2001	The 6th Designers 3D CAD Challenge for Architectural CADD Systems 2001 Challenge of the Architectural CADD Cup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Prof. Geoffrey Moore Langdon

Suffolk University

Phone: 617-305-1702 // Mobile 617 -233 -2511

E-mail: glangdon@suffolk.edu

Boston, MA (October 18, 2001) --

Worldwide competition for WTC site for architects using virtual reality raise the hopes and spirit of the nation

The first competition for what will become of the World Trade Center site has already begun, thanks to a new generation of 3D architectural design software that allows architects and the public to see what a finished design will look like in virtual reality, and the annual forum where architects gather to explore that software. With this new software, in less than three hours the architects can produce rendered virtual reality walk throughs right before our eyes.

The Designers 3D CAD Challenge with Architectural CADD Systems, sponsored primarily by the Boston Society of Architects, and hosted at the World Trade Center Boston on November 14, is providing a way for architects to help out by inspiring the nation and giving hope for future generations, as well as generating funds for NYC disaster relief. The general public can also help by contributing their ideas for what should be done with the WTC site in a forum on the competition web site at http://www.architecturalcadd.com/cup.htm

Whether the design is a grassy memorial park, a series of buildings, or a tower bigger than the first, this spectacularly visual competition, will help truly determine what needs to be on that site. The reason is that the emphasis on perspective renderings and dynamic walk-through animations still on a schematic conceptual level of design in this particular event helps us visualize not just the aesthetic look but also the emotional feeling, to determine what is appropriate.

-------------------------

Presentation by the Winning Team of the 2001 Designers 3D CAD Challenge and How They Did it in DataCAD

On Saturday March 2, 2002, from 12 - 2 at the Boston Society of Architects, Jonathan Foster, AIA Jensen Vasil of New York will give a special presentation on their winning design.

Their commission was to determine what is appropriate use for the former site of the World Trade Center, and to help the national healing by exploring the design possibilities on a schematic level very visually with virtual reality, to inspire and give hope to the whole country. A tall order indeed, but fulfilled wonderfully by the truly inspired work of Jonathan Foster and Jensen Vasil. This presentation promises to be extremely exciting, emotional, inspiring, educational, and renewing.

This was a special year of firsts and exceptions for this annual 3D CADD competition. The "Shootout" moniker was dropped in favor of the term "Challenge", the Teams of designers did their design work at their home offices instead of live in front of the audience, recording their process with digital screen recordings, they had many weeks instead of only 3 hours, and, post Sept 11, the challenge transformed into a non-profit public service with the new design challenge of helping to determine what should be done with the former World Trade Center site.

Amid a huge outporing of emotion as well as volunteers (architects as well as non-designers) offering their help and design suggestions for the site (which still continue to come in every week, with the vast majority calling on architects to provide some kind of building), the work of Jonathan Foster and Jensen Vasil of New York stands out as inspirational and appropriate. At many levels, ranging from the photovoltaic facade that turns the whole project into an energy resource for the whole community, to the fine touches of the bridge over the memorial lake, to the well designed connections that pull together the neighborhoods on all four sides, to the dramatic form of the central buildings, their well thought out design truly does bring a sense of new hope to us all.

At this special presentation, not only will Jonathan and Jensen show us an in depth look at their designs, but also show us how they did it, and why their use of DataCAD was instrumental in enabling them to do it so quickly and comprehensively. They will show us numerous very colorful perspectives, walk through animations, virtual reality models, and even their digital movies that describe their design process and how they did it with DataCAD.

The presentation is free, and refreshments will be served.

Co Sponsored by the DataCAD DBUG Meeting for "February"

at the Boston Society of Architects

Where : 50 Milk St., Boston, MA (5th Floor)

about the Designers 3D CAD Challenge :

Each year since 1996 architects from all over the world have been gathering for this spectacular event - also known as "architecture as a spectator sport" essentially to use all the different architectural CADD systems side by side to learn about their craft. The project chosen is always a hypothetical design meant to solve real design problem issues of a site, done only as an advisory exercise (free advice) the actual site owners may or may not use, as a public service. In the past, projects have included a problem site at the Beverly-Salem Massachusetts bridge, a hotel in Orlando Florida, and the derelict Pier 15 next to South Street Seaport in NYC. Many rendered images of those past projects are available on the project website. The organizer for the event sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects (the largest chapter of the AIA) is Professor Geoffrey Moore Langdon, 46, Architect from New York now teaching at Suffolk University in Boston.

about the Boston Society of Architects :

The BSA is the largest chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It is located at 50 Milk St., Boston, Massachusetts. It is an association open to membership by anyone interested in architecture.

about DataCAD DBUG :

The DataCAD Boston Users Group is the largest and oldest architectural CADD user group, with members now stretching to numerous countries around the world, through their online forum DBUG@world.std.com. Based in Boston and originally started by Evan Shu and Rick Gleason, it has flourished largely because of how much the members share with each other.

Why and how is this particular competition appropriate for the New York WTC site

How this event can generate money for the New York disaster funds

Volunteer to help : Join Design Competition Staff ------ Nominate someone to be added to the jury

Published articles about what to do with the WTC site

Can we do this competition without 3D CADD design software

Forum of ideas for what to do with the site, and what kind of buildings (if any) are appropriate