Architects from el dorado inc. Use Autodesk Software To Design Sustainable Kansas City Police Facilities

SAN RAFAEL, Calif - Architects from el dorado inc., relied on Autodesk Revit Architecture 2008 and Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2010 software to help design a new automobile forensics center and vehicle impound facility for the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD). Product interoperability and lighting analysis features in 3ds Max Design helped the firm create sustainable designs that met strict Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements for both projects.

While the KCPD wanted a sustainable building for its forensics center, the top priority was the accuracy of its forensics work. This required a high level of light control, which was achieved using the lighting simulation and analysis tools in Autodesk 3ds Max Design modeling, animation and rendering software. The yet-to-be completed forensics center, is currently tracking toward a LEED Silver rating.

“We modeled the police forensics facility using Revit Architecture software,” said Steve Salzer, project architect at el dorado. “The ability to go straight into 3ds Max Design software for very quick daylight analysis was invaluable. We could experiment and test certain building features and technical details much earlier in the process, and the software made it almost seamless.”

“The combination of Revit Architecture and 3ds Max Design software also enabled us to show our clients the tangible benefits of proper design and building orientation,” added Dan Maginn, principal and project architect at el dorado.

The KCPD vehicle impound facility designed by el dorado achieved a LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. For this project, el dorado contracted the Architectural Energy Corporation to perform daylight analysis using models created in Autodesk Revit Architecture building information modeling software.

“The Kansas City vehicle impound facility is not just an industrial project,” explained Maginn. “The facility also has a very public face and a sizable number of employees. At el dorado, we are most interested in working on structures that are highly functional, but also offer a good experience for workers, visitors, and owners. We’re also very committed to sustainable design in all the work we do.”