AEC Tech News: 2D to 3D #16
24 Aug, 2005 By: Arnie WilliamsIntegrated building
information model sells RTKL on Autodesk Revit
International architectural firm RTKL Associates can’t
afford to take a
casual approach to its design software. From its multicity offices, the
firm takes a multidisciplinary approach to its projects, which cover
civic, healthcare, hospitality, residential, planning, and urban design.
The Move to 3D
Last year, the firm assembled a task force from staff at each of its 10
locations — in London, Madrid, Tokyo, Shanghai, Baltimore, Dallas,
Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — to study design
alternatives that would ensure maximum efficiency across all locations
and projects. The firm interviewed the leading CAD developers from
around the world with short- and long-term project efficiencies in
mind. According to Douglas Palladino, RTKL principal, Autodesk Revit won
approval
hands-down.
Earlier this year, RTKL put 60 architects through Autodesk Revit
training and used Autodesk consulting services to mentor these same
architects on a number of projects. The firm has since completed its
first 100% Autodesk Revit Building-documented project, a
300,000-square-foot building and 800-car parking structure for the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
In the United Kingdom, RTKL is using Revit Building on a
£4-million healthcare project. David Davison, U.K. CAD manager
with RTKL-UK, says, “We’re finding massive advantages through the way
[Revit Building] coordinates changes across the entire design, saving
both time and project costs. Also, visualizations are much easier to
generate because, as the building model is being developed, we are able
to generate a rendered perspective from the same design file.
Therefore, when the client wants to view the finished product,” he
says, “it’s a quick and simple process.”
Part of the selling factor for Autodesk Revit was its ability to integrate with AutoCAD, but an even larger draw, notes Palladino, was its 3D approach to the integrated building information model. The large-scale project efficiencies realized through the ability to coordinate individual drawings and scheduling views across the entire model, right down to the construction drawings, was too valuable to pass up, he says. Now, Palladino explains, “People spend their time thinking about the more important aspects of the project, rather than just repeating menial tasks.”
In the Food and Drug Administration project, RTKL designers used Revit to show stakeholders how the project appeared from any vantage point all through the project, which resulted in more-informed decision-making and a better finished design — something that would not have been possible in a 2D-only approach. Before Autodesk Revit, RTKL maintained separate design models and documentation, which led to inefficiencies, says Palladino. “At a certain point during construction documentation, we would stop keeping the design model up-to-date. Now, as we continue to develop the design, Revit Building automatically updates the entire model — including construction documents and 3D design views.”
Going forward, Palladino says, “Our strategic goal is to begin a pilot project using Revit Building in every office as soon as possible.”
ABOUT THIS
ISSUE
This special edition of AEC Tech News examines the real-world
experiences
of architects and builders as they move from 2D drafting to 3D
modeling.
If you have suggestions about companies or issues you'd like to see
covered here, please e-mail us at editors@cadalyst.com.
