Bentley and Tsinghua University to Support Sustainable Building Development in China

Business Wire, Sept 18, 2008

Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop and Distribute Integrated Software for Modeling and Energy Analysis

SHANGHAI, China -- McGraw-Hill 2008 Green Building and Energy Efficiency International Conference - Bentley Systems, Incorporated and Tsinghua University, School of Architecture, Building Energy Research Center, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will support sustainable building development in China. It also will further strengthen and deepen Bentley's commitment to improving building performance around the globe through its recently launched Building Performance Group. The MOU sets the stage for cooperation between Bentley and Tsinghua University in the development and distribution of integrated software for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and energy analysis. The integrated design and analysis software will incorporate the Bentley Architecture BIM application and the Tsinghua University Designer Simulation Toolkit (DeST), a standard building energy analysis and simulation platform in China that has been used in about 20 million square meters of floor space in building design and commissioning. Architects and designers employing the new integrated software will benefit from the ability to launch an energy analysis application directly within Bentley Architecture, enabling them to immediately evaluate the impact of design changes on energy efficiency.

The first two versions of DeST were based on AutoCAD software. Under the MOU, Tsinghua University and Bentley will develop DeST v. 2 and DeST v. 3 - newly integrated core design and analysis software - on Bentley Architecture, gaining the advantages of its robust 3D BIM environment. The MOU calls for Tsinghua University to enroll in and receive all of the benefits of the Bentley Development Network, and for Bentley to provide Tsinghua University with assistance and support for the evaluation and implementation of Bentley Architecture as the platform for the integrated design and analysis software.

Dr. Jean-Baptiste Monnier, senior vice president, Bentley Asia-Pacific, said, "We are excited to be working with Tsinghua University in the development of this new software that will put powerful 3D BIM and energy analysis capabilities in the hands of architects and designers across China. This new standard platform for flexible design and highly accurate energy simulations will further advance the country's sustainable development efforts, and reinforce Bentley's global leadership in building analysis and simulation products for improved building performance. Bentley's new Building Performance Group focuses on software applications that address the global need to create and maintain energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, safer buildings that also set the benchmark for occupant comfort."

Yi Jiang, a professor at Tsinghua University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said, "Through this agreement, architects and designers using the DeST software application will enjoy all the benefits of developing a 3D Building Information Model with Bentley Architecture, including the ability to design in an integrated, multidisciplinary environment, easily explore an array of design options, make better-informed design decisions, and predict costs and performance. Then, within the Bentley Architecture environment, they can use DeST to easily perform an energy analysis of the 3D model data. These integrated capabilities will help designers create buildings that are much more energy-efficient."

DeST helps architects and HVAC engineers simulate and analyze building energy use and factors such as artificial lighting, natural lighting, ventilation, and thermal performance, as well as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. It helps improve the reliability of system design, ensure the quality of system performance, and reduce the amount of energy that buildings consume.

DeST is widely used in China for research, design, and education. More than 4000 users are now employing DeST as a building simulation tool. Among the many projects that have benefited from its use are:

* 12 Olympic Games buildings in Beijing, including The National Stadium (The Bird's Nest) and The National Aquatics Center (The Water Cube),

* State Grand Theatre of China,

* Beijing South Railway Station,

* Guangzhou Railway Station,

* Tianjin Railway Station,

* The Bank of China Headquarters,

* Shanghai Jinmao Tower.

About Bentley Architecture

Bentley Architecture is part of Bentley's integrated suite of BIM applications that provides seamless integration between design, engineering, analysis, construction, and operations for the entire lifecycle of facilities. Used by the world's leading architectural, engineering, and construction companies on the largest and most complex projects, this unique application supports multidisciplinary workgroups and global teams in a managed environment, allowing them to make more informed design decisions, and, ultimately, deliver better buildings. For more information, visit www.bentley.com.