Which types of structural framing systems and materials are most commonly used in the US for residences? For office buildings?
What factors determine why these are the most used materials?
Steel and concrete are two of the most commonly used materials for structural framing in large scale projects, such as office buildings, as they are easier to scale vertically than wood for example, whose height is limited based on natural tree heights. In residences, wood can be a suitable choice for structural framing, although it is flammable and at risk for fires. Thus, steel and concrete is also used in residential building, as they are more flame resistant than wood.
Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
What advantages does doing this coordination digitally have over previous methods?
What strategies can design teams use to find and avoid clashes prior to the start of construction?
What can be done besides sharing the models digitally?
Having frequent team meetings along the design process to ensure that each member’s part of the design process aligns and is feasible according to the entire team’s calculations is essential. Sharing updated designs along the way with team members can help ensure that everyone is informed of changed being made throughout the design process. That way, collaborations can create iterations along the way to ensure that all independent team members are on the same page before construction.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?
From the beginning! Making sure all team members play an active role in design coordination as early as possible creates the most collaborative team working environment. This should avoid delays and the wasted time/efforts that occur when team members work independently for prolonged periods of time and end up having to scrap their designs when another team member, like a structural engineer, vetoes an element of their work.