Yes, Autodesk expects all engineers, owners, subcontractors, etc. on a Revit project to have the latest version. But my biggest gripe is Autodesk gives Revit almost no site BIM capability, apparently assuming this will force the Architect to go hire a Civil Engineer, at the preliminary design phase, who has purchased Autocad Civil (there, so far, is no Revit Civil) to do his site work in order to have accurate parking lots, sidewalks, and ramps around the building for preiliminary presentations, early cost estimating, etc. Revit gives the architect lighting, structural, plumbing, etc. components to place in the BIM for accurate portrayal of entire project, but they get almost no site tools.
No problem, so far, upgrading projects from earlier versions of Revit. I have heard warnings about starting a project in one version and converting to a newer one in the middle of the project, so have avoided that.
My best advice for you is to get some qualified training in order to jump start the Revit learning process. Getting set up with Revit modified to your office standards, building a library of wall families and families in general, setting up schedules, takes time. You should be fine after the third project.
One other warning. Never, ever, import a dwg into Revit that is more than just lines. I have had notes and dimensions get partially imported, get corrupted, generally not work very well. The lines, like a window jamb dwg from a window manufacturer, will come in with line weights that need lots of work. That process is not nearly as seamless as Autodesk likes to imply.
Good luck.
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Darrel Odom AIA, LEED AP
President
Odom Peckham Architecture, Inc.
Little Rock AR
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