Archibus has partnered up with San Rafael, Calif.-headquartered CAD software firm Autodesk for 25 years, but this is the first time that Archibus, the privately held, Boston-based provider of real estate management, will be able to sell Autodesk products. The products covered by the new deal include AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Autodesk FMDesktop and the Revit series of software products.Autodesk provides graphics; Archibus the data. The Autodesk AutoCad product, for example, is used to design the skeleton and skin of a building, and to show exterior surfaces, such as steel frame supports, floor and window dimensions, stairs cases, and ventilation systems….

Risk Integrated’s Profitability Analysis Program, called PAP, provides lenders with an integrated profitability tool, according to the New York and British Isles-based privately-held software and consulting firm. The software, which used macroeconomic Monte Carlo simulation techniques, is of particular value to banks and asset managers, insurance and industrial companies, corporations and governments, who need to assess current risks on loans. PAP is designed for companies to use in preparation for Basel II compliance regulations, which are to be required in the United States beginning in January.Chris Marrison, CEO of Risk Integrated told CPN, “PAP is the first and most advanced…

Thinking of specialized software to handle your valuation processes? Amcore Bank chose the OASIS Bidding System and is happy with the results. The bank, with assets of $5.3 billion, has just completed a year-long implementation of the software system, which manages commercial real estate valuation processes. OASIS is a product of OASIS of Global DMS, a privately-held business based in Lansdale, Penn.“It was a bit bumpy at first, but the vendors were very sensitive to our training needs. And now, using OASIS is much faster than making a bunch of phone calls, and then faxing out an engagement letter” Phil…

When the Freedom Tower rises its 1,776 feet above Ground Zero, it will be made, in part, with a newly patented concrete. It will be the first major project for the new iCRETE technology, which is produced by the just-founded, privately-funded, Los Angeles-based iCRETE company. The concrete provides record-breaking strength and environmental improvements and will be used for a 186-foot inner core support as well as the tower itself.Tony Arnold, president of iCRETE, told CPN “When they put the design specifications together for the tower, there were lots of safety challenges.” To meet those challenges, Arnold turned to John Quadrozzi…

The San-Clemente, Calif.-based Strategic Hotels & Resorts REIT has paid $6.3 million to Chicago-headquartered Sunstone Hotel Investors for a 50 percent stake in BuyEfficient, a purchasing management internet-based software designed for the hospitality industry. It provides increased organization, streamlined purchasing and accounts processing for all hotel paper goods and foods, and hotel amenities. It also manages negotiated discounts, incentives and rebates. Ken Barrett, vice president for asset management at Strategic, told CPN, “When you take a look at the volume of products a hotel buys, whether it’s food, guest supplies and toiletries for the bathroom, linen and terry and light…

AdaptivCool, a new product from Milford-based Degree Controls, offers a thermal management solution that can save more that 20 percent of the energy use at a datacenter–or other heat-intensive industrial building. According to Degree Controls, when the system was recently installed at a large electrical management company in New England, it immediately cut energy use 22 percent, eliminated hot spots and reduced both humidification and dehumidification problems. Founded in 1997, privately-owned Degree Controls serves the international telecom industry and the medical, military and critical containment enclosure markets selling both custom-designed solutions and standard products including high performance heat sinks, precision…

While many retailers are cooling their heals on new developments in light of what looks to be less consumer spending in 2008, Pasadena, Calif.,-based Highland Development Co. has invested nearly $90 million in retail projects, including a brand new development featuring the expanding grocery chain Tesco. The $20 million neighborhood shopping center, La Quinta, is located in Riverside County. It will include a 14,000-square-foot Tesco grocery store plus two retail pad buildings with an aggregate total of 18,300 square feet of space. Situated at the northeast corner of Calle Tampico and Desert Club Drive, Highland expects to break ground on…

Carrollton, Texas-based RealPage, a provider of point-of-lease systems to the multi-family property industry, has expanded their LeasingDesk Resident Screening product’s capability to search criminal databases. Late last year, the software became able to access the Pennsylvania statewide court records, as well criminal court data from 224 counties nationwide. With this increase in technical capabilities, managers can see and scan the data on prospective residents in all 47 states willing to release such information, which includes all states except Massachusetts, Wyoming, Hawaii and South Dakota. In addition, the system now retrieves information from 388 criminal court jurisdictions as well as comprehensive…

Irvine California-based NWP, a third party utility billing provider and management program for several hundred multi-family property management companies nationwide, has recently improved resident billing services and customer support systems, adding English-to-Spanish translations. The new section to their bill works as a glossary so that Spanish speaking residents can immediately gain a better understanding of various charges and payment options. There is also on the statement a new clear indication of how to access additional bilingual customer services provided by the company.Angela Rodebaugh, director of client services & training for NWP, told CPN, “With utility costs rising at unprecedented rates,…

Houston-based Situs Cos. has announced the debut of Compass, a secure online e-library that centralizes commercial real estate property data and collects and makes available up-to-date comprehensive global market research and reports. The new Compass product is being used already as an information management platform for Situs, and is now for sale as a customized application for other companies worldwide. Situs is responsible for the development of the product, will customize, install, manage the information and the internet host site, as well as provide daily backing up of all new data every night.Jennifer Bean, a director at Situs told CPN,…