Graphisoft gives away £1/4 billion to support 'Built Environment Future Foundations'

In an unprecedented move, Graphisoft, the world's no.1 supplier of 3D model-based software and technological services for the built environment, has established 'Built Environment Future Foundations' comprising a donation of over £253 million worth of software, support and study curriculum programmes to British and Irish universities, colleges and other academic institutions, over five years.

The giveaway reflects Graphisoft's stated belief that today's students drive and shape the future of the architecture and construction industries.

According to Managing Director, Garreth Evans, making the announcement: "Construction is worth 8% of Britain's GDP and 22% of Ireland's, so tomorrow's built environment graduates are of huge importance to their respective country's economies. They need access to the best training, technology and tools available.  In a significant initiative Graphisoft has risen to this challenge by putting together a comprehensive educational bursary package and will give away at least £1/4 billion in software and curriculum programmes alone in the UK and Ireland over the next 5 years.

"This is an unprecedented level of commitment to education, and is necessary for the long term advancement of the architectural and construction industries, much of which has been resistant to performance improvement through the application of new technologies.  We believe that we can, by giving students access to the world's leading design/build technology, not only leave a lasting legacy but allow architects and constructors to transform how they work and the results they produce.

"We are convinced that once students and their future employers have seen what is now possible we'll see both creativity and practicality flourish together, leading, in the future, to even more buildings that are of both high quality design and optimum construction."

Academia, architects and the building industry have all been quick to support Graphisoft's 'Built Environment Future Foundations'. Ben Wallbank, BSc, DipArch, RIBA, at 50-strong John Robertson Architects where they only use Archicad said: "The entire building industry is moving towards Building Information Modelling (BIM). There will be a continuing and growing demand and Archicad is the premier tool to answer that need. There is no doubt that we would preferentially employ graduates who are trained in Archicad."

And Steve Pyecroft, MD, Mace Ltd, one of the largest and most successful construction and project management companies operating in the building, civil engineering and property sectors added: "Information drives efficiency in the construction business - so it's perhaps not surprising that Mace has harnessed the benefits of Graphisoft technology to strengthen the link between good architectural design and best practice construction."

Paul Sykes, Recruitment Manager, CITB-ConstructionSkills agrees: "Construction is one of the UK's largest industries, employing almost 2.5 million people - that's 1 in 14 of the entire workforce. It is also outperforming the economy as a whole with projected average growth of 3% per year. This success means that the requirement for new recruits is high; our current forecasts predict a requirement of 87,000 new recruits each year until 2010 - so an initiative, such as Graphisoft's, which provides young people with the technological support to help them develop the skills and boost their creativity needed for a career in the construction industry is more than welcome and receives our full backing."

Andrew Roberts, the Architecture Subject Coordinator for CEBE (The Centre for Education in the Built Environment) a UK Government initiative to provide discipline-based support for learning and teaching in the built environment subject communities of Architecture, Landscape, Urban Planning, Housing and Transport, Construction and Real Estate is another who sees the benefits: "We welcome this initiative and it will be of great benefit to students of architecture and other built environment disciplines."

Chris Woods, BA (Arch) hons, Dip Arch (hons), RIBA, Research & Development Director, Wates Group said: "The Academic initiative from Graphisoft is very much welcomed. We in the industry have wrestled for many years with the issue that whereas architects 'think' in 3D they produce mostly 2D technical drawings. Clients for the most part do not understand 2D technical drawings and yet are asked to sign off this technical paperwork thereby starting the process of miscommunication and rework. If we produce students trained in modern 3D technology we will help solve one of the major problems that beset the construction Industry."

Many academics are particularly delighted by this initiative because Graphisoft has been integrating its products with the cross platform standards known as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) laid down by the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) since 1996 and is the only major supplier of 3D built environment products which are fully compliant. The goal of the IFC is industry-wide and continuous sharing of information between CAD (and non-CAD) applications for the life cycle of the building. For users, this means that they can safely work in Archicad without fear of being isolated from consultants, clients or other specialists using other software.

Although originally designed for students in tertiary education, Graphisoft is also providing the 'Built Environment Future Foundations' to students in primary and secondary education, as well as to all those who teach or lecture in institutions.  To address the different needs of students, tutors and Institutions Graphisoft has produced specific packages tailored to the requirements of each.

Garreth Evans adds: "The overall initiative really does provide an end-to-end commitment by Graphisoft, with free software and learning materials, training to ensure consistent provision of education, on-going technical support, and an incentive to employers to take on students with Building Information Modelling skills. We believe that this initiative represents a significant contribution to education in the UK and Ireland as well as providing the next generation of architects and constructors with the tools to transform the performance of their respective industries."