Baltimore, MD – September 25, 2009 –ASGVIS, providing innovative visualization software and services to create photorealistic 3D images and animations, today announced its work with Furbish Company’s new SmartSlope.  Specializing in plant-based building systems, including living roofs and indoor bio filters, Furbish Company sought the expertise of ASGVIS to visualize its new vegetated retaining walls, or retaining structures integrated with vertical garden space.  This new vegetated module is functional, ecological and economical, but requires up to two years to achieve full plant maturity.

In order to market SmartSlope, Furbish Company enlisted ASGVIS to create an animation of the product lifecycle.  After creating a 3D image of the SmartSlope product surrounding a waterfront property, ASGVIS animated a short video showcasing the transition from a generic retaining wall to the SmartSlope solution, complete with construction elements and a time delay to show its fully vegetated state.

“ASGVIS has the tools and creativity to tell our story,” said Michael Furbish, president and founder of Furbish Company.  “From our many projects around the mid-Atlantic region, we can show off the before and after photos, but something is missing: the transition from vertical hardscape to green landscape.  The ASGVIS team was able to see the entirety of the project, envision everything in between and animate two years of plant growth into four, very influential seconds.”

In addition to providing visualization services, ASGVIS develops V-Ray for Google’s SketchUp and V-Ray for McNeel’s Rhino, popular 3D modeling software programs, and also trains companies in their applications.  The company’s list of government, commercial and educational clients include NASA, Black and Decker, Gensler and Johns Hopkins University.

“The Furbish Company project was exciting because we had the opportunity to show how digital photorealistic imagery and animation can shape the way products are marketed and sold,” said Corey Rubadue, CEO of ASGVIS.  “Product design and marketing can take a lot of time, money and employee investment.  In most cases, the end result may not even portray your product accurately. Visualizing in 3D enhances any marketing effort and makes complicated products and processes that much easier to understand.\"

SmartSlope, a natural storm water runoff and on-site nutrient take-up, uses 50 percent less concrete, 46 percent less modules and less labor to install. Furbish Company is committed to bringing SmartSlope to interested cities and will look to ASGVIS to personalize the 3D animations for officials to see what their city could look like with vegetated retaining walls.

“Using 3D to showcase our products is an amazing step for us,” said Furbish. “Within a few short days, ASGVIS was able to elevate our marketing and make selling SmartSlope that much easier. What I like best about our new relationship is the fact that 3D visualizing is the best way to explain our product, and also the ‘greenest’ way to market.\"

“To say I am excited by this partnership is an understatement,” said Rubadue. “Furbish Company has a wonderfully unique product, and we provide them the help they need to explain the benefits to the general public.  If an image is worth a thousand words, our animation must be worth a million or more.”

About ASGVIS, LLC

ASGVIS, LLC was founded in 2005 as the “Visual Imaging Studio” of Ayers Saint Gross Architects and Planners to provide high-end 3D visualization services for architectural clients.  Since then, ASGVIS has grown with the demand for visualization – and with the development of technology, porting the V-Ray engine to both SketchUp and Rhino.  In 2008, ASGVIS became an independent company and services clients in many industries, including architectural firms, jewelry, automotive, industrial design, 3D animation and film and everyday users.  For more information on ASGVIS, please visit www.asgvis.com

About Furbish Company, LLC

Founded in 2003, Furbish Company has a deep commitment to sustainable building practices in the mid-Atlantic region and promotes living roofs, vegetated retaining walls and bio filters.  Furbish Company recently introduced SmartSlope, the next generation of vegetated retaining walls for architects, engineers, contractors and homeowners.  In addition to important environmental concerns, Furbish Company’s plant-based building systems also provide greater comfort to occupants, healthier indoor environs, lowers costs to operate and more beautiful aesthetics. 

The company has installed over 500,000 square feet of living roofs and has successfully implemented vegetated retaining walls, straw bale construction, natural plaster and solar/geothermal HVAC.  For more information on SmartSlope, please visit www.smartslope.com.  For more information on Furbish Company, please visit www.furbishco.com.

Media Contact

Mike Faherty

Abel Communications for ASGVIS

410-843-3820

mfaherty@abelcommunications.com