- 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?
Steel and concrete. Concrete because of its excellent mechanical strength, specifically compressive (weaker in tension, except if reinforced, simplifying of course). Steel has good compressive AND tensile strength. Steel can be quite lightweight too. Both are relatively durable, thought steel can corrode and concrete's reinforcing rebar can too.
- 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?
It is much more efficient to directly share and link models than email back and forth with screenshots of the models. Inaccuracies and confusions can and do, I imagine, arise more often from the latter approach. Potential disadvantages of sharing and linking could be if you want to keep your model confidential for proprietary reasons, for instance.
- 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?
Perhaps design coordination did not even exist as a concept before the digital era. I am interested how this ability to synergize with other's designs may actually impact, or potentially drive, stylistic and/or aesthetic aspects of the built environment itself. For instance, does this democratise design by allowing many parties, instead of one, contribute?