Customer Showcase

Aedas Architects is the fourth largest architectural practice in the world, employing more than 1,900 staff in 25 offices across the globe. The company relies on more than 500 licenses of Autodesk software, including AutoCAD, Revit and Autodesk 3ds Max modelling and animation software.

In the UK, the company has established itself as a leader in the education, healthcare, commercial and residential sectors and has an expanding portfolio of transport and retail projects. Clients include Manchester Airport, the BBC and even The Royal Household. It has designed numerous landmark projects and is involved in regeneration projects throughout the country.

Seeing is believing
Aedas' in-house imaging unit was set up seven years ago in the UK to provide high quality visualisation for the practice’s architectural teams. Aedas Imaging is a dedicated team of specialists who produce everything from simple 3D modelling and enhanced CGI stills, through to animated walkthroughs, digital presentations and real-time or real video montages. Companies ranging from ASDA to English Partnerships come to Aedas Imaging to help them communicate with and inform clients, funding organisations and planning committees, and develop promotional campaigns.

Explaining the benefits of visualisation, regional manager Tim Power who manages the imaging unit says: “Seeing is believing! To provide a visual image or animation of what a project will look like in any given situation or surrounding has to be the ultimate in design visualisation. An affinity with a project, an understanding of its impact, and the inspiration generated from a photorealistic visual makes all the difference compared to 2D drawings.”

According to Power there’s an ever-increasing demand for visualisation throughout architectural design, development and planning. “Increasingly, visualisation is playing a crucial role in public engagement programmes, the sales and marketing of property, and providing verifiable imaging to communicate more effectively with planning authorities,” he says.

The imaging department operates as an independent element of the business and provides services to other architectural practices. But its direct contact with Aedas’ core architectural operations gives the architecturally and graphically trained team an enhanced understanding of building form and the built environment which sets it apart from other imaging practices.

A long-time Autodesk user, Aedas Imaging uses a mix of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Lt and Revit software. For animation and photorealistic renders, it uses Autodesk 3ds Max. As well as the team’s proficiency in using CAD software, their combined experience of using 3ds Max totals more than 65 years.

“With the correct training, gaining the basic skills to use 3ds Max is a relatively quick process,” says Power. “But becoming a specialist takes years of time and dedication. Even now, we’re always learning new tricks and this gives us an edge over the competition. We also help trial and test upcoming versions of 3ds Max.”

Reaching new heights
Among Aedas Imaging’s many projects is the Bridgewater Place development in Leeds, the tallest building in Leeds and Yorkshire, which was completed in 2007. Designed by Aedas Architects and commissioned by Landmark Developments and St James Securities, Bridgewater Place is a mixed-use scheme comprising 20 floors of apartments above 24,154 square metres of serviced office accommodation.

As lead design consultants for Bridgewater Place, Aedas was responsible for the delivery of architectural designs from inception through to completion. In parallel, Aedas Imaging was commissioned to initially communicate the building concepts and designs. However, the joint venture clients were so impressed by the quality and accuracy of the early concept models that they extended the visualisation commission to include animation, marketing and promotional material. These were a key component of successful sales and PR activities of the project.

The team’s involvement in the project from the briefing stage allowed them to get a true sense of the visual style and media required by the client. Information on the plans, sections and elevations of the proposed scheme at Bridgewater Place was gathered and site visits carried out. This allowed the team to compile a library of photographs to develop site context and familiarise themselves with the various elements of the development.

A winning formula
Over a three year period throughout the design development stages, a three-man team spent several months using AutoCAD and Autodesk 3ds Max software to provide a mix of 3D modelling and graphics services, including a series of animation clips and still images.
A basic white model was developed so that the shape and form of the visualisation could be signed off. Most of the building was modelled using AutoCAD which enabled the architectural team to work on the main AutoCAD files to build up the designs for the project.

“Using AutoCAD as a modelling tool to form part of the initial design development provided the designers with instant feedback on the impact of each floor of the building as they were designing,” says Power.

When the bulk of the geometric building form had been completed, the data was passed over to Autodesk 3ds Max for cladding and material application. “When importing data from applications like AutoCAD into 3ds Max we have to make sure the images are clean. Removing all non-usable sections of a drawing can be vital,” says Power. “Streamlining our processes in this way ensures an efficient workflow at the initial stages, allowing more time for the critical parts of the process.”

The team further developed the 3D model and generated proposed camera viewpoints and animation paths for sign off. They then worked on the details of the model, including materials, context, trees and people. Part of the transfer process from AutoCAD to Autodesk 3ds Max enabled the team to bring in grouped files according to layer and materials. “This expedited the process of applying materials to a large model because we were able to quickly apply the material and its mapping to each imported group,” explains Power.

The production of the final presentation files, including animations and still images, was completed in just over three weeks. The first week of the final presentation production was dedicated to the generation of 3D models, including trees and people, with the following week focussing on animation and rendering, and the final week set aside to produce the stills.

The entire process involved regular test renders using the renderer in Autodesk 3ds Max to ensure a high quality end result. Before the final render and post-production, the team generated a complete test render for sign off. The final 3D files were then put through post-production, including audio, titles and editing.

Real vision
The Bridgewater Place visuals offer a degree of realism that gives viewers a sense of scale, lighting and reflection. In fact, the results were so realistic that casual observers had to be alerted to the virtual reality they were viewing.

“We aspire to create the perfect image that best communicates design ideas and concepts or the objectives of a proposal,” says Power. The team’s architectural and graphical training combined with their expertise in 3ds Max has helped Aedas Imaging achieve these aspirations in The Bridgewater Place project.