Revit MEP Families: Plumbing, Mechanical & Electrical Tips - Replay

 

One of the topics I get asked about all the time is MEP in Revit.

So instead of bringing on one guest, I brought on three.

In last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live, I sat down with the team from RevX MEP to talk plumbing, mechanical, and electrical families in a way that was actually practical. Not theory. Not perfect-world BIM talk. Real workflows.

A few things that stood out for me:

- Connectors matter, but only if you understand what they are actually doing.

- Families do not need to be overbuilt to be useful.

- Nested content can make mechanical and electrical families way more flexible.

- Revit can do more with electrical loads and panel schedules than a lot of people realize.

- And maybe most importantly, good MEP content is still way too hard to find, which is exactly why conversations like this matter.

I also appreciated how honest the discussion was around LOD, conduit modeling, coordination, and the difference between what sounds impressive and what is actually helpful on a project.

If you work in Revit MEP, or even if you are on the architecture side and have ever wondered why MEP content feels like a different world, this is a good one to watch.

Click here to watch the replay now...

Guardian for Revit:

This season of BIM After Dark Live is being supported by Guardian for Revit.  Head on over to their website now to see how their tools can help BIM Managers and Revit users control standards, analyze their habits, and verify the health of their models... 

Cutting Walls into Foundation Walls in Revit (Office Hour Sessions)

In this week's office hour session we explore a few different options for dealing with integrating exterior walls and foundation walls (for things like window wells) in Revit... 

Click here to view the video...

Every other week I hold a private call with members of the BIM After Dark Community.  I thought it would be valuable to highlight some of the conversations here on the channel.

If you think you could benefit from an Office Hour like this one, Join the BIM After Dark Community for full courses, support, and sample files today !

Veras + Enscape + Nano-Banana: The Future of AI Rendering in Revit (replay)

 

Last night on BIM After Dark Live, I sat down with Bill Allen from Chaos (formerly EvolveLAB) to walk through the newest Veras updates… and honestly, this might be the biggest shift in AI-assisted visualization we’ve seen in AEC so far.

Here’s what we discussed:

• Veras is now integrated directly inside Enscape
Real-time to AI-enhanced renders without exporting, snipping, or jumping between tools.

• Select-by-Object + Select-by-Material
Finally—controlled AI editing. Swap a car, update materials, or refine a portion of a render without rebuilding the whole image.

• Image Interrogation + User Presets
Veras can now describe your image, reverse-engineer the stylistic prompt, and turn it into a reusable preset. Massive productivity boost for teams.

• Brand new Image-to-Video generation
Turn any still render into a 5-second animation—seasons changing, lights turning on, people walking. Zero animation skills required.

• The big one: a new Nano-Banana render engine
This new engine is a game-changer. Cleaner geometry, fewer artifacts, better retention of design intent—and for the first time, 2D inputs can generate 3D-looking outputs.

Not perfect yet… but the trajectory is undeniable.

If you’re curious where AI visualization is truly heading for architects, designers, and VDC teams, this episode is worth the watch.

▶️ Full Episode: https://youtube.com/live/MkKXJzgA-4M

Revit Curtain Wall HACKS You’ve Never Tried w/Philip Chan - Replay

 

In this episode of BIM After Dark Live, Philip Chan returns to the show to break down one of Revit’s most misunderstood and under-used tool: the Curtain Wall system.

Phil demonstrates 5 different out of the box methods to creating curtain walls and panels.  And, in typical Phil fashion, drops a couple of extremely useful "hacks".... like, custom cutting curtain panels?!

Click here to view the replay now...

Goodbye ACC, Hello Forma: What’s Really Changing at Autodesk? (Replat)

 

Autodesk recently announced that the Autodesk Construction Cloud is becoming Autodesk Forma, and everyone in the industry is asking what that really means.

Is Forma replacing ACC? Is it something totally new? And what happens to tools like Build, Docs, and Takeoff?

In this live episode of BIM After Dark Live, I’m joined by longtime friend of the show, Scott Davis from Autodesk, to talk about what’s actually happening and what it means for you and your projects.

Click here to view the replay... 

D5 Render: The Next Big Thing for Revit Visualizations?

 I’ve been getting a ton of comments asking about D5 Render, so I decided to see what all the buzz is about. Can it really compete with Enscape or Twinmotion for Revit visualization? Let’s find out. 

If you’ve been using Enscape or Twinmotion to visualize your Revit projects, you’ve probably heard about D5 Render. But what is it, and how does it actually fit into a Revit-based workflow? 

In this episode of BIM After Dark Live, I’m joined by Millie Yoshida from the D5 team to explore what makes this rendering engine stand out. We’ll talk about how D5 connects with Revit, what makes it so fast, and how it compares to tools you might already be using. 

We’ll look at live examples, discuss real project workflows, and take your questions throughout the stream. 

Whether you’re an architect, designer, or builder curious about new ways to bring your Revit models to life, this session will help you see what’s possible with D5 Render. 

Click here to view the episode now...

The Real Cost to Design + BIM + Build My Home Addition (The North Wing Project Update) - Replay

 

Ever wondered what it actually costs to design, BIM, and build a home addition? In this episode of BIM After Dark Live, I pull back the curtain on The North Wing Project, my own home addition that I designed, modeled in Revit, and built myself.

I’ll walk through:

-  A discussion about funding options for projects like this and what it means for architects and contractors. 

- A full cost breakdown of every trade and line item 💰

- The stories behind each scope of work with Revit visuals and site photos

- What I’d do differently next time

If you’re an architect, builder, or homeowner who’s curious about the real numbers behind a design-build project, this one’s for you.  

Click here to watch the episode now... 

AI in Architecture: 2D to 3D Revit Model in Seconds

What if you could turn a 2D plan or even a quick sketch into a fully built 3D Revit model in just minutes? In this video, I explore a new AI tool that does exactly that. I’ll walk through how it works, show you the outputs, and share what this could mean for architects, engineers, and BIM professionals. 

🚀 Is this the future of starting projects in Revit? Watch and decide for yourself.

Replay: Twinmotion 2025.2 New Features — Nanite, Configurators, Animations + More

 

Twinmotion 2025.2 just dropped, and this update is packed with major new features for architectural visualization. Join me live as I explore and demo the biggest changes:

Nanite support → handle ultra-detailed geometry with better performance and what it means for Revit users.

Parallax Windows → add realistic depth to interiors without heavy modeling

3D Grass Material → next-level realism for landscapes and site models

Animations & Configurators → more power for client presentations and interactivity and how to interact with your Revit models in Twinmotion

Configurators... this is a 2025 release item but has also had some updates in 2025.2

Click here to watch the replay now... 

Useful Links:

Twinmotion 2025.2 release notes

Get my Residential Revit Template or Join the Community

Roof Framing and Sheathing | Day 27 – North Wing Modern Home Addition

 

In the final days of getting "water tight" we are framing and sheathing the roof!  Did we get it watertight within the 28 day goal I set...?  Tune in to find out!

Click here to view the video now...

Multi-Phase Demolition Plans in Revit (Office Hour Sessions)

 

In this week's office hour session I give a little overview of Revit phasing and how being able to create filters for Phases opens the door to new and exciting things!  Like... Multi-phase demolition plans! 

Click here to view the office hour now... 

Every other week I hold a private call with members of the BIM After Dark Community.  I thought it would be valuable to highlight some of the conversations here on the channel.  If you think you could benefit from an Office Hour like this one, Join the BIM After Dark Community for full courses, support, and sample files today!

Framing Skylights & Ceiling Joists | Day 14 – North Wing Modern Home Addition

We’re heading up on Day 14 of the North Wing build! In this episode, I’m framing ceiling joists and cutting in skylight openings that will bring natural light into the new primary bath. You'll also catch a quick behind-the-scenes look at how I used Revit to plan this phase of the project. Whether you're into hands-on building, BIM workflows, or just love seeing a house come together—this one’s for you.

Click here to view the video now...