ADVISORY/Bentley Joins Honors at Re-opening of 19th Century Synagogue in Poland.

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ceremony Draws Dignitaries to Commemorate 

and Celebrate Re-opening of Pod Bialym Bocianem

on Eve of Sixtieth Anniversary of Kristallnacht

Representatives from Bentley Systems Inc. (Exton, Pa.) will take part in the commemorative re-opening ceremony for the newly restored Pod Bialym Bocianem ("Under the White Stork") Synagogue on Nov. 8, 1998.

Bentley's architectural and engineering software served an integral role in the reconstruction of the synagogue.

The ceremony is being conducted under the patronage of Polish Prime Minister Buzek; Johannes Bauch, Ambassador of Germany to Poland; Jerzy Kichler, President of the Jewish Congregation Association of Poland; Anatol Kaszen, President of the Jewish Congregation Association of Wroclaw; and Henryk Gulbinowicz, His Eminence Cardinal Metropolitan of Wroclaw.

Several of these dignitaries will speak at the event.

Yoav Etiel, senior vice president of marketing for Bentley, commented on this historic occasion, "The act of building, perhaps especially the act of rebuilding, is one of the defining attributes of Jewish history. Throughout our history, ancient and recent, the theme of rebuilding is struck again and again. The act of rebuilding is a symbol of faith, and of persistence."

He continued, "Bentley is pleased to have been able to contribute to this effort. We are proud to provide the information technology that has been used to restore not only a building, but a piece of history."

Originally constructed in 1829, in what was then Breslau, the synagogue was at that time the largest in the city. It is now the only Jewish sanctuary in Wroclaw. During its nearly 150-year history, the synagogue and its surroundings have undergone many transformations.

This reconstruction and re-opening mark the return of the synagogue to the Jewish community of Wroclaw - sixty years after Kristallnacht, or Nazi Crystal Night.

Despite the extensive work already completed, the synagogue is still in need of $2M (US) to finish the restorations and sustain it. Information on making donations is available at http://www.bentley.com/mworld/q398/feature2.htm.

The synagogue's mikvah (ritual bath) - one of the last surviving mikvahs in Poland - will be completely restored. New features of the reconstructed synagogue will include the acoustic renovation of the main sanctuary, allowing for its use as a music hall, and the addition of a museum chronicling the Jewish history of the region.

A kosher canteen, a charity kitchen, and a small clinic are among the other amenities that have been included in the new design. Bentley's MicroStation(R) TriForma(R) was instrumental in modeling these components to restore them to their original design.

More on Events Planned for Nov. 8, 1998

The day's events begin at 1 p.m. with a religious celebration in the synagogue. A small exhibition detailing the history of the building and the plans and renderings for the reconstruction will be on display.

At 2 p.m. there will be a performance by the synagogue chorus. A reception in the Community Center will commence at 2:30 p.m., with speeches given by the assembled dignitaries. At 3 p.m. a press conference will be held in the neighboring building of the Jewish Congregation. Tours of the renovated building will be available throughout the afternoon.

For further information and images of the renovation and reconstruction of Pod Bialym Bocianem Synagogue or to find out about opportunities to assist in the next phases of restoration, visit http://www.bentley.com/mworld/q398/feature2.htm.

The Bentley office in Poland can also provide more information. Please contact Bentley Poland at [phone] or through E-mail at [e-mail].

For more information on MicroStation TriForma, please contact Bentley at 800/BENTLEY, 610/458-5000 (Americas), [phone] (Europe, Middle East, Africa), [phone] (Asia/Pacific), through E-mail at [e-mail], or through http://www.bentley.com.

The Bentley Wire automatically delivers company press releases through E-mail within minutes of being issued. To subscribe, click http://www.bentley.com/news/bwire/.

More on ARCHIKON-KARSTPROJEKT

ARCHIKON s.c. was established in 1993. Since 1994, they have worked with another design firm as ARCHIKON-KARSTPROJECT Design Group. ARCHIKON s.c. was the first commercial user of MicroStation TriForma in Poland.

They offer the full range of design services with an emphasis on industrial plants and architectural monument restoration. On large-scale projects, using the capabilities of MicroStation, they often collaborate with design offices abroad and with foreign investors. ARCHIKON s.c. is a Bentley Business Partner.

More on the Technology Behind the Restoration

Technology played a key role in the restoration and renovation. At the outset of the restoration, a three dimensional model of the synagogue and its surroundings was created to facilitate the conceptual design phase. This model was most important in determining how new facilities would fit into the existing space.

Jacek Kosciuk, principal at ARCHIKON-KARSTPROJEKT explained, "The three-dimensional model that we created in MicroStation TriForma not only helped us communicate the design to the investor and the community, it is also helped us to solve complex spatial-relations problems early in the project."

He continued, "In order to speed our work, we divided into three teams that worked concurrently. Bentley's software allowed us to communicate and collaborate effectively with one another throughout the project."

Intrigued by the opportunity to create a complete three-dimensional model of the refurbished synagogue, and given the capability to do so with MicroStation TriForma, a group of architects enhanced the model in the last stages of the project.

The architects created a final model that includes elements of the interior furnishings. This final model, along with several visualizations made by the architects, can be viewed on site during the ceremony and on the Web site, http://www.bentley.com/mworld/q398/feature2.htm.

More on Bentley

Bentley Systems Inc., is a worldwide leader in engineering software and user services. The Bentley Continuum(TM) is the company's comprehensive engineering IT strategy comprising products, services, and strategic affiliations.

The company now serves over a quarter million professionals in building/plant engineering, geoengineering, and mechanical engineering. With revenues now over $150M annually, Bentley was listed as the largest privately held company on the 1998 Softletter 100 and named to the 1998 Upside Hot 100.

Bentley's MicroStation(R) desktop and ModelServer(TM) Internet/intranet/extranet-based products are used at over 70% of the largest U.S. engineering firms. They form the software foundation of well-known buildings, roadways, machines, and industrial plants around the world. The Bentley SELECT(SM) technology and service subscription program now reaches over 150,000 users.

Bentley Strategic Affiliates, including GEOPAK Transportation, HMR, Jacobus Technology, NetSpace Systems, and WorkPlace System Solutions, provide project services and the world's best and most interoperable engineering applications to Bentley users. More information about Bentley and Bentley Strategic Affiliates is available at www.bentley.com.

Bentley, MicroStation, and TriForma are registered trademarks; Bentley Continuum and ModelServer are trademarks; and Bentley SELECT is a service mark of Bentley Systems Inc.