Autodesk Honors Three Universities for Efforts to Promote Building Information Modeling

Innovative Educational Programs at California Polytechnic State University, South China University and RWTH Aachen University Earn Autodesk BIM Experience Awards

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced that three universities, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, California), South China University of Technology (Guangzhou, China) and RWTH Aachen University (Aachen, Germany), have earned an Autodesk BIM Experience Award for exemplary building information modeling (BIM) educational efforts and research.

“The increased use of building information modeling as a process within the commercial sector is being mirrored on college and university campuses,” said Jim Lynch, vice president, Autodesk BIM Product Line Group. “Each of the institutions selected for this Autodesk BIM Experience Award serves as a model for other college and university departments of architecture looking to fully integrate BIM into their curriculum.”

California Polytechnic State University

To advance its goal of preparing students for the future, the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at California Polytechnic State University incorporates building information modeling into coursework to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and to instill an integrated understanding of building design in its degree programs. The CAED began using Autodesk BIM software in its core curriculum in 2007, based on feedback from affiliated industry professionals regarding the current state of practice and projected industry trends. As a part of their BIM training, CAED students use Autodesk Ecotect Analysis software, Autodesk Revit Structure software, and Autodesk Revit Architecture building design software.

South China University of Technology

Founded in 1932, the School of Architecture, South China University of Technology has been pursuing building information modeling as major research topic since 2005, as part of the Building Lifecycle Management-BIM Laboratory jointly created with Autodesk. Also in 2005, South China University, Tsinghua University, Tongji University and Harbin Institute of Technology jointly compiled BLM Theory and Practice Series, the first domestic Chinese texts introducing building lifecycle management and BIM theory and practice. Since 2005 faculty members have compiled several BIM-related textbooks, including Revit Building Architecture Design Tutorial and Introduction to Digital Architecture Design, which have been adopted by many Chinese colleges and universities.

RWTH Aachen University

Founded in 1870, the School of Architecture at RWTH Aachen University offers a variety of BIM courses, including BIM “basics” electives (for architectural diploma and bachelor’s degrees) and BIM “professional” electives (for architectural diploma and master’s degrees). In these classes, the students use a range of Autodesk BIM software to develop and explore their building designs. The design-oriented basics class includes the theory of BIM and software instruction for creating building information models. The advanced classes are more practice oriented. Topics include scheduling, analysis, design-to-fabrication strategies, and how a BIM-based design can interface with other disciplines and software such as estimating, construction planning, and computer-aided manufacturing. Autodesk software used in the coursework includes Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk 3ds Max Design, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis, Autodesk Navisworks and AutoCAD software.

The Autodesk BIM Experience Award recognizes professionals and educators around the world who are helping to drive industry transformation through building information modeling. Autodesk honors organizations for their innovation, leadership and excellence in implementing BIM with the help of core BIM products, including one or more of the Autodesk Revit platform products, and/or AutoCAD Civil 3D software, and other Autodesk products that complement the BIM process, such as AutoCAD software.

BIM is an integrated process for exploring a project’s key physical and functional characteristics digitally before it’s built. Coordinated, consistent information is used throughout the process to design innovative projects and conduct analysis from the earliest stages. This enables better visualization and simulation of real-world appearance, performance and cost, to deliver projects faster and more economically, while minimizing environmental impact.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software to help customers experience their ideas digitally before they are built. Fortune 100 companies -- as well as the last 14 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software tools to design, visualize and simulate their ideas to save time and money, enhance quality, and foster innovation for competitive advantage. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Ecotect, Green Building Studio, Navisworks, Revit and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.