archoncad: a blog about Vectorworks.
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Good Design Isn’t Guesswork. Why Effective Analysis Trumps Speed
Efficiency might help you draw a wall faster, but Effectiveness ensures that wall is facing the right direction. Last week, we dove into the importance of Solar Studies—a non-negotiable step in high-quality architectural design. We covered how to quickly yet accurately run solar analyses to understand shadow impact, daylight penetration, and overheating risks. Effective design is informed design;…
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Why Did Your Wall Disappear? The Root Cause is Always Effectiveness
It’s one of the most common, frustrating Vectorworks issues: the element you just drew vanishes. In our community session last week, we tackled this core troubleshooting problem by answering a member’s question: Why are my walls not visible, and what does the Layer plane have to do with layer elevation? We broke down how effective…
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Why Your Next Common Stair Needs 3D Verification: An Architect’s 30-Year View
⚠️ The High-Traffic Hazard: The Stakes for Common Stairs The statistics on stair-related injuries are alarming, but when we move from a single private dwelling to a Common Stair (serving blocks of flats or multi-user buildings), the stakes are immediately higher. In the UK, thousands of serious falls occur annually, and in a shared building, the design…
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Create your own Community on Skool.com
Last year I moved my website from a WordPress site to Skool.com. The idea behind us was that my WordPress site had so much maintenance required and that the Skool.com site would not require the same level of maintenance. The platform takes care of all of the maintenance, all of the money, and is continuously…
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Exploring BIM’s Future and Opportunities
Welcome to the Architectural Technologist Podcast! Host Jonathan dives into an engaging discussion with Jake Nash about the future of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in New Zealand. Jake, freshly appointed as National Vice Chair at BIMIN NZ, brings valuable insights into the evolving landscape of BIM technologies and processes. In this episode, listeners will discover…
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From Technician to Innovator: The Journey in Architectural Technology
In this enlightening episode of the Architectural Technologist Podcast, host Jonathan sits down with Jake, a visionary in architectural technology and digital transformation. From his academic beginnings to his prominent role at Warren and Mahoney Architects, Jake shares his dynamic career journey, emphasizing his experience in digital innovation and building information modeling (BIM). The conversation…
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Embracing Open BIM and Future Trends in Architectural Technology
Join Jonathan as he welcomes back Biplab Sarkar, former CEO of Vectorworks, to explore the future of Building Information Modeling (BIM). They delve into the significance of open BIM, the evolving landscape of CAD and BIM software, and the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advances like AI and cloud-based platforms. They discuss the necessity…
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Transforming Vectorworks: Biplab Sarkar on Leadership and Innovation
Listen here… Jonathan welcomes Biplab Sarkar, former CEO of Vectorworks, to discuss his impactful career journey and contributions to the company. Sarkar shares insights from his prior roles in mechanical CAD and his move to Vectorworks, detailing the improvements he spearheaded, such as the transition to the Parasolid engine and the implementation of viewports. He…
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Students Like BIM But The Learning Curve is Steep
Listen here… In this enlightening episode, Jonathan and Ethan delve into the insights from a recent research article on the acceptance and learning experiences of Building Information Modeling (BIM) among students at Australian universities. The conversation sheds light on the technological acceptance model that evaluates student responses to BIM as a tool for infrastructure design…