What are the primary goals of creating a building model? Who are the key stakeholders?
The primary goal of creating a building model is to enable engineers, contractors, architects, and clients to visualize the proposed design. A 3D model facilitates improved communication and coordination among all parties, ensuring everyone is aligned on the expectations for the final design. Additionally, having a building model simplifies analysis and cost estimation processes. The key stakeholders involved include architects, engineers, contractors, clients, and the building's users.
How much detail should you include in your building model? How do you decide?
The level of detail in a building model is determined by the objectives of each design phase and the needs of various stakeholders. During the initial design phase, the design is still in development, meaning not too much detail is necessary. Key elements like overall dimensions and room placements will typically remain constant, but specifics such as beam and column sizes may take longer to finalize and should not be the primary focus. In the design development stage, key fixtures, structural elements, and MEP components become more defined, requiring a greater level of detail in the model. Finally, during the construction documentation phase, the model should be highly detailed to ensure accurate construction. This includes precise dimensions, materials, finishes, and detailed representations of structural and MEP elements.
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?
The advantage of obtaining component families directly from the manufacturer is the enhanced accuracy of dimensions and details, giving contractors and designers a clearer understanding of the final structure. Manufacturer-sourced components are typically of higher quality than baseline designs found on online sharing sites. This in turn improves the professional appearance of the model. Additionally, using these direct components facilitates a smoother process for scheduling and material quantities.