Revit Classroom Workflow - Practice What I Preach

Hello readers,

First, I would like to apalogize for the slacking of posts for the past few weeks. It turns out that school is taking up quite a bit of my time. Those of you in a Design Studio along with 4 or more other classes know what I mean... I am posting every chance I get.

Second, I am FINALLY BACK IN THE DESIGN STUDIO! Very excited to be designing in the studio again (it has been a few semesters because of graduating and tranferring, etc...). Anyways, for those of you who might remember way back when I began the blog (over a year and 300,000 hits ago), I created a little series called Revit Classroom Workflow. Well, I created this series after finishing my second semester using Revit in the Studio. Now, I am putting my workflow to the test. Without even realizing it, I have already finished the first step "Conceptualization". The best part about it is that I did not even think about my workflow chart until after I finished my concept vignette in the studio.

What I have decided to do is to track my studio project on the blog and parralell it with the Revit Classroom Workflow Chart I created. So, here we go...

The first step, Conceptualization, worked out great. My professor gave instructions for the vignette that require a site analysis as well as two conceptual massing models (3D and physical). Just as the Revit Classroom Workflow states I sketched out a bunch of massing ideas. I then went into Revit and created some of the more refined masses using a simple model in place family.

I then used my Revit models to create some 8.5"x11" sheets of plans and elevations printed to the scale of my model. Finally, it was simply a matter of cutting out the pieces using my Revit model and creating a physical model (I only used the main faces from the Revit model, this way I got a really good physical feel of my forms).

Here is a slide show of the second concept (most likely the one I am going with). Two images are from the Revit Model and the rest are of the physical model:

Revit Classroom Workflow - Step 1

Conceptualization

Many of you may not think that Revit would be used so early in the design process. The truth is that Revit is great for creating quick and analyzing forms when utilized correctly (this is especially true with 2010's geometric form capabilities just around the corner).

First, the professor presents the program. The program will usually contain room requirements, owner requirements and guidelines, and square footage requirements. With this information alone and a concept sketch or two you will be able to produce a quick scaled and proportional mass or masses to analyze in three dimensions.

It would not be true if I were to say that a majority of the conceptualization step was not spent outside of Revit and outside of a computer. A roll of trace and a pencil are an irreplaceable tool during the design process. Even with Revit I find myself using half a roll or so of trace during the entire design. Ultimately, Revit will parallel your sketches and physical models during conceptualization. The combination of the three will greatly improve your own understanding of the masses and concept as well as helping you to be comfortable with your concept and two and three dimensions.

I have created an example that shows a quick concept sketch and how it parallels with the use of Revit. Additionally, this will have to be updated with the release of Revit 2010 and it's new Conceptual Mass capabilities.

Here is the Concept Sketch I made. I plan to create a short video of how to Mass this sketch once 2010 is released.

Here is a quick tip I made about the Show Mass Button in Revit 2009.

Here are a collection of the DesignReform.net Videos using 2010:

• Make Form Feature
• Sweeping and Reference Points
• Add Edge and Profile
• Make Form and Direct Manipulation
• Removing Edges and 3D Snapping