AIA Minnesota, GRAPHISOFT and AECO Services Offer BIM Skills Training for 'Members in Transition'

BOSTON, Jan. 6 — (PRNewswire) — Minnesota architects have not been spared the pain of unemployment. Rather than waiting for the economy to improve, the American Institute of Architects Minnesota has introduced a free program to deepen architects' skills and improve their employment prospects.

The MIT (Members in Transition) BIM Training program is co-sponsored by AIA Minnesota, GRAPHISOFT, and AECO Services, of Minneapolis, a software and services provider for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The program will give AIA Minnesota members in transition a free one-year education license of GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD 13 plus free in-person, hands-on training beginning in February.

ArchiCAD, GRAPHISOFT's best-in-class building information modeling (BIM) authoring software combines leading-edge technology with rich functionality, giving architects the speed and agility to compete in today's increasingly demanding market. The four-hour training session will cover ArchiCAD basics, BIM principles, virtual modeling and integrated product delivery. Online tutorials, reference materials and group discussions will maintain and refresh participants' ArchiCAD skills over time.

"The MIT BIM Training program will help architects continue doing what they love and supporting their families," said AIA Minnesota Continuing Education Director Deanna Christiansen. "We appreciate the opportunity GRAPHISOFT and AECO Services are providing to architects in transition who wish to improve their professional skills and meet the demands of the design market."

AIA Minnesota is accepting registrations now. Email Deanna Christiansen at Email Contact. For other information, contact AIA Minnesota Members in Transition subcommittee member John Gannon, AIA, at Email Contact. Candidates must be members of AIA Minnesota and currently unemployed. Training takes place Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at International Market Square (near downtown Minneapolis) suite 512.

"AECO Services is very pleased to cooperate with AIA Minnesota to offer this training," said Andy Zhang, CEO of AECO Services. "We're happy to be able to reach out to the members in transition, and we're hopeful they'll be able to use their ArchiCAD skills very soon. At the same time, this is a great chance for AECO and GRAPHISOFT to contribute to the ongoing discussion of building information modeling and demonstrate the choices available to architects everywhere."

For more information on the program visit http://aecoservices.com.

About AIA Minnesota

The American Institute of Architects Minnesota, founded in 1892, is dedicated to strengthening our communities, improving our built environment and providing exceptional design. For more information on the organization and Minnesota architectural firms, reference our Web site at www.aia-mn.org and pick up a copy of Architecture Minnesota, the award-winning architectural magazine of the Midwest.

About GRAPHISOFT:

GRAPHISOFT is the pioneer and leader in developing Virtual Building™ solutions. For 25 years, GRAPHISOFT has been empowering the broadest community of architects to deliver model based projects that are better designed, more predictable to construct and less expensive to operate.

GRAPHISOFT and ArchiCAD are registered trademarks of GRAPHISOFT. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE GRAPHISOFT