Case Studies

Malcolm O'Beirne Associate makes full use of AutoCAD Architecture Features

Malcolm O'Beirne Associates is a small architectural practice based in Galway city. As a user of AutoCAD since R11, Malcolm was one of the first to embrace AutoCAD Architecture, ADT, moving from R1 to R3.3.

Working on a variety of commercial, industrial (Medtronic Building 2) and domestic projects, the company makes full use of the features available in AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD to produce designs and documentation. "We find the design and documentation to be produced much quicker in AutoCAD Architecture than standard AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. In design terms I typically make only one or two sketches before creating the building model in AutoCAD Architecture." All design, visualisation and drawing production from that point are electronic.

Using 3D contours or terrain model surfaces from site surveys, the building can be set in the landscape. AutoCAD's rendering tools combined with Paintshop Pro, site photos, and movie clips allow ideas to be conveyed rapidly to clients. This is particularly useful where face-to-face meetings are infrequent or non-existent. In a recent Galway apartment block proposal AutoCAD's shadow rendering and sun angle calculator proved crucial in allaying planners and residents concerns on overshadowing.

The automatic updating of schedules, dimensions, elevations and sections as the design changes is particularly useful. In addition to the technical support and survey services provided by his Autodesk reseller, Amicus Technology, Malcolm also uses a variety of online resources to find solutions or shortcuts and has developed a set of Irish architectural styles for AutoCAD Architecture. Using the German Metric styles, he has also created a comprehensive area schedule (favoured by auctioneers) and even a detailed room-painting schedule.

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