Autodesk deepens its partnership with CTU by announcing a joint competition, Revit Open, for university students

The task is to create a design for a self-sufficient and ecological structure that aligns with current trends in sustainable design.

Autodesk, in collaboration with the Modeling Project Cabinet of the Faculty of Architecture at Czech Technical University (MOLAB), announced the Revit Open competition for university students with an architectural or construction focus in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The goal is to create a design for a self-sufficient and ecological structure for short-term, i.e., tourist accommodation.
The structure should consider minimal operating costs, minimal environmental impact, and should aim towards low-energy housing. The study of the 3D model will be addressed using software from Autodesk, specifically utilizing AutoCAD Architecture, Revit Architecture, and for visualization, Autodesk 3D Studio Max.
"Current discussions about the environment increasingly focus on the principle of sustainable development," said Patrik Minks, chairman of the Revit Open jury and business manager for building solutions at Autodesk. "We hope that through this competition, future architects and designers will become acquainted with a trend that we at Autodesk call 'sustainable design', which will become one of the key aspects of building solutions in the Czech Republic in the coming years."
Registration for the competition is possible until September 23, 2007, and the final submission date has been set for October 31. The award ceremony will take place by December 15, 2007. The authors of the best designs will receive prizes in the form of laptops worth 60 and 38 thousand, a digital camera, and a color printer. The first 50 registrants will also receive a DVD of the film Sketches of Frank Gehry, whose main partner is Autodesk. More information about the competition, along with registration for participants, can be found at revitopen.archii.cz.

CTU in the Autodesk Academia Program

The Revit Open competition is the latest step in deepening the partnership between CTU and Autodesk. For example, at the beginning of the summer semester of 2007, the Czech Technical University in Prague entered the Autodesk Academia Program through the CTU Student Union and specifically the Silicon Hill club. As part of this program, CTU has created a student training center at the Strahov dormitories.
The training center provides students with technical education in CAD programs to enhance their professional qualifications. The cornerstone of this project was laid by the students themselves, who requested certified courses in graphic and CAD programs from Autodesk. The principle is based on "learning students from students," with instructors (CTU students) having been professionally trained at an authorized Autodesk training center at Computer Agency.
In the CAD/CAM computer support training center, students can attend courses in AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Autodesk 3D Studio Max. Courses can culminate in a globally recognized Autodesk certificate. Currently, the academy has over one hundred students. In addition to semester classes, students can participate in several workshops, try professional consulting, or collaborate on product development.


Autodesk is a global leader in 2D and 3D design software for manufacturing, construction, media, and entertainment. Since the launch of AutoCAD in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of cutting-edge digital prototyping solutions that help customers virtually test ideas before actual implementation. Companies in the Fortune 1000 use Autodesk tools to visualize, simulate, and analyze the real-world performance of their designs in the early stages of development, helping them save time and money, improve quality, and foster innovation. More information about Autodesk can be found on their websites www.autodesk.cz or www.autodesk.com.