Birmingham, Ala. (Jan. 28, 2014) – At the recent Autodesk University—an annual summit held by the technology giant responsible for the groundbreaking software programs AutoCAD and Revit—an entire day of the conference was devoted to retail development, with prominent developers in attendance. Revit is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software program that creates dynamic 3D models that provide smart information in real time, such as energy analysis, land geometry, light analysis, design components, parking, and leasing, along with the coordinating cost and scheduling estimates. This time-saving and cost-efficient tool breaks down the communication barriers and enhances collaboration between the designer, architects, contractors, building owners, and other stakeholders in the construction project.
“We are pleased to see Autodesk featuring retail development in this way,” said CMH President Everett Hatcher. “The Revit technology is perfect for the complex institutional and retail projects that we work on.” CMH has used Revit in multifaceted projects, such as the recent award-winning NAVFAC, a department store on a Naval Base in Bethesda, Maryland; Fresh Food Dining, an interactive open-kitchen food court at The University of Alabama; and the DeCA Commissary, a grocery store on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. CMH BIM Studio Head Ken Helms explains, “Revit allows the design team and the contractors immediate project visualization so we can troubleshoot all ‘what-if’ scenarios and detect potential conflicts before any cost estimates, scheduling, or construction begins.”