What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling proposed additions or renovations?
- Why not create a separate model for the new proposed design?
One of the major advantages is being able to keep both the existing and new construction models as a part of the same project. You can easily compare the two via different "Phase Filters" and make changes within a single file. Another advantage is being able to see things like the demo work being completed on a project and how that compares to new construction.
In your project, which features of the proposed design did you choose to model as design alternatives?
- Why did you choose these building features? And what were the biggest challenges in modeling them as the design alternatives?
I chose to model design alternatives for the furniture in the "Social Den" room and for interior walls/layout for the "Quiet Study" rooms. The "Social Den" is meant to be a cozy hang out for students to relax, read, study, or have meaningful conversations. The room is entirely dependent on the furniture to cultivate the "vibe" of the space, so providing both black and white furniture shows two drastically different options. The "Quiet Study" rooms are meant for students to do silent work such as studying for exams or completing individual homework assignments. The two options were an open floor plan much like you would see in a library or walled off sections similar to cubicles. These design options offer two different approaches to what students might like in this type of room.