AutoCAD and 3D Studio VIZ used at Olympic Village

When more than 10,000 elite athletes from around the world go down under to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, few will know their accommodations were built with the help of Autodesk.

When more than 10,000 elite athletes from around the world go down under to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, few will know their accommodations were built with the help of Autodesk.

Two of Autodesk's premier design software packages, AutoCAD and 3D Studio VIZ , were heavily used in the designing of the Olympic Village, to help stay in the "Green Games" theme.

To complete the complex in time for the world spotlight, architects, engineers and designers relied on Autodesk software for accurate and fast solutions.

Green is Gold Standard for Olympic Village As Sydney prepares to host the 2000 Olympic Games beginning September 13, they are also involved with preparations for the Paralympics, an important sporting event for persons with disabilities.

Olympic and Paralympic organisers pledged to make the 2000 Olympics the "Green Games.

These objectives left Olympic Village designers with the challenge of creating accommodations that are entirely accessible, and also ecologically sound.

HPA Architects, with the help of nine other firms for a project of this size, created over 1100 dwellings with AutoCAD and 3D Studio Viz.

Autodesk software gave designers the capability to model the apartments in 3D.

Much time was spent in developing the buildings' architectural expression, studying their context, and providing opportunities for views of the natural environments.

Autodesk's 3D Studio VIZ was used extensively in this process.

Peter Cotton, Design Manager of the Olympic Village development said, "AutoCAD was our first choice of design software because of its best-of-breed functionality, superior performance and the large pool of skilled users available.

By using Autodesk's AutoCAD and 3D Studio VIZ products to model the different views and to see how the interior space flowed and the buildings all worked together, we were able to make the entire development very liveable.

Certainly without AutoCAD, it would have been more difficult to have achieved such a positive result in the timeframe available," he said.

Also important was the need to make the dwellings environmentally friendly.

Mr.Cotton said, "We incorporated a range of environmental initiatives.

One was including solar panels in 630 houses to convert sunlight to electricity.

In fact, each house has been designed to maximise its solar potential through its orientation, by ensuring that two-story structures don't overlook courtyards or living room windows, and so on.

With the final touches now completed, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Village is ready and awaiting occupation in September.

The project was completed on time and on budget.

HPA is confident the athletes will be impressed with the style and comfort of their accommodation.

Already, the buildings have been singled out for design awards.

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