What are the primary goals of creating a building model? Who are the key stakeholders?
The primary goals of creating a building model are to visually and electronically represent a design to support coordination across different disciplines. They provide accuracy and allow for analysis of performance and constructability.
Architects need tools to design and present their projects. They care about both aesthetics and functionality. Clients need a clear understanding of the final product. They care about cost and lifestyle the most.
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.
- Manufacturers benefit because they are allowing designers to tinker with their products and increasing the chances their products purchased. For designers, manufacturer-provided families offer accurate dimensions, materials, and performance data. Compared to generic Revit library families, they provide a more realistic result and reduce the need for later substitutions.
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?
Getting Revit families directly from the manufacturer ensures they are accurate, and include real-world specifications like dimensions, materials, and product data. In contrast, families from online sharing sites may be unreliable, inconsistent in quality, or lack critical information needed for precise documentation.