What are the primary goals of creating a building model? Who are the key stakeholders?
- What do they need?
- What do they care about most?
The primary goals of creating a building modeling are to include the essentials for the general space. Not only does this mean you are highlighting the stakeholders wants but also emphasizing the general needs (in this case and ADA standard bathroom) that allow for the cohesion of the project. The key stakeholders in this are the researchers, of course the potential construction company, and the owners of the facility. They will care about the functionality of the center, for instance the south facing windows for light or the roof’s ability to have solar panels.
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?
As you develop your initial design there should be a minimal amount of detail. The key aspects should be addressed first; this includes the basics like SF-age or even a specified bathroom size. Then as you continue to iterate and develop the design more details can be included, closets, windows, roof shape, etc. Although there are, in my opinion, no specific key stages, as the design moves along more and more detail should be included into the design.
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...)
- 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?
The advantage to manufactures in providing Revit families for doors and windows is for them to have diversity that could increase profit. Generally, with more options comes varying qualities and prices, the nicer/more aesthetic options more than likely increasing the cost. Additionally, the benefit as the designer would be the expanded number of options that could fit within the design, making the designs either more complex or simple depending on the wishes of the owners.