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Production Resource Group LLC (PRG) – leading supplier of entertainment and event technology solutions is working with global entertainment design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. to ensure a seamless Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon, Portugal. The Rock in Rio festival collaboration between PRG and Vectorworks will demonstrate the realization of workflows using ESP Vision software to previsualize each lighting designer's concept. As in previous years, PRG will be supplying lighting technology and all related rigging for the festival. The event technology specialist is now in its 13th year of working with Rock in Rio. “We started working with Rock in Rio back in 2004; during this time, we were able to supply lighting and video technology at festivals in Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Las Vegas and Lisbon,” said Christoph Hahnl, senior account manager at PRG. “This year’s festival marks the 30th anniversary of Rock in Rio, and we are excited to be on board.” Now owned by Vectorworks, Inc., Vision puts the power to previsualize and cue your show at your fingertips. The software enables entertainment designers to rehearse the look of a show before they arrive at the venue. Adaptations and changes can easily be made in advance, allowing for more efficient working. "With the increasing need to simulate a lighting design before it's ever executed on a live stage, our collaboration with PRG at Rock in Rio Lisbon provides the perfect venue in which to demonstrate our commitment to empowering today's entertainment designers," said Stewart Rom, chief marketing officer for Vectorworks. "We look forward to showing the world how our two companies can contribute to the ultimate show experience in Lisbon this year and enable today's visionaries in lighting design to advance the way they work." As part of their ongoing collaboration, PRG is working with Vectorworks' R&D department to create leading solutions and is among the first to use the companies latest software technologies. Vectorworks® Spotlight users are able to work with a catalog of PRG-owned gear in the software, making the design development and documentation process even faster for lighting, production and scenic designers. The close working proximity to designers allows PRG an active exchange of ideas to identify the latest requirements and be involved in leading the development of future technology. Spotlight is the industry-leading software for entertainment design that allows designers to work in 2D and 3D with integrated worksheet functionality and rendering capabilities. “The collaboration with Vectorworks is well underway, and we have already identified ways to improve internal and external working processes,” said Götz Bauer, special operations director at PRG. “By incorporating PRG’s gear into the Spotlight software library, users are able to work increasingly efficiently and improve working processes. Our close relationship with designers from around the world enables us to really make a difference by using their feedback, and our experience to create solutions from which the whole industry can gain.” The festival will take place over two consecutive weekends starting on May 19, 2016. The lineup features acts like Queen + Adam Lambert, Maroon 5, Korn, Ariana Grande, Hollywood Vampires and Avicii. The lighting design for the festivals in Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon was created by lighting designer Terry Cook for Woodroffe Bassett Design.

Since the March 2016 announcement of the 48-hour collaborative BIM competition for the eighth Build Earth Live (BEL) series, the unprecedented popularity of BEL Hyperloop’s global collaborative design competition has reached the attention of Dubai Future Foundation and Dubai's Road and Transport Authority. Dubai Future Foundation and Dubai's Road and Transport Authority have joined BEL - Hyperloop as government sponsors. The government is planning to build Hyperloop infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the near future. Winning teams of the BEL event will be offered the opportunity to win work with the government on the future project delivery process. Created by Asite, and headline sponsored by global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc., the competition exists to showcase how new technology is revolutionizing construction. Teams are tasked with joining together in collaborative work using building information modeling (BIM) technology. The event will focus in particular on the design of station terminuses within the context of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. "This year will hands down be the most exciting Build Earth Live competition with the possibility for participating teams to win work, and we couldn't be happier to be the headline sponsor," said Jeremy Powell, product marketing director at Vectorworks. "We wish all of the competing teams the best and can't wait to see the creative solutions they design for this challenge involving Hyperloop technology." The government ministry will host representatives from finalist teams in Dubai for judging and awards, along with Asite, Vectorworks, and Hyperloop One, a company reinventing transportation by developing the world's first Hyperloop, an elegant, integrated structure to move passengers and cargo between two points immediately, safely, efficiently and sustainably. This new development sees the evolution of the BEL series from BIM educators to leaders in infrastructure and design development. In order to take full advantage of this exciting development the sponsors, along with participating teams have agreed to move the start date of the event to Monday, September 26, 2016 at noon GST and the closing of the competition to Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at noon GST. The schedule will also be modified to enable finalist teams to travel to Dubai following the 48-hour competition to participate in the award festivities where winners will be announced. Asite’s COO Nathan Doughty said, “We are delighted to welcome the Dubai Future Foundation and Dubai's Road and Transport Authority to the Build Earth Live team. We look forward to working in partnership to deliver exciting design solutions for the future of transport infrastructure and to seeing them take shape in real practice in the UAE.”

Global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces version 2.4 of its partner product, the pedestrian simulation software tool SimTread, which assists with creating and verifying a design's circulation pattern. Developed by A&A Co., Ltd., the Vectorworks distributor in Japan, in partnership with Waseda University and Takenaka Corporation, SimTread can aid in analyzing an array of crowd control needs — whether studying the flow of people as they slowly meander through an art museum or determining the evacuation flow of tens of thousands from a football stadium. "There is great power in SimTread's capabilities, as it can save lives, so it’s of the utmost importance that the program continues to be improved," said Dr. Takeshi Kimura, manager of research and development at A&A. "The latest version keeps with this mentality and includes several beneficial visualization features that can help those responsible for disaster preparedness, public safety, facilities management and event planning, all with the point of safety at the forefront." Outlined below are three key visual enhancements to the latest SimTread release: • The "Create Measurement Result" command offers a new way to display reports to clients using a color-coded map on top of a floor plan, which helps to identify potential egress bottlenecks. Specifically, it displays occupant density within a specified measurement area of a Vectorworks document. Previously, SimTread only offered a movie file as the visual representation of the simulation result, and, although it intuitively showed the nature of the crowd, this new command provides a more qualitative, visual report. • The visual reporting feature, "Plot Travel Time" command, will plot the time it will take for each individual occupant to evacuate from a building model within a Vectorworks document. After the simulation, SimTread displays a circle over each occupant’s starting position, color-coded to indicate how long it took each individual to evacuate. The demand for such reports arose from the need to plan for city evacuations. • Vectorworks objects that appear as holes in plan view, such as columns, will be recognized in the updated simulation software. "Among SimTread 2.4's many updates, the improved graphical presentation of the program’s results will help articulate the benefits of large-scale evacuation planning," said Jeremy Powell, product marketing director at Vectorworks. "These new visualizations came from our research and consultancy work, so we hope it will benefit other users, as well." SimTread is sold and distributed in the U.S. by Vectorworks, Inc. To purchase or to learn more, visit our partner page at www.vectorworks.net/community/partner-community/industry-partners/simtread or visit booth #2345 at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention 2016 in Philadelphia, PA from May 19-21, 2016.

Dr. Biplab Sarkar, newly appointed CEO of global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc., offered an inside look into Vectorworks® software’s future development cycle to 600-plus attendees from 23 countries at the annual Vectorworks Design Summit in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. Surrounded by visionaries from across the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries, Sarkar presented his keynote, "Leading the Future of Vectorworks Software," where he introduced several planned developments including the Resource Manager, Structural Member Objects, Irrigation Tools, Vectorworks Analytics, Vectorworks Cloud Services for All, Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM) performance enhancements and Web View/Virtual Reality. "Our driving philosophy is that the customer comes first, especially with our development process. This approach to our technology life cycle delivers the tools they need to transform their workflows and dramatically impact the world of design," Sarkar said. "Today's presentation served as a transparent medium through which we revealed upcoming features in future releases of Vectorworks software, as well as how we intend to employ user feedback to shape ongoing development." Learn more about the seven key features that Sarkar and several members of the company's research and development team introduced during the keynote: • A revamped, intuitive interface for accessing Vectorworks resources, the Resource Manager feature will enable direct browsing of resources from multiple library sources, including online libraries. Metadata tags will be attached to each resource to improve the searching, filtering and discovery of resources based on user criteria. • The Structural Member Objects will empower designers to more easily and accurately model common structural elements. Key components of the feature include the availability of Polyline modes for creating curved structural members, the capability for interactive editing in 3D views, enhanced 2D Top/Plan representations of structural objects and interactive manipulation of a network of structural elements. • Irrigation Tools will aid in the design documentation and analysis of irrigation systems. These tools facilitate design by automatically performing calculations for many important factors including water pressure, water velocity, pipe sizing, gallons per minute and water coverage. • With Vectorworks Analytics, the collected data from users who opt in to share data usage, will be used to improve the workspaces and interface of future lines of Vectorworks software. This will provide customized interface optimizations, improved data collection and analysis for diagnosing performance issues. • Previously unavailable to everyone, the advancement of Vectorworks Cloud Services for All will allow all professionals, clients, collaborators and students to automatically view 3D scenes in the Nomad app and download files shared by other users. • Significant performance improvements to the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM) will include faster, smoother and more accurate graphics during zoom, pan and animated Top/Plan view changes. In addition, the new VGM engine will allow faster interactive drawing operations. • Web View/Virtual Reality will offer the ability to export designs from Vectorworks software to a web-based interface that works on essentially any hardware and operating system that supports a web browser. The feature will enable game-like controls and realistic walkthrough experiences of 3D models for improved communication with clients. The Vectorworks Design Summit concludes tomorrow, wrapping up three days of more than 30 Continuing Education opportunities, plus training, one-on-one tech support and an expo hall with headline sponsor Bluebeam® Software, Inc., along with a host of other exhibitors. To learn more about the Vectorworks Design Summit, visit http://www.vectorworks.net/design-summit.

In an effort to support the talent of graduating architects, urban planners and landscape architects responsible for transforming the world, global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces its sponsorship of the inaugural Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA), which is now accepting registrations. YTAA is organized by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe with the support of Creative Europe as an extension of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture—Mies van der Rohe Award. "A pioneer of modern architecture and an avid supporter of design education, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe inspired the Young Talent Architecture Award, which honors the professional and academic drive he tirelessly exhibited throughout his life," said Stewart Rom, chief marketing officer at Vectorworks. "We are therefore proud to support and honor Mies' commitment by helping students in their journey to envisioning impactful, transformative designs that future generations will experience, enjoy and admire." To be eligible, schools within Europe must register and nominate their students' best capstones projects from the 2015-2016 academic year by July 15, 2016. An esteemed panel of judges will select nine finalists with each receiving a certificate and a Vectorworks® Designer with Renderworks® software license, a building information modeling solution that allows great design to materialize from inspiration, exploration and discovery—all in a single, intuitive interface. Finalists will also be profiled in world-architects, YTAA's media partner and an online network of outstanding architects, landscape architects, engineers, clients and contractors who come together with the goal of advancing quality in architecture. In October 2016, three winners will be announced, with each awardee receiving €5,000, a laptop and the opportunity to travel to leading architecture firms, as well as attend an awards ceremony and have their design displayed at the EUMiesAward exhibition. The YTAA will be awarded every two years based on the decisions of a jury of specialists representing diverse schools and trends in the fields of architecture and architectural criticism. Visit www.ytaaward.com/ to learn more about the YTAA or to register your institution for consideration.

Today, global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces the technology acquisition of PanzerCAD's plug-in tools for Vectorworks software. As a longtime third-party development company, PanzerCAD Services, Inc. is well known for its popular product CameraMatch. The plug-in matches a perspective view of a design with a photograph of a site, aligning the 3D view of a model with a photo image. CameraMatch provides powerful tuning controls and image editing capabilities so that users can quickly refine and polish design presentations. As a part of the acquisition, PanzerCAD's Founder and Developer Matt Panzer will join Vectorworks' engineering team as an architectural product planner. He will be responsible for assessing requirements and developing the task descriptions for architectural workflows. "Matt has an established history of providing Vectorworks customers with tools and utilities that are beneficial to visualization workflows in Vectorworks software,” said Darick DeHart, vice president of product management at Vectorworks. "The PanzerCAD tools, along with Matt’s understanding of designing valuable features, are a tremendous addition to the Vectorworks team." As part of the initial steps of the acquisition, Vectorworks and Panzer will focus on implementing CameraMatch into an upcoming release of Vectorworks software. In the meantime, the plug-in can still be purchased through CameraMatch's store, which will be supported by Vectorworks. "I'm grateful for the valuable relationship that I've had with Vectorworks over the past years, and I look forward to this next chapter of officially joining their team," said Matt Panzer, architectural product planner at Vectorworks. "I plan to bring my expertise of software design and development into the mix right away for a smooth transition." To learn more about CameraMatch or to purchase the plug-in, visit http://www.panzercad.com/purchase/order-cameramatch/.

Today, global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces Dr. Biplab Sarkar’s appointment to chief executive officer (CEO). Additionally, Darick DeHart and Steve Johnson have accepted positions as Vice President of Product Management and Vice President of Product Development, respectively, and will work closely with Sarkar to pursue future technology advancements for the Vectorworks software lines. Prior to his new appointment, Sarkar served as Vectorworks' Chief Technology Officer for eight years and as geometry manager before that. He also held various software engineering and R&D roles with ICEM Systems, Intergraph and Parametric Technology Corporation. Sarkar earned a Ph.D. in CAD and an M.S. in mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University, and a B.Tech. in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Khargpur. Sarkar succeeds Sean Flaherty as CEO following a four-month selection process. "Through numerous customer visits and with a steady eye on industry trends, Biplab has a clear vision of where we need to go as a company," Flaherty said. "He’s a passionate leader who has built a large, multi-lingual and multi-location research and development team, complementing our overall doubling of staff in the past three years. This proven leadership, coupled with an unending commitment to innovation, design and technology, makes him the perfect choice to continue shaping the organization in a way that anticipates designers' needs all around the world." Sarkar's new role as CEO is a natural progression from his earlier position, where he continually sought out innovative technology and evaluated the competitive landscape to ensure that Vectorworks remained a best-in-class CAD and BIM solution for designers in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries. Over the years, Sarkar was instrumental in the adoption of the Parasolid® modeling kernel for Vectorworks software, helping to advance its BIM capabilities by improving architectural modeling tools and support for interoperability, and overseeing the evolution of Renderworks into a premier rendering application, now built on the powerful CINEMA 4D render engine. "I'm proud of the role that I played during this important chapter in Vectorworks' history, and I look forward to driving a strategy that will ensure powerful technological advancements and our continued evolution as a company that's passionate about design," Sarkar said. "I'm deeply honored by this appointment and thank Sean for his many accomplishments and contributions that will enable our sustainable growth." In conjunction with the appointment of new positions at Vectorworks, the Nemetschek Group Supervisory Board has appointed Sean Flaherty to the full-time position of chief strategy officer. To learn more about this announcement, read the Nemetschek Group's press release here.

Global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. reveals that Eva Franch i Gilabert, a New York-based architect, curator, educator and lecturer on experimental forms of art and architectural practice, will deliver the design keynote address on Wednesday, April 27 at the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit. Franch's keynote, titled "Alternatives," will focus on the importance of experimental ideas and practices in design, as well as the possibilities and insights garnered through an appreciation for taking risks. Franch's passion drove her to attain two masters in architecture degrees from Escola Técnica Superior d'Arquitectura (ETSA) Barcelona and Princeton University. She founded her own practice, Office of Architectural Affairs (OOAA), in 2004. Since 2010, Franch has been the chief curator and executive director of Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York, which is a nonprofit organization committed to the advancement of critical and innovative ideas in architecture, art and design. In 2014, Franch was selected with the project OfficeUS by the U.S. State Department to represent the United States Pavilion at the XIV Venice Architecture Biennale. She has taught at Columbia University GSAPP, the IUAV University of Venice, SUNY Buffalo and Rice University School of Architecture. More information about her background is available here. “I’m excited to inspire — and be inspired by — other creatives, designers and creators at the Vectorworks Design Summit,” said Franch. “I hope to contribute something meaningful to the exchanging of ideas while sharing the chances I’ve capitalized upon to experiment, take risks and raise doubt, as well as go beyond disciplinary labels and boundaries.” As an independent voice for architectural thought and practice, Franch's presence highlights Vectorworks' commitment to the design community and mission to build tools that enable more than half a million users around the globe to see the world differently and explore possibilities through creative design workflows. The annual Summit is a reflection of this commitment and will bring together over 500 designers from the architecture, engineering, construction, landscape and entertainment design industries on April 25 through April 27, 2016 at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Attendees will enjoy thought-leadership sessions worth Continuing Education credits and a sneak peek into the future of the Vectorworks® software line. Additionally, attendees will have access to one-on-one tech support, product feature training and many networking opportunities through evening activities. Training and Architectural Tour Registration The Summit kicks off with optional, pre-conference training on April 25. Registered attendees can secure their preferred classes now on topics like Project Sharing, Energos and Marionette, and the newest addition to the Vectorworks product line, ESP Vision. In addition, Vectorworks partnered with the Chicago Architecture Foundation to enable attendees to choose one of three complimentary local architecture tour options following the conclusion of the final conference sessions on April 27. Registered attendees can secure their tour here. After-Hours Activities Complementing the training opportunities are a series of after-hours events where attendees can network and have fun. There will be a welcome dinner at SPiN from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT. Better known as a ping-pong social club, SPiN boasts 20 table tennis tables, as well as a full bar and restaurant to combine sport, design and entertainment. The celebrations will continue on April 26, where the evening will kick off with the Expo Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT, featuring headline sponsor Bluebeam® Software, Inc., along with other sponsors Asite Solutions Ltd., 3Dconnexion, Inc. and Canon U.S.A., Inc. In addition, ConnectCAD Limited, HP, Maxon Computer GmbH, Modelo, Inc., Pulp Art Surfaces, SCIA, Inc. and Solibri LLC will be on hand to help attendees find the right solution for their design needs. The winners of the Marionette Science Fair, a global, virtual graphical scripting contest, will also be announced during the April 26 Expo Happy Hour event. Entrants don’t have to be a Summit attendee to win. Entries will be accepted up until April 11, at 11:59 p.m. CT, so there’s still time for interested participants to submit for a chance to win an Apple Watch. Following the happy hour, attendees will head to the Art Institute of Chicago for the Customer Appreciation Party, which starts at 7 p.m. CT. With its collection of diverse artistic pieces, the Art Institute provides the perfect backdrop for celebrating another fantastic Summit. The event includes dinner and an open bar, access to the Impressionism exhibit and the Architecture and Design Galleries and the music of a local band, Hey Jimmy. Additionally, the capabilities of Vectorworks software will be illuminated via the party’s lighting design by a local, Chicago-based firm, AV Chicago. To learn more about the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit, visit http://www.vectorworks.net/design-summit. Press members who are interested in attending the Summit for free should email Vectorworks’ Communications Manager Lauren Burke at lburke@vectorworks.net.

Design teams from around the world are invited to create a plan to link Dubai and Abu Dhabi with a super-speed Hyperloop in the latest challenge in the annual Build Earth Live series. Created by Asite with a headline sponsorship from global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc., the competition exists to showcase how new technology is revolutionizing construction. Teams are tasked with joining together in collaborative work using building information modeling (BIM) technology. The event will focus in particular on the design of station terminuses within the context of two global cities. This year’s team-based competition will begin on Monday, May 23, 2016 at noon ET and end Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at noon ET. Taking place over 48 hours, this time period allows for teams from around the world to collaborate on a flexible time schedule, regardless of their time zone. Asite CEO Tony Ryan said, “We’ve decided to use the concept of the Hyperloop to connect two Emirati cities, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as a fitting demonstration of what it is possible for people working far apart geographically to achieve together. I am excited to welcome Vectorworks back as headline sponsor." This is the eighth collaborative BIM competition hosted by Build Earth Live to raise awareness of cloud-based working, international developments in interoperability and public access to the design process. “On behalf of Vectorworks, we are happy to return as headline sponsor of the Build Earth Live series, and as in year's past, the competition selection surely won't disappoint with the Hyperloop technology's theoretical potential to reduce travel time between the cities to about five minutes,” said Jeremy Powell, director of product marketing at Vectorworks. "Also, the competition serves as an important reminder that openBIM is a powerful way to connect people for collaborative work, and we can't wait to see what everyone comes up with." Prior to the competition, Asite will release a high-level design brief followed by the release of full details. Teams are free to use any interoperable technology and to keep a public collaboration site so that visitors can observe and comment on the process. Asite COO Nathan Doughty said, “This eighth edition of the Build Earth Live series is a return to the Middle East, following the success of Build Qatar Live in 2012. We will be focusing on the infrastructure challenges around one of the most exciting innovations of our time in transportation technology — the Hyperloop concept. The Hyperloop is a disruptive innovation that could radically alter the world we live in for the better, and we are excited to see what concepts the teams create in May!" The event will conclude with an awards ceremony and presentations to the press. Award winners will be recognized as leaders in their field and masters of collaborative technologies. For sponsorship and partner opportunities, please contact marketing@asite.com. Whether you are a BIM novice, BIM expert, or simply an observer sign up and take part in our Global Build Earth Live events here: http://www.buildearthlive.com/.

Global BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc., which is dedicated to educating and inspiring the design community, announces the next two installments of its Art in Architecture webinar series where attendees can earn Continuing Education credits. On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 2 p.m. ET, episode eight of the series, "Post-Preapocalyptic Architecture: 1965-1985," will premiere. Episode nine, "PoMo Interdictive Architecture: 1985-2005," will go live on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 2 p.m. ET. Both episodes offer viewers who attend the live airing the opportunity to earn 1 AIA LU each. Those who watch the webinar on-demand can take an associated test after viewing to still earn 1 AIA LU. "Based on the popularity of our webinar 'Atomic Architecture in America: 1945-1965,' we decided to continue our journey through time, moving from modern to post-modern and then from deconstructivism into today's highly expressive designs," said Steve Alden, AIA, host of the Art in Architecture series and architectural thought leadership director at Vectorworks. During the "Post-Preapocalyptic Architecture: 1965-1985" webinar, Alden will dissect the shift from the stripped-down functionalism of modern design toward the diverse aesthetics, ornamentation and symbolism of the post-modern movement, examining the work of many of this period's renowned architects, ranging from Robert Venturi and Philip Johnson to Michael Graves and Charles Gwathmey. Learning objectives for this webinar include: • Recognize the transition from modernist buildings to those belonging to the post-modern or neo-eclectic movements. • Assess the lasting impact of architects like Paul Rudolph, Jon Jerde and others. • Discuss the social and theoretical arguments both for and against modernism and post-modernism. • Explain the common concepts and expressions of the post-modern movement, including sculpture, anthropomorphism, pluralism and contextualism. Continuing this exploration, the "PoMo Interdictive Architecture: 1985-2005" webinar will delve into the maturing response to the post-modern movement. Enabled by the precision of computers, this era of design is marked by experimentation in shape and structure, using technology to push the limits of what a building can become and forging a sense of style through the totality of a form rather than its individual elements. Learning objectives for the webinar include: • Differentiate among the works of the time period’s prominent architects, such as Richard Meier, Thom Mayne and Renzo Piano. • Discover the role that technology plays in the emergence of new, high-tech design. • Discuss the historic influence of past architectural masters on today’s new breed of designers. • Assess the potential impact of current design trends on future architectural movements. "In the April 5 webinar, we will explore why architects of the mid 60s to the mid 80s lost faith in the pure aesthetic of modern design and created a new movement charged with symbolism and meaning. Then in the following episode on May 10 comes deconstructivism, an intellectual rejection of the perfectionist tendencies of post-modernism," Alden added. "This leads us to today’s designers, empowered by technology, rebelling against expectations, taking risks and having fun." Register for the "Post-Preapocalyptic Architecture: 1965-1985" webinar at the link here and sign up for "PoMo Interdictive Architecture: 1985-2005" here. Subscribe to the Vectorworks Inspiration Page to stay up-to-date on upcoming Continuing Education opportunities.

Jeffrey W. Ouellette, Assoc. AIA, IES, senior product specialist – architecture industry at global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc., has been appointed as Chair for buildingSMART International's Implementation Support Group (ISG). Created to support the various implementation and certification activities for buildingSMART standards, ISG discusses and promotes the use of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) for the exchange and sharing of Building Information Model (BIM) data among different software products. Well-known to the buildingSMART community and a longtime ISG member, Ouellette began attending meetings on behalf of Vectorworks in 2009, becoming deputy chair in the fall of 2011. Together with buildingSMART colleagues, he has created and maintained the IFC-Compatible Implementation Database. Since joining ISG, Ouellette has been an advocate for openBIM standards among end users and the vendor community, trying to mediate the needs of all the parties. According to Ouellette, the future of the global building industry depends on the cooperation of all sides to create, implement and use solutions that ultimately make everyone’s work more effective and result in greater value. As Chair, Ouellette's roles will include leading all group meetings and forums and representing the group during other buildingSMART discussions and events. Additionally, he will work with buildingSMART International's leadership on objectives to increase group membership and improve communication with end users. "One major goal is to expand ISG membership and participation to include more vendors that claim support for IFC in their products. This ensures that their implementations are of the highest quality and compatible with the work of those who have been part of the ISG and its efforts for some time," said Ouellette. ISG membership is open to all software companies that are members of a local or regional chapter or alliance of buildingSMART. Currently, ISG organizes regular in-person meetings during the spring and fall seasons, as well as conducts telephone or web virtual conferences to discuss implementation and support strategies. Representatives of large software companies, such Nemetschek brands including Vectorworks, Allplan, Scia, DDS, Solibri and GRAPHISOFT, as well as Autodesk, Bentley and Trimble, and smaller independent vendors including Progman Oy, IES Ltd. and Arkey Systems BV, regularly attend ISG meetings. "The group’s highest priority for 2016 is to foster the implementation and certification of IFC4 support across the range of products that have been involved in the previous IFC2x3 certification process," said Ouellette. "As ISG Chair, I want to encourage uptake of IFC4 by even more software vendors as it significantly improves data exchanges for project coordination, as well as important parametric data to enable more advanced downstream modeling workflows. Additionally, we want increase the support for BCF to improve communications between collaborators about the model data." To learn more about buildingSMART International's ISG, visit http://www.buildingsmart-tech.org/. Those interested in joining the group should email Jeffrey Ouellette at JOuellette@vectorworks.net.

There is a critical need within the arts community for accessible and affordable spaces to engage in creative activities. With this requirement in mind, and with donations from global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. and a sponsorship from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Partners for Sacred Places will officially launch the Philadelphia Design Center with a grand opening event on Thursday, March 31 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sponsored by Vectorworks, the celebration is free to attend, open to the general public and will include complimentary beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and hors d'oeuvres. Located in close proximity to West Philly and Center City and within the James W. Queen Memorial Building at 1313 South 33rd Street in Philadelphia, PA, the new center will offer a co-working space for theatrical designers to create sets, lights, sound and costumes. In addition, architects, fashion designers and other creative professionals will benefit from the space. Making Homes for the Arts in Sacred Places (AiSP), a program of Partners for Sacred Places, spearheaded the work for the new center. AiSP fosters partnerships between arts groups that need space and houses of worship, active and non, that have plenty to spare. "Supporting AiSP's mission to offer much-needed working space to the arts community was an easy decision for Vectorworks," said Alice Lowy, marketing director at Vectorworks. "By extending our most comprehensive set of design and 3D modeling tools to the widest range of designers, we're helping to foster the next generation of creative professionals so they can bring their visions to life. We're happy to contribute resources to help designers engage in activities that make this a reality." With the grand opening of the Philadelphia Design Center, creative professionals can collaborate in person with fellow designers, while also having access to the latest technology, complimentary Wi-Fi and office equipment. The center will also offer a space to build costumes and textile-based props, thanks to the sewing machine tables, cutting tables, temporary storage space for in-progress work, a washer, a dryer and a dressing room. Additionally, the center is equipped with a Vectorworks-sponsored computer lab that includes 10 Mac workstations complete with the Microsoft Office Suite and Vectorworks® Designer with Renderworks® software, a design solution that allows users to draft, model and present in a single, intuitive interface. People who utilize the center will also benefit from on-site training sessions that will empower them to explore the possibilities of transformative design in a 2D or 3D environment. "Vectorworks understands the value of resources and spaces to the small and emerging designer," said Karen DiLossi, director of AiSP. "We're honored by their contribution to the Philadelphia Design Center and the undeniable impact to come for designers of all ages who receive not only a collaborative space to work, but also state-of-the-art tools and training." Monthly membership to the Philadelphia Design Center ranges from $25-$150 and is based on hourly usage of the computer lab or the textile/costume shop. Sign up for a membership today by emailing info@phillydesigncenter.org, calling 215-567-3234, ext. 16 or by visiting www.phillydesigncenter.org. RSVP by Friday, March 25 for the Philadelphia Design Center grand opening event on Thursday, March 31 from 4-7 p.m. by visiting the Eventbrite page.

Creatives in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries are invited to join international professionals and students in Chicago for the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit, taking place April 25-27 at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park. The conference includes thought-leadership breakout sessions, extensive training, an inside look into Vectorworks® software’s future development cycle, as well as exciting networking opportunities with Vectorworks software engineers, third-party partners and industry influencers. “The excitement in the air at our inaugural 2015 Design Summit was contagious, especially when we surprised attendees with a sneak peek into our Vectorworks 2016 release to a room of audible 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' as we announced each feature," said Vectorworks Chief Marketing Officer Stewart Rom. “We can’t wait to divulge more exclusive updates planned for future releases at this year’s conference, as well as provide a path to help Vectorworks users all around the world streamline their workflows, solve daily design challenges and be inspired by this community of visionaries that is transforming the world through great design.” Speakers and Credits The Design Summit kicks off on Monday, April 25 with optional, pre-conference training on the full line of Vectorworks products, as well as new features like Project Sharing, Energos and Marionette, and a new addition to the Vectorworks product line, ESP Vision, which provides Vectorworks Spotlight users with a complete design, previsualization and production solution. The following two days open with keynotes by industry leaders, and offer more than 17 hours of one-on-one facetime with Vectorworks tech support and over 30 thought-leadership presentations by practitioners in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries from firms that share a passion for design, including Flansburgh Architects, the Office of James Burnett, Exhibit Logic and Itten+Brechbühl AG. In addition, the event offers more than 32 Continuing Education credit opportunities, including AIA LUs and LA CES PDHs, with presentations covering everything from collaborative BIM workflows, energy modeling, and graphical scripting to exhibit design, rendering tricks and site analysis. Sponsors and Exhibitors To further support Vectorworks’ commitment to helping designers streamline their workflows, Bluebeam® Software has been named as the headline sponsor for the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit. Developers of innovative solutions that push the limits of digital project communication, Bluebeam software allows the world’s most document-intensive industries to share information and collaborate in real time, or any time. In addition, sponsors Asite, Canon and EIZO, along with exhibitors HP, Maxon Computer GmbH, SCIA and Solibri, will be on hand to help attendees find the right solution for their software and design needs. Early Bird Rate Expires February 29 Currently, professionals can attend the Design Summit for $399 while design students and instructors can register for $49 as part of the early bird special. After February 29, rates will increase to $499 for professionals, and $99 for students and instructors. Interested attendees should register online now to take advantage of these savings, as well as book a discounted hotel stay at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park by mentioning Vectorworks when placing a reservation.

As a part of their shared commitment to empower today's entertainment designers, Vectorworks, Inc. and Production Resource Group (PRG) announce that they will collaboratively develop and implement new features for Vectorworks® Spotlight software. More specifically, PRG will work with Vectorworks' research and development team to develop new tools and object libraries for Spotlight, the standard for CAD software in entertainment design, as well as drive efficient workflows that are crucial to the industry. "Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art technology and tools that enable designers to explore their ideas so they can ultimately develop, document and communicate designs that create memorable entertainment experiences," said Dr. Biplab Sarkar, CTO of Vectorworks. "We gravitate toward strategic industry partners such as PRG because they are uniquely qualified to provide the resources and services required for our customers." Vectorworks is a global leader in developing 3D design technologies for the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries, including Spotlight software, which helps professionals in the lighting, scenery, set, event, theatre and exhibit design space balance the need for individual creativity with the requirement for synchronized, accurate design information. Contributing more than 25 years of experience to the partnership, PRG is the world's leading supplier of entertainment and event technology solutions, providing integrated services and equipment, including audio, video, lighting, rigging, staging and scenery for clients all over the world. With more than 40 offices worldwide, the company has relied on Spotlight software for many years. "In conjunction with the announcement of this partnership comes our initial efforts with creating a large catalog of PRG gear as library content for Spotlight users," said PRG's Special Operations Director Götz Bauer. "The increased content resources will be a tremendous efficiency gain, making the design development and documentation process even faster for lighting, production and scenic designers." Initial content that will be shared through this partnership includes PRG’s own line of production equipment including lighting instruments, consoles, LED panels, trusses, motors and media servers. PRG is also adding other content from vendors that it represents and supplies, such as Prolyte Truss and Vari-Lite. The growing content library is available initially as a first-access benefit for Vectorworks Service Select members and can be downloaded here. To learn more about the growing content library, Vectorworks Service Select members can visit this link.

After concluding a second financing round in which Dr. Hans J. Langer, founder and CEO of EOS GmbH positioned himself as the new lead investor of the company in December 2015, Berlin-based 3YOURMIND GmbH continues to develop new 3D printing plugins for CAD programs. The latest addition: Vectorworks 2016, a line of 2D and 3D software developed by Vectorworks, Inc. that helps designers to communicate effectively and bring their visions to life while keeping building information modeling (BIM) at the heart of the design process. With this new plugin, Vectorworks 2016 users can check, analyze and repair their 3D file to optimize it for 3D printing. With one click on the 3D printing extension inside Vectorworks, the file is uploaded to the 3YOURMIND comparison tool, where it can be scaled and previewed in different 3D printing materials available. Finally, users can instantly compare prices for their 3D model and order it online. "We're thrilled to have teamed up with 3YOURMIND to offer this free plugin to our user community," said Jim Wilson, user experience manager at Vectorworks. "Now, users are just one click away from uploading their 3D files via this plugin to services that cater to all their 3D printing needs, where a wide range of materials are available to choose from and where secure file transfer with SSL is guaranteed.” Learn more about 3YOURMIND's plugin for Vectorworks software here and explore Vectorworks' partner products here. The new plugin can be easily installed at either site.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. has published the latest editions of expert trainer Jonathan Pickup's texts: Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual and Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual. Both in their eighth editions, these manuals are available in hard copy with accompanying DVDs and are designed to educate readers on how to use Vectorworks 2016 software. Specifically, Vectorworks Essentials is structured to demonstrate basic concepts, such as simple drawing, modeling and file organization. New to this year's manual are the "Test Yourself" exercises at the end of all eight chapters, so readers may apply what they've learned from the book to real-world situations. "One of the training manuals we have at the office is Jonathan Pickup’s Vectorworks Essentials," said François Lévy, AIA, principal at Lévy Kohlhaas Architecture. "Jonathan’s book is clear, methodical, systematic and thorough. He’s pioneered mixing text, video and training files to produce manuals that are easy to follow, with deceptively simple exercises that elegantly capture the skills everyone needs to use Vectorworks to its fullest. You might think you're buying a book, but you're really getting a whole training curriculum." Building upon the Vectorworks Essentials manual and updated for use with Vectorworks Architect 2016 software, the Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual teaches readers to draft more efficiently by drawing with intelligent parametric objects rather than basic 2D geometry, as well as how Vectorworks software enables a BIM workflow. "It's important for Vectorworks users to invest in their education to ensure that they are getting the most of the software," said Pickup. "These two manuals serve as an easy and affordable way for users to get up to speed on Vectorworks and further their skills." Both titles are available for $75 each and can be purchased online at https://secure.vectorworks.net/estore/training. Press interested in reviewing either book may contact Vectorworks Communications Specialist Lauren Burke at LBurke@vectorworks.net or 443-542-0294 to receive a complimentary copy. About the Author Jonathan Pickup is an architect trained in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom with over 25 years of industry experience. Pickup is the author of several of the Vectorworks training manuals. Since 2007, he has been running an online training website that has a worldwide base of subscribers who get together virtually every month to improve their use of Vectorworks software.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. is launching a series of four webinars to educate designers about how to effectively utilize Marionette, an integrated graphical scripting tool introduced in the Vectorworks 2016 line of software. Dubbed Marionette Monday, the free webinar series will delve into both the technical and aesthetic design possibilities made available using the Python®-based graphical scripting tool. The first and only cross-platform graphical scripting tool available in a BIM-authoring software, Marionette enables designers with little or no prior programming experience to create custom application algorithms that build interactive objects, streamline complex workflows and explore the power of 2D drawing, 3D modeling and BIM workflows within Vectorworks software. “Graphical scripting allows today’s creatives to leverage the full potential of computational design, resulting in more efficient workflows and better performing products,” said webinar host and Vectorworks Architectural BIM Specialist Sarah Barrett. “Marionette brings these abilities to Vectorworks, empowering users to explore the world of scripting and algorithms without the burden of traditional text-based languages. Everything from simple filters for isolating objects with certain attributes to entire buildings driven by parametric inputs can now be constructed without leaving the Vectorworks workspace.” The one-hour webinars guide registrants from beginner to advanced Marionette user, all while offering workflow techniques and examples of how to integrate this graphical scripting tool into their daily workflows. Participants will also receive personalized feedback and support to answer questions and perfect their projects. All webinars will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on the following dates: • January 18, 2016- Part 1: The Basics • February 1, 2016- Part 2: Intermediate • February 8, 2016- Part 3: Advanced I • February 22, 2016- Part 4: Advanced II Interested participants who are unable to attend any of the Marionette trainings should still register to receive the recorded webinar. “Graphical scripting can be very intimidating to non-scripters, but these webinars will shine some light on the ‘mysteries’ of scripting using a powerful, dynamic tool: Marionette,” said Barrett. “Once you learn the basics, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll be creating complex, parametric objects.” Participants can share their questions, comments and excitement about the webinar, as well as pictures of their scripting endeavors and successes with #MarionetteMonday on social media. For additional resources, users can check out the Marionette forum on the Vectorworks Community board or Vectorworks' .

Vectorworks, Inc., global design software developer and creator of the industry standard in entertainment design Vectorworks Spotlight, announces its sponsorship of the 11th annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday. The event will take place on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, located at 721 Broadway in New York City. "As always, we're expecting a good turnout at the Stage Lighting Super Saturday event and even more so this year with our expanded program of sessions and speakers," said Scott Parker, founder of Stage Seminars and longtime lighting designer. "I'm extremely appreciative of Vectorworks' support and sponsorship of the upcoming industry seminar so that we can further our mission of advancing folks' knowledge of the lighting industry." The popular seminar is designed for everyone involved in stage, architectural and entertainment lighting, no matter his or her skill level. Attendees will discuss everything from design inspiration and effective lighting techniques to training and product information. For example, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., the Computer Aided Design & Paperwork session will introduce participants to how CAD is used to draft light plots. Programs covered during the presentation will include Vectorworks Spotlight software and LightWright, which helps Vectorworks users to better manage their professional lighting documents, synchronize show files, share files and work notes, and reduce paper reports. Scott Hoskins, International Baccalaureate arts teacher at George School, sums up his recent experience at the Stage Lighting Super Saturday event as follows: "Scott Parker draws on his extensive experience and his wide network of contacts throughout the theatrical world to deliver a day of stimulating presentations. … It is a very full day of information, packaged with care, and motivated by Scott's dedication to teaching the next generation of designers and other industry professionals." The event’s lineup of speakers features big names in the lighting industry, including Tony Award-winner Jennifer Tipton, who will deliver Saturday’s Keynote Session. Tipton has designed lighting for dance, theater and opera. She currently teaches theater lighting at Yale University and is a MacArthur Fellow. Additionally, Richard Pilbrow, a pioneer of modern stage lighting in Britain whose work has been seen in London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Moscow, will also speak on Saturday. At the event, Tipton and Pilbrow will be joined by talented technical specialists and respected members of the theatrical lighting community. "Scott Parker has been a great resource to many lighting designers over the years," said Frank Brault, Vectorworks’ entertainment industry specialist. “We’re happy to support Scott and the Stage Lighting Super Saturday folks. Come out and join us for an informative day that's perfect for meeting industry leaders and experts in an informal setting." For more information, visit www.stageseminars.com or contact Scott Parker at super2016@stageseminars.com or 212-533-3430.

For the sixth year in a row, global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. was honored at the annual Construction Computing Awards, receiving the “One to Watch” Product Award for its Vectorworks Architect 2016 BIM software. Architect delivers a suite of robust capabilities for a streamlined workflow that enables great design to materialize from inspiration, exploration and discovery. The software also offers great documentation and the intelligent tools needed to advance and communicate ideas in 2D or 3D. “With over 70 percent of the updates to Vectorworks 2016 coming from customer feedback, like Project Sharing, Point Cloud support and a built-in energy analysis module called Energos, we’ve developed a competitive software package that fulfills our users' architectural BIM authoring needs,” said Darick DeHart, architectural features manager of Vectorworks. “It’s rewarding to see that these major improvements to our software are resonating with the AEC industry.” As DeHart explained, Vectorworks Architect 2016 enables designers to create the best experiences in the built environment with new features, including the following: -Project Sharing enables architects and interior designers to streamline their workflows by allowing their project teams to work on the same Vectorworks file concurrently. 
 -Using your preferred 3D scanning device, you can capture any location and import a 3D point cloud object to Vectorworks Architect using PTS, E57, LAS and XYZ file formats with new Point Cloud Support. -Based on the Passive House calculation method, the Energos module gives you—and your clients—a dynamic, intelligent gauge of a building’s energy performance, enabling you to make critical decisions as your design evolves—all from within your Vectorworks Architect file. There were many other features in the product's September 2015 release that stemmed from customer feedback, including these well-received tools and upgrades: -Roof Components and Styles now interact to improve accuracy in 2D documentation. Roof faces and roof objects have the same component representation as walls and slabs, further extending the power of BIM. -Horizontal Sections from the Clip Cube allows users to isolate horizontal segments of models to create conceptual views, giving clients a deeper understanding of designs throughout the development process. -With MacOS X Palette Docking, palettes can now be easily grouped, modified and docked to the application window. -Several improvements in our Renderworks module, including Ambient Occlusion that adds depth to designs with more realistic shadowing and the New Grass Shader, as well as new camera effects, such as depth of field, exposure, vignette and bloom, allow for more realistic and striking visualizations and animations. "Every day, AEC professionals choose Vectorworks products because they want a solution that supports their creative endeavors and helps them to realize the powerful organizational framework that BIM workflows provide," said the company's Chief Marketing Officer Stewart Rom. "We're honored to be recognized with a 'One to Watch' Construction Computing Award for delivering an exciting suite of BIM capabilities to the global marketplace that enhance workflows and help our users manage the tasks associated with creative design and building efficient structures.” The Construction Computing Awards celebrate the technology, tools and solutions that aid in the effective design, construction, maintenance and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing, as well as civil engineering projects of all sizes. Now in its tenth year, the UK program is better known as “The Hammers.” Award nominees were identified following a popular vote based on reader feedback collected by Construction Computing magazine, and a panel of industry judges chose the winners. Computers Unlimited, the authorized Vectorworks distributor in the UK, as well as several of Vectorworks’ UK resellers, such as Cadventure, JR Architecture and CADschool, attended the November 19 awards ceremony at the Hotel Russell in London. Learn more about the award-winning Vectorworks Architect design software at http://www.vectorworks.net/architect.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces the release of the Spanish and Portuguese versions of its Vectorworks 2016 software line. Part of a worldwide rollout, the Spanish and Portuguese versions join additional language releases that took place over the past few months in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian and Norwegian. The Vectorworks line of award-winning software products that are now offered in these languages include Vectorworks® Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight and Fundamentals, as well as Renderworks® software. "Delivering software that enables designers to transform the world through their ideas and creations remains at the heart of what we do at Vectorworks," said Jeremy Powell, Vectorworks' director of product marketing. "With the continued rollout of our 2016 product line in additional languages, we’re excited to see how more and more designers around the world will use 2016 to create unmatched experiences." Initially launched in English in September of this year, Vectorworks 2016 incorporates more than 100 updates and new features. From streamlined project sharing, graphical scripting and point cloud support, to subdivision modeling and a system called Energos that provides a gauge of a building's energy performance, users are poised to generate, define, build and explore form and function through enhanced workflows and improved design processes. "The Vectorworks 2016 software is a historic release for us, including more than 70 updates that were a direct result of customer feedback," added Powell. "This release furthers our mission to remain a customer-centric company and is a mindset that will continue to be at the heart of inspirations for new versions to come." Five popular features released in 2016 include: • Project Sharing is an intuitive means for teams to communicate and collaborate while working concurrently on the same Vectorworks design file. • Subdivision Modeling allows designers to transform primitive shapes like spheres and cubes into any form imaginable. • Marionette is the first and only cross-platform, Python®-based graphical scripting tool in the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Designers can create visual scripts that take advantage of Vectorworks software’s 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, integrating seamlessly with BIM environments. • Energos offers a dynamic, intelligent gauge of a building’s energy performance during the design process and is based on the Passivhaus calculation method. • Point Cloud Support allows designers using their preferred 3D scanning device to capture a physical location and import a 3D point cloud object into Vectorworks software to manipulate and measure. To purchase Vectorworks 2016 in Spanish or Portuguese, reach out to your local distributor found at www.vectorworks.net/international. Additional information regarding Vectorworks 2016 is available at www.vectorworks.net/espanol and www.vectorworks.net/2016.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. has solidified its place at the forefront of the entertainment design industry with the acquisition of the ESP Vision product line, including the well-known Vision Pro, the most advanced lighting pre-visualization software available for both PC and Mac operating systems. For the last 10 years, lighting, film, TV, exhibit, concert, theatre and other designers have been exporting their light plots, scenic designs and event models created with Vectorworks Spotlight software to ESP Vision to cue and visualize award-winning experiences. This announcement creates a path to further enable such workflow collaboration. "This purchase fortifies Vectorworks' global market leadership position and signals our continuous commitment to the entertainment design industry at a time when visualization capabilities are becoming a more mission-critical, cost-effective means of cueing a show in advance," said Stewart Rom, Vectorworks' chief marketing officer. "Bringing Vision into the Vectorworks product portfolio places the integration of its pre-visualization capabilities on the Spotlight software roadmap." Rom noted that Vectorworks will continue to support ESP Vision's existing customers. In addition, Vision's technical team will join Vectorworks' development and support group to further develop integrated tools that serve professionals involved in the design and production of live events and exhibitions. "It's an exciting time for Vision and Vectorworks Spotlight software users, as the industry standard in lighting design documentation now also owns the highest-quality pre-visualization software in the industry," said Alan “AJ” Jesse, director of support at ESP Vision. "Our companies have thrived when working together over the past few years, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for these two products." From October 23 through October 25 in Las Vegas, Vectorworks and ESP Vision staff will showcase their product capabilities at the 2015 Live Design International (LDI) conference, the leading tradeshow and conference for live design professionals from around the globe. To learn more about the acquisition, visit Vectorworks' LDI booth #369.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc. continues to invest in the next generation of creative visionaries with its Vectorworks Design Scholarship program. Among the more than 2,000 entries received from students worldwide, Benno Schmitz from the Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin won the prestigious Richard Diehl Award, the grand prize of the scholarship program worth a total of $10,000, for his project, The Museum of Contemporary Arts in Bonn. “The creative potential we saw in this year's entries is exciting, including inspiring submissions like Benno's," said Richard Diehl, founder and chairman of Vectorworks, Inc., and namesake of the grand prize. "We saw the number of entries over last year double and are thrilled to support students who represent the future of design innovation as they continue to pursue their degrees and launch their careers." For his submission, Schmitz entered an assignment from a university class in which he created a place where nature and culture meet in a visually striking experience. Schmitz’s design for a cultural site that connects a historic mining and industrial area to the urban landscape of Bonn, Germany impressed the scholarship judges with both its originality and powerful use of space. Schmitz therefore received a $3,000 Vectorworks Design Scholarship plus a $7,000 Richard Diehl Award. “The site for the museum is marked by industrial ruins, as well as environmental damage from the mining of coal and stone,” said Schmitz. “The whole topography of the area has been changed by humans. The museum brings new culture to this place where I grew up and uses humankind’s impact on the environment to its advantage. Without the sheer rock face left behind from the stone quarry, the design wouldn’t be as visually impactful, and without the museum, this wasteland of space wouldn’t be as meaningful. Only together do they work perfectly.” In addition to honoring Schmitz, an international panel of design professionals and academics also presented 15 Vectorworks Design Scholarships worth $3,000 each to individuals across the architecture, landscape and entertainment design fields in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Students were able to submit both individual and group work created in any design software, which was evaluated based design integrity, effective use of computer technology and originality, as well as the articulation and communication of a design vision. The winning projects included: • Café Terminaal by Frédérique Windels and Yleni Bossu, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium • Flowing Time—The Industrial Landscape Restoration of 751 Locomotive Square by Lin Xu (林徐), Capital Normal University Beijing, China • Live Forever by Xiang Liu (刘翔刘), Central Academy of Drama Beijing, China • Mexico City BIGnature by Natasha Polozenko, Harvard Graduate School of Design, United States • Opportunity in Danger by Maham Tahir, Birmingham School of Architecture, United Kingdom • Räumlich Reimagined by Fatima Blötzer, Muttenz der Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland • Rosengarten Hotel by Brecht Casier, Sint Lucas, Belgium • The Center for Folktale Communication by Ryan Turner and Ronli Mak, University of Calgary, Canada • The Electra Project by Martha Carter and Morgan Price, University of California at Irvine, United States • “The Displacement” or “Revolt of Abandoned Architecture” by Anthony Chun Ming Ko, The University of Hong Kong, China • The Magic Flute by Neneh Lucia, Victorian College of the Arts, Australia • The Nature of Flutmulde by Nikolai Hein and Yumeng Zhang, University of Kassel, Germany • The Nest We Grow by Baxter Smith, Hsiu Wei Chang, Fanzheng Dong, Hsin-Yu Chen, Yan Huang and Max Edwards, University of California at Berkeley, United States • Vertical Metabolism by Matt Perotto, University of Toronto, Canada • What is Normal? by Isabelle Weydert, Sint Lucas, Belgium In addition to the monetary awards, winners’ schools also receive licenses of Vectorworks® Designer with Renderworks® software for their labs and training provided by a Vectorworks expert. Schmitz acknowledged that two of his professors at Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin supported him as he addressed challenging aspects of detailing his design. They will be among the instructors whose labs will benefit from Vectorworks' most comprehensive set of design tools. “Winning the Vectorworks scholarship is an honor, and I’m excited to use the prize money to travel to various workshops and buy new design books to help me advance in my career and expand my knowledge of architecture,” said Schmitz. "Creating new environments is very important for the future. I look forward to being able to find better ways to design with materials that result in more energy-efficient buildings." Visit the Vectorworks Design Scholarship gallery gallery to view the winning designs and runners-up projects. Once there, students may sign up for notifications about when the 2016 scholarship program will launch. They may also follow @Vectorworks on Twitter and search #FundMyVision to learn about other ways Vectorworks supports the educational community.

Beginning tomorrow and continuing over the next three months, global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc.® will host six BIM Camp events in major U.S. cities including: Boston, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles and San Francisco. During each intensive, four-hour workshop, industry experts will further the award-winning program's mission of guiding attendees from simple sketch to implementing powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools as part of the design process. In addition to benefiting from real-world and up-to-date BIM expertise, attendees will have the opportunity to meet their licensing requirements by earning three AIA LUs and one HSW credit for completing any of the BIM Camps. During these educational sessions, each of which includes a complimentary lunch from Vectorworks, fellow architects and designers can engage, network and get inspired by industry thought leadership and best practices. "Our BIM Camps are geared toward those who might be unsure of how to use the cutting-edge technology to its fullest capacity," said Rubina Siddiqui, Senior BIM solutions specialist at Vectorworks. "To that end, our sessions provide helpful background information and practical applications to place BIM at the heart of a designer's creative process." All of the BIM Camps take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates and locations of upcoming camps include: • October 6, 2015 at Boston Society of Architects in Boston, MA • October 8, 2015 at AIA NY's Center for Architecture in New York, NY • October 28, 2015 at AIA Chicago in Chicago, IL • November 10, 2015 at AIA New Orleans in New Orleans, LA • December 8, 2015 at AIA Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA • December 10, 2015 at AIA San Francisco in San Francisco, CA The cost to attend a BIM Camp is $25 per person. All proceeds from the camps benefit the Vectorworks Design Scholarship, an international design competition that supports the next generation of creative visionaries. To register today or to learn more about BIM Camps, visit: http://www.vectorworks.net/inspiration/bimcamp. Continue to check back at this page for future BIM Camp location announcements. If you have questions about BIM Camps, email usmarketing@vectorworks.net or call 800-413-0935.

Professionals and students across the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), landscape and entertainment design disciplines are invited to join a global community of visionaries at the 2016 Vectorworks Design Summit on April 25-27 at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park. With keynote presentations by Vectorworks executives and industry leaders, an inside look into Vectorworks software's future development cycle and networking opportunities with product engineers, power users and third-party partners, attendees will leave Chicago fueled to solve their next design challenge. “The conference brings together a community of creative minds who rely on Vectorworks design software to conceptualize and transform their ideas into real experiences that can be shared with the world,” says Vectorworks’ Chief Marketing Officer Stewart Rom. "At our 2015 Design Summit, it was exciting to see so many people who share a passion for creative design, exchanging ideas, exploring concepts that give them a competitive edge and truly having a great time together. I know that our 2016 Design Summit will surpass expectations and deliver a meaningful three days." The standard registration fee for the event is $499 but is reduced to $199 for early registrants through October 31. Design students and instructors who register before October 31 may also take advantage of early registration discounts, paying $49 rather than the standard $99 rate. Register online to lock in these savings, as well as to book a discounted stay at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, located minutes from many of Chicago’s historic attractions. Become a Speaker Designers with fresh ideas are invited to apply to present one-hour educational sessions at the Design Summit. Topics addressing emerging trends, innovative design solutions, award-winning projects, workflow strategies and efficiency gains with Vectorworks software are highly valued. Interested applicants should submit a proposal before the October 31 deadline. Selected speakers will be notified by November 30 and will receive complimentary travel, event registration and hotel accommodations. Become an Exhibitor The Vectorworks Design Summit also provides a valuable, free opportunity for companies to showcase their products and services. The event attracts hundreds of professionals in the AEC, landscape and entertainment design industries. The deadline is October 31 and space is limited, so companies should apply now. Selection is based on the company's relevance to attendees, any existing partnership with Vectorworks and the application date. In addition, companies wishing to sponsor the event should email designsummit@vectorworks.net to learn about available opportunities. To stay up-to-date about impending speakers, sessions and other conference news, bookmark http://www.vectorworks.net/design-summit and follow #VectorworksDesignSummit.

Global design software developer Vectorworks, Inc.® , formerly Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. announces the release of Vectorworks 2016, as well as its rebrand. The release includes more than 100 updates and features for its award-winning CAD and BIM design solutions, including Vectorworks® Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals and Renderworks®. From streamlined project sharing, graphical scripting and point cloud support, to subdivision modeling and a system that measures a design's energy performance, users will be poised to generate, define, build and explore form and function through enhanced workflows and improved design processes. "Designers know that the successful development of their best ideas requires flexibility and precision while leaving open the opportunity for discovery. That's why Vectorworks 2016 software empowers creativity throughout the entire process – particularly in a BIM workflow,” said Sean Flaherty, CEO at Vectorworks. "Over our 30-year history, we’ve always looked to our users for feedback to improve our software. As we move forward under our new brand with the release of Vectorworks 2016, we will continue to turn to them, both as a company inspired by great design and as a creator of tools that work how designers think, enabling visionaries to explore, model and solve their next design challenge all in one software package.” To fully support Vectorworks' customer-centric philosophy, over 70 percent of the 2016 version's updates and features were born from customer feedback, with the entire research and development efforts for the new release led by the company's Chief Technology Officer Dr. Biplab Sarkar . "Delivering accurate modeling information while remaining true to a designer's vision is the pivotal point of any artistic enterprise," said Sarkar. "Vectorworks 2016 software's first-class tools and customizable workflows give you more resources than ever to design with confidence and precision, no matter your discipline, while supporting the creative process." Today's announcement marks the beginning of Vectorworks 2016's worldwide rollout, which continues with the release of localized versions in nine additional languages over the next several months. Some of the tools and features in this release include: • Project Sharing is an intuitive means for teams to communicate and collaborate while working concurrently on the same Vectorworks design file. • Subdivision Modeling allows designers to transform primitive shapes like spheres and cubes into any form imaginable. • Marionette is the first and only cross-platform, Python®-based graphical scripting tool in the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Designers can create visual scripts that take advantage of Vectorworks software's 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, integrating seamlessly with BIM environments. • Energos offers a dynamic, intelligent gauge of a building’s energy performance during the design process and is based on the Passivhaus calculation method. • Point Cloud Support allows designers using their preferred 3D scanning device to capture a physical location and import a 3D point cloud object into Vectorworks software to manipulate and measure.’ • Roof Components and Styles will interact with wall components ensure accuracy in the documentation of sections and elevations. Roof faces and roof objects now have the same component representation as walls and slabs, further extending the power of BIM. • Landmark Site Modifier and Hardscape Tool Improvements help landscape professionals and urban planners design more efficiently and be more creative with pavements and walkways, including sloping hardscapes. • Spotlight Improvements offer tools to design and document overhead stage rigging, create stages and quickly access symbols to explore any idea imaginable. • Several New Features and Improvements in our Renderworks module include an upgraded MAXON Cinema 4D® render engine, Caustic Capabilities with refraction of light through translucent surfaces, Ambient Occlusion that adds depth to designs with more realistic shadowing and the New Grass Shader, as well as new camera effects, such as depth of field, exposure, vignette and bloom, allow for more realistic and striking visualizations and animations. The English-language version of Vectorworks 2016 software is available to Vectorworks Service Select customers today by download. Shipping of the English-language version to all other customers will begin on September 23, 2015. Visit vectorworks.net/2016 to learn more.