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AIA Small Project Design (SPD) Knowledge Community supports, celebrates, and promotes small projects by engaging designers and the public.

  • 1.  BIM and estimating

    Posted 10-30-2020 11:51 AM
    We've been in Revit for 12 years but have not used it to date for cost estimating. With residential contractors swamped, it is harder for us to get preliminary, ballpark budget numbers to help our clients select a design direction from options we present. We have done construction management as adviser and I'm curious if there are other residential/small commercial firms out there that have tapped their BIM models to assist with take-offs and producing preliminary estimates. I'm thinking that this, plus a deep dive on recent projects for which we have cost information would allow us to provide preliminary numbers. Is anyone doing this?

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    Thomas Ahleman AIA
    Principal
    Studio Talo Architecture, Inc.
    Evanston IL
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  • 2.  RE: BIM and estimating

    Posted 11-02-2020 05:36 PM
    Edited by Angi Izzi 11-02-2020 05:45 PM
    Thomas,
    Autodesk has made a huge investment in construction over the last few years. One of the products we aquired is Assemble. You can find more details here. Assemble enables professionals to condition, query, and connect BIM data to key workflows including design reviews, takeoffs, estimating, change management, and value engineering to reduce risk and improve efficiencies.

    We are also making a big announcement at Autodesk University on November 17th on this topic. Great news this year is that for the first time ever AU is FREE and there are many classes on Assemble and quantification from Revit models. You can find more details & sign up here: https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/

    Feel free to direct message me if you have any questions.

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    Angi Izzi
    Head of Integrations & Partnerships
    Autodesk Construction Solutions
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  • 3.  RE: BIM and estimating

    Posted 11-02-2020 05:45 PM
    I've been thinking about this topic for years. I use Archicad rather than Revit, but that doesn't matter.

    My biggest holdup is where to find the $ numbers to associate to parts of the model. Square footage calcs, schedules listing windows, doors, plumbing, millwork, etc. are easy. Finding reliable costs for both products and labor make me hit a brick wall. I've also tried time and again to ask contractors what they need so that they can just fill in the $ on lists I produce from the model, but have never had any luck. I know there are pricing guides out there, but I worry about their accuracy given how volatile everything is.

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    Jared Banks AIA
    Shoegnome, LLC
    Seattle, WA
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