January 25, 2010

Revit Tip - Revit Ceilings: Soffits and Bulkheads

Revit Ceilings – Soffits and Bulkheads
This tutorial addresses tips to create clean sections for details at dropped soffits and bulkheads.




Submitted by Nancy McClure, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP – AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Nancy holds an accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree with a minor in Construction Management from University of Houston, Texas and has over 12 years of experience in the architecture industry. She has worked as a Project Manager and Project Architect for traditional architecture and design-build firms in the Pacific Northwest and the Bay Area handling various phases of design, contract document production and construction administration. Nancy has been instrumental in establishing and implementing CAD standards and operating procedures with firms of various sizes, aiding their transition to new technologies.

January 19, 2010

Ideate & Autodesk Assistance Program

The Ideate Assistance Program helps unemployed members of the AEC community network and upgrade their skills so they may regain employment in the AEC industry.

Currently, talented people find themselves without work, while at the same time, our AEC industry is advancing. People with updated skills and expertise in BIM and IPD will be prepared to meet the next phase of demand.

Carolyn Forsyth took Ideate's Revit Architecture Fundamentals course in Portland with instructor Ron Palma:
“I took this class as a part of the AutoDesk Assistance Program, and could not have been more pleased. If I end up getting re-hired at my old firm, or if I find employment elsewhere, the skills I learned in this class will be incredibly valuable...THANK-YOU!”

Register for the program and receive:
  • free educational software
  • low cost training
  • free online training
  • discounted Certification Exams, plus a hire or rehire incentive
  • invitations to networking events
  • Autodesk employer discount

Ideate Assistance works in collaboration with the Autodesk® Assistance Program.

Click here for complete details and registration link.

January 14, 2010

Ideate Training - Revit Architecture Families

Shruti Harve, MS, LEED AP – AEC Solutions Application Specialist, recently taught Ideate's one-day Revit Architecture Families course at our Authorized Training Center in San Francisco. A student kindly commented:

“The instructor took special care to make sure we learned what we needed out of this course. She is skilled and thorough in her explanation of the steps.” A.H./Kaiser Permanente

Revit Architecture Families This fast-paced class is designed for advanced Revit students who are interested in creating parametric Revit content. Students will learn methods for testing and creating both the graphical and data elements of Revit Families through the study of two different family types: a bench and a door. This class will also include Shared Parameters, Family Nesting, and tips for standardizing custom Revit content.

Prerequisites: A minimum of one year of either Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, or Revit Structure experience required; 3Dmodeling experience recommended.

Complete course description and registration online.

January 13, 2010

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January 12, 2010

Autodesk Webcast - Using Green Building XML Webcast

Autodesk and the Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board invite you to attend a free webcast titled, "Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design – Part II" on Thursday, January 21, 10:00–11:00 AM PST / 1:00–2:00 PM EST.

The webcast will demonstrate how tools for Building Information Modeling (BIM) can integrate with various analyses software, using the interoperability of gbXML to help create more sustainable building designs. Presentations and product demos will include:
  • Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis with Autodesk Green Building Studio software products
  • Graphisoft with Encina plug-in for gbXML
  • IES VE (Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment)
  • Trane Trace

  • Registration is not required.

    Attendee URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
    Conference number: PG1216303
    Audio: 1-210-795-1099; 1-866-803-2145
    Pass Code: 8302437
    Participants can join the event directly at:
    https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PG1216303&p=8302437&t=c
    .

    January 11, 2010

    Ideate Training - Revit Architecture Fundamentals

    Did you know that Ideate training courses are available at either our five Authorized Training Centers or at your location?

    Ideate's Nancy McClure Assoc. AIA, LEED AP – AEC Solutions Application Specialist recently taught an off-site Revit Fundamentals course:

      “This has been a great introduction to the capabilities of Revit. It has been in enough depth to get a better idea about how to direct a Revit project.” J.S./Ratcliff Architects

    The open enrollment course covers the basics of Autodesk Revit Architecture, from schematic design through construction documentation. Students are introduced to the concepts of Building Information Modeling and the tools for parametric building design and documentation. This course offers both imperial and metric hands-on exercises representing real-world design scenarios.

    Prerequisites: Basic CAD experience recommended, but not required. However, architectural design, drafting, or engineering experience is highly recommended. It is also recommended that the student have a working knowledge of Microsoft® Windows® XP or Microsoft® Windows® 2000.

    To register online today click here.

    January 8, 2010

    Ideate Support Services - Let Us Exceed Your Expectations

    Success in today's rapidly changing marketplace means that you are developing complex solutions and getting them to market ahead of the competition. Because flexible, responsive support is critical, Ideate offers a portfolio of support services and tools to help you achieve your goals.

    However, it is not simply enough to provide these options, it is important to have a skilled team available for you. Ideate's technical team stays on top of today’s issues through their off-site consulting work, classroom training, and continuing education in their respective professional fields.

    In reviewing survey feedback for the last 1,000 Support Service cases, we're routinely Above Expectations for our customers in:

    • Technical skill of the representative
    • Response and Resolution Time
    • Courtesy and professionalism of the representative

    Among last month's comments:

    • WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF IDEATE. WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED.
    • Shruti made me a custom video to answer one of my questions...WOW! it was helpful. I could play it back multiple times.
    • Yahoo! Much better training than XXXxxxxxxx [competitor's name removed]! Thanks Gaurav!
    • Nancy was very professional and very helpful! Thank you, Ideate.
    • Ron provided superb knowledge and service as always.

      Our full-time Support Manager, Derek Wielkopolski, ensures that our support and delivery systems run smoothly and strives for the highest degree of customer satisfaction. A selection from Derek's rave reviews last month:


      • Derek helped me resolve a problem with AutoCAD LT 2009 created by a virus. I was shut down for over two weeks trying to get support directly from Autodesk. One call to Derek and the issue was resolved quickly and professionally. AutoCAD is a critical tool for me in my consulting business, and if it wasn't for the support of Ideate, Autodesk would have lost a customer.
      • Superb assistance, as usual!
      • I emailed my Account Manager and had a response very quickly from tech support. Well done.
      • My initial email support request resulted in a[n] emailed answer that did not address my question. However, Derek called me back with a simple (not documented) answer to my simple question. Overall, a great experience for this new Ideate customer and left me considering upgrading to telephone support.
      • Derek is a pleasure to work with.
      • Excellent service as always.


      Contact Ideate today and let us exceed your expectations!

      January 7, 2010

      Final days of Ideate Gives Back – Food Drive & Match

      Are you attending an Ideate class or community event in the next week or so?

      At the beginning of December, we announced the launch of Ideate Gives Back - Food Drive & Match to benefit food banks in our home communities. Ideate has pledged to match, can-for-can, food donations received at each Ideate location through January 15, 2010.

      We appreciate the donations received to date, and with just over a week remaining, invite Ideate students and event participants to help us finish strong. Non-perishable food donation collection containers are located in each of the five Ideate offices:

      San Francisco - 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco
      San Jose - 25 Metro Drive, Suite 220, San Jose
      Sacramento - 2520 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 180, Sacramento
      Portland - 805 SW Broadway, Suite 2280, Portland
      Seattle - 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5040, Seattle

      Beneficiaries of Ideate Gives Back - Food Drive & Match will be: San Francisco Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Oregon Food Bank and Northwest Harvest.

      Thanks for joining us to help individuals and families in our communities!


      January 5, 2010

      Autodesk Subscription - More Power

      More Power to You, More Power from Your Design Tools

      There’s a simple, easy way to add even more power to your technology investment. With Autodesk Subscription, you get more choices, more resources and more flexibility, so you can use your design tools to the fullest.



      Access to benefits is quick and easy, either online through Autodesk Subscription Center or through your applications via the Information Center. Here are some important ways Autodesk Subscription connects you to more power:

      Download these docs for more information on the Subscription Advantage:

      Ideate Flyer
      Subscription FAQ PDF


      Check out the Advantage Pack details for your specific product:


      Contact sales@ideateinc.com or click here for additional information.