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A. Zahner Company: Pushing the Boundaries of Architecture with 3DEXPERIENCE
Technology Category
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Construction Management
- Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
A. Zahner Company, a US-based architectural engineering, manufacturing, and construction firm, was facing challenges in designing more complex geometries and improving communication between project stakeholders. The company was at the forefront of a shift in architecture to digital construction, using Building Information Modeling and digital definition to improve transparency and reduce errors. However, the iterative process of architectural projects often led to communication issues between different groups. The company needed a solution that would allow for efficient collaboration and communication, as well as the ability to design complex geometries.
About The Customer
A. Zahner Company is an architectural engineering, manufacturing, and construction firm based in the United States. The company, which was founded in 1897, has its roots in the sheet metal fabrication industry. Over the years, the company has evolved to adopt a more artistic approach to architecture, thanks to the emergence of digital technologies in the 1980s. This shift has led to the creation of some of the world's most audaciously-shaped architectural metal structures, such as the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The company has won numerous awards and international acclaim for its innovative approach to architecture. Today, Zahner is at the forefront of a shift in architecture to digital construction, using Building Information Modeling and digital definition to improve transparency and reduce errors in the construction process.
The Solution
To meet the challenges of increased design complexity and the need for streamlined communication, Zahner adopted Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its Design for Fabrication on Cloud industry solution experience. This included CATIA for design and ENOVIA for project coordination and collaboration. The company inaugurated the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the Chrysalis project, a 70-foot tall amphitheater being fabricated in Columbia, Maryland. The platform's powerful design and collaborative capabilities provided Zahner with innovative geometric possibilities and an efficient way of communicating with project stakeholders. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform also enabled all stakeholders to visualize the construct early on to address issues as they arose. The platform's collaborative capabilities provided Zahner with an entirely new and efficient method of communicating between Zahner and project actors, simplifying the elaboration of such a complex structure with extreme accuracy.
Operational Impact
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