Housing and Community Development

I am going to be taking my first foray into the world of Revit soon.  My experience is mainly with Autocad and SketchUp.  Since I am a beginner, any advice on the best way to get some training with Revit?  I am trying to keep my costs down.  I have taken classes before for other training and my experience has been that not only are they expensive but they seem to barely touch on areas that are important to me. Online courses?  Free tutorials? Any advice would be helpful.
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W. Scott Ballard AIA
W. Scott Ballard Design & Architecture, Inc.
La Jolla CA
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William, Congratulations on taking the Revit plunge.

I did 4 days of training in 2007 (on Revit Architecture 2008) offered by my local CAD Store. That was pretty expensive, but I bundled it with buying the software and subscription, so the training component was ultimately worth it. However, at that time, there weren't many other options. Many Revit training seminars were using outdated software. Even the training I received, while on current software, was offered with under performing hardware. If you are not also trying to buy the software at the same time and just want the training, consider your local community college. Many have Revit classes with current software and compatible hardware at a substantially lower cost than the retail CAD stores.
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David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2011 00:29
From: William Ballard
Subject: Revit training


I am going to be taking my first foray into the world of Revit soon.  My experience is mainly with Autocad and SketchUp.  Since I am a beginner, any advice on the best way to get some training with Revit?  I am trying to keep my costs down.  I have taken classes before for other training and my experience has been that not only are they expensive but they seem to barely touch on areas that are important to me. Online courses?  Free tutorials? Any advice would be helpful.
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W. Scott Ballard AIA
W. Scott Ballard Design & Architecture, Inc.
La Jolla CA
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James Patrick Kevin McGrath AIA
Greenbelt MD
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If you haven't already enrolled in a seminar offered by one of the commercial professional training companies, such as Avatech, I'd begin, instead, by going to Autodesk's web site and downloading Revit Architecture at no cost:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=13107886&linkID=12338624

Autodesk currently offers professional architects and interns adversely affected in this economy a 13 month license to learn their software.  You'll need to make sure that your computer system can handle the RAM, HD size and CPU speed required.

I would then purchase a training manual such as Residenial Design using Autodesk Revit Architecture by Daniel John Stine.  Stine offers a simple and concise step-by-step guide toward constructing documents in 2D and 3D of a prototype house. 

Last fall I took a 14 week course, at the Community College of Baltimore County here in Maryland, in Revit Architecture using Stine's Commercial Design guide to construct 2D and 3D documents of a prototype small office building.  Students were left to learn essentially on their own using the manual and 1-1/2 hours of lab time in the school's computer lab center.  In and out of scheduled classes, it took me approximately 33 hours to complete Stine's assignment.

I am now redoing in Revit a residential design of my own that I had long ago done by hand.

Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2011 09:50
From: David Clarke
Subject: Revit training


William, Congratulations on taking the Revit plunge.

I did 4 days of training in 2007 (on Revit Architecture 2008) offered by my local CAD Store. That was pretty expensive, but I bundled it with buying the software and subscription, so the training component was ultimately worth it. However, at that time, there weren't many other options. Many Revit training seminars were using outdated software. Even the training I received, while on current software, was offered with under performing hardware. If you are not also trying to buy the software at the same time and just want the training, consider your local community college. Many have Revit classes with current software and compatible hardware at a substantially lower cost than the retail CAD stores.
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David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM
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Wiiliam,
I've been using Vectorworks Design Series for the past 6 years. It's an object based, 2+3-D program that includes BIM capability, Rendering and Lighting Design as well as Landscape Design. For my small practice in Residential and Mixed-Use projects, it has been outstanding! From my discussions with users of other programs it is less expensive and easier to work with.
Good Luck!

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Vincent Oles AIA
Salt Lake City UT
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2011 09:50
From: David Clarke
Subject: Revit training


William, Congratulations on taking the Revit plunge.

I did 4 days of training in 2007 (on Revit Architecture 2008) offered by my local CAD Store. That was pretty expensive, but I bundled it with buying the software and subscription, so the training component was ultimately worth it. However, at that time, there weren't many other options. Many Revit training seminars were using outdated software. Even the training I received, while on current software, was offered with under performing hardware. If you are not also trying to buy the software at the same time and just want the training, consider your local community college. Many have Revit classes with current software and compatible hardware at a substantially lower cost than the retail CAD stores.
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David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM
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William,
I've been using Cybertek's services for training.  they are based in california, but have clients from the US to Russia, based on their online format.  Its all live, with a combination of skype and other programs.  I take their classes in my office, and have had staff take the class from their homes.  They have a variety of formats and price points, which is very helpful  in this economy.  Galen walker is my contact there; his number is (951) 549-1886
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Brad McDonald AIA
Architect
Reveal Studio, Inc
La Crescenta CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-24-2011 09:50
From: David Clarke
Subject: Revit training


William, Congratulations on taking the Revit plunge.

I did 4 days of training in 2007 (on Revit Architecture 2008) offered by my local CAD Store. That was pretty expensive, but I bundled it with buying the software and subscription, so the training component was ultimately worth it. However, at that time, there weren't many other options. Many Revit training seminars were using outdated software. Even the training I received, while on current software, was offered with under performing hardware. If you are not also trying to buy the software at the same time and just want the training, consider your local community college. Many have Revit classes with current software and compatible hardware at a substantially lower cost than the retail CAD stores.
-------------------------------------------
David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM
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Bil Taylor AIA
Bil Taylor Assoc. Inc. (Taylor Design & Build)
Tucson AZ
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Have you looked at Vectorworks by Nemetschek,USA

First, I would recommend focusing on Revit 2010 or 2011.  The user interface for 2009 and earlier is passe.

Second, you should get a student version or full version of the program.  You need to be enrolled in some kind of program that Autodesk recognizes as a training program to get the student version.

Third, there are some good books to get, but you probably only need one.  I used the Sham Tickoo text, but there is at least one other that is similar.

Fourth, do all the excercises in the book and look for tutorials on youtube, and the Autodesk website.

Fifth, if you needed to take a class to get the program, try for a college level class that is in the 10-12 week duration range.  I took two of those types of classes - intro and advanced.

Some people will probably disagree, but Revit is nothing like AutoCad or Sketch Up.  It is far less forgiving than those programs.  Some things are simpler, but most things are more complicated.  Also, you cannot make errors and massage them to get simple solutions.  It is a completely closed-loop program - meaning that most everything will need to be inputted correctly.  Thanks Autodesk!
 
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Ken Brogno AIA
Architect
AIA, LEED AP
San Francisco CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2011 00:29
From: William Ballard
Subject: Revit training


I am going to be taking my first foray into the world of Revit soon.  My experience is mainly with Autocad and SketchUp.  Since I am a beginner, any advice on the best way to get some training with Revit?  I am trying to keep my costs down.  I have taken classes before for other training and my experience has been that not only are they expensive but they seem to barely touch on areas that are important to me. Online courses?  Free tutorials? Any advice would be helpful.
-------------------------------------------
W. Scott Ballard AIA
W. Scott Ballard Design & Architecture, Inc.
La Jolla CA
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