The Role of a Computational Design Champion at Arup
Interview with Rick Titulaer - CDFAM Berlin Speaker Series
As a Computational Design Champion, Rick Titulaer plays a crucial role in advancing the integration of computational design strategies and tools at Arup, a premier engineering consultancy renowned for its comprehensive design, project management, and consulting services throughout the built environment.
Since its inception in 1946 by Sir Ove Nyquist Arup, the firm has ascended to global prominence, boasting a vast network of offices in over 30 countries and employing a diverse team of experts dedicated to various disciplines.
When I started in 2016, parametric design tools like Grasshopper, were only used by a few people within Arup, whereas now we have a network of more than 800 people.
Rick Titulaer - Arup
With a current roster of over 800 computational designers, Arup has developed and implemented numerous proprietary software tools that not only streamline the computational design process but also share this advanced capability with clients. This initiative is in line with the principles of Total Architecture, a concept championed by Ove Arup in his seminal 'Key Speech', emphasizing the holistic consideration of design decisions.
At the upcoming CDFAM Computational Design Symposium in Berlin, Rick will shed light on the bespoke software tools Arup has crafted to aid in the creation of groundbreaking structures worldwide, including their work on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, in close collaboration with clients.
The formation of the Computational Design Skills Network in 2022 signifies a strategic move towards embedding sustainability into the early stages of design processes, employing multidisciplinary platforms for in-depth solution analyses.
In the CDFAM speaker interview Rick discusses how Arup utilizes commercial software such as Rhino3D, Grasshopper, and Autodesk Revit, alongside in-house innovations like DesignCheck and TDA, to automate design calculations and effectively communicate solutions. This blend of computational design tools has enabled Arup to execute innovative projects that underscore the firm's dedication to efficiency, sustainability, and engaging clients through state-of-the-art design methodologies.
In-house we have focused on two sorts of tools/platforms, one focussing on the internal members, helping with automation and design calculations, the other focussing on communicating our design to our clients.
Rick Titulaer - Arup
To learn more about Ricks’s work at Arup, read the full interview on the CDFAM site, and register to attend CDFAM Berlin, May 7-8, 2024 to connect in person with Rick, and other leading experts in computational design, architecture, advanced engineering and manufacturing.
