IBM and Dassault Systèmes Team For Sagrada Familia Cathedral

IBM (www.ibm.com) and Dassault Systèmes today announced that designers working on the Sagrada Família Cathedral, started in 1882 by Antoni Gaudí, are using their Product Lifecycle Management Solutions to rapidly advance completion of the cathedral.

Since the celebrated Catalan architect's death in 1926, work on the highly complex stone structure - considered one of the most mystical constructions in the world - has been under the auspices of the Sagrada Família Foundation.

For more than a century, work has been ongoing to complete Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece interpreting the large-scale architectural models he prepared during the architect's final years.

The Foundation commissioned gedas iberia s.a. to incorporate new approaches to computer-aided design into the construction process. Using CATIA V5, the company has overcome obstacles such as the challenge of "linking" the software to the tools used to prepare granite from a local quarry.

The new technology represents an important, evolutionary step for Gaudí's design because, prior to introduction of advanced design software to the project in 1989, work had been undertaken painstakingly by hand.

"We still have a lot of challenges ahead, and we haven't found answers for all of Gaudí's proposals -- such as the cross that will top the cathedral," said Jordi Bonet i Armengol, chief architect and project manager, Sagrada Família Temple.

"PLM is synonymous with product innovation. We're honored that the designers chartered with the completion of the Sagrada Familia have chosen our PLM solutions to accelerate the construction of this unique and incredibly innovative example of Spain's cultural heritage," explained Raoul Van Engelshoven, vice president EMEA, IBM Product Lifecycle Management.

The leadership position of IBM and Dassault Systèmes in the architectural industry is extensive. The software is also used by one of the world's most innovative and celebrated architects, Frank Gehry.
As world leader in three-dimensional product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, the Dassault Systèmes group brings value to more than 70,000 customers in 80 countries.