Exton, Pa. – 18 March 2008 — Bentley Systems, Incorporated has appointed Volker Mueller to the position of research director for computational design in Bentley’s Applied Research group. In this capacity, Mueller is responsible for identifying and pursuing innovative ways to employ computation in the infrastructure design professions. In addition to exploring new approaches to rules-based design, generative design, and analytical design, he will investigate new opportunities for providing real-time design performance feedback to architects and engineers, as well as create the vision for future strategic initiatives. Mueller joins Bentley with more than 15 years of experience in the field of design computing using advanced software. Prior to Bentley, Mueller was design technology manager of NBBJ’s design technology group. In this role he was responsible for developing and implementing the architectural firm’s design technology strategy, which was founded on object-based design and Building Information Modeling software. Mueller is based in Columbus, Ohio, and will report to Buddy Cleveland, senior vice president of Bentley’s Applied Research group.
“We welcome Volker to the Bentley team,” said Cleveland. “As we continue to enhance our portfolio of software solutions to sustain the world’s infrastructure, we are eager to benefit from his work with researchers and innovators in the academic community and practice. Volker has a broad background and expertise in computational design theory and practice, an extensive skill set, and an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by infrastructure professionals. This makes him the ideal person to spread awareness of computational design’s critical importance to designers, constructors, owners, and operators of everything from buildings, plants, and water systems to roads, bridges, and communications networks.
“Volker will also be actively engaged in the strategy and vision for Bentley’s GenerativeComponents product, which became commercially available last year. In addition, he will champion the use of this unique generative design software among architects and engineers and undoubtedly make it the starting point for further investigations of computational design.”
Prior to his service with NBBJ, Mueller was employed for five years with auto.des.sys, Inc., in Columbus, where he contributed to the development of the 3D modeling package form.Z. Earlier, Mueller supported for two years the transition of designers at the Frankfurt Airport Corporation from manual to digital practice. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Institute of Architects, the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), and the National Institute of Building Sciences, and he is on the steering committee of the National CAD Standard version 5.
Mueller earned an Architectural Engineering degree from the Berlin University of Technology and a Master of Architecture degree, with CAAD certification, from Ohio State University as a Fulbright Scholar. He resides in Upper Arlington, Ohio, with his wife and two children.
About GenerativeComponents
GenerativeComponents enables architects and engineers to pursue designs and achieve results that were virtually unthinkable before. Empowered by computational methods, the designers can direct their creativity to deliver inspired sustainable buildings that are freer in form and use innovative materials and assemblies. GenerativeComponents facilitates this by allowing the quick exploration of a broad range of “what-if” alternatives for even the most complex buildings.
GenerativeComponents is already enabling leading architects and engineers around the world to deliver inspired sustainable buildings. Among them are Arup, Buro Happold, Foster + Partners, Grimshaw Architects, HOK, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Morphosis, and SHoP Architects.
For more information about GenerativeComponents and the forthcoming GenerativeComponents Discovery Subscription program, visit www.bentley.com/gc.
About Bentley
Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of the world’s infrastructure. The company’s comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial verticals spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. With revenues now surpassing $400 million annually, and more than 2,400 colleagues globally, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Top Design Firms and major owner-operators, and was named the world’s No. 2 provider of GIS/geospatial software solutions in a Daratech research study.
