If like me you see change to be an opportunity, then you’ll understand where I’m coming from when I share with you several instances of change I’ve observed, am currently driving, or simply dealing with.

• Observed change – Along with hundreds of other attendees at last week’s DSCC event in Orlando, FL and again this week at ECF outside of Paris, we had a good chuckle when Bernard Charles cheerfully discussed DraftSight, “the first free software from Dassault Systemes!”  What a change for Dassault Systems (3DS).  When I joined the company back in 2004, I would have never imagined that DS would one day be giving something away.  Never say never.

• Driving change on both a personal and professional level – must be that 40’s something phase.  I have been fortunate enough to define a new career path for myself.  Excited!  What else could I be learning about many things: online communities, social innovation, new ways to communicate and connect.  All this in what is a relatively new industry context for both 3DS and myself – Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC). 

My goal is to meet with those within the industry seeking to spur innovation, achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.  This translates to an amazing and diverse group of people from: owners, contractors, architects, and engineers to a wide range of subcontractors and buildings product manufacturers, through to operators and the end user.  Connecting, facilitating, helping – all things I enjoy doing.

• Dealing with change – Change that is forced upon us and must be dealt with.  For example, the turbo on my 8-year-old car is ready to die.  I must either have it replaced (a hefty fee for an older vehicle) or purchase a new family car.  Something is definitely going to change. 

Being from California and an optimist, I figure that if things are going to change as they always do, then I might as well make the most of it.

What type of inspiring change have you observed, are driving or dealing with? 
Share a comment.

Cheers!

Dominique

This past summer our CEO Bernard Charles and I had the pleasure of seeing our technology in action in New York City. Formerly known as The Beekman Tower, 8 Spruce Street was designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry and is being developed by Forest City Ratner Corporation or FCRC (see the picture of us with the developer, Bruce Ratner). It is a 76 story skyscraper in lower Manhattan.

When 8 Spruce Street opens next year it will be the tallest residential structure in Manhattan, with sweeping 360 degree views of the city and the harbor. The project includes a public school on the lower floors plus offices and residential space above. The luxury apartments in this building will be some of the most exclusive in New York City.

A few weekends ago The New York Times ran an article on the front page of the Real Estate section entitle “New Gehry Tower Prepares for Renters”.

Gehry Technologies’ functional enhancements to CATIA have been used in its design and construction. The dramatic design of Frank Gehry could never had been realized without Dassault Systemes products.

Don’t take my word for it. Hear Frank Gehry talk about it for yourself  here. 

The panels, each one unique, were built by Permasteelisa Group  using SolidWorks. You can see in one picture that each panel is laid out in sequence to be put in place. Each is bar-coded to ensure its proper placement in the construction. CATIA was also used to place supports in place (see picture) during the construction. Each support must go from the external supporting structure through only windows and not interfere with the on-going structural construction.

At the end of our visit we stood inside a yet unfinished apartment on the 55th floor and talked with Bruce Ratner about our company and what we do. I demoed 3DVIA Mobile and placed a virtual table on the floor. The result is that FCRC is considering the possibly of using 3DVIA to help them market their apartments.
 
It made me very proud to experience this example of our products in action. This building will be well known by New Yorkers over time for its unique design and  amazing location in lower Manhattan, just a short walk from Wall Street. This was an exciting experience for me, and a living example of the difference that our products make!  

 
If you’d like more details, here’s a good story on the engineering of the building. It includes references to CATIA and to Solidworks. 

What do you think?

Best,

Al

Al Bunshaft is managing director for Dassault Systèmes Americas.

Eighty-one-year-old Frank Gehry has rightfully earned his label as “the most important architect of our age,” as was voted in the 2010 World Architect Survey.

I had the honor of meeting Gehry in early 2009 and got to ask him questions on his views on the future of architecture and 3D as an innovation tool.

And today I’m proud to share with you another Gehry video, although much prettier and professional than mine, where Gehry talks specifically about how Dassault Systèmes CATIA software is key to his architectural realizations.

Some of my favorite quotes include:

“We’ve got powers that architects don’t usually have.”

And

“You can’t do it without any other software out there.”

So here’s your chance to hear from the master himself some of his secrets . . . and enjoy the beautiful footage.

Many thanks to Elodie and Karin for allowing me to put this video extract onto our YouTube channel.  The Gehry video is part of an online video-cube presentation on the Dassault Systèmes group.  It’s worth a tour, so please check it out when you have a chance.

Meanwhile I’ll get back with you soon with other of my favorite extracts.

And BTW . . . what do you think?

Best,

Kate