What types of building information are best portrayed in 3D views?
The detail within a rendering significantly shapes how stakeholders interpret the status and development of a design. Highly detailed, photorealistic images imply that the design is nearly complete, prompting stakeholders to fixate on specific finishes or furnishings rather than on fundamental concepts such as massing, circulation, or function; as a result, they can create unrealistic expectations about cost, feasibility, and schedule. Medium-detail renderings, such as simplified 3D views with basic materials, keep the focus on spatial relationships while still communicating form clearly. Low-detail sketches or diagrams signal that the design is flexible and encourage open discussion, iteration, and exploration of alternatives. In essence, stakeholders often treat the level of graphical resolution as a cue for how “locked in” a design is so designers must carefully calibrate the representational detail to shape perception and guide productive decision-making.
Give examples of how the building information for a specific location in the project needs to be filtered for different audiences and purposes?
Different stakeholders require different slices of information even when referring to the exact same physical location in a building. For example, consider the northeast corner of a second-floor space where a large window, structural beam, and mechanical diffuser all intersect. The client needs a simplified, experience-oriented description that focuses on daylight quality, views, and general spatial comfort, without technical jargon or dimensional detail. The architect, by contrast, needs information about window proportions, wall thicknesses, finish layers, and the relationship between the structural beam and the architectural alignment. Structural engineers require precise load paths, beam sizes, connection details, and tolerances, while mechanical engineers need diffuser locations, airflow requirements, and duct routing constraints around the structure. Contractors and subcontractors require practical information related to sequencing, clearances, anchorage, and installation responsibilities. Code officials look for fire ratings, egress compliance, and energy performance, and cost estimators filter out everything except quantities, materials, and unit costs. Although all these groups are talking about the same corner, each needs a distinct, highly filtered set of information tailored to their decisions, risks, and expertise highlighting the importance of representation and communication in coordinated design workflows.
Should your design ideas always be conveyed through photorealistic renders?
Photorealistic renderings can be powerful communication tools, but they are not always the most appropriate way to convey design ideas. In early schematic phases, high-fidelity imagery often gives the false impression that decisions such as materials, colors, lighting, and details are already finalized, which can inadvertently limit discussion and flexibility. Lower-fidelity diagrams, sketches, massing models, and conceptual renderings communicate design intent without overstating the level of resolution, steering stakeholder attention toward form, relationships, spatial logic, and the underlying reasons for design choices. Photorealistic renders become valuable later in the process, when the goal is to communicate the final experience of a space and secure buy-in around atmosphere and materiality. Ultimately, the level of realism should match the stage of development and the type of feedback the designer aims to elicit.
Name some applications where viewing the building and model information in virtual reality or augmented reality would be most beneficial?
- Are there advantages to using a C.A.V.E as a virtual environment versus VR headsets?