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Frank Gehry, Tech Entrepreneur: The Starchitect's R&D Firm Debuts Cloud-Based Design Software GTeam

Gehry Technologies introduces GTeam, a cloud-based, 3D modeling, file-sharing, and project collaboration platform that can run on any Web-enabled device.

When Frank Gehry planted his shapely Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, he changed the field of architecture forever. The architect’s portfolio and his clout have grown considerably since then, but it appears that perhaps the most recognized name in the field is seeking to revolutionize architecture in a new way: Gehry Technologies (GT), a company founded in 2002 by Gehry Partners’s research and development team, has announced a free preview period for their latest off-the-shelf product GTeam. The new cloud-based software described by Gehry as “Google Docs for 3D models” automatically translates files from AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Google SketchUp, and other professional modeling software into a common format, which can then be easily accessed and shared online.

“We were hearing from our customers that collaboration is difficult,” said GT director of research Andrew Witt in Cadalyst. “It’s hard for people to get data in the same place at the same time.” Presentations among designers and construction professionals are surprisingly archaic, often requiring time-consuming printouts.