2003|
2003 |
The 8th Designers 3D CAD Challengewith Architectural CADD Systems |
Answers to Questions
1. Do I have to bring a laptop computer ?
That is certainally our preference. Actually, I myself am bringing both a laptop and a desktop computer.
2. Can I come and work by hand on tracing paper as with traditional charrettes ?
Well we certainly encourage people to come and participate and help out this great cause, but we would like to see the work in-progress on the big display screen - thus, if you wish to team up with a CADD-literate person to do the 3D modeling while you are designing we do welcome you to work as a team.
3. Can students enter ?
Yes
4. I am not an architect but a landscape designer interior designer can I participate ?
Yes
5. I am not an architect but a interior designer can I participate ?
Yes
6. How do you plan to show the laptops on the big screen ?
We plan to use a wireless network with the NetOp software.
That way we can use only one computer connected to the display projector
and switch quickly between the computers.
This contrasts dramatically with what we have done in the past where we provided a computer video connection to each system
Which was exceedingly expensive (one year it cost over $17,000 for the day, just for this video link up). This way we can do virtually the same thing, for free.
7. I do not have a network - let alone wireless on my laptop what do I do ?
Popping a wireless PC (WiFi) card into a laptop is easier than you my
may think.
We plan to have a stack of such cards ready on the morning of November
19th when you start.
We will have those cards ready far you to pop into your PC slot or
plug into your USB connector. We will also have people ready to help
you with this.
8. What about this NetOp display software ? I do not have that.
We are using a free 60 day evaluation version of this software, which
normally would cost about $50 per machine, so, for our event it will not
cost any of the participants anything.
It runs as a small background application while your CADD program is
running. It takes very little memory and does not interfere with
your CADD software, as all it does is let us see what is on your screen.
9. Why don’t you have one team using each kind of CADD program as you have done in past versions of this event ?
It is a matter of “been there – done that”. The original purpose of this event has always been to provide a public service that would help the architectural profession by educating and highlighting the new generation of architectural design software. Each year we have modified the format somewhat in an effort to provide what was needed at the time. Originally we needed to emphasize that “smart” 3D architectural parametric software was dramatically different from 2D CADD drafting software – hence the “design it all from scratch in 3 hours” scenario. At this point in the history of architectural CADD, it is now common knowledge that “virtual building” design-oriented software such as Revit, ArchiCAD, ArchitecturalDesktop, and so on is revolutionizing the profession over the 2D production drafting software such as AutoCAD. Now what is needed is to take this event – and the architectural profession – to “the next step” which is to have an event where we free the designers to use whatever software (or even mix of several different softwares) they wish to do an actual real design charrette for a real project.
10. So you may not have all the different CADD software choices in use ?
No. The volunteer designers who come forward are free to use whatever software they wish. If we end up with 15 people all using AutoCAD, we will have 15 people using AutoCAD. The main focus is on the end product – the design – for the children.
11. Can I use several different programs, for instance, start in DataCAD, do 3D modeling with FormZ and SketchUp, bringing it all into ArchiCAD to finish and do walk-throughs, and buff up the results with PhotoShop ?
Yes. We expect that is the kind of general approach most will take. As we switch the big projection screen from one persons system to another, we hope that you will tell us what software you are using for which phase, and why.
12. The event is listed as “live on November 19th” but you have already told us what the project is, why don’t we just design it all beforehand and bring in our designs ?
We will have the director of the Ronald McDonald House Boston at the
event, and they will have additional criteria. Additionally, we plan
to announce what Theme we hope your designs should follow, at 9 am on Nov.
19th.
We DO expect designers to do research about playgrounds and playstructures,
and load-up their CADD libraries beforehand, and to import the site model
for context – all to get a running start – but you will find that you will
need the collaborative feedback from us all to really do the design.
13. What benefits are there to participating ?
* help out a great charity cause
* show off your design skill
* show off what you can do with your CADD software
* challenge yourself to complete a design in just 3 hours
* earn AIA credits
* your design may get chosen for actual construction
* have fun creating in virtual reality a place for kids to have fun
* get a presenters badge and priviledges
Presenters at BuildBoston can attend one other seminar free,
can use the speakers lounge, get to wear an impressive presenters name
badge and
ribbon
14. I plan to attend as observer in the audience. Certainly it will be fun to watch the designs coming to life in front of me, but will I be able to learn about the various CADD softwares, as I have from this event in the past ?
Yes, possibly even more than in the past. You will see actual
designers really trying to ge a job done. If they end up switching
a file from one program to another while they are working, we will get
them to also tell us exactly why – was it merely because they are just
more familiar with it or is is that the other program cannot do something.
Even the lack of representation of of a given CADD program tells you something
– perhaps it is not as easy to use, or versatile, or as widely used as
the CADD salespeople would have us believe.