by Elizabeth Bollinger

In 1987, Cambridge Seven Associates (C7A) started using computers to streamline their production drawing cycle and thus provide more time to invest in the quality of their designs. CAD as a production and 2D design tool allowed them to investigate in more detail how their designs were put together. But as in many architecture firms, CAD as a 3D design tool was slower to arrive and is only now being used in the early stages of their work.

According to Julie Gilman, director of technology for C7A, a growing use of 3D modeling in schematic design at the firm is directly attributed to their implementation of Architectural Desktop (ADT) from Autodesk, Inc.

A History of Collaboration

In 1962 a group of seven designers with varied backgrounds and interests came together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They believed their collaborative efforts would be far more effective than the efforts of any individual.

Winner of the prestigious American Institute of Architects Firm Award in 1993, C7A is now recognized widely for innovative work in architecture, urban design, exhibitions, and graphic, interior, and industrial design. Over the years, C7A has grown with the technology that supports the work of its designers.

Lobby of the Kuwait National Petroleum Company headquarters, rendered in Architectural Desktop. Image: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. East-west building section. Image: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.