Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com)

9 Sep 2003

 

Frank Gehry launches Gehry Technologies - Plans Initiatives for Industry Change

Frank Gehry, one of the world's leading architects and its most innovative architect in the use of digital design processes and construction, has announced the formation of Gehry Technologies (GT), a new venture to pursue technology and building industry initiatives. Gehry Technologies aims to improve the way digital tools and developed and used by building professionals, and to foster changes in buiding industry practice through advances in digital technology.

Change Through A New Partnership

Most of the hoped for changes to the industry's use and view of technology will come about through a new and growing network of partners and customer relationships with organizations which share common goals for industry change. Professional firms, product developers, owners and governmental and research institutions will allow play significant roles in the aims of Gehry Technologies.

Gehry Technologies conducts technology transfer, training, and technical assistance projects for leading architectural, engineering and contracting firms. The firm has research and development programs with academic and industry organizations including MIT's Media Laboratory, Georgia Tech, and CERF. Product development initiatives are planned with technology providers, including IBM and Dassault Systems, the developer of CATIA, the design solution used in major industrial demains from aerospace and general manufacturing to consumer packaging. Additional announcements on the company and its partnerships are expected in the near future.

Jim Glymph, a senior partner at Gehry Partners and actiong CEO of Gehry Technologies, states, "GT is a natural extension of the work we've been doing with project teams for the past fourteen years. We've had the opportunity to test a new delivery method on challenging projects, and have demonstrated the benefits of these innovations."

Bill Mitchell, Dean of Architecture and Director of MIT's Media Laboratory, has collaborated with Gehry and Glymph for over a decade. "Gehry Technologies represents a brave and imaginative effort to bring the design, fabrication, and construction industries fully into the digital era. It has a huge amount of design talent, technical depth, and practical experience going for it. It promises to open up some truly exciting new possibilities."

A Criticism of Ancient 2D Processes

The firm notes that current (AEC) industry practices are still largely based on a two-dimensional, paper-based process, while the manufacturing industries have completely changed the way their products are designed, built and delivered. Gehry Partners, of course, have largely pioneered the use of model-centric design and delivery of sophisticated, complex buildings worldwide--working in tandem with manufactures of building products used in the erection of the work. "We're seeing significant opportunity for bringing the approaches we've used and are continuing to develop to the rest of the building community," remarked Jim Glymph.

Frank Gehry sees GT as an opportunity to extend his firm's contribution to the profession. "We've been working this way for years, and what we're doing is packaging our process and offering it for use by the industry as a whole. We'd like to see everyone have access to these kinds of tools, to open up new opportunities for designers and builders, and create a better environment for getting projects built."

To learn more about Gehry Technologies visit them on the Web at: www.gehrytechnologies.com

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