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Newsletter: AEC – Summer 2007
ASI helps Louisville architects
get projects completed up to 75% faster
To keep up with the fast pace of its busy practice, Studio Kremer
Architects, an energetic six member firm based in Louisville, Kentucky,
is standardizing on the Autodesk® Revit® Building Information
Modeler (BIM).
Studio Kremer designs a wide range of projects, including single-family
residences, condominiums and apartments, schools and churches,
and commercial buildings of all types. The best known, and most
productive multi-family residential designer in its market, Studio
Kremer Architects chose Autodesk Revit because it helps the firm
exceed clients’ expectations and keep them coming back for
more.
The building information model ensures that no information is
lost. “With Autodesk Revit, we’re looking at a potential
50 to 75 percent time savings as projects move forward,” says
Scott Kremer, President.
Old AutoCAD couldn’t keep up
With an average of 75
to 80 projects a year, Studio Kremer found that its DOS-based AutoCAD® Release 12 system just couldn’t
keep up. In addition, virtually all of their consultants worked
on more advanced software, which was incompatible with Kremer’s
outdated systems.
So when the Studio Kremer team saw a demonstration of Autodesk
Revit presented by reseller Advanced Solutions, they were more
than ready to make the leap.
“We were awed by Autodesk Revit,” says Kremer. “We
loved the fact that as you designed the foundations and floor plans,
the elevations and wall sections were being developed at the same
time. Here was a piece of software that was doing that for us automatically.” After
seeing that demo, their decision to standardize on Revit was easy.
A dozen projects in the pipeline
Studio Kremer wasted no
time in putting Autodesk Revit to work and currently has about
a dozen Revit projects in the pipeline. Among them is a bank redesign.
Short-listed for the project, the firm was asked to put together
a proposal for an addition that would double the square footage
of the bank’s headquarters
building. Facing stiff competition from architects with 30 years’ experience
in bank design, they had their work cut out for them.
Initial plans called for an addition compatible with the original
1830s residence that housed the bank’s headquarters. Studio
Kremer took the existing drawings as well as a group of ideas gathered
during a conversation with the bank president, and in just four
days produced a dozen rendered views of the building from all angles.
Scott Kremer used a laptop and a projector to present the results
to the bank’s president and board of directors. “They
were amazed that we went to the effort and could show them 3D in
a rendered perspective what their building could look like,” he
says. “I think it went a long way in helping us secure that
contract.”
The effort put into that initial visualization will not be lost
in successive phases of the project. All information used for visualization
will also be used in design and construction documents, saving
the firm time and money while reducing errors.
Up and running in
one week
Many firms are wary of using new software on their important
projects. But with basic training on Autodesk Revit from Advanced
Solutions, Studio Kremer’s investment paid off right away.
Says Kremer: “I would say that a DOS user, who is not familiar
with Windows, can be up and running in Revit in one week, and could
really learn Windows and master the software in a few months.” Kremer
estimates that his company is already experiencing a significant
productivity gain of up to 20 percent.
The power of parametrics
Much of Studio Kremer’s retail and
residential work involves developing and adapting prototype facility
designs. With prototypes for apartment and condominium projects
developed in Autodesk Revit, Studio Kremer can count on the software
to keep the entire design current.
For example, in Revit, typical apartment units can be parametrically
defined. If the client wants a bigger bathroom, the change is made
once – and all units are automatically updated, eliminating
tedious manual coordination.
“That is one of the most incredible things about parametric
software,” says Kremer. “It’s not just one change
vertically, but one change a multitude of times. Fantastic.”
See it in 3D
With Autodesk Revit, says Kremer, “clients see
a three-dimensional picture, and they completely understand the
look and shape of their new building. With this technology, I think
there will be fewer misunderstandings, and we’ll have much
happier clients.”
Herb Shulhafer, director of business development at Studio Kremer,
adds, “Being able to show clients the three-dimensional aspect
at a very early stage will become a basic architectural service.”
Clients first
“Our product is service,” says Shulhafer. “Clients
want us to be right. They want us to meet their timetable, which
is short. And they don’t want problems in the field. We see
Autodesk Revit helping us in all of these aspects.”
Kremer says that the BIM decreases the risk of errors in the field
and “lessens our liability because we are going to have more
accurate drawings that are all linked together.”
Studio Kremer is creating most new work in the Autodesk Revit
program and converting older projects as needed. “Revit
is eventually going to be our only software product,” says
Kremer.
According to Kremer, Revit gives his firm a competitive advantage
and keeps clients coming back to Studio Kremer for more projects. “They
see that we’re moving forward, advancing our abilities to
serve them.”
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Architects Make Smooth Transition from 2D to 3D AutoCAD
Architects know they need to master the new 3D AutoCAD tools for
building information modeling.
Now, through a special offer from Advanced Solutions, you can
upgrade to 3D while keeping your 2D systems running as you learn.
Through our new “Rev It Up for Architecture” Program,
Advanced Solutions clients can upgrade from Autodesk® Architectural
Desktop 2005, 2006, or 2007 to a new seat of Revit® Architecture
2008 software and AutoCAD Architecture 2008.
Clients with AutoCAD Architecture 2008 can get a new seat of
Revit Architecture 2008, yet retain their current AutoCAD Architecture
2008 license.
“When you upgrade to a seat on a new system, you keep your
license on your current system at a small additional cost,” explains
Chris Lavenson, Advanced Solutions Vice President of Marketing.
“This way, you have access to the Autodesk software you’re
familiar with, so there’s no loss of productivity while you
master the features of your new system.”
In addition, hanging on to the Autodesk 2D license ensures that
the architect’s investment in 2D CAD files does not become
obsolete.
Revit Architecture 2008 is especially well suited to integrating
building information modeling (BIM) into your designs.
With BIM, a change made in one component of a building – for
instance, moving a window – is reflected throughout the entire
building while maintaining structural integrity.
Benefits of BIM include improved productivity, increased profitability,
and the ability to rapidly compare multiple design approaches for
better decision making.
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Advanced Solutions on the move … to
bigger and better headquarters
On May 25, Advanced Solutions moved its headquarters in Louisville
to Eastpoint Business Center.
At 10,000 square feet, the new location, which also headquarters
Advanced Solutions’ sister company, IDS Engineering, is more
than triple the size of the old headquarters.
“From 2006 to 2007, the number of employees working for
Advanced Solutions doubled,” notes CEO Michael Golway. “We
needed more space to accommodate this growth.”
The new offices, conveniently located just off the Gene Snyder
Freeway, include two new training labs and a client consultation
area.
“The expanded facilities mark a milestone into the next
generation of premiere service and support for our clients,” says
Golway.
Advanced Solutions new headquarters is located at: 1901 Eastpoint
Parkway, Suite 301, Louisville, KY 40223.
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Motor City welcomes new
auto design resource: Advanced Solutions Detroit Authorized Training
Center and Premier Solutions Provider
Despite the increased global competition in automobile manufacturing,
Detroit – home to GM, Ford, and Chrysler – is still
seen by many as a world-class center of design for the U.S. auto
industry, which manufacturers more than 15 million cars a year.
Now, engineers working in Detroit have a new local resource to
help them use Autodesk CAD solutions more efficiently: Advanced
Solutions’ new Detroit Authorized Training Center.
“Working with a reseller like Advanced Solutions makes it
less expensive for clients to secure the products they need,” says
Thomas Wikol, Autodesk Territory Manager. “Our network of
over a thousand resellers nationwide reduces our overhead, so we
can keep our prices affordable.”
Wikol says he works closely with Advanced Solutions and seven
other Autodesk resellers in his region, which covers Michigan,
Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
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New “Gold” program
assures quick help for Autodesk users who need instant tech support
When your design project is on a tight deadline, the last thing
you want are computer problems … but they often happen when
you can least afford to lose access to your CAD files.
The solution? Autodesk’s Gold Support Program – or “GSP” – now
available from Advanced Solutions. When you’re a member of
our Gold Support Program, you can be on the phone with an Advanced
Solutions Tech Support Specialist within 3 minutes of placing your
call.
“We can often resolve the problem – in minutes – right
over the phone,” says Norbert A. Howell, Chief Technology
Officer.
If not, a next-step response takes place in 2 hours or less. Depending
on the problem, this can range from a request for additional information,
to connecting the user directly with a qualified specialist from
Autodesk who can diagnose, and fix, the problem.
The whole idea of Gold Support: do whatever it takes to get the
client’s system up and running, as quickly as possible.
Through the Gold Support Program, Advanced Solutions can quickly
connect its clients with the right Autodesk expert – a
high-level support technician the client could not easily reach
on his own.
Only five resellers – Advanced Solutions among them – have
been authorized to provide Autodesk Gold Support, which includes:
- Unlimited toll-free telephone support Monday through Friday
during normal business hours.
- Online tracking and management of
support cases.
- Local language support.
- Access to Web-based self-service support
and tools.
“GSP, a premium support service, is for end users whose
technical support calls are mission critical and cannot afford
to wait for several hours, or days, for an answer,” says
Howell. “With Gold Support, we can help ensure your business
does not miss a beat.”
With GSP, Advanced Solutions clients can get back up and running
quickly – often in a few hours, or even minutes, after their
system starts to malfunction.
By comparison, CNN found that 50% of PC users who sent tech support
e-mails said replies took longer than 2 days, didn’t help,
or were not answered.
According to research from Pepperdine University, the cost to
U.S. business of lost productivity from PC down-time is $18.2 billion
a year.
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Advanced Solutions Wins 2007 Autodesk “Partner of the Year” Award
On March 5, 2007, Advanced Solutions won Autodesk’s 2007
Partner of the Year award, beating out 1,768 other channel partners
worldwide for the most prestigious award given by Autodesk.
“Advanced Solutions is a valued partner,” said Autodesk
VP Steve Blum. “We appreciate the performance and commitment
the company has made to build a best-in-class business.”
Just 2 ½ years ago, Advanced Solutions was ranked 18th
overall among Autodesk resellers. Over the last 2 years, Advanced
Solutions has doubled the size of its business through a combination
of investment, business planning, and effective use of Autodesk
resources.
“To be ranked as the top Autodesk reseller on the planet
is a wonderful compliment to the hard work, focus, and passion
our team has strived to deliver,” says Advanced Solutions
CEO Michael Golway. “I’m delighted to see our team
receive this level of recognition from Autodesk, a company we admire
and a relationship we value.”
Adds Chris Lavenson, Advanced Solutions Vice President of Marketing, “With
over 10,000 clients, Advanced Solutions has developed a rich
understanding and capability on how to deliver Autodesk solutions
that help clients create, manage, and share their data and digital
assets more effectively.
“As a result, clients turn ideas into competitive advantage
by becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency, and
maximizing profits.”
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Upgrade your Autodesk CAD software to 3D and get $200 worth of
training free
For a limited time only, Advanced Solutions is giving clients
who upgrade to one of the new Autodesk 2D or 3D software packages
free training valued at $200 in their new product.
Autodesk software packages qualifying for the free training offer
include:
- Revit® Structure 2008
- AutoCAD® Revit Structure Suite
2008
- AutoCAD® MEP 2008
- AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2008
“Buying a new seat of these new Autodesk products can dramatically
increase a design engineer’s productivity,” says Advanced
Solutions CEO Michael Golway. “The objective of our free
training giveaway is to get users up and running as quickly as
possible.”
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Help wanted: Advanced Solutions to hire 30+ new employees in 2007
To staff up for rapid business growth, Advanced Solutions plans
to hire 30 new employees in 2007. Our current job openings include:
- Account Manager – salesperson to generate new business by
developing leads and expanding existing accounts.
- Inside Sales Representative – plan and conduct
telesales activities to generate leads for the outside sales
team; answer inbound calls from prospects; positions available
in Louisville.
- Application Engineer, Civil – civil engineer to
support, train, and provide consultative service to clients;
proficiency in AutoCAD required; positions available in Columbus
and Indianapolis.
- Application Engineer, Architecture – consult with
our architectural clients to solve their CAD problems; experience
in architecture and knowledge of AutoCAD required; positions
available in Columbus and Detroit.
- Application Engineer, Mechanical – consult with
our manufacturing clients to solve their CAD problems; experience
in mechanical or electrical engineering and knowledge of AutoCAD
required; positions available in Detroit and Louisville.
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Upgrade your Autodesk software by July 16 and save up to 20%
Autodesk recently announced that the company is “retiring” 2005
and earlier releases of its software products.
After March 14, 2008, Autodesk will no longer offer upgrades to – or
technical support for – 2005 and earlier product releases. “Like
many other software development companies, Autodesk supports products
two releases back from the current shipping release of that product,” explains
Virginia Jones, Advanced Solutions Marketing Administrator.
The good news is that this enables Autodesk to control the costs
of maintaining older versions of its software, which in turn allows
them to keep pricing on new Autodesk software low. If you’re
using any of the Autodesk 2005 products listed below, you can save
up to 20% when you upgrade by July 16, 2007:
Old version:
AutoCAD® 2005
AutoCAD LT® 2005
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2005
Autodesk® Land Desktop 2005
Autodesk Map 3D® 2005
Autodesk® Raster Design 2005
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2005
AutoCAD® Electrical 2005
Autodesk Inventor® Series 9
Autodesk® VIZ 2005
Autodesk® 3ds Max® 7 |
Upgrade to:
AutoCAD® 2008
AutoCAD LT® 2008
AutoCAD® Architecture 2008
AutoCAD® Land Desktop 2008
AutoCAD® Map 3D 2008
AutoCAD® Raster Design 2008
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2008
AutoCAD® Electrical 2008
Autodesk® Inventor Suite 2008
Autodesk® VIZ 2008
Autodesk® 3ds Max® 9 |
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Professional Development Hour
Please join ASI for an introduction of the newest features in
Autodesk software. The Professional Development Hour is designed
to give an overview of the new features for those considering upgrading
or cross-grading to the newest release. Hosted at our regional
offices, they are intentionally a small, product focused group
of local users.
Expect to learn about: time savings, increased productivity, return
on investment, tips and tricks, and specials on training and products
for attendees. Take advantage of our team’s product and industry
knowledge; go back to the office informed and empowered on the
newest Autodesk solutions for your company, all while getting a
free lunch.
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