Why Early Access?

“Established in 1982, the expert team at Sotech works closely with architects, installers and contractors to specify the most suitable rainscreen cladding solution for their needs, advising on the system, materials and finishes, as well as fire safety, design and production.

Sotech’s head office and manufacturing facility includes a showroom and active learning zone that allows clients to see and understand the Optima range up-close. Sotech also have a showroom at the Building Centre in London which showcases its full range of Optima Rainscreen Systems.

We have now created a new showroom inside of SOTECH VR, a tool currently under development that will allow architects and installers to get hands on with OPTIMA Rainscreen Cladding Systems in 3D and VR.

While in "Early Access", the experience has a simple showroom for the OPTIMA Rainscreen Cladding Systems which allows you to :-

Find out OPTIMA system information

While inspecting each optima system you can access system information including its fire safety certification, CWCT testing information, case studies and downloads.

Change the panels colour and finish

Choose from our supply partners and change a panels finish or material and apply it to a systems panel.

Watch OPTIMA System and Case Study videos

Get project and system information from our video walls.

Compare and interact with each systems panel and substructure

Each system and its substructure can be inspected and compared to enable you to make a more informed decision when specifying your next project.

We would like to work with our users to enhance the experience and include features that would be useful for specifying rainscreen cladding systems.

Our goal is to provide an experience that can be used on a basic laptop but also in VR that allows users to interact with OPTIMA Systems. This is the first step, having a 3D first person mode and VR depending on the users hardware.

The experience should run in 3D mode on any laptop from the past 10 years, you will need a VR ready PC or laptop (and a headset) to use VR mode.

Over time SOTECH VR will be expanded to include more features based on feedback so that we can create a tool that can be of use while specifying rainscreen cladding.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“4 months”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“Extra features will be added to the full version, including :

- Updated UI
- OPTIMA Systems as a full building
- System Training
- Quality and Performance upgrades
- RayTracing Enable/Disable (Update for 3D version)”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“While in "Early Access", the experience has a simple showroom for the OPTIMA Rainscreen Cladding Systems which allows you to :-

Find out OPTIMA system information

While inspecting each optima system you can access system information including its fire safety certification, CWCT testing information, case studies and downloads.

Change the panels colour and finish

Choose from our supply partners and change a panels finish or material and apply it to a systems panel.

Watch OPTIMA System and Case Study videos

Get project and system information from our video walls.

Compare and interact with each systems panel and substructure

Each system and its substructure can be inspected and compared to enable you to make a more informed decision when specifying your next project.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“No, it will always be free.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“If you have any comments, questions or feedback in general please visit the SOTECH website and talk to an OPTIMA Rainscreen Cladding expert.”