

Computers Unlimited Design Department is an exclusive distributor of many 2D, 3D and CAD solutions for professionals working in architecture, interior, furniture, landscape, industrial design, animation, new media and video designers. Computers Unlimited Design Department’s portfolio of products include Vectorworks software, an affordable CAD and BIM solution, and its Training Division, Training Unlimited, provides the UK’s only Authorized Vectorworks Training Centre and training on all our products is carried out by Authorized CAD Specialists. For more information, visit www.vectorworks-cad.co.uk.

About MikroGraf

MikroGraf finds and presents the best IT solutions to small and medium sized companies in Denmark. With 20+ years of experience, we also offer advise on how to maximize IT tools. We are proud to represent excellent products from Autodessys (bonzai3d, formZ), Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. (Vectorworks software), MAXON (CINEMA 4D, BodyPaint), Open Text (FirstClass), Kerio (Kerio Mailserver) and Cyberoam. For more information, visit www.mikrograf.dk.

About TechLimits Informática

TechLimits has been a distributor of Vectorworks software in Portugal since 1997 and in Spain since September 2011. In Spain, Vectorworks software is available in English or localized into Spanish. TechLimits offers tech support and training and holds workshops and training events at universities on a regular basis. For more information, visit www.techlimits.com or www.techlimits.es.

“Building projects – by their nature – contain numerous custom building components and structures that may require modeling capabilities beyond the standard BIM tools,” said László Vértesi, VP of Products at GRAPHISOFT. “ArchiCAD 16 introduces direct modeling capabilities and cloud-integration to help users create and find the custom objects, components, and structures they need to make their BIM models complete,” he continued.

MORPH TOOL – Redefining Modeling Freedom for BIM

Custom objects, components, and structures require a tool with extraordinary modeling flexibility. ArchiCAD 16 introduces direct modeling capabilities into the native BIM environment with its brand new MORPH tool. MORPH allows element creation with any custom geometry in an intuitive graphical way, featuring popular modeling techniques such as push & pull. MORPH elements can be created from scratch simply by drawing a 3D polygon or by converting any existing ArchiCAD BIM element. The MORPH tool is an optimal solution for creating custom BIM components, custom structures, and custom elements of the built environment as well as custom-designed building interiors.

BIMcomponents.com – Cloud-search for BIM Components

Building components is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the BIM industry. ArchiCAD’s parametric GDL technology has been a powerful tool for professionals to create “intelligent” building components. ArchiCAD 16 fundamentally changes the possibilities the average user has to obtain custom BIM Components for their BIM projects. ArchiCAD’s new modeling capabilities, connected with the cloud-based BIM Component database allow users to create, search, upload, and download custom BIM components of their choice. The fully-integrated web portal makes sharing BIM components a core community function. BIMcomponents.com also provides a central “marketplace” for all GDL objects to directly reach ArchiCAD users when they need those objects the most.

SUSTAINABILITY – Industry-first Fully BIM-integrated Energy Evaluation

In today’s environment, sustainability is an imperative for all building projects. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the main decisions influencing a building’s sustainability features are made by the architects and not by the building systems engineers. GRAPHISOFT continues to innovate in “green” as well, uniquely offering the best workflow for sustainable design, integrated in its BIM authoring tool. The built-in Energy Evaluation functionality of ArchiCAD 16 is similar to the former standalone EcoDesigner™ product, but is based on entirely new technology (e.g. zone-boundary based building model geometry analysis, analytic weather data input option, etc.). This technology allows architects to perform reliable dynamic energy evaluation of their BIM model within ArchiCAD, relying on BIM geometry analysis and accurate hour-by-hour online weather data of the building’s location.

Together with ArchiCAD 16, GRAPHISOFT also delivers important workflow and productivity updates to its growing portfolio of solutions. These include an upgraded BIM Server, Cloud-integrated model sharing service for BIMx users with an active maintenance contract, and support for the IFC 2x3 Coordination View Version 2.0 for facilitating OPEN BIM. ArchiCAD 16 will be released on May 30, 2012, with shipment to customers beginning within a few weeks after the official release. Following a tight release schedule, all 26 local versions are planned to reach the market by the end of Q3 2012. For more information about ArchiCAD 16, please visit: www.graphisoft.com/archicad. For a live demonstration of ArchiCAD 16, please register for the upcoming “BIM Components at Your Fingertips” webinar on June 19, 2012.

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server, the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and the GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner, the world's first fully integrated building energy modeling application. GRAPHISOFT’s innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate. GRAPHISOFT has been part of the Nemetschek Group, since its acquisition in 2007.

Whether as architect, structural engineer, or facility manager, the close co-operation between Nemetschek Allplan and mapolis offers every planner the opportunity of introducing themselves and their projects on an international network.  With the concept of “Working with Allplan,” planning agencies that work with Allplan CAD software can create personal performance profiles. In the reference database “Designed by Allplan,” Allplan projects can be made available with pictures, descriptions, and profiles of all the project partners involved. Anyone who is looking for a particular building can then obtain a virtual image of the project with a whole range of cross-references, such as the individual project services, the parties involved in the construction, or the contact persons concerned.
 
mapolis websites: www.mapolis.com,www.immobilien.mapolismagazin.com and www.architektur.mapolismagazin.com
 
Nemetschek Allplan can be found on the Internet at: www.allplan.com, www.facebook.com/nemetschek.allplan and www.youtube.com/NemetschekAllplan

About Nemetschek Allplan

Nemetschek Allplan GmbH, with headquarters in Munich, is a leading European provider of software for the planning and use of buildings. As a fully-owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG, the company develops intelligent IT solutions for architects, structural engineers, organizations and people involved in construction, and facility managers. Allplan’s core product is the platform for Building Information Modeling (BIM), which provides optimum support for the seamless planning and construction process of buildings with regard to quality, costs, and time. At the present time the software is in use by 65,000 customers in 16 languages. Allplan covers all the operational stages of a modern CAD system, from simple 2D drawing, to 3D planning, and on to building modelling with the focus on specific building sections, with quanties and costs assessments. More information can be found at www.allplan.com
 
About Mapolis

Since its establishment in 2011, mapolis - the network for architecture, construction, and real estate - has brought together people, buildings, and companies. The network is aimed at serving everyone who is involved, commercially or privately, with the development, planning, construction, use, management, or marketing of real estate. At mapolis.com there are already more than 55,000 company and building profiles available, from more than 5,000 active users, who continually maintain and update  these profiles . As well as this, “mapolis Architektur“ and “mapolis Immobilien“ are two sector-specific online magazines produced by the company, and a Newsletter currently keeps 42,000 recipients informed during their working day with all the relevant news form their sector. www.mapolis.com

Columbia, 1334750160 - Beginning today, professional and student designers can submit entries to the 2012 Inspired Visions Global Rendering Competition. This annual competition, which is sponsored by Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. and MAXON Computer GmbH, recognizes today's top architects and designers from around the world, and their abilities to visually render Vectorworks models with Renderworks or CINEMA 4D. Submissions will be accepted from April 18 to August 16, 2012, in the following categories:

• Rendering with Renderworks 2012
• Rendering with CINEMA 4D
• Monochromatic model (rendered in Renderworks or CINEMA 4D)

"We are excited to collaborate again with our sister company, MAXON Computer," says Theresa Downs, communications director at Nemetschek Vectorworks. "It is evident that more and more designers are using both programs to create renderings, and we expect great things from the entries this year."

The panel of judges includes Daniel Jansenson, principal at Daniel Jansenson Architect and author of Remarkable Renderworks, from Santa Monica, Ca.; Tyler Littman, principal designer and owner of Sholight, LLC, from New York; Nicholas Dunand, freelance designer and sculptor, from Melbourne, Australia; Erik Recke, freelance architectural visualizer at Datenland, from Hamburg, Germany; Alejandro Nogueira, CEO at DECC Arte 3D from Tecamachalco, Edo. de Mexico, Mexico; and René Racz from Lichtmaschine Multimedia GmbH, Basel, Switzerland.

Each category winner chosen by these judges will receive $2,500 USD and will be featured in an official media release and on Planet Vectorworks. Winners will also be promoted on the Nemetschek Vectorworks and MAXON social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In addition, the public will select their "Fan Favorite" from all entries, which will be posted on the competition’s website. Voting will take place directly on the site.

Designers may enter multiple categories. However, all entries must be built on a Vectorworks model. Interested competitors who lack the current versions of the software can request a free, 30-day version of Vectorworks with Renderworks software at www.vectorworks.net/trial/form or student.myvectorworks.net (for students), or they can download a 42-day free version of CINEMA 4D at www.maxon.net/downloads/demo-version.html.

To enter, vote or learn more about the competition, visit inspiredvisions.vectorworks.net.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG and has been developing software since 1985. The Vectorworks line of software products provides professional design solutions for more than 450,000 designers in the AEC, entertainment and landscape design industries. With a tradition of designing flexible, versatile, intuitive and affordable CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions, Nemetschek Vectorworks continues to be a global leader in 3D design technologies. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net.

About MAXON Computer Headquartered in Germany

MAXON Computer is a developer of industry-leading professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions. Its award-winning CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D software products have been used extensively to help create everything from stunning visual effects in top feature films, TV shows and commercials to cutting-edge game cinematics for AAA games, medical illustration, and architectural and industrial design applications. MAXON has offices in Germany, USA, United Kingdom, France, Japan and Singapore. MAXON products are available directly from MAXON and its worldwide distribution and reseller channel. For additional information, visit www.maxon.net.

• Workflow integration results in greatly reduced coordination errors compared to sheer file exchange-based coordination of the different disciplines.
• Project members can work with the best-of-breed solutions in their respective fields without risking "incompatibility" hence exclusion from certain BIM projects.
• Project members can maintain full control over software upgrades independently from their peers on the different AEC projects they participate in.
• Accessibility of BIM data is provided for the entire lifecycle of buildings including design, construction and operation.

The Open BIM program's aim is to help coordinate efforts related to the promotion and implementation of Open BIM collaboration workflows by providing common definitions, requirements and branding. AEC software vendors, AEC practices - designers, engineers, contractors - as well as AEC projects are all welcome to participate and use the Open BIM logo as a promise of successful and streamlined collaboration.

Companies participating in the Open BIM program from day #1 include buildingSMART International, Nemetschek companies including GRAPHISOFT, Nemetschek Allplan, Nemetschek Vectorworks Inc., Nemetschek Scia as well as Tekla a Trimble company and Data Design System. For more information, please visit: www.openbim.com, or join the Open BIM webinar organized by GRAPHISOFT, Tekla, and Data Design System on March 27, 2012.

About buildingSMART
BuildingSMART is a neutral, international and unique not-for-profit industry alliance supporting open BIM through the life cycle of a building. BuildingSMART has developed, maintains and issues certifications for the data model standard known as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The IFC standard was accepted by ISO (ISO/PAS 16739: 2005). Full ISO accreditation is in progress.

About GRAPHISOFT
GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD®, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server™, the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and the GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner™, the world's first fully integrated building energy modeling application. GRAPHISOFT’s innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate. GRAPHISOFT has been a part of the Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2007.

About Tekla
With its software, Tekla drives the evolution of digital information models and thus provides more and more competitive advantage to the construction, infrastructure and energy industries. The company was established already in 1966, and today it has customers in 100 countries, offices in 15 countries, and a global partner network. Tekla became part of Trimble Group in 2011. More information at www.tekla.com

About Nemetschek Allplan
Nemetschek Allplan is a leading European provider of intelligent IT solutions for architects, engineers, building contractors and facility managers. The core product - Allplan - is the platform for building information modeling (BIM) and optimally supports the seamless planning and construction of buildings in terms of quality, cost and time investment. The software is currently being used by 65,000 customers in 16 languages. Nemetschek Allpplan is part of the Nemetschek Group, member of the buildingSMART Alliance and among the companies who initiated Open BIM.

About Nemetschek Scia
Scia Engineer is a leading Modelling, Analysis & Design solution for Structural Engineers by Nemetschek Scia, a member of the buildingSMART Alliance. It is the only Structural Analysis Software that is IFC 2x3 certified. Based upon a powerful 3D structural modeller engine with parametric forms, detailing views & drawings, it allows the design of industrial structure, infrastructure and low-to-high-rise buildings. The software has several international building codes integrated for the technical design and optimization of steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, multi-material constructions.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.
Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG and has been developing software since 1985. The Vectorworks line of software products provides professional design solutions for more than 450,000 designers in the AEC, entertainment and landscape design industries. With a tradition of designing flexible, versatile, intuitive and affordable CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions, Nemetschek Vectorworks continues to be a global leader in 3D design technologies.

About Data Design System (DDS)
Since 1984 DATA DESIGN SYSTEM (DDS) has developed innovative and cost-efficient software solutions for building services professionals. DDS-CAD is a true BIM platform, compliant with open buildingSMART standards. The company's flagship product DDS-CAD MEP are available both as one integrated multidisciplinary solution and as separate solutions for each of the MEP disciplines (mechanical, electrical and plumbing). DDS’ products are being used daily and successfully for MEP design and calculations in BIM projects world-wide.

About the Nemetschek Group
The Nemetschek Group, with ten strong brands, provides intelligent solutions for the international AEC sector. Nemetschek supports sustainable information technologies in all project phases and throughout the entire value chain. The Nemetschek Group is a member of the buildingSMART Alliance and supports Open BIM.

Contact:
BuildingSMART International
Chris Groome
cg@buildingsmart.org.uk