I agree with Mr. Smith that we should be discussing the merits of using the program and not acting simply as a commercial for one software or another. My experience with Revit has been quite positive. I have a very small firm (1-3 architects). Our work runs the gambit from new construction to remodel, residential, light commercial and industrial. I began using the software when it was just a small independant company started by a couple software engineers from Pro-E. The learning curve is not only steep but long. After all these years we are still learning new little tricks, and Autodesk's involvement has only allowed for better coordination with traditional CAD.
Here are some of the main advantages that we have realized with the software:
- far less coordination required with the CD's (no more hunting down if that section or detail references the proper sheet)
- graphical uniformity throughout the entire design and documentation process (no wasted time with layers, layer standards, layer management software, etc)
- massing design aid (I have heard a lot of complaints about using this software on residential projects, but we really enjoy doing our custom and spec home projects, and often use the full 3D advantages at the earliest stages of the project. No more projected roofs that don't exist in the three dimensional world that we live in.)
- quick and clean visualization (We have worked on feasibilty studies for some much larger projects, because we could quickly communicate ideas to our clients. We can't afford to have a dedicated sketchup person on staff. Hand sketching is great and can better capture the essence of a project, but we have found the Revit visualizations give a greater level of confidence that a project is actually feasible.
- better and better families (It is still a struggle sometime to find good families, but a lot of BPM's are working to create additional content. This is an easy win-win if you would spec the BPM product in the first place)
- better detailing (There have been a lot of comments about this. We use Revit to create the outline of the sections and details, and then use detail components and line work to draft over them. It is not redundant as some people suggest. Rather it allows us to cut the 'difficult' section and provide good information, as opposed to providing the 'easy' typical section. Revit is still many years away from automatically providing quality details.)
- ownership of building information (We are able to generate additional business by providing building surveying that eventually leads to tenant build-out work)
These are just a few advantages. We made the commitment to go 100% Revit in 2009. This has worked out very well for us. Despite the naysayers, drafting in Revit is not a chore. It takes experience, just like AutoCAD did way back in the day when we all started using it. Revit is far from perfect. For example, the civil/site engineering is a disaster.
One last thought - our investment in this software is just that, an investment. I don't want to learn and use a software (or collection of softwares) that may not be supported for the AEC industry in the future.
-------------------------------------------
Thomas Budzik AIA
Thomas Budzik Architecture, PC
Prospect Hts IL
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2012 11:16
From: Robert Smith
Subject: David Fisher - No help to anybody.
Dear David Fisher,
I understand your point. The BIM talking points you state are exactly why we bought the software and invested in multiple training sessions. But your statements aren't very useful. Anybody can spout off the copy text from a REVIT ad. (And if you need BIM to show your clients what their project really looks like, your representation skills were lacking anyway. I apologize for the ugly tone of that statement, but your response tends to accuse many of us of being idiots for not embracing the all wonderful BIM.)
Our expereince has been that the limitations of the software prevent us from preparing quality construction documents. We do use REVIT to visualize the project and communicate with the Owner. Yet, for us, REVIT has not created any sort of time savings, not improved constructibility, nor helped us catch any mistakes.
Dear Rudolph Beuc,
Thanks for your examples. I believe REVIT creates good elevations and 1/4" sections. But for our purposes, it doesn't do a good job on larger scale details and sections. It can create them, but they lack the clarity that can come with some finess in a good detail.
Thanks.
-------------------------------------------
Robert Smith AIA
Architect
Talley & Smith Architecture, Inc.
Shelby NC
-------------------------------------------