Jan 7 2010
Minnesota architects have not been spared the pain of unemployment. Rather than waiting for the economy to improve, the American Institute of Architects Minnesota has introduced a free program to deepen architects' skills and improve their employment prospects.
The MIT (Members in Transition) BIM Training program is co-sponsored by AIA Minnesota, GRAPHISOFT, and AECO Services, of Minneapolis, a software and services provider for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The program will give AIA Minnesota members in transition a free one-year education license of GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD 13 plus free in-person, hands-on training beginning in February.
ArchiCAD, GRAPHISOFT's best-in-class building information modeling (BIM) authoring software combines leading-edge technology with rich functionality, giving architects the speed and agility to compete in today's increasingly demanding market. The four-hour training session will cover ArchiCAD basics, BIM principles, virtual modeling and integrated product delivery. Online tutorials, reference materials and group discussions will maintain and refresh participants' ArchiCAD skills over time.
"The MIT BIM Training program will help architects continue doing what they love and supporting their families," said AIA Minnesota Continuing Education Director Deanna Christiansen. "We appreciate the opportunity GRAPHISOFT and AECO Services are providing to architects in transition who wish to improve their professional skills and meet the demands of the design market."
AIA Minnesota is accepting registrations now. Email Deanna Christiansen at [email protected]. For other information, contact AIA Minnesota Members in Transition subcommittee member John Gannon, AIA, at [email protected]. Candidates must be members of AIA Minnesota and currently unemployed. Training takes place Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at International Market Square (near downtown Minneapolis) suite 512.
"AECO Services is very pleased to cooperate with AIA Minnesota to offer this training," said Andy Zhang, CEO of AECO Services. "We're happy to be able to reach out to the members in transition, and we're hopeful they'll be able to use their ArchiCAD skills very soon. At the same time, this is a great chance for AECO and GRAPHISOFT to contribute to the ongoing discussion of building information modeling and demonstrate the choices available to architects everywhere."
Source: http://www.graphisoft.com/