What are the primary goals of creating a building model? Who are the key stakeholders?
One goal for creating a building model is to have access to both a 2D floor plan and a 3D model. Another goal is to allow collaboration between the designers and stakeholders. Another goal of creating a building model is the accuracy and documentation of the model. When the designer creates the building model and makes edits/revisions, it is likely that the final constructed project will look almost exactly like the finalized building model. This means that the building model is a very reliable source to design something and physically construct it. The main stakeholders are the architects, engineers, contractors, and clients.
- What do they need?
The stakeholders need a clear visualization of the final design before it is actually built. They also need schedules, quantities, and costs associated with the design. They also need dimensions, materials, and accurate drawings to go off of.
- What do they care about most?
They care most about the costs and schedule of the project. This can actually be done using a building model if the designer is detailed, thoughtful, and careful enough to include these aspects. This is where accuracy of a building model is extremely important because the stakeholders can use it to determine how much the project is going to cost and how they can prepare for the project, including how many workers they need to employ and the land they need to scavenge.
How much detail should you include in your building model? How do you decide?
- As you develop your initial design?
- As you continue to iterate and develop on your design?
- What are the key stages?
- And how much detail should you include at each stage?
How much detail should you include about the composition (layers, materials, thicknesses) of your wall, floor, and roof assemblies at different stages of your design process?
- Conceptual design
- Preliminary design
- Design development
- Construction documentation
Many door and window manufacturers provide Revit families for doors and windows that you can specify for your building design.
- What is the advantage to manufacturers for providing these families? (it's not free to create and provide them...)
The advantage for manufacturers to provide these families is it exposes the users to the manufacturer’s window options. The designer is able to see and use all the options that the manufacturer’s provide and if a certain door or window is used in the design, the designer will likely request to buy that item for the actual construction. It is a form of advertisement for the manufacturers.
- What is the benefit to you as the designer of using these manufacturer-provided families? Is there an advantage to using them versus the families provided in the Revit library?
A benefit for the designer using them is not having to additional research on doors and windows needed for the project if they are already included in the revit design. This saves time on the construction end and also prepares the team for the purchases needed for the project, which benefits the business side.
What are the advantages of getting the Revit component families (for furniture, equipment, and fittings) directly from the manufacturer versus from an online sharing website like RevitCity.com?
The advantages of getting revit component families directly from the manufacturer is the revit model will be very accurate to how it will be constructed. By putting forethought into what furniture the designer wants to include, time is saved in the long run like when trying to determine what materials need to be purchased. RevitCity.com probably has many common choices for furniture, but if the designer wants to include complex parts and niche items, they can do that with the revit components from manufacturers, so flexibility is also an advantage.