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?
Residences are mostly constructed of wood framing systems because they are smaller and wood often costs less, so it is more efficient for the house owner. For office buildings, steel or metal framing structures are used more often. This is because they are larger and require a stronger/more reliable foundation.
Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
Linking models is beneficial for design because it allows you to avoid over lapping or clashing between elements. When you link models together, you are able to align the elements to ensure proper design management.
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
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?
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?
The design coordination process should start in the beginning. Therefore, all designs can be properly aligned and thought through before too much work is done. If it is done later in the development process, you could discover errors that would require you to track back and waste time on an issue that could've been avoided in the first place.
Is it ever too early?