Inkjet & Digital Printing

New AIA Course on 3D Printing Helps Architects, Engineers and Contractors Improve Project Speed, Affordability and Quality

Friday 24. July 2009 - Powerful Business Technology Offers Way to Quickly and Cost-Effectively Create Detailed Architectural Models on Demand

Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals looking for economical new ways to improve their designs and market their services may benefit from a new course on “3D Printing for Architecture/Engineering/Construction.”

3D printing is a fast and affordable way to create detailed site, infrastructure and building models from the very first stages of a project. It helps architects, engineers and builders collaborate, ensure accuracy, delight clients and speed projects to completion.

3D printing is a technology that automatically creates tangible physical models from

3D computer data in much the same way that a document printer produces business letters from a word-processing file.

The free 90-minute classroom course, developed by Z Corporation (www.zcorp.com) and registered with the American Institute of Architects, will be delivered around the United States on schedules set by participating Z Corporation authorized partners. The course earns AIA members 1.5 hours of Continuing Education System (CES) learning unit credit.

“Over the past few years, AEC firms and educational institutions have shown increased interest in 3D printing technology as a strategic tool to complement traditional visualization and modeling methods,” said Olimpio DeMarco, Z Corporation director of AEC business development. “This new AIA CES program will detail how 3D printing yields great designs, drives innovation, improves communication and wins new business.”

Unlike more time-consuming and expensive handcrafted models, 3D printed models are ideal for early massing studies, detailed design models, client presentations and regulatory approvals. For architects, engineers and builders themselves, 3D printed models help detect clashes, analyze systems and plan construction.

The AIA course includes an introduction to 3D printing, the printing process, its place in the design workflow, applications, case studies, data integrity and scaling guidelines. Following the 90-minute course, attendees will examine a range of 3D printed physical models and see 3D printing in action.

Here is the first set of course dates:


City Date Provider
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Denver July 28 ADS Imaging Solutions
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Wilmington, N.C. Aug. 5 Anvil Prototype & Design
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Portland, Oregon Aug. 11 Peak Solutions
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Burbank, Calif. Aug. 19 Peak Solutions
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San Bruno, Calif. Aug. 24 Peak Solutions
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New York Aug. 25 Microsol Resources