Trimble acquires detailing specialist Gehry Technologies
The CV takeaway
Dassault Systèmes and Autodesk wanted in on the construction detailing action at Gehry Technologies, but after 12 years Trimble wins the prize.
The details
The sale of a boutique architectural detailing and technology practice is part of a strategic alliance announced today between Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and famed architect Frank Gehry. Trimble is buying Gehry Technologies (GT), the software and consulting business that since 2002 has specialized in documenting complex signature architectural designs—including many by Frank Gehry—for construction.
Software and services from Gehry Technologies has helped with the construction of many complex architectural projects in the past decade, including Museo Soumaya, a new art museum in Mexico City. Above, the museum under construction; below, a steel detail from Gehry Technologies. (Sources: FREE/Fernando Romero Enterprise and Gehry Technologies)
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gehry Technologies was considered a software start-up, and had received three rounds of investment funding over the years. Instead of the usual venture capitalists as lead investors, three rounds of funding over the years came first from Dassault Systèmes and then Autodesk. Crunchbase says Dassault kicked in $14.2 million in two initial funding rounds, and then joined Autodesk in a Series B funding round of $10.5 million in 2011.
Gehry Technologies was started in 2002 with an initial vision of using cutting edge 3D technologies to improve architectural project delivery. GT sold very few copies of its initial product, Digital Project, which was based on Dassault’s Catia V5 but designed to output in DWG for use within AutoCAD. The company found more success as consultants of last resort, using Digital Project to document many significant architectural projects in the past decade, projects from architects like Frank Gehry which many construction firms found too complex (or otherwise inscrutable) to build without extra guidance.
Today GT solutions include GTeam software, a Web-based 3D file management and project collaboration platform, building information modeling (BIM) technology as well as advanced project delivery services.
Gehry’s name gives the company cachet, but the real work at GT has been led for years by Dennis Shelton, Ph.D., long considered one of the leading thinkers in computational architecture. He joined Gehry Partners in 2007 and then was one of the first employees when GT spun out of the architectural practice.
Trimble CEO Steven Berglund says Trimble wants to continue the work started at GT to accelerate the adoption of technology in construction, where 3D technology is used in less than 50% of all projects. “[Frank Gehry’s] unique architectural vision has always challenged the conventional,” says Berglund. “Equally impactful are his views on the potential for transforming the entire design-build-operate continuum. Gehry Technologies has been key in allowing Frank to realize the potential of his designs without compromising cost or schedule. Together, we expect that our common commitment and our combined capabilities will accelerate the adoption of technology in this trillion-dollar industry with resulting breakout benefits.”