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?
Steel, wood, and concrete are most commonly used in the US for buildings. For residences, wood is probably the most used material and for office buildings, steel and concrete are frequently used. Several factors play into why these are the most used materials. One of those reasons is cost and availability. These materials are some of the most accessible materials in the US and are fairly cost efficient compared to rare and high end materials. Another factor for the choice of these materials is their ability to withstand different weather conditions. Different parts of the US experience extreme weather conditions and the buildings need to be able to withstand it to an extent.
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 hand drawn plans with pen and paper. This is when blueprints were more significant in projects because that was the entire design, but now if a blueprint gets damages or lost, it can easily be found on a computer with Revit or other BIM software. Additionally, there were likely several in person meetings, phone calls, and redline meetings. However, now with the digital coordination all designers, builders, designers, architects, etc. involved can easily access the design and make comments and suggestions without needing to gather in a meeting room. Additionally, clashes were made on site and the designs were altered once issues were found during building. The digital coordination helps to reduce the amount of errors and time wasted during construction.
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 in the project development process. This helps to prevent misalignment, unbuildable parts, and redesign. Starting design coordination early saves time in the long run of the project. It is important for a building project to make early decisions regarding plumbing, structural framing/columns, and mechanical systems because those impact cost, efficiency, constructability, etc.