Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
The advantages of linking models can be so that other key stakeholders can have access to the same design, adding the stuctural elements of the design and offering suggestions. This also allows the design to be compared agaisnt its surrounding topography and buildings. Another advantage is that if any edits are made to the linked model, an updated version will apprear on the other group’s end. A disadvantage could be that when one links a model its is unchangeable and therefore may present some difficulties when trying to work to revise the same project.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
I think teams had to meet in person, coming with each of their proposals and having to work together on the fly to revise their different aspects of the design. I think this process was probably much slower and less efficient if all the work that needed to get done did not get done in the timeframe of this in-person meeting.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
I think design coordination should start after the building mass shape is finished and polished. I think it would be hard to modify the structural and other elements if the building is still in its primary stages. But, I think the process should start as early as makes sense so that any mistakes can be fixed and small revision won’t cause huge problems later down the road.