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?
In the perspective of an architect or designer, a key stakeholder, the primary goals of creating a building model include visualizing a project in a 3D format while also allowing them to work with settings and features that might be hard to conceptualize in a 2D format. Building Models also allows architects and designers to work with interior layout and aesthetics. They care most about following their given constraints and building codes, the function of their spatial design, and innovation.
Another set of key stakeholders includes engineers who need information on the building’s systems needed for operation and structure, including, but not limited to electricity, plumbing, and structural bearing and development. Engineers care most about energy and water use, structure strength and structure, safety, and longevity.
Another set of key stakeholders are construction contractors and they depend on building modeling to not only have a replica of the building but also use it to estimate materials needed for budgeting. Lastly, the government is also a heavy stakeholder in any land use change, so they use building modeling to comply with building and safety codes and zoning ordinances.
How much detail should you include in your building model? How do you decide?
- As you develop your initial design?
- As you continue to iterate and develop on your design?
- What are the key stages?
- And how much detail should you include at each stage?
In the conceptual design stage, I don’t think much detail is needed since the main goal in this stage is to draft out a rough sketch of your main idea with the main structures. At this stage, I emphasize the shape of the model as well as the measurements to make sure it fits in with the given restrictions, such as square footage. As I continue to go into my first hand-drawn draft, I increase my detail since a laid-out framework will make it easier for modeling in the long run. In my first draft, I include wall thickness, measurements, walls, and even components or allocated space for them. After I am set with my draft, I go into modeling and start by creating the built-form of the model through walls and floor, then add doors and components, then the roof, and end with windows. This final stage is the most exact since it is the last stage that entails the final projects, and it is the timeliest.
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?
Since you will end up buying the equipment from the manufacturer themselves, it is better to model with their components families since their measurements and styles will be more exact. These families will also offer a more realistic model and can even help users to avoid some problems in advance before ordering, especially in situations involving fittings.