Free architectural software and product-related downloads, courtesy of these ArchitectureWeek sponsors...

Next Generation of Piranesi 2010 - 3D Design Visualization Software

With Piranesi, Informatix provides a solution that operates alongside the leading CAD solutions, like Autodesk or Google SketchUp. This solution can turn the simplest of initial designs into breathtaking non-photorealistic presentation images for clients and prospects alike. Informatix believes Piranesi 2010 Pro will be the first product to market that allows users to create true 3D Anaglyph images. Armed with 3D glasses, which ship with the product, these images give a truly amazing 'depth' view of the proposed design." Download a free 30-day trial.

Improving Construction Efficiency and Productivity with Modular Construction

The Modular Building Institute has published a white paper citing a report by the National Research Council (NRC) that identifies modular construction as an underutilized resource. At the request of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NRC convened an ad hoc committee of experts to identify technologies, processes, and deployment activities that have the greatest potential to significantly advance the productivity and competitiveness of the U.S. construction industry in the next 20 years. The committee suggested five potential breakthroughs, including "greater use of prefabrication, preassembly, modularization, and off-site fabrication techniques and processes." Read more and download the white paper.

Free CAD Software

DoubleCAD™ XT works like AutoCAD LT®, but is free. It contains many new, innovative features, such as transparent fills, draw order by layer, hide objects regardless of layer, snap prioritization, self-healing walls, self-aligning blocks, brush editor, Bezier curves, input multiple unit types "on the fly," automatic scaling of units between drawings, one-step splitting of objects, advanced polyline editing, parametric variable palette, modern handle-based editing, exploded viewports, and smart dimensions. Import and export twice as many file formats as AutoCAD LT 2010, including strong .SKP compatibility. Awarded highest five-star rating from the review editors at CNET. Free download.

Specification Management Software

The e-SPECS® specification management software from InterSpec automates the preparation of project specifications by extracting product and material requirements directly from CAD drawings or BIM models. Each unique item in the drawings can be linked to your choice of master guide specifications to specify the product or material identified. Specifications are updated instantly as drawings are developed. The built-in browser facilitates selection of available products that meet your specifications by linking to supplier information. Integrates with Autodesk® AutoCAD® and Revit®-based applications, and with all versions of AIA's MasterSpec®, the industry standard for construction specification documents.

Vectorworks Architect 2010 - Making Change Easy

Whether you're making the move to BIM or need advanced 2D and 3D design capabilities, the flexibility of Vectorworks® Architect 2010 allows you to make the changes you need without turning your firm upside down. Remain in your comfort zone by leveraging the design flow of your choice and take advantage of the increased speed and improved design tools to help you model efficiently: 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager; wall sculpting; associative hatches; new rendering functionality; and many important usability changes, all built upon the Parasolid® modeling core. Click to request a fully functioning 30-day evaluation.

Improve Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings

Clean Air–Cool Planet offers a free guide on how to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings, from private residences to community buildings and museums. "Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Historic Preservation: A Guide for Historic District Commissions" includes an introduction to local energy and sustainability committees for historic preservationists, specific ways for preservationists and local energy groups to work together, details about energy-efficiency measures that protect historic value of properties, examples of successfully employed renewable energy applications, answers to frequently asked questions from building owners and members of local energy committees, and resources for further information. Free download.

Decentralized Ecological Wastewater Treatment

Worrell Water Technologies offers a free white paper, "Creating a Sustainable Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century," which discusses the challenges presented by the aging drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure in the United States, and the potential benefits of implementing decentralized, ecologically engineered treatment technologies. Such technologies include constructed wetland systems for processing wastewater, such as the company's Living Machine®, which simulates tidal flow; as well as stormwater wetlands, rainwater harvesting systems, air-conditioner condensate harvesting, and water efficiency devices and practices. Benefits include reduced creation of sludge from wastewater and reduced energy demands and greenhouse-gas emissions. The paper outlines a strategy that supports the rehabilitation of existing critical infrastructure while focusing the application of new ecological treatment systems in areas of rapid growth or failing existing systems.

Sustainable, Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

The nonprofit organization Reconnecting America has issued a white paper: "Realizing the Potential for Sustainable, Equitable TOD: Recommendations to the Interagency Partnership on Sustainable Communities." The paper includes an extensive list of recommendations for each of the three agencies in the new interagency partnership: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reflecting input from a variety of stakeholders involved in transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and community development, the paper provides a short history of previous federal efforts to promote livable communities and highlights successful local, state, and regional programs. Free download.

CSI's GreenFormat: Structure for Environmental Product Evaluation

The green building movement in the U.S. is being driven by rating systems, emerging standards, and building codes that incorporate environmental consideration in product evaluation. CSI's GreenFormat allows manufacturers to report the sustainability-measuring properties of products, and provides designers with information to meet green requirements. Specifiers and design professionals can access the reported environmental data for building products, including single attributes, labels, certifications, and Life Cycle Assessment data, helping clarify the tradeoffs when specifying environmental labels. GreenFormat is a free online resource offered by the Construction Specifications Institute, a national professional member society whose mission includes creating standards, formats, and practice guidelines to improve construction documentation and project delivery. Download a white paper on GreenFormat.

Free Pocket Guide to Brick Construction

Acme Brick Company offers a free "Pocket Guide to Quality Brick Construction" to registered architects. The 127-page reference book includes brick size and weight information, mortar cost calculation, cold weather masonry requirements, brick wall properties, flashing and weep hole details, and wall costs per square foot based on three brick sizes. The book is a detailed, authoritative manual for anyone dealing with masonry. Acme Brick is the largest U.S.-owned brick company, established in 1891.

Planning Workspace Changes for a Changing World

Download a free white paper from Interior Architects, authored by principal Kay Sargent, about how offices and workspace are evolving in light of the global financial crisis and also demographic, social, creative, and technological changes. The paper offers strategic suggestions for how to rebuild and reposition the workplace for optimum performance, taking a look at how design, globalization, sustainability, and disaster preparedness might affect real estate decisions. What are the factors and realities that companies need to understand and leverage to cut their losses, rethink the workplace, and profit? What changes must be made and why? How do companies successfully determine and control the appropriate action for their unique situation? Click to download PDF...

3D Modeling with bonzai3d

Bonzai3d from AutoDesSys is a new 3D modeler that offers a quick and easy yet geometrically robust approach. Designed for delivering conceptual designs and sketching ideas, bonzai3d creates models that are CAD-accurate and can be used further down the production pipeline for construction drawings, renderings, animation, fabrication, rapid prototyping with 3D printing, and other applications. The software offers a smart interface; easy sculpting with real-time booleans; classic modeling tools with real-time dynamic editing; deformation for any solid or surface; NURBS curves and surfaces; specialty tools for roofs, terrain, stairs, and sections; a content library; a match-view tool; advanced real-time rendering; and more than 20 import-export formats. Download a 30-day full-featured trial version.

North American Hardwood Flooring in Sustainable Design

The Hardwood Council is offering a series of white papers for architects, designers, and builders, with practical information on using American hardwoods in sustainable design and building. A recent life-cycle analysis by the Consortium of Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) found solid North American hardwood flooring to be an environmentally responsible flooring material compared to four popular alternatives (vinyl composition tile, linoleum, nylon carpet tile, and wool carpet tile). In these free white papers, read about sustainable design using solid hardwood flooring.

3D Software for Interior Design

Chief Architect, Inc. has released new 3D design software specifically for interior design professionals. The new interiors product is based on the full-featured version of Chief Architect X2. Features include cabinet catalogs with manufacturer and generic cabinets for creating kitchens and baths; 2D and 3D automated building and design tools; access to thousands of name-brand and generic design objects; automated materials lists and schedules for pricing and cost estimating; 3D rendering for photorealistic and artistic views, including raytracing, watercolor, and line drawings; and construction drawing creation per NKBA standards. Download a trial version.

Computer Design of Beams, Joists, and Rafters

ConstructionCalc™ offers a free white paper on how to design simply supported wood beams, joists, and rafters with ConstructionCalc's Wood Beam Calculator program. Concepts presented will be applicable to other similar brands of software. The short course covers: determining loads, including uniform, partial, point and wedge loads; span and tributary width; deflection criteria and impact on design; self-weight issues; lateral bracing for bending members; interpretation of output information; and evaluating the most efficient solution. A PC and Microsoft® Excel 2003 or later are required to run ConstructionCalc software. Download the free white paper, "Computer Design of Beams, Joists, and Rafters," here.

IES Architectural Suites

The IES Architectural Suite and Architectural Suite Plus provide integrated sustainable analysis tools for architects to use from the earliest stages of the design process through to detailed design. With training included, the packages offer a cost- and time-effective way to achieve green design goals. Multiple design iterations can be assessed rapidly, helping maximize the environmental performance of the final design. All the tools are integrated around a central 3D model that can connect directly with Google SketchUp®, Autodesk® Revit®, and via gbXML with other 3D design tools, eliminating the need to rebuild geometry. Download a free trial today...

Policy Assessment on High-Performance Buildings

This policy recommendations report was prepared by the High-Performance Building Council, with the SBIC serving as its Secretariat, in response to Section 914 of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, to address defining "high-performance buildings" based on comprehensive and measurable criteria. The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) advocates formation of a building industry coalition to assess current consensus standards and rating systems. View report in PDF format:

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