This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Residential Knowledge Community and Technology in Architectural Practice .
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Thank you Eric Rawlings for this information...
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I have been in computer architecture for over 30 years, beginning with Intergraph, then Arris, then AutoCAD, then Architectural Desktop, then Revit, then Chief Architect ---------------- and after this long journey, I have settled on ARCHICAD as my only hope for DESIGN.
Please don't tell me AutoCAD or Revit is for design... I know too much. Chief Architect is even better than Revit for residential design, and even small commercial design with limits... but alas it is not BIM.
It is just good to hear someone express what it took me a long time to learn.... and a lot of wasted dollars in the process.
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Robert Brodie AIA
Owner
Brodie and Associates
Sebastian FL
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I love the Revit and Microsoft analogy. I never reply to this discussion because I'm an ArchiCAD user since 1997 and don't really care for Revit. ArchiCAD is to the Mac OS like Revit is to Windows. ArchiCAD was a BIM program when it first was conceived in 1989, the same year AutoCAD came out. Those of us in the BIM world call programs like AutoCAD, FlatCAD. Revit was created in 1997 to emulate ArchiCAD before it was bought by AutoDesk. Just like Windows was created in the image of Mac OS. Revit does have many aspects that are a little different and well done, but in my opinion, ArchiCAD keeps setting the bar while Revit keeps chasing ArchiCAD. I've found that ArchiCAD is far easier to learn as it is an international program offered in every language and therefore not heavily dependent on typed in commands. All the tools function consistently, so learning one tool is like learning 4 or 5. It is very user friendly and has users all over the world. Revit is offered in a small handful of languages and only for the PC.
Don't get caught up in all the hype. ArchiCAD can exchange files of all popular formats, including a complex exchange with Revit models for going BIM to BIM. I imagine since the BIM server technology in ArchiCAD has been available for a couple of years that Revit must have their answer to the long running Team Work "challenge" when multiple users operate in the same file. With BIM server, a user can instant message anyone logged in to the file and "borrow" a single element outside their workspace and return it without making everyone change their work space too. Since I've used ArchiCAD (1997) with Team Work you can have a Mac and PC working in the same file together. Most CAD programs dropped Mac, but ArchiCAD never did. Just like Windows was created in the image of Mac OS, but was marketed far better and therefore the copy became more popular, so did Revit. Because AutoDesk has such a stranglehold on the US market, Revit rode those coattails and has bypassed ArchiCAD in the US as the popular BIM program.
Don't feel like your only option is Revit. They don't have a monopoly on the BIM market and ArchiCAD can communicate with these programs just fine. They even bought the dwg translation engine from AutoDesk years ago. I have never had translation problems with ArchiCAD. If you're a firm oner, a Mac user, or simply want a program that works great and not just the same thing everyone else is "trying" to use, then give it a try. You don't need 17 different copies of the same program for slightly different functions. One size fits all and it's cheaper. ArchiCAD will always be ahead of the curve like Mac OS is to Windows. Be a leader or a follower, but don't believe the AutoDesk folks when they use fear mongering to convince you of the "copy's" superiority to the ORIGINAL BIM program.
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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