The ability to model vertically curved beams is also important for historical projects and renovations (lower image).

Vertically curved beams such as those required in a sports arena can now be quickly modeled in ARCHICAD (top image).

An example is shown in Figure 1, where a single beam is split into two sub-elements which are then individually tapered to create a double pitched top geometry that was required in this situation.įigure 4. Instead of a single monolithic structure, columns and beams are now hierarchical elements that can be composed of sub-elements, each of which can be independently modified, allowing the beam or column to be modeled more precisely as required. In ARCHICAD 23, both the Beam and Column tools have been significantly overhauled. While there is no single over-riding theme to this year’s release, there are a host of new features for improved modeling, coordination, productivity, and performance, including revamped Beam and Column tools that makes these elements faster to model and fine-tune for all types of structures, a new Opening tool for modeling mechanical voids to improve coordination between architects and engineers, and an initiative to open up the application to more custom development by significantly expanding its APIs.

The software is now commercially available, allowing me to work with it and explore the new features in more detail. I provided a brief overview of the new version of ARCHICAD in my article on GRAPHISOFT’s 2019 KCC event that was held a few months ago, where ARCHICAD 23 was globally launched and we were shown the highlights of the new release.

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