BIM collaboration; image: Equip Studio
In the field of architecture, Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is ubiquitously implemented to assist in construction project life cycles. Incorporating BIM on project development is a great way to view every part of a physical project digitally that reflects the real-world through 3D Imagery. It can assist in reducing project inefficiencies and increase productivity and effective/decisive collaboration.
Take a look at these popular options and what several designers have to say about the software they personally use.
Autodesk's Revit
“Revit is the industry-standard program for Building Information Modeling (BIM),” says Peter Shamblin, associate and BIM manager at Greenville, South Carolina-based Equip Studio. “It gives us the ability to show our clients a digital 3D model so that they can experience a space before it even exists. It’s ideal for conceptual design all the way through submitting drawings for permit.”
Andy Bennett AIA, Michael Graves Architecture and Design, with offices in Princeton, New Jersey, reports, “We use Revit for a majority of projects. From streamlining documentation work to empowering multi-discipline teams with specialty tool sets in a unified project environment, it allows our team to collaborate remotely and easily revise plans, elevations, schedules and sections as projects change.”
Image: Autodesk Revit
As experts in church architecture, "we keep our clients’ ministry dollar top of mind at all times," Shamblin adds. “Revit gives us the ability to do this well. For example, the software allows us to virtually coordinate with all of our consulting engineers to collaborate more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes during the construction process. It’s one of the only comprehensive BIM software [tools] for curating and collecting information needed by all parties to move the project forward.”
Additionally, Revit is reported to work smoothly with emerging reality capture technologies, like laser scanning for existing conditions. “In order to create the best customer experience, we encourage all of our clients to commission a 3D laser scan of their existing facilities to generate a virtual ‘point cloud.’ This gives us accurate and current measurements of any existing structures which we can then use to make better design decisions while we model in Revit.”
Revit is reported to work smoothly with emerging reality capture technologies, like laser scanning for existing conditions.
A major benefit of working in Revit is its integration with the broader Autodesk software suite. “Because Autodesk products are widely used in the industry, we can use our Revit models to quickly sync with visualization engines like Lumion to generate beautiful, photorealistic renderings that church leaders need to cast vision to their congregation,” Shamblin adds. “Any updates made in Revit can be re-synced to Lumion, easily allowing real-time updates while making design decisions.”
Here's what's new in Autodesk Revit for 2023.
Graphicsoft's ArchiCAD
With its native visualization tools, ArchiCAD offers to bring all disciplines together at the early design phase.
Although it has been available for use with Microsoft Windows Operating Systems for a while now, ArchiCAD is primarily used by firms relying on the MacOS platform. ArchiCAD is a suite of built-in tools with a user-friendly interface and powerful publishing workflow, featuring a general drawing tool with broad application. To facilitate open collaboration, ArchiCAD supports more than 40 export and import formats, including DWG, PDF, XLS, and SAF, as well as the manufacturer-independent and industry-standards IFC and BCF.
Check out some projects built with ArchiCAD.
Center of Hope, Redding, CA; image: Graphisoft ArchiCAD
Rhino 3D Modeling
“Rhino is used in the early phase of projects, [and] is a very smart surface modeling software for very heavily customized designs,” reports Andrew Beyea, AIA, with Michael Graves Architecture and Design. “Rhino [works] primarily in the church market with owners who are up against significant budget restraints, [where] we aim to provide a facility design that strikes the balance between design and program.”
Alcove bench, Rhino 7; image: Rhinoceros
Among Rhino's latest iterations: Rhino 7 for Mac and Windows.
SketchUp from Trimble
SketchUp can be used in a variety of projects, from buildings to 3D printable product mockups, says Beyea. “It enables us to work more flexibly and is an effective tool for 3D modeling projects across architectural and interior design."
Beyea adds, "SketchUp is great for very quick design concepting, massing studies, elevation studies, or feasibility studies. It’s fairly intuitive and does import to Revit fairly smoothly. When it comes to church design, we have the ability to explore ideas about the design which runs projects more efficiently and unifies teams and workers. It’s easy to navigate and to view from different angles. However, as a firm [we] have moved away from it in an effort to finesse our workflows to function as efficiently as possible.”
Image: Trimble SketchUp Pro
SketchUp Pro is the company's full-featured desktop modeler and most popular, company reps report.
Vectorworks
Vectorworks Inc. is a U.S.-based software development company that focuses on CAD and BIM software for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), landscape, and entertainment industries. The design-oriented BIM focus software allows architects to conceptualize and edit their projects, while generating drawings and schedules in real time. This added benefit lets architects refine construction details without compromising the creative process or scope of work, company representatives report.
Check out what's new for Vectorworks in 2022.
Image: Vectorworks 2022 video
