Rendering Panoramas with the IRender nXt SketchUp Extension

About Mitchell Associates Architects

For over 20 years, Mitchell Associates Architects (MAA) has excelled in the design, construction, evaluation, and renovation of fire stations, completing over 160 fire station and emergency services facilities projects.

With a base of clients mostly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, MAA excels in performing feasibility studies that compare renovations and additions versus demolition and reconstruction. They authored the chapter on renovation for Fire Station Planning, Design & Construction published by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and they regularly speak on the topics of renovation and energy efficiency at regional and national fire service conferences.

Remaining competitive in their niche

In a highly competitive business, MAA set themselves apart from others through their experience, collaborative approach and use of technology. MAA uses several different software programs to ensure clients see the best possible visual representation of their project. This includes working with SketchUp along with the IRender nXt rendering plug-in/extension from Render Plus Software.

How MAA chose IRender nXt

Juan Carrascal studied architecture in his native Colombia and started working at MAA in 2013. As an accomplished SketchUp user since 2007, Juan was tasked with selecting a 3D rendering plug-in/extension and began looking at the many different rendering products available. After trying several 3D renderers he chose IRender nXt for its photosphere / panoramic capabilities.

Example panorama of fire station engine bay using IRender nXt – Courtesy Mitchell Associates Architects
Click to see the 360-degree panorama in a browser based panoramic viewer (Flash Player 9.0.28 or later version is needed)

From MAA’s SketchUp catalog of standard features for fire station rooms, Juan typically generates panoramic views of MAA’s designs to present to clients, and almost universally the clients are blown-away (so much so that they have to ensure that customers understand that what they’re looking at isn’t real and what is built will ultimately look somewhat different). This forms part of the critical first impression of MAA’s professional approach which quickly reinforces to prospective clients that they are going to make the best choice for their design partner. IRender nXt is an important component of MAA’s approach; it’s a simple and easy to use 3D renderer that produces high quality realism inexpensively, over and over again.

Example panorama of fire station utility area using IRender nXt – Courtesy Mitchell Associates Architects
Click to see the 360-degree panorama in a browser based panoramic viewer (Flash Player 9.0.28 or later version is needed)

Automatic application of properties

As he has become increasingly familiar with the software, Juan now also appreciates how IRender nXt automatically applies reflections and other properties once he defines the different elements in his SketchUp design. Overall, Juan rates IRender nXt highly as a cost-effective, user friendly program that generates the professional results MAA needs to help maintain its sector leadership.

To learn more about Mitchell Associates Architects visit www.mitchell-architects.com

To learn more about IRender nXt visit www.renderplus.com

Would you like us to profile a project of yours and you/your company?  Email us at Render Plus Support Email and we’ll contact you.