CC Jan-Feb 2022

SOFTWAREfocus
Update 2, Take 2
What else is new in Archicad 25 Update 2? We continue our look at the latest features of Graphisoft's
most recent update
It's only fair that our look at Archicad 25
comes in two installments as Graphisoft
have adopted a similar approach with
the software, releasing Update 2 a couple
of months after the release of Archicad 25.
In the last issue we covered two of the
most important new additions - the
integration of Maxon's Redshift for
enhancing the software's rendering
capabilities, and the introduction of the
Forward Agreement for Archicad users.
Here we’ll be looking at the
enhancements to Archicad's design and
documentation capabilities and its
collaboration tools, with enhanced
usability, navigation, and accurate quantity
take-offs. The latest release further
empowers Archicad users to create great
architecture from early concept designs
through to construction documents.
COLLABORATION
Although Archicad can be used to take
projects from conception to completion,
the complexity and diversity of larger
projects necessarily entails working with
multiple partners, many of whom use
alternative design software. Accordingly, in
order to facilitate open collaboration,
Archicad supports more than 40 export
and import formats, including DWG, PDF,
XLS, and SAF, as well as the
manufacturer-independent and industrystandards
IFC and BCF.
Even the most open of these, IFC, needs
a bit of extra tweaking to ensure that
architects and engineers are sharing the
most accurate model data, so the latest
release includes a streamlined export
process for them.
The collaboration function has been
improved when working with engineers
using Revit MEP software. Support for
Revit file formats up to 2021 is now built
into Archicad, and you can import RFA as
a native Archicad Object and create MEP
equipment from Revit Family files or export
a 3D model as Revit 3D geometry and
hotlink a 3D RVT model. Archicad now
handles Revit's Discipline filter as well, so
that when you hotlink a Revit file what you
see in Revit is what you get in Archicad.
As a result you can reuse previous
project files when migrating from Revit to
Archicad, thanks to the RFA & RVT
geometry exchange functionality. This is
available out-of-the-box with Archicad 25,
with support for Autodesk Revit 2021.
As well as sharing data, it's imperative
that all project members and stakeholders
are working on the same bit of real estate -
and they can ensure this by using
Archicad's Native Survey Point. This
enables architects to set and lock the
project's survey point and use it to
coordinate subsequent plans regardless
of the software they're using.
Hotlink modules allow the contents of
external files to be inserted into repetitive
features in an Archicad model - such as
the contents of a hotel bedroom or office.
Rooms can be placed as Hotlink modules,
and either modified individually or all of
them in one step by modifying the source
file. The process is now easier than ever
as models can now populated with
information directly from Excel.
ARCHICAD 25'S STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS
FRILO, like Graphisoft, belongs to the
Nemetschek family of companies. The
company's software is used for structural
engineering calculations for reinforced
concrete, roof and timber structures,
foundations and soil analysis, as well as
standard steel analysis. Update 2 allows
users to Integrate structural models within
Archicad 25 and switch between Archicad
and FRILO with a single click, ensuring
bilateral and up-to-date information
sharing with structural engineers.
When opening an engineer's SAF model,
Archicad 25 recognises and displays load
data on all model views - floorplans,
sections and elevations - which can be
used by engineers to view and compare
load cases when checking updated
models.
22
January/February 2022