SAN RAFAEL, Calif. and LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2003--

    Use of Autodesk Architectural Desktop Software Improves Design

Efficiency on One of the Largest Current Construction Projects in the

 United Kingdom

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, announced today that BAA, owner/operator of seven airports in the United Kingdom, is using Autodesk(R) Architectural Desktop software for the design of Heathrow Airport's new Terminal 5, one of the largest construction projects in the country. BAA decided to implement Architectural Desktop for this complex project in order to enhance the speed and efficiency of the design process. Excitech Computers Ltd., an Autodesk channel partner, worked closely with the BAA to ensure effective deployment of the software, which represents the largest single-site implementation of Architectural Desktop in the United Kingdom to date.

The magnitude of the project, whose first phase alone consists of 16 large-scale interconnecting projects and 134 sub-projects, required a carefully planned strategy for how digital tools would enhance design process. BAA sought a solution that would facilitate 3D design visualization while enabling multidisciplinary teams to share information concurrently. Architectural Desktop met these requirements while also aligning with the BAA's broader "Acquisition and Maintenance of Assets" strategy.

"Implementing Architectural Desktop allows us to create our own assets in the form of 3D models of the buildings and then take the underlying information behind those models and modify it over time as the project develops," said Andy Manington, BAA's Terminal 5 production support manager. "This ability to maintain and develop electronic assets has allowed us to move seamlessly from the design to the manufacture phase of the project, without needing to recreate or duplicate information. Sharing information in this way has enabled us to enhance the speed and efficiency of the design process and reduce errors."

Autodesk Architectural Desktop has also allowed BAA to migrate users gradually into an object-oriented modeling environment and carry out appropriate training as and when required - an arrangement which minimizes disruption to the project. Additionally, it has provided BAA with ease of interoperability with a broad range of other third-party software including CSC 3DPlus for structured steel work, CADS RC for reinforced concrete work and CADDuct for building systems design.

"It is also a major benefit that Autodesk design software is the most widely used in the world," continued Manington. "As a result, even on a construction project of this scale, involving 50 to 60 specialist suppliers, you are working in an environment with which everybody is familiar and compatibility issues are rare."

Excitech, Autodesk's largest construction-focused UK channel partner, has played a key role on the Terminal 5 project, analyzing and mapping out the 2D and 3D design processes and helping to choose and implement the technologies that enable data to be enriched throughout the project lifecycle, ready for its downstream re-use at the end of the project for the maintenance of BAA's airport facilities.

"BAA is one of the largest and most forward-thinking facility developers in the world," said Phil Bernstein, FAIA, vice president of Autodesk's Building Solutions Division. "Their partnership with Autodesk in implementing solutions supporting collaboration and the use of digital design data on this significant project is one of many important steps we've seen advancing the effective use of technology in the building industry overall. Visionary companies like BAA are leading the industry today."

About BAA and Terminal 5

BAA is the world's leading airport company. It owns and operates seven UK airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton. In addition, it has management contracts or stakes in the following airports outside of the UK - Indianapolis in the USA, Naples in Italy, Seeb and Salalah in Oman and six airports in Australia (Melbourne, Perth, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Darwin and Launceston). It also has retail management contracts at two US airports (Pittsburgh and Boston Logan).

The entire Terminal 5 development program represents GBP3.7 billion (at March 2002 prices) of BAA's GBP7.5 billion 10-year investment program. The overall program includes the terminal buildings, new aircraft stands, the M25 spur road, two rail stations and the Piccadilly Line and Heathrow Express extensions, an air traffic control tower, landscaping, a car park and a hotel.

Phase One, which includes the main terminal and first satellite building, is due to open to the public in spring 2008. With the addition of a second satellite building and associated facilities, Terminal 5 will serve around 30 million passengers by 2016.

About Excitech Computers Ltd

Excitech Computers Ltd is currently the largest reseller of AutoCAD(R)-based-design solutions in the UK providing products and professional services including consultancy and support based on its expertise in implementing technology for design productivity. With a turnover of over GBP9 million, Excitech employs around 80 staff at its head office in Enfield, North London.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see http://www.autodesk.com.

Note to Editors: Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

    CONTACT: Autodesk
             Carol Lettieri, 415/507-6908 (US)
             carol.lettieri@autodesk.com
             or
             WhiteOaks
             Jo Graves, 01252 727313 (UK)
             jog@whiteoaks.com

    SOURCE: Autodesk