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

Upgrade to Shaderlight 0.3

Shaderlight 0.3 is the latest release of ArtVPS's unique interactive ray-tracing software plug-in for 3ds Max. Shaderlight 0.3 boasts a number of enhancements over previous versions. Speed has been increased by 100 percent for complex production scenes, early image quality of glossy materials and area lights has been improved, image resolution has been increased, and a message window to track log messages during interactive rendering has been added. Requires a 64-bit machine with at least 8GB of RAM. Anyone who downloaded Shaderlight 0.1 or 0.2 can upgrade to version 0.3 for free, as well as receiving a 50-percent discount on Shaderlight 1.0.

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.

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.

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...

Stimulus Funds for Building Energy Monitoring

A new white paper, "Measurement & Verification: Tapping into ARRA Stimulus Funds," is available from Onset, producer of the HOBO ® data logger. The white paper provides guidance on identifying potential sources of stimulus funding for energy performance monitoring projects. It details new programs from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), explains the growing importance of measurement and verification (M&V) services, and discusses specific ways that energy services companies (ESCOs) can apply portable data logging technology to document building energy savings. The white paper is available as a free download.

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.

File Transfer and Management for AEC Firms

FileGenius® is a web-based, secure file transfer and management solution designed for professional use. It allows AEC firms to distribute and share important drawings, images, and other large files, significantly reducing reprographic costs and overnight deliveries. The application allows unlimited users and workspaces, so firms can create any number of specific project spaces, private client areas, and plan set repositories. Easy-to-use file and folder interface with web-based access, total site setup and management, and free, unlimited tech support. Allows employee and client access without training or assistance from IT. A free, 14-day trial is available, or try the demo here:

Online CAD File Sharing

AfterCAD Online is a Software as a Service (SaaS) offering that allows non-CAD professionals to view, mark up, manage, and publish CAD files onto the web without special software or training. Large and complex CAD files can be securely shared for viewing and annotation with existing and prospective clients. Centralized file management with online data access eliminates the need for similar software or CAD expertise on the client side. A rich text annotation editor enables use of images, hyperlinks, and contact information. Files stay current and accessible to the entire team. Clients are able work with files shared by a participating member free of charge. Three standard packages. Sign up for a free trial.

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...

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended includes all the functions of Acrobat 9 Pro, plus a range of additional features for business and technical professionals. Acrobat 9 Pro Extended includes PDF Portfolio for unifying a wide range of content, Adobe Presenter for creating interactive presentations, and the new Adobe 3D Reviewer for expanded 3D capabilities. It also provides the ability to convert 2D and 3D designs to PDF, convert and share video in PDF, and create PDF maps. Download a free 30-day trial for Windows users:

Revit Global Light Utility for 3ds Max

IMAGINiT Technologies, a RAND Worldwide® Company, has developed the Revit Global Light Utility for Max, a utility for Autodesk® 3ds Max®. With a single click, it turns on/ off multiple lights coming from the Autodesk Revit® and other CAD applications, as well as native 3ds Max lights. In addition to "all on/ all off," the utility allows you to separate each specific kind of light (such as daylight and photometric) or selected lights. The combination of Revit Architecture and 3ds Max Design enables designers to extend the BIM process. Revit Global Light Utility for Max is expected to be the first in a series of tools developed by the IMAGINiT design visualization team. Free download for a limited time.

Insulated Metal Panel Performance

Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs) typically consist of an insulated core, exterior and interior metal skins, double tongue-and-groove joinery, and concealed clips and fasteners. Installed outside the metal stud cavity, IMPs are suitable for exterior walls or roof systems, and can also be used in conjunction with other panels for multi-component solutions. They can increase the thermal efficiency of the building envelope to 95 percent. The panels incorporate a water, air, and vapor barrier in a single-unit wall assembly with R-values that range between R-14 and R-48. Available in a wide range of color and styles. Download a white paper on IMPs from the Metal Construction Association.

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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