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Mallory

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JAMESHGRIMES

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I work at a firm in Northwest Arkansas and I deal mostly with Retail. We have been using Revit to do some development work but I haven't really gotten my hands into a full project yet. I was charged with finding out everything I can about Revit and that is what I have been doing for about 2 Years. We are trying to create our custom library of all the content we will need to start a projects.

BIM is an idea that I think will eventually become the standard. Keep in mind that at some point nobody had heard of CAD and look at what that has become. I think BIM will be the same transition. The industry needs a fresh new idea and I believe that most people are ready to embrace the idea of BIM.

The problems that I have encountered with the software are few. I have learned to work around most of the issues. I think the 2D aspect still needs a lot of work. I plan on creating construction documents right out of the program and I can do that now but I would like to see some more thought put into the programming of the 2D side.

Overall I give Revit a 9 out of 10 for workability. I am very excited to see where the industry takes this software, and what is in store for people willing to make an adjustment to the way they do things.

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jarosa

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Joined: Mon, Feb 18, 2008
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Mallory,

I am a general contractor. I'm 43 and been designing for 20 years, in construction since i was 14 and designing in CAD for about 12 years. We do both commercial and residential construction/renovation. About 70% of our residential business is design build. We find by offering design services we sign a significantly greater amount of projects. In fact almost all projects we do design turn into construction projects. BIM means to me that my company is staying on the leading edge of design. Being able to offer 3d presentation models is going to become standard. Owners are going to come to expect this as a standard. How long from now will it get to that level. 5-10 years is my guess. The benefits of Revit specifically are that the program links the model to sections, details, components so changes happen live. Once an element is changed it changes throughout the project resulting in more accurate drawings. In a large number of drawings we work with from other architects there is a section or detail with the wrong sheet referenced (and that's a small error we find). I'm working on a project now that the architect has different dimensions on the large scale drawing than on the overall floor plan for the exact same room. This won't happen with REVIT. The problems with BIM are: 1.The learning curve to learn a new program and train all your staff 2. Revit doesn't draw in dwg format so there's a learning curve with the consultants too. 3. There's a sector of the architect profession that i feel will die with AutoCad in their hands. For example let's take an small 3-6 employee firm that does mostly public work renovations (schools, municipal buildings, etc.) they don't have a great need for 3d modeling so they will be very reluctant to invest $ and time in a new program. 4. Creating new families and setting up templates is not a minor issue. As a designer, your going to have to spend time recreating some work. Total transition may become inevitable but Autocad has a huge base of user's. It's very unlikely your going to see a total transition any time soon. But like every technology, eventually it will happen. You're probably way too young but ask someone about 8 track tapes. Sometime in the not so distant future 3d presentations will be the standard. This will happen with a dual track with CAD and BIM.

An architect was in our office today and I showed him a residential addition we just completed construction drawings on (so the 3d model was done also). He left with plans of downloading Revit trial version. He noted he needed to get into 3d. Age of the designer will have some impact. This architect is 36. I know a firm where the principals are in their late 50's and i'd fall over if they switched.

We also just completed a design for an outdoor chapel and we're hoping the 3d presentation will help secure funding from a local group. The pastor said that the model really showed him what it would look like. The comparison to the 2d presentation board we did was silly when you look at them side by side.

This was a long reply but thought seeing it was a research project i could take the liberty to expand.

Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

John

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