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?
Most houses in the US use wood framing because it is cheap, easy to work with, and widely available. For larger residential buildings like apartments, and for office buildings, steel and concrete are more common because they are stronger and more fire-resistant. Steel is often used in office buildings because it can hold up large loads and allows for open spaces, while concrete adds stability and durability.
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?
Before digital models, design coordination was done using physical blueprints that had to be manually checked by stacking or overlaying them to find problems. This process took a lot of time and was more prone to errors because everything had to be drawn and reviewed by hand. Digital coordination is much faster and more accurate since models can be updated in real time, and issues like clashes are automatically detected. It also allows teams to visualize the project in 3D, making it easier to spot mistakes and work together.
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?
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?
Design coordination should start as early as possible, ideally during the initial planning or design phases. Starting early helps all the teams involved to get on the same page and catch problems before they become too expensive or complicated to fix. It’s never too early to begin, because even small decisions made early can have a big impact on the project later. Early coordination saves time, money, and avoids unnecessary delays.