What are the primary goals of creating a building model? Who are the key stakeholders?
- What do they need?
- What do they care about most?
- The primary goal of creating a model is to give all relevant stakeholders an idea of how the project will turn out. It’s very difficult to visualize every aspect of an ongoing project, but a model allows each and every relevant component to be highlighted. Users need an understanding of their projects. Users care most about transparency and communication, which can be achieved through modeling. The key stakeholders are the users, architects, structural engineers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, etc.
How much detail should you include in your building model? How do you decide?
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?
Many door and window manufacturers provide Revit families for doors and windows that you can specify for your building design.
The main advantage of providing these designs for Revit is clout. When Revit users see and interact with a manufacturer’s door or window, the company builds some name recognition and trust. Even if users don’t actively think about the manufacturer, they will recognize the name because of how often they encounter them through their work. Therefore, if the Revit user ends up having to buy/recommend a window or door, they are more likely to do so for the manufacturer who is already on Revit. Also, because the exact specifications and appearances of the manufacturer’s components are already on Revit, it makes it much easier to design and understand what they are working with. As a Revit user, it’s nice to use a manufacturer’s design because it is what’s used in real projects, creating a stronger connection between design and the final product.
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?
It’s advantageous to use Revit families from the manufacturer because they are the ones producing the objects and components that would be used in the construction. Having the exact (or close enough) look, specifications, and interactions that would be applicable in the real project is so impactful — It gives the users a direct idea and understanding of what to expect. However, an online sharing website provides people with more creative options, which is valuable because innovative designs or components are what make buildings great.