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How Are Architects Using Digital Design Tools? (AEC in Focus Column)
1 Jun, 2007 By: AIA ,H. Edward GoldbergArchitects discuss design software, including the boom in BIM.
With all the talk about the building information model, you'd think that everyone in the business of designing architecture is using BIM (building information modeling) software. Yet, according to the main BIM vendors, Autodesk and Bentley, there is still more growth to come in BIM. According to Autodesk's numbers, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT—Autodesk's primarily 2D CAD programs—are their best sellers. Given that both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are also used in other professions, it's hard to get a grasp on the number of professionals designing architecture in 2D with AutoCAD Architecture or the new 3D BIM systems.
Bentley's annual report and presentation at its last annual conference indicate that although BIM is growing fast in the user base, much of the company's business still comes from CAD with MicroStation. Of course MicroStation also is used in other professions. So, like in the Autodesk numbers, it's hard to break out architects. One fact is firm—the major architectural firms are, or have been, switching to 3D BIM systems. Whether small or sole proprietor firms are switching, however, is another matter. Regardless, in my opinion, the implementation of BIM software eventually will become the standard, because it is more productive than CAD.
According to a survey of 3,000 architecture firms in the latest The Business of Architecture survey by the American Institute of Architects (in the AIA Architect newsletter), a little more than 16% of firms reported having acquired BIM software, and approximately 10% reported using it for billable work. Of the firms that have BIM software, most use it for design development (91%), schematic design (86%) and construction documentation (81%). Among those firms, nearly two-thirds use their BIM software for billable work, ranging from 60% among sole practitioners to 86% among firms with more than 100 employees. (This survey was conducted a year ago, so the figures may have changed a bit.)
In this month's "AEC in Focus" column I'll give an overview of what I think is happening in the AEC/FM industry. This column isn't a scientific study; it's the result of conversations with a random selection of firms and individuals who gave me a glimpse of their rationales for using a particular set of digital tools.
Beck, Powell & Parsons
Beck, Powell & Parsons is a 40-year-old, six-person firm located in Baltimore, Maryland, and was an early adopter of 2D AutoCAD. This firm is typical of the average architectural office; it works mostly on commercial projects in the $1–5 million range. According to David Budd, an architect with the firm, the architects use Architectural Desktop 2007 but don't implement many of its features. Budd, who has been with the firm for 12 years, said, "working on smaller projects, we just do not have the time to learn all the latest procedures and are satisfied with the present productivity." The firm doesn't use Architectural Desktop's Project Navigator because they found that, productivity wise, it does not have any advantage over the firm's standard project template drawing, which uses tabs for the various drawing sheets. "If we eventually get into constructing complete 3D models, then the Navigator may be more useful," Budd said. "If we were working on large multistory buildings, we would definitely be using it."
Eisenman Architects
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About the Author: H. Edward Goldberg
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