Starrchitecture

My Non-BIM Hobby

2012-01-27T07:59:00.000-06:00

We all do something else, hopefully, outside of work that makes us happy. Maybe it's kickball or something. The point is, technology, architecture, BIM, et al, are great, but we need to step away now and then.

Seriously, who doesn't love kickball?!

Some background; I've played music most of my life. Starting with the saxophone in 6th grade, my love for playing music has only grown. I picked up the guitar for the first time in 1995 and haven't put it down. More recently, however, I've been exploring new musical avenues. Last April, I decided I was going to learn the banjo.

Every Thursday night since then, I've been playing in a 'jam' group with guys from around DFW. I believe the best way to learn is to play with other people as often as you can. Last night a few of us got together to play an 'open mic night' where one of the guys work and the rest is history.

We'll probably be famous soon...

Conceptual Massing and You

2012-01-25T13:25:00.000-06:00

How did I get Planet Express Ship to be so awesome? Matt Groening. Also, profiles. Conceptual massing in Revit/Vasari is very sweet and seeing that it's not destructive, I always have access to the underlying structure that created my form to tweak. I started, very simply, with an extrusion and went from there. I heard Zach Kron refer to these as the 'bones' of my form, so I'm stealing it.

Boneless

As you start your profiles, you will want to consider how flexible you want the resultant shape to be. You may consider adding Reference Lines with dimensional constraints to help you stretch or alter your shape later parametrically, but for me, this ship doesn't need to be designed, only modeled. With the form selected, head over to the form element are of your Modify tab and choose Add Profile. Now you have control (parametric or otherwise) over each 'sketch' to do with as you please.

Bone In

The surface will continue to contour and evolve as each profile is completed similar to a Bezier Curve in Illustrator (however, without the additional 'tightness' controller unfortunately). This can be a time consuming process, so be patient. A while back, I saw David Light post about creating the form from nested profiles and have some parametric control on the back end. Again, consult with yourself on how this form may or may not need to flex and go with the best option for you. I continued on using my method for each of the fins and other objects until the end.

mmmmm Fins

In conclusion, use the heck out of profiles, nest them, parametize them, host them. A great side effect of using the conceptual massing tool is that any edge can be used as a path for a sweep. Simply host a point on the edge and draw your profile on the perpendicular plane and sweep away! (see the banding around the base of the fins and the fuselage)

Lift Off!

Good luck out there.

Vasari Wind Analysis

2012-01-13T10:57:00.001-06:00

Working with Vasari is pretty great. Most things I want to model come pretty easily as long as I forget everything I've learned from the Family Creator in Revit. The similarities are there, but mostly, it's a new world. For those keeping up, I've tried to create some fun while learning some of the finer points of Vasari, so I chose the Planet Express headquarters and ship from one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Futurama.

I've also been toying with rendering

Basically, the modelling in Vasari is the same conceptual massing tool found in Revit, I've just not had much time to dedicate to learning it, so as stated earlier, I spent some time over the break getting a usable model created to test on. I'll get into specific modelling techniques later, but what I want to focus on today is the Wind Analysis function. It's a great way to view your model regardless if it was created in Vasari or not. The same import types are available to you (dwg, dgn, dxf, sat, skp) so you can create anywhere and import the model in. Once imported head over to the 'Climate Analysis' menu under the 'Analyze' tab to get started.

The model will open in a new 'mode' and the interface will change pretty drastically, but not to worry, it's all good. On the left you'll find a slew of new commands and functions to play with (and I recommend doing just that). I wanted to use the wind analysis to create some compelling views of my model to communicate wind speed and direction and how that velocity interacts with my model, I so I used the 'Flow Lines' display under '3D Volumetric' (this WILL eat your CPU up on larger files, you've been warned). I played around with the 'Flow Line Settings' a bit to get what I want, but basically the break down is this:

The 'Boundaries to Flow From' are your wind sources, you can click as many as you want, I chose the front plane. The 'Min' and 'Max' control the height of the source so you can reduce it to just flow over certain parts of your model and the cell inset offsets the source of the wind from that boundary.

'Flow Characteristics' control the actual vectors as they flow over your model. 'Number of Lines' controls the density of samples you run while 'Segments per Line' control the length of each vector. 'Speed of Travel' is obvious and 'Maximum Age' refers to how long a trail hangs around before starting over. 'Arrow Shape' is pretty straight forward so I won't go into here.

After a few iterations, you can get a pretty clear picture of what the wind is doing to my model and the conversation turns in a client meeting to where you shouldn't put your picnic tables and where you should put your wind turbines. Or in my case, how awesome a spaceship looks travelling fast!

Take some time getting familiar with all the bells and whistles and have a great weekend!

PS, I know there is no wind in space, Planet Express Ship is entering our atmosphere :p

Apply Dependent Views

2012-01-10T10:49:00.002-06:00

You spend so much time getting your dependent views set just like you like them. You get the cropping regions all set, with just the right amount of overlap, and then you remember this is a 30 foot tower.

queue dramatic music

Well don't fret, little buddy. You can take all that hard work and apply it to every other floor in seconds! Just right-click on the parent view of the set you just finished and choose "Apply Dependent Views", choose the views you want to apply that set to, and you're all set. This is yet another great example of "do it once, do it right". You will have to take some time and rename the new dependent views, but the hard work is done. Apply your view template for that type of view, and get back to work!

The views you apply your set to must be the same scale as the original.

I tell my employees all the time that if you find yourself doing something menial repetitively, there is another way to do it.

More fun with Vasari

2012-01-05T16:45:00.000-06:00

I spent a little time this break to investigate some creative modelling using the conceptual massing found inside Vasari (and Revit, for that matter). I admittedly haven't had a tremendous amount of time to perfect the conceptual massing, so I wanted to spend some quality time and see what I could do.

This is a work in progress, mind you and there will be more images to come later. I spent most of my energy on the Planet Express Ship and hope to have some decent renderings of that soon. All in all, I'd say the modelling capabilities with the conceptual massing tool are pretty great. I've even managed to add a parameter to the landing gear that allows it to go from open to close to any degree.

PROOF!

Back to Reality

2012-01-03T15:19:00.001-06:00

What a great break! 12 days of Christmas, quite literally, and it absolutely flew by. Great time with the fam, but unfortunately, it's back to real life. While I was away, I played, I thought, I slept (a lot), and I contemplated where we go next as an industry. Many changes are coming our way to be sure, and if Ray Kurzweil is to be believed, the Singularity is truly near.

Your next project

Technology is changing so rapidly now that I feel like it's a full time job just playing catch-up. With tools like Revit Server coming into maturity, enterprise cloud solutions for email, documents, and storage, and teams growing ever more complex and dispersed, our life is about to change big time.

I though about the challenges we face this year and created a very short list. Some of these aren't new technologies, but on the spectrum of 'Impossible' to 'Required', these just moved into the 'Practical' realm.

Security: Central files based in the cloud (or at least, outside access given to consultants).
Preparedness: Owners finally realizing BIM's potential and turning the screws on those who aren't ready.
Communication: Central files that aren't central files at all, but a data-hub of sorts.
Process: Simulation (energy, logistics, personnel throughput) for high-performance design will become commonplace.
Cost: Subscription-based cloud tools and services (think rendering).

If we make it that far.

This list is by no means complete, but just a series of thoughts I had whilst sipping Egg Nog at my 11am breakfast. Here's to a great 2012!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2011-12-21T10:59:00.000-06:00

I'm off for the rest of 2011. Here's to a great 2012! Everyone stay safe and enjoy the break!

The Architect Geek

2011-12-15T19:58:00.001-06:00

These last few years have taught me many things about the profession I have dreamed about since the 3rd grade. I have seen more massive changes (or at least, potentially massive) in the last 3 years than all of my previous 11 combined. One thing has stuck out the most in my mind, and that is, what are we turning into? The subtitle of my blog here is "BIM is changing us into something different". I really mean that. I wonder what the future holds for the hold-outs. Can those of us early adopters push hard enough without marginalizing the cause? I recently asked a question of my team to see what they thought. I have since asked the same question to those in my office who would listen.

"Is the future architect a geek?"

Not pictured: Horn-rimmed glasses, vests, or fedoras.

Not surprisingly, I didn't get an answer. It's not so easy to say yet. Will the technology one day become so easy that anyone can and will understand it? AutoCAD has been around for more than 20 years, yet companies still need support. It pains me to hear someone talk about technology like it is a burden. I realize that I may be in the minority here, but the problems posed currently by our industry are most easily solved with technology. Do you want to house your own energy modeling database internally? Can you adequately describe the best solution for your building skin without tangible metrics? Metrics give us something to prop ourselves up against when everyone wants to throw us under the bus. Using scripting languages to better optimize our design, sending a model into the cloud to render or for analysis to free up resources so we can continue to work, or simply bending a particular tool to our will is our future, isn't it?

So I ask again, does understanding those concepts make me a geek? Is the merging of IT and AE such a bad thing? Are we the future for the industry, or are we the back of house sweaty programmer types that keeps everyone's shared parameter files and Revit warnings in order?

Please make sure you check your worksets! Gah!

Enjoy your weekend.

Vasari Love

2011-12-14T23:13:00.000-06:00

I love Project Vasari. I love that it's free (for now). I love all what it stands for. I love what it means for designers who love technology. I am excited for the future (scripting anyone?) and the power that comes with it. My hope is that tools like Vasari become so ingrained in our design process, that we cannot image life before it.

Also, I love Monkey Island

I was toying around with Google Earth the other day and remembered something useful. You can actually download all of those wonderful models directly into Sketchup for your very own use; for free, no less! You can head right over to Google's 3D Warehouse from within Sketchup and choose your building(s) to download. Armed now with some simplistic model, the sky is the limit in terms of what I can do next.

Pro Tip: If you want faces analyzed, they have to be native Vasari; the other buildings are imports only

For starters, all of that great context our high performing buildings so desperately need are right there, perfectly scaled and located, ready for anything. The perfect integration of Vasari's Location and Google Maps & Earth make for some fantastic sun / shadow studies. Wind analysis through the spaces are also useful for figuring out where not to put the picnic tables.

Or, to analyze one's capabilities to make a Kessel Run (Thanks, David)

Ultimately, this post is just to bring to your attention some really cool, yet simple things to do with Vasari. Enjoy and remain motivated.

Family Counseling

2011-12-11T20:00:00.001-06:00

When I open Revit files, I am usually part humored and part frustrated at the amount of 'rogue' data I find. Room Tag 2 - small 2, EQ-1234 - clay, etc. These families are frustrating usually because the intelligence exists in the the family to create new types on the fly or exist already in type catalogs, but not in the user. That's not to say they are not intelligent at all, it's really a reflection on need and comfort with the tool. In the AutoCAD days, a quick explode, edit, wblock was all you needed to accomplish the task at hand sometimes, and the 'requirement' of Revit is a bit different. Take for instance: doors.

The new Project Architect.

Doors always seem to start simply enough; "We only have 10 types on any given project, those should be our standard" really means, "I can only think of 10 right now, but I'm sure we'll need 37 by the time we're done". This dilemma exists in most families, so replace 'door' with whatever rfa you can think of, and we're on the same page.

The problem occurs when that 11th door needs to be inserted, and the basic info known at that time is probably limited to its width and maybe some instance info like hardware (hardware is not a type parameter here). So what is a user to do other than revert and grab the 3'-0" door, edit, save as, rename, reload? That's not to say that you have to know everything about the door before you can place it. Our doors are built in such a way that all you need is to know one thing about it, then swap out for new types (from a catalog) as you discover more about it. Not everyone uses them that way; that's why I am writing this.

My door. Seriously, it does everything!

Before, all that extra data is covered in a tag sitting on a block (maybe that block even had attributes) filled out by a PA whose main job it was to manage and coordinate the drawings. Now it's embedded into the family itself and that nice door schedule that's running in the background looks all wrong, and it's Revit's fault.

The big picture is how BIM is changing us as architects into something different. DWOB (Drafting WithOut Brains) was a phrase that I heard a lot going way back into the AutcCAD days, but was more easily managed by our team leads who simply 'fixed' it in CDs. Now that management of the information starts at the beginning (honestly, where it should have been already) and our youngest architects are affecting our workflows in ways most aren't comfortable with.

My take is that, rather than preventing them, we should be enabling them. Communication and education (mentoring) is key.

Week one, down

2011-12-09T18:33:00.001-06:00

Three articles down (2 really) and I still have a few ideas left! Thanks to all for showing any interest at all in this site. Before the weekend officially kicks off, I'd like to leave you with this question.

How can you know if your company is truly committed to change?

Split the file, are you crazy?!

2011-12-08T09:18:00.000-06:00

I was in an interesting AU Unconference discussion regarding 'Mega-Projects' in Revit. The question started as you would think:

What makes a project MEGA?

I know what makes a man mega, though. Hint, arm canon.

The answer is not so simple. Is it square footage, file size, campus size, density, or something else? I honed in on the file size debate because this is something I have railed against for some time, that is, file size is not the best indicator for how models should be broken up. In fact, the fear of big files drives many to inflict upon themselves wounds that aren't easily rectified. Let me explain.

Years ago, in my Revit noobness, I was taught the concept of 'Lazy Parsing' (thanks Phil). It sounded like a bunch of database mumbo and jumbo, and paid it no heed. That was easy then. Revit pilot projects tended to be small, easy, and predictable so we could focus on the tool itself rather than a unique challenge of the project. As my Revit prowess grew, the concept of splitting and linking to maintain smaller files cropped up. Lazy parsing, I remembered...

Pictured: Mr. Parsing

The truth is that no matter how many times you break up a big file into multiple small files, the actual size of the Database (notice the big D) never changes, or worse, gets bigger! By that I mean, the total size of your project doesn't make it any easier on your hardware. One 400mb file or four 100mb files just means you have more files to keep track of. The Database hasn't changed, and ultimately, let's say for the sake of printing, all 400mb will be loaded into you computer's memory, and you are right where you started now with all the baggage that comes with trying to maintain multiple Revit files; a net loss in my opinion. Ever tried to tag a linked room or link an elevation view into your 'composite' file? Sure, these problems can be accounted for and solutions found, but that takes planning and care up front when file sizes aren't a concern. Gotcha!

Back to lazy parsing. The concept is simple. Revit loads what it needs to show you what you want. A 400mb file with four 100mb worksets is better than four 100mb files any day. The problem with that concept is it requires the team to take care to place things on the right workset (novel, I know) so they can be loaded/unloaded at will. Problem solved, right?

That sounds harsh; let's just say incorrect from now on.

Only through careful model management can true large file zen be attained. This coming from a guy whose last several projects were in stable single files, all north of the 500mb mark (just architecture, mind you). Sure it's work and your team has to change how they work in the file (specify worksets, anyone?), but for the greater good of the process, it can be done. I'm not for keeping all the data in one place just to say we did, however. Break files up based on the needs of the project, like separate buildings, DIs, discipline, or team location.

Just promise to not break your file up by floors.

Plan to Fail

2011-12-07T08:58:00.000-06:00

BIM Execution Planning. Sometimes it feels a lot like BIM Execution, that is, "Death by BIM". It doesn't have to be that way, but what the BIMEP requires, more than anything, is this:

Internal, Contemplative Self-reflection (aka, what do we do and why?)

What are life safety plans?

Architecture is a nebulous of thoughts, ideas, sketches, graphics, and personality. Trying to convey exactly what we do in a single, albeit large, document is difficult. When the execution of BIM pulls back the veil on what happens behind the scenes, our first reaction is that of defense. We seize up and explain the difficulties of implementing this plan based on our our standard of care, contractual obligations, historical egotism, or flat out misunderstanding of what owners really want and how to bend our process to their will.

None of this changes the all out necessity of up front planning, however. All parties involved will benefit from some planning. The AIA has taken a good shot at standardizing Level of Detail (LOD) with their E202 document and Penn State (and others) have great guides on getting your plan, um, planned.

Right here is where we'll put the shared parameters.

Right now, owners are center stage (let's be honest with ourselves, they kind of always have been) and those owners have expectations out the wazzu. We can only effectively manage those expectations if we are armed with a solid understanding of our own 'standard of care' (as well as the requisite philosophy for that standard, ie Why don't we model floor slab openings smaller than X?). Architects that have adopted Revit to any capacity are seeing internal gains, no doubt and a full 'BIM capable' AE team is a force to be reckoned with, but, truth be told, the adoption of Revit isn't adoption of BIM. You are probably using Revit to deliver the same old paper goods with a bit more efficiency, perhaps, but that's not BIM.

BIM Execution Planning will change your process and push your comfort envelope. Fail to plan, plan to fail.

AU 2011 Recap

2011-12-06T10:01:00.000-06:00

I've just returned from fabulous Las Vegas armed with the knowledge of my 6th AU and this year's goes down in my book as one of the best. Some great classes I want to cover here include Seven Technology Trends, Revit Graphics that POP, Mega Projects in Revit, BIM for Owners, FM BIM, and many more.

100% Revit Goodness

To kick things off right, I'd like to thank Jason Grant and David Light for getting my truly inspired with their phenomenal lecture on leveraging the most out of Revit with regard to presentation graphics Check out Jason's post here to really appreciate what he's done.