SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct 8, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Leading Commercial Design Practice Delivers Higher Quality Projects Through Building Information Modeling Solution

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, announced today that CASCO, a full-service architecture/engineering firm, has purchased 55 licenses of Autodesk Revit, a powerful building design and documentation system. CASCO serves major national and international retail, hospitality, and restaurant clients. Ranked 9th in the ENR 2002 Top Retail Design Firm list, CASCO specializes in developing and adapting prototype facility designs for clients such as Extended Stay America; Toys "R" Us; Circuit City; PETsMART; Payless ShoeSource; Zale Corporation; and Bed Bath & Beyond. By using Autodesk Revit for concurrent design and documentation, CASCO believes it can deliver higher quality buildings to its clients by improving its communication with contractors.

"Revit puts the pencil back in the architect's hand as a design tool rather than just a drafting tool," said J.C. Alberts, president of CASCO. "We're excited by Revit's inherent ability to relate design to issues of constructability. This will bring more control back to the architect as the master builder... and there's a greater likelihood that the final product -- the building -- will be better."

CASCO selected Autodesk Revit for its ability to eliminate much of the fragmentation caused by today's specialization in the building industry, ending conflicts among different project team firms that cost time and money.

CASCO was initially drawn to Revit as a presentation tool but soon became interested in its power to revolutionize mainstream CAD technology. With Autodesk's building information modeling strategy, CASCO can do more than merely mimic fragmented drawing processes; designers can produce renderings that assist clients in visualizing design concepts while behind-the-scenes the Revit technology creates an accurate building model that simultaneously provides design and construction documents.

CASCO, which is currently in the process of deploying Revit throughout its organization, has already benefited from the efficiencies of using the application on selected projects for a significant retail client. The entire team is enthusiastic about the potential of using Revit to provide executives of the company with high-quality information for the evaluation of a new prototypical retail store in preparation for the rollout of the concept.

    About Building Information Modeling and Autodesk Revit

Building information modeling is Autodesk's strategy for improving how architects and other building industry professionals use information technology to do their work. Building information modeling solutions create building databases that support iterative change in a building's design, construction, and operation. These building databases can be shared by the worldwide community of Autodesk customers who collaborate, using common design tools and methods.

Autodesk Revit is a powerful building design and documentation system for architects, design-build teams, and other building industry professionals, offering substantial productivity, quality, and business benefits to the entire team. Revit is Autodesk's strategic authoring application and building information modeling platform for the building industry.

    About CASCO

CASCO provides full in-house professional development services including project management, architecture, structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. An associate, Landmark Systems, provides construction services. In addition to its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, CASCO has four branch offices located in Texas, California, New Jersey, and Georgia. For more information about the company, see http://www.cascocorp.com.

    About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design software and digital content company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity, Autodesk helps customers create, use and leverage their digital design data. For more information about the company, see http://www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk and Revit 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
                  carol.lettieri@autodesk.com

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