Archway Recent News Page

Upcoming Events:

July 10-11	Sustainable Design Seminar	USC
July 31-Aug 1	Sustainability Conference	Cal Poly SLO
Aug 11-15	SIGGRAPH	LA Convention Center
Aug 19-22	National University FM Managers Conference	USC

Bentley BE Conference
This year's conference was held on May 27-30 in Baltimore, MD. The theme, Sustainable Infrastructure, addressed how infrastructure can be strengthened to benefit the environment. Infrastructure is the interface between people and the environment, including buildings, roads, railways, factories, water systems and more. Bentley discussed their “Athens” release, due out this fall, which will include simultaneous releases of about 100 products. New features will include: improved interoperability, such as Revit to DGN translator; push-pull functions in MicroStation 3D; improved graphics and more. Bentley has continued their road of acquisitions and announced Hevacomp plus ConstructSIM and others. Hevacomp is considered the most comprehensive mechanical software for all sorts of calculations including energy calculations, based on the US Department of Energy Plus core. ConstructSIM is the industry leading software for 4D, walkthroughs and the like.

Need Additional MicroStation Seats?
The Competitive Upgrade is back for a short time. Give us a call for prices. This is a great time to "stock up" if you are seeing a workload increase coming.

MicroStation Users Meeting
Please be sure to attend the next LA, Orange County or San Diego users meeting. Enjoy snacks, networking with colleagues and a technology update on the latest in MicroStation. Contact Archway for the next upcoming meeting in your area.

Did You Know?
The longest pedestrian bridge without intermediate supports was drawn using VersaCAD? The bridge between Weil-am-Rhein and Huningue in Germany was finished in 2007. It was designed using VersaCAD software.

Who's Who at Archway Systems

Arlene Black	Administration and sales
Tom Lazear	Admin, sales and training
George McMeans	Sales & training in Nor. Cal.
Mike Lazear	Programming & support
Erik Wordal	Training in Cal coastal
Rick Plummer	Consulting and sales
Josh Lazear	Webmaster & programming
Greg Hamano	Support & training
Sandy Lazear	Accounting
Linda Grubb	Support & administration
Daniel Lazear	Programming
Chris Grubb	Civil engr software support
Shannon Lazear	Marketing

REPORT

Ecobuild America Conference 2008

On May 19-22, 2008, Archway attended the Ecobuild America AEC-ST Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, as both an exhibitor and speaker. We were upgraded to the largest booth we’ve ever had, a 20’x20’. We were also given a prime spot on the corner, right next to the main entrance. Our competitors, Autodesk and US CAD, were right next to us, but we maintained a continuous traffic flow with our well designed booth and six catching videos at eye level.

These videos displayed such products as Bentley BIM, InRoads, Generative Components, VersaCAD Parking, etc. When put at eye level, it was easiest for the attendees to walk through and glance at what each video was demoing.

We also featured our Z Corp 3D Printer, which was, as always, a hit. Everyone in attendance wanted to see the new technology for building models and prototypes. A drawing was held for a free3D model, and many in attendance, exhibitors and attendees alike, dropped in their business card for a chance to win.

Along with the exhibit on the show floor Wednesday and Thursday, Archway gave six workshops and seminars Tuesday through Thursday on a range of topics. The attendance varied depending on the topic. We pulled in eight people for each the Generative Components workshop, the Interoperating with Green seminar as well as the ProjectWise Startpoint seminar. The seminar that pulled in the most, however, with 51 attendees, was Marty Doscher from Morphosis and Reg Prentice from Gensler discussing how to successfully implement BIM. Tom acted as a panel moderator for that session.

Along with our own seminars and workshops, we encouraged those who stopped by to attend the keynote speeches on Wednesday and Thursday, directly on the show floor. Wednesday’s speaker, D. Drew Bond, Senior Advisor of the US Department of Energy, spoke on the importance of green building, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and how the Department of Energy is making way for this new development and growth. Thursday’s speaker, Doug Eberhard, Senior Director, Industry Evangelist of Autodesk, spoke on the topic of “digital cities”, taking sustainable design to a community and city scale, by implementing BIM.

Overall the conference was good for us, as well as good for the attendees. Everyone in attendance, about one to two thousand people, passed by our booth and either stopped for a piece of chocolate, an Archway pen, or even to get some questions answered. The attendees received information on how to keep their business and software designs eco-friendly. They also received a warm handshake and a personal interaction from Archway, whether they were long time customers or young students looking for answers.

Training Class Schedule
Archway offers a variety of training classes using the latest of each software. All classes use certified materials and are held from 8:30AM to 5PM. Locations: Huntington Beach training center (HB) and S.F. Bay area (BA). Classes can be delivered on-site and online. Call or email Archway for the latest class schedule. For the latest Bentley courses, see also: http://www.bentley.com/en-us/training/
Upcoming open enrollment classes:
Moving to MicroStation - Covers the basics of MicroStation 2D for those who know another CAD. This is a good first class in Bentley¡¦s certified course series. Cost is $1050. HB: TBD
MicroStation Essentials XM - Even deeper than Moving to MicroStation. This 4-day class is basic for new users. Cost is $1440. HB: 7/21 to 7/24, 8/19 to 8/22, and 9/30 to 10/3
InRoads Survey XM - This is a Bentley certified, 2-day class using Bentley's InRoads 8.9 training manual. Cost is $900, which includes course book and instruction. HB: 12/4 to 12/5
InRoads Site Basics - This is a Bentley certified, 3-day class using Bentley's InRoads 8.9 training manual. Cost is $1360, which includes course book and instruction. HB: 10/7 to 10/9
InRoads Fundamentals XM - This is a Bentley certified, 3-day class using Bentley's InRoads 8.9 training manual. Cost is $1350, which includes course book and instruction. HB: 9/8 to 9/10 and 12/29 to 12/31
STADD.Pro Standard - Introduction to FEM. Cost is $1500. HB: TBD
Everything 3D - Learn how to design in 3D using MicroStation's surface and solid modeling capability. Cost is $1350. HB: TBD
Bentley MAP - Covers the fundamentals of setting up a map database, mapping tools and more. Cost and time TBD.
Rhino Level I - Learn to make 3D NURBs models. Cost is $695 (Discounts available for educators). HB: TBD
Dealing with Caltrans - Learn Caltrans standards. Includes Iplot, workplaces and more. 2-day class. Cost is $1500. HB: TBD BA: TBD

Increase Your Productivity
Over the past couple of years, Archway has had the privilege of helping a number of companies increase their productivity and business systems. At MJC, we helped them review systems and guided them to the installation of a new, low cost, very effective manufacturing accounting system. At Angeles Can, we helped identify problems with inventory. Currently we are working on the largest consulting contract we have ever had, helping a very large organization implement new systems. We first conduct an AS-IS review that ends with a flowchart of all existing systems. It is really important for all to agree on what the current situation is before moving on. The second phase is a TO-BE analysis, where the goal is to achieve consensus within the company of how systems should work and what is needed to make it happen. Then follows the functional specifications and technical specs on what should be acquired or developed. After this process, implementation and training are put into full gear. If done properly, a systems study can improve company performance, competitiveness, and employee satisfaction. Let us know if you would like a proposal for improving your systems.

Generative Components Workshops
Generative Components is now a standard extension to MicroStation for SELECT subscribers. It is also a part of the BE Careers Subscription for any school. Archway will conduct a complimentary, half day workshop onsite at an architectural subscriber to SELECT or at an educational institution to get architects or professors up to speed. The workshop covers the installation, launching, user interface, and several tutorials including two roof examples and a bridge. A School of Architecture recently purchased a subscription via an innovative approach. Rather than the school purchasing the subscription, ten professors pooled their funds and purchased the subscription in the name of the school. Even a ten seat subscription entitles all of the students and faculty to have the software for their own computer. The complimentary workshop is available for remote schools, however, availability is limited, so sign up soon. There is also a new Bentley Institute formal class which is available at Bentley Training Centers.

ProjectWise Breakthrough
Recognizing the problems of lost time looking for files, the cost of out-of-date revisions, and confusion, many software companies have promoted computer systems as the solution. Autodesk’s BuzzSaw, a host of independent software, and Bentley’s ProjectWise. ProjectWise has been in development for ten years and has improved every year. Today, ProjectWise is without a doubt the best software for any organization involved in architecture, engineering or construction. It handles MicroStation, AutoCAD, Office and many other file types better than any competing software. File searching, check-out control, project startup files, and company standards are all handled efficiently with ProjectWise. It seems that the market is finally realizing the importance of a managed environment and demand is high. This is the time for any company to implement ProjectWise or risk being left behind.

Archway's Product Line
Archway is a full service provider of technical software serving the Academic, Architectural, Civil and Mechanical Engineering markets.

Archway Training Center
Checkout the training classes here. Classes for every need for MicroStation, Haestad, InRoads, STAAD.Pro, RAM, Rhinno, Solid Edge and VersaCAD. Increase your design productivity.

MyCADvideos.com
Checkout this site for free introductory videos and one hour webinars on the latest in CAD, FEM, and more.

Z450 3D Printer
The Z450 is a breakthrough in 3D Printing (rapid prototyping). It provides the lowest cost of operation and the only multicolor printer on the market all contained in one good looking box. Our customers use their Z for: building models, golf club models, machine parts and even city models. Archway provides sales and service including 3D Printing of your models.

ARCHWAY NEWSLETTER - July 2008

In This Issue . . .

REPORT

Ecobuild America Conference 2008