Small Project Design

Several have mentioned "took a class, instruction wasn't very helpful" (to paraphrase).

I think this is widespread.  The better instructors can teach you how to run the program, but they really don't know how to make it useful.  Even with pre-made accessories (Nat'l Std layer files, etc.), they won't hit the target of giving you an approach that helps you use their product to do your work.  If they knew how, they would be in charge of CADD production for a firm somewhere!  Best to connect with user groups and find out how others use the tools.

Several years ago a group of us at a management level took a course from our AutoCAD vendor/trainer that was supposed to deal with managing the program, managing our expectations of what we would get from it, tools to simplify our work, how to have drafters set projects up, etc.  What did we learn?  How to draw lines and a few walls and windows, etc.  

REVIT is even more complex, of course.  We've sent all our users to class for a few days (it is, after all, an entirely new way to approach design), and those who have more experience are good at gently guiding those with less.  Learning from others seems more effective than learning from the teachers.  Now, do we know how to truly make the program useful, more than just a fancy pencil?  No, and that's the rub.

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Joel Niemi AIA
DYKEMAN
Everett WA
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I have been using Revit on residential projects for the past 2 years.  I have been using Audodesk products for 31 years.  I have the priviledge of being a single person firm so I have to learn the software, not just manage users.  My last 2 houses using Revit have confirmed that if is the right tool for my firm.  The contractors I work with see the benefit of well coordinated drawings.-don't miss windows, can follow the load path, when structural information is included.  I originally thought the benefit Revit was the quick presentaion drawings, slide shows for the client.  I thought that I would do my  construction drawings all on Auto Architect.  The more I use Revit, the more information I put in the drawings and I do not back track to use CADD except for some standard details. 

The biggest puzzle for me is how to charge for it.  I am well into construction documents  as soon as I complete the preliminary design....so construction documents phase takes about 50 % less time.  So I try to make my client aware that input that is correct in the first place is of value to them.  Once that work is done, then I have the ability to show them several options without big time expenditures.

We are just beginning to see the power in Revit.  All that duplication of effort to produce good drawings is eliminated.  But just as we learned CAdd version by version, Revit will replace Cadd and free us up to spend more time on good design.  Unfortunately the construction methods of constructing homes is still stuck in the "dark ages."

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Ann Dunning AIA
President
Ann M. Dunning, AIA, Inc.
Chagrin Falls OH
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I agree that he fee structure for residential projects using Revit should be changed. 90% of the fee is absorbed into the Schematic Design phase. The problem is that many clients may decide to abandona project in this phase due to the cost, and you cannot bill them for 90% of the fee for completing only this phase.

Moreover, if preliminary design yields a design that is unbuildable due to budget limitations and you need to make radical changes to bring it into budget, much of your "production" time is wasted. Although I am facile at using Revit, I have experienced significant fee loss due to large changes in scope early on, when, as you note, most of the work is done at this phase already. This is a subject worth more discussion. How do others deal with this issue of radical change in scope or abandonment of the project at the preliminary design phase?

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Frank Heitzman AIA
Architect
Heitzman Architects
Oak Park IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-27-2010 10:23
From: Ann Dunning
Subject: was: Revit for residential, now "the sad state of cadd instruction"

I have been using Revit on residential projects for the past 2 years.  I have been using Audodesk products for 31 years.  I have the priviledge of being a single person firm so I have to learn the software, not just manage users.  My last 2 houses using Revit have confirmed that if is the right tool for my firm.  The contractors I work with see the benefit of well coordinated drawings.-don't miss windows, can follow the load path, when structural information is included.  I originally thought the benefit Revit was the quick presentaion drawings, slide shows for the client.  I thought that I would do my  construction drawings all on Auto Architect.  The more I use Revit, the more information I put in the drawings and I do not back track to use CADD except for some standard details. 

The biggest puzzle for me is how to charge for it.  I am well into construction documents  as soon as I complete the preliminary design....so construction documents phase takes about 50 % less time.  So I try to make my client aware that input that is correct in the first place is of value to them.  Once that work is done, then I have the ability to show them several options without big time expenditures.

We are just beginning to see the power in Revit.  All that duplication of effort to produce good drawings is eliminated.  But just as we learned CAdd version by version, Revit will replace Cadd and free us up to spend more time on good design.  Unfortunately the construction methods of constructing homes is still stuck in the "dark ages."

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Ann Dunning AIA
President
Ann M. Dunning, AIA, Inc.
Chagrin Falls OH
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