The Designers 3D CAD Shoot-Out
|
The Designers 3D CAD Shoot-Out |
|
Teams of 3 designers each are invited to demonstrate their best and show us what their software can do. There shall be one team representing each of the major 3D Architectural CADD applications - i.e. a team using ArchiCAD, a team using Allplan, a team using ArchT, and so on.
Teams of 3 Architects who are advocates of their particular system would be given the challenge to produce as much as possible of a design project in 3 hours, including plans, sections, elevations, 12 perspectives, the best two renderings they can manage, a VRML model for the Web, an animation sequence, and other drawings, using any two networked machines of their choice (that they bring in).
A large 30x20 foot main screen will switch between each of the several teams while one of the three team members tells us what their team is currently doing (which is why each team needs at least 3 people). The objective is to see what real architects have to say about the software, as well as sharing their insights on the limitations as well as the special features of their software.
Simultaneously, at the event, there will be presentations from experts in design software, with advice on hardware, CADD and imaging software, World Wide Web page writing, and setting up networks, all oriented for design offices.
People attending the shoot-out will be treated to a plethora of information concerning the future and current development of their firms, and real practical useful tips and techniques. They will also get to vote for the design team and CADD software they feel has done the best job.
Voting results and the designs will be then posted on the World Wide Web.
Objectives :
Results and Fun - not Keystrokes
As opposed to the 2D electronic drafting CADD shoot-outs of the past, where productivity was measured in counted keystrokes, the new generation of architecturally intelligent 3D design software gives us the opportunity to have a more fun and visual event where the software is evaluated on many levels.
Stretch to the Limits
The objective is to see what real architects have to say about the software, as well as sharing their insights on the limitations as well as the special features of their software. We would like to see the limits of what you can design with the software - so part of the design requirements will be to include certain 3D elements that would be a challenge to any 3D software.
Real Office Situations - Constant Changes
We would also like to see how well the software does in real, typical architectural office situations - thus the need for plan, section, elevation, construction drawings as well as perspectives. Also, we want to see how easily the designers can deal with drastic changes to their design. Thus, we plan at least 3 significant changes to the design criteria that will be announced to all when the teams are partway done, forcing them to make significant changes to their buildings.
Two Networked Systems
Additionally, design firms now are concerned at how well several designers can collaborate on a project across a network. Having two networked systems in each team will help everyone evaluate how well each particular software may help or hinder this collaboration.
The Venue
The Amphitheater of the World Trade Center Boston is an ideal location for this kind of event. Steep seating and the best available computer display systems available will bring the event right to each person attending.
The ten or twelve Teams totaling some 30 + people will have ample room on the stage floor. We have arranged for a switchbox to allow us to quickly switch the main screen the audience sees from one Team to another. On the same floor, only fifty feet or so away is the International Pavillion, where attendees can take a break to get gourmet coffee, and many kinds of refreshments. At the entrance to the Amphitheater, there is an elegant 35 foot by 35 foot lobby where the various CADD developers involved with the Shootout will have literature and information on how you can obtain their products.
Detail Summary :(also see other parts of this Web site)
Teams
Each team of three shall have at least one Registered Architect. One person on the team will be an official coordinator and contact for that team.
Time Limits
The total event will be 6 hours. The first hour will include introductions of the teams to the audience, and information on the design criteria. Then the designers will have 3 hours to create, print, and Web post the required drawings. The last hour will involve evaluation, presentations, and voting.
Design Criteria
The design criteria will be given to the teams at the Shoot-Out (to prevent anyone from getting an unfair lead) and will involve a small enough building design project to be doable in the designated time. Certain challenging 3D elements will be required to be included (to test the design limits of various softwares) including elements that would require subtractive boolean 3D solid modeling.
A Design Criteria committee is forming to develop the specific requirements to be revealed at the shoot-out competition.
Required Changes Every Half Hour
Every 30 minutes, for the first 90 minutes, a significant change in the criteria will be announced. The change will require the designers to modify their designs in at least one of the following areas - roof, walls, and doors/windows. Virtually all of the new architectural CADD systems can parametrically and dynamically change design elements in these three areas. It will be interesting to see which teams need to delete and re-create some of these elements and which will simply modify parameters.
Teams Provide Hardware/Software/Network
Each team brings their own computer hardware. We realize that it may look inequitable, however, it is valuable to see what any given software may require to be optimal. For instance, if any given team could produce impressive results with older, slower, cheaper machines then that would obviously count in their favor. Currently the feeling is to limit each team to two machines for practical reasons. We feel that having two machines linked by network would shed valuable information on the networking and collaborating abilities of various CADD softwares.
One Team For Each Architectural CADD Software
Each major software for architecture may have only one team representing it - otherwise the emphasis would be more on design competition between firms rather than stressing the abilities and merits of CADD systems. Major architectural software that works as an add-on to another package may compete even though another team is using a competitor package that has the same engine program at its core (i.e. both ArchT and AutoArchitect could compete, as could both MicroArchitect and Triforma). If you would like to participate or contribute your help, and another team is already representing your favorite software, please speak to that Team's Coordinator - you may find that you can help or even compete after all.
Team Web Page
Each Team will be provided with a free Web page, where they will be able to promote their Team, their favorite software, and even their own companies and personal abilities. Before the actual competition, the Team page will feature bios about the Team members (be used to recruit others too) and information about the Architectural CADD software they are using. After the competition, the Team page will post the designs of that team.
Companies / Sponsorship / Promotion
Venders, dealers, VARs, developers, consultants, user groups, and so on, will be given the opportunity to have displays in the entrance gallery to the auditorium hall. They can also help sponsor a team (t-shirts here we come !) or the event itself. In addition, they will have the opportunity to have a presence or links to the Web page of the Team using their software.
To become an event sponsor, all user groups, associations, or companies need to do is to agree to help promote the event in their flyers and publications.
Judging
There will be a number of categories for judging, (best 3D modeling, best animation, fastest change adaptations, best network collaboration, best special abilities, etc.) including the best overall CADD software which will win the Architectural CADD Cup.
The Architectural CADD Cup is a trophy meant to become a symbol of excellence for the winning Team and particularly for the architectural CADD software they are using. This stunning silver, crystal, and ebony trophy will be inscribed with the winners each year, and displayed at numerous AIA conferences, AEC Systems Expositions, Build Boston and other events. The Cup also has a permanent Web page, where designers world wide can get information about the winners and the CADD software competitors.