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?
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?
Linking and sharing models helps designers and subcontractors coordinate their efforts, discover issues as early as possible, and understand what the other parties are doing. It is advantageous so you can see how changes you want to make will impact other parties, but it can be a disadvantage as well since it can potentially allow one party (or even one person) to damage others’ models if they are not appropriately cautious.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
Before the advent of digital models, designs between architects would have to be shared using physical design sheets and models. Ideally the architects and engineers could frequently meet in-person while looking over the sheets and models to discover and resolve clashes, and this would be facilitated by them working in the same studio or office. If not, they would need to send sheets back and forth by fax or mail, and communicate over the phone.
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?
If the project development has begun in earnest, it probably is never too early. It may be too early if the client’s requirements haven’t all been discovered yet, but discussion between architects and structural engineers may help generate important questions to ask the client that may have bearing on then-unconstrained aspects of the project.
The longer a project goes without architects and engineers coordinating, the more clashes and issues will inevitably crop up. In my experience in the aerospace industry, there is a similar phenomenon between mechanical engineers, who produce detailed CAD designs, and machinists who actually have to make them.