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?
For residences its wood framing and diaphragms, while for commercial its mostly steel framing with concrete cores or steel bracing with concrete or composite floors. Cost, material availability, experience and workmanship are some of the factors that determine material selection.
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 models allows for design coordination and subcontractor input. Disadvantages of linking models could be availability of resources to coordinate issues as well as unnecessary flagging of design issues.
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?
Through meetings and superimposing of 2D drawings.
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?
Meetings and having a good design coordination plan.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?
Early in the design process when there is a substantial architectural, MEP and structural design progress. Its never too early to coordinate so-long as there is design progress since flagging of issues early during design is less costly compared to during the construction phase.