SketchUp Newsletter, March 2012 Issue

Last Friday, the SketchUp team had a chance to slip out for a visit to the new Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. I've always had a bit of a "thing" for abstract expressionism, and it was a treat to see so many new paintings from the same artist under one roof. And it's a magnificent roof. In fact, the whole building is pretty darn magnificent. It turns out that the architects who designed the museum, Allied Works, are dedicated SketchUp Pro users. They were kind enough to expose their internal design process and talk candidly about how they use SketchUp in their shop. Aidan wrote it all up in the one of the best User Stories we've published in years. I think you design nerds out there (you know who you are) are really going to like this one. Of course, not everyone in the world of building construction cares about the "phenomenology of light and space". I bet some of you have an allergic reaction to the notion of spending time and money hammering chunks of glass into blocks of wood in the name of design. For you, we've got a different but equally awesome User Story this month. Turner Construction (one of the largest construction firms in the world) has also been using SketchUp Pro on signature projects recently, including the upcoming World Trade Center Transit Hub in New York City. This is about the most complex part of the new WTC, involving not just the usual coordination of trades but also a complex phasing plan to prevent interruption on six major subway lines. In a three-part series, Turner told us about the challenges they faced -- and overcame -- with help from SketchUp Pro. This month's SketchUpdate may look short, but there's a ton of information in these User Stories. I hope you'll enjoy! And let us know if you're working on a similar project -- we always love to see what you're working on. Thanks, and happy sketching, John P.S. That's Brian in the photo above. He's staring at the perforated ceiling of the Clyfford Still Museum, wondering how they keep the pigeons out.
	Maxwell for SketchUp competition winners announced In November, the Maxwell for Google SketchUp photo-rendering plugin was released. Soon after, a challenge was issued to see who could make the juiciest render. The winners were announced recently, and they are, in a word, delicious.  See for yourself.
	Welcome aboard, Ireland! (and 14 more) As part of our commitment to providing low to no cost software to schools, the Google SketchUp Pro K-12 Statewide License Grant has been issued to 50 recipients worldwide including all of Ireland. All Irish primary and secondary schools will now have access to SketchUp Pro at no charge.  Keep reading...
	A conversation with Allied Works Allied Works is an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice that draws in big-name clients. They recently completed the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado, and we spoke with Brent Linden, Director of Allied Works' NYC office, about the firm's work, creative process, and use of SketchUp Pro.  Keep reading...
	SketchUp Pro Case Study: Turner Construction and the WTC This month, we did a 3-part profile of Turner Construction, one of the largest construction management companies in the world. Turner uses SketchUp Pro at several points in its workflow: coordinating demolition and construction, creating presentations and providing safety training. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
	A solution for low resolution Have you ever brought an image texture into SketchUp and notice that the resolution isn't as crisp as it is in your image viewer? By default, SketchUp downgrades higher resolution image textures to a maximum of 1024 x 1024 pixels.  Keep reading...
	SketchUp Pro Training Schedule: March/April 2012 Our March and April 2012 SketchUp Authorized Training Center schedule is now available. Follow the link for information on specific locations, dates, and courses provided.  Keep reading...
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