Revit and the design industry

The tools that Revit provides have the power to help firms save time and money, while improving the quality of the final product. Throughout the AEC industry, Revit has continually proven to be a powerful tool that has changed the way we collaborate internally and between disciplines. Even though the program was initially designed for architecture, MEP, and structural engineering, the tools that Revit provides have the power to help landscape architects save time and money, while improving the quality of the final product. We have seen Revit streamline our workflow and help our bottom line through:

• Documentation. Better documentation in Revit is achieved through an extensive template. The 3D database contains prebuilt elements that can be added to any project and be manipulated to fit specific project needs. From hardscape elements to small structures to landscape items, these preloaded elements help cut down on time spent drafting as well as overall project time. As we all know, time is money.
• Once the element is associated with a callout, all 3D elements continually update on every drawing sheet and schedule matrix. Client revisions that normally take tedious amounts of work and time can be revised in one location and automatically update through the entire drawing set.
• Revit quickly generates the framework of plans, sections, and elevations directly from your built model, reducing the amount of drafting and modeling errors. In addition, working with consultant teams is streamlined since Revit exposes complex conditions that are often overlooked until later in the process.
• Coordination. Three-dimensional models, rather than two-dimensional plans, provide a clearer picture of the project for both clients and consultants. The 3D element also helps consultants fully understand constraints and opportunities early in the design process.
• Models from all disciplines can be linked together in one complete model. This simplifies the need for adjustments and manipulation to other consultant teams’ base work. Subconsultant overlap in scope or clashes in the documentation are caught early in the process. As a result, there will be fewer RFIs, clarifications, and direction during the construction phase.
• Unlike other CAD design software, Revit has the capability to work in a cloud-based system called “BIM360.” Life has been very different, chaotic, and unexpected in the last few months with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this season of crisis, working from home is becoming the necessary means to keep businesses going while still adhering to government and CDC mandates. Since the program is cloud- based, projects in BIM360 only require an internet connection, as the model is not stored on a singular server. There are companies that provide training and organizational help to facilitate a smooth transition from CAD to 3D Revit. Using BIM360 has helped us stay well-coordinated with our design team while maintaining a faster production pace than working from a VPN. The flexibility of using BIM 360 has and will continue to be useful in the future.

Revit is an incredible tool that has streamlined our workflow, made us more profitable on projects, and increased our capacity to take on more deliverables. Collaboration and coordination with other disciplines have become easier and more efficient through Revit’s 3D capability, which produces a higher quality end product. As the demands of the industry and our communities change, Revit can help landscape architects work more efficiently and increase profitability while simultaneously creating a better product for our end users to enjoy. Maeve Burns is an associate/project architect at Kudela & Weinheimer and works in the firm’s multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality studio. Contact her at mburns@kwtexas.com. Click here to read the full issue of The Zweig Letter.