The Pennsylvania State University

Autodesk BIM Experience Award Winner

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is committed to preparing its students for the rigors of a career in design, engineering, and construction. Part of that preparation is the exploration of innovative building industry concepts and processes including integrated project delivery, digital fabrication, and Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Penn State began integrating Autodesk® BIM solutions in its curricula in 2004. The software now spans 2 colleges and 3 departments; the Architecture and the Landscape Architecture departments in the College of Arts and Architecture, and the Architectural Engineering department in the College of Engineering. Students in collaborative cross-departmental courses and studios use Autodesk BIM solutions to help develop, explore, and analyze building designs, and experience first-hand the benefits of using an interdisciplinary project design approach.

With this award, Autodesk recognizes Penn State for:

• Extensive use of BIM in its architecture, landscape architecture, and architectural engineering curricula
• Promoting academic collaboration among the major building design and construction disciplines through student participation in interactive BIM design studios
• Use of energy analysis tools in BIM classes and studios to teach and encourage sustainable design practices

About Penn State

Penn State offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Architectural Engineering departments. Both the Architecture and Architectural Engineering departments were founded in 1910 and are now celebrating their centennial. Penn State’s architecture, landscape architecture, and architectural engineering curricula reflect the increasing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in today’s building industry.

BIM Experience

Autodesk® Revit® software products are Penn State’s primary building design integration software. Students rely on the common Revit® platform to support their interdisciplinary collaboration efforts. The students also use Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis software and Autodesk® Green Building Studio® web-based service extensively during the conceptual phase of their projects to help gain insight on how building orientation, massing, and basic systems selection influences the performance of a building.

Penn State is cultivating future industry leaders by giving students hands-on experience with BIM technology and incorporating simulated integrated project delivery frameworks in the educational curricula. Penn State students use these Autodesk software products:

• Autodesk® Revit® Architecture
• Autodesk® Revit® Structure
• Autodesk® Revit® MEP
• AutoCAD® Civil 3D®
• Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design
• Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis
• Autodesk® Green Building Studio®
• Autodesk® Navisworks®
• AutoCAD®

Notable BIM Education Advancement

Penn State is preparing students to become part of a collaborative design team through these interdisciplinary courses:

• Fourth-year students from the mechanical, structural, lighting/electrical, and construction engineering disciplines participate in the Architectural Engineering Architectural Studio. The use of Revit Architecture and Revit Structure software enables the students to better visualize and develop architectural form and space as well as helps to give students the confidence to integrate structural and building system frameworks in a 3D architectural design environment.
• In their fifth year, these same students come together to form teams as they participate in the year-long Architectural Engineering BIM Capstone project. Each team includes one student from the 4 architectural engineering disciplines. The teams analyze a complex building and propose changes to the building’s design to improve sustainability, life-cycle cost, and constructability. At the end of the project, the teams present their work to an invited practitioner jury.
• Finally, graduate and undergraduate students from the Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Architectural Engineering departments come together in a Collaborative BIM Studio. Students use BIM processes and technology for the design of a building project. The students rely on Autodesk BIM solutions to help with data collection, analysis, design development, data coordination, and project presentations. Outside design professionals participate in work sessions and project reviews. By closely engaging students in each other’s work, the studio experience gives them insight into the technical, aesthetic, and social aspects of a collaborative design process.

Reseller

Penn State’s reseller is Synergis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Autodesk BIM Solutions.