Which types of structural framing systems and materials are most commonly used in the US for residences? For office buildings?
In the U.S., residential buildings primarily use wood framing due to its affordability and ease of use. Office buildings typically use steel or reinforced concrete for strength, durability, and the ability to support larger, open floor plans suitable for commercial spaces.
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?
Before digital models, design coordination relied on physical blueprints and in-person meetings to review plans. Team members would cross-reference hand-drawn plans and conduct site visits to identify potential issues, though this process was slower and more error-prone than today’s digital methods.
What strategies can design teams use to find and avoid clashes prior to the start of construction?
Design teams use BIM software for digital clash detection, allowing them to find issues early in the design phase. Additionally, teams hold coordination meetings to review plans from different disciplines and sometimes use physical mock-ups for complex systems to ensure alignment.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?