@d12dozr said:
Superb prints, especially the massive SF model! Nice work, thanks for posting 
Following the link in one of the videos you posted, I found this very informative CG Architect article. I was interested that as much as the models cost, they are still better quality and cheaper than other methods of making physical models.
@unknownuser said:
As it turns out 3D printing was not only significantly cheaper and quicker to build, but also produced a significantly more detailed model. A comparable, lesser detailed, model was quoted to cost around $300,000 to produce. The team was able to print their model at a fraction of that cost, though those Connex printers don’t come cheap. The two machines used over at Pier 9 would set you back a whopping half million dollars.
Do you know if there are any other architecture firms that are 3D printing models?
Can you talk about why you used Sketchup to make the model for 3D printing vs. something like 3DS Max?
Thanks!
Regarding the conventional model making costs... it depends. They can vary greatly. For instance, an ultra-simplified acrylic block model can be really cheap. Whereas something top of the line, like something Gemmiti makes (http://gemmiti.com/portfolio/renzo-piano-cas-piazza-glass-roof-2/?qc=architectural) would be around the cost mentioned in the article at the scale we printed (5.5' x 5.5').
But don't get me wrong, 3D printing on a Stratasys rig is expensive. The last image I posted in the op for instance - the SF traveler (~1' x ~1') - costs around ~$3K in material alone. Not including the model asset, print prep. modelling, cleaning costs (Polyjet prints use support and model material, the former of which needs to be cleaned), printer costs, acrylic fabrication, etc.
The go-to option for architectural firms is taking advantage of companies that specialize in 3D print services. Since high quality printers are still so expensive, it makes the most sense to go this route. If an architectural firm would like to 3D print a client's building, they can send a water-tight model to vendors like Fathom, Modeller, Solidconcepts, Steelblue, etc. to have it printed. City prints are a bit more involved and require a 3D printable city model asset, which is rare, and labor-intensive to make.
We use Sketchup because it's incredibly fast for this very particular type of modelling (Low detail, primarily orthogonal, and because I like it 
).
+ mouth agape. Had me going...