AECCafe Voice 
Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More » Trimble acquires Gehry TechnologiesSeptember 12th, 2014 by Susan Smith
Earlier this week, Trimble and Frank Gehry announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance to collaborate by further connecting the office to on-site construction technologies. The terms of the strategic alliance are that Trimble has acquired Gehry Technologies, the software and consulting services arm of the company that has powered Frank Gehry’s visionary designs while tracking client’s cost and schedule requirements. To make things clear for this audience, Gehry Partners is the architectural firm of Frank Gehry. Gehry Technologies, is the international leader in technology-driven project delivery founded in 2002 by Frank Gehry, that provides BIM, 3D project collaboration and project delivery around the world.  The IAC Building by Gehry Partners. Image © flickr user swisscan
“This merger is a dream for me. In Trimble, we find a partner who has like-minded ambitions and goals to create efficiencies in the AEC industry that allow the creativity of the architectural profession to flourish and deliver value-added creative solutions within the realities of our economic times. I am very excited to expand our mission with a great new partner,” said Frank Gehry in a company announcement. John Bacus, product management director, SketchUp answered some questions for AECCafe Voice about the alliance and what it means to both companies. AECCafe Voice: In the past GT has partnered with both Autodesk and Dassault, but on the design side. Why was this acquisition important to both Trimble and Gehry, when they are primarily a design and architecture house? John Bacus: Gehry Technologies is much more than a design and architecture house. I think it would be more accurate to think of them as solvers of complex construction problems more than anything else. This acquisition helps us to integrate a full construction continuum – from a building’s concept through to its ultimate operation. AECCafe Voice: Do you have any ideas how Trimble technology will address the construction concerns of GT’s designs? John Bacus: Gehry Partners has leveraged Trimble’s field technology on their projects for years. We think that Trimble’s general notion of integrated work process, and the range of technologies we offer to improve productivity and profitability, will provide many avenues to address those concerns. AECCafe Voice: Will GT also use some of Trimble’s Building Design products in their implementations? John Bacus: Yes. In fact, they do so today. Many of GT’s most complex projects include Tekla Structures implementations, and they tell us that they encounter SketchUp on almost every project. I think the most important thing to note is that Gehry Technologies is able to work with any tool required for the project at hand. John Bacus: Although we’ve established a strategic alliance with Frank, we are not acquiring the architectural firm Gehry Partners. We are acquiring Gehry Technologies, the international leader in technology-driven project delivery, founded by Frank in 2002. Gehry Technologies provides web-based 3D project collaboration, BIM technology and advanced project delivery to AEC professionals around the world. I can tell you what an association with Frank will bring to Trimble. Frank has always had a reputation for bringing projects that appear at first glance to be unbuildable into the world in highly predictable ways- on budget, on time and with a minimum of change orders issues. And all without losing his unique vision in the service of the wants, needs and desires of his clients. This is entirely consistent with Trimble’s mission: to change the way the world makes buildings for the better. AECCafe Voice: Do you envision new products coming out of this acquisition, and if so, which ones? John Bacus: It’s certainly possible over time, but we can’t speculate on those today. There are many options that will emerge as our teams collaborate more closely. Tags: AEC, BIM, Gehry Technologies, Trimble Categories: 2D, 3D, 3D PDF, 3D printing, AEC, AutoCAD, Autodesk, BIM, building information modeling, collaboration, construction, engineering, mobile, Trimble |
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