topic Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool? in Revit Architecture Forum

What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

AllenDesignandBuild — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:24:21 GMT

All I see in the forums are workarounds for a tool that was pretty useful to begin with.

It was intuitive for grading and creating split level structures. Now what does Autodesk have in mind to replace this useful tool with? And are there white papers on how to actually do something similar to a building pad without having to create a new family or go through 13 steps? Not to mention, how to modify the new replacement 'pad' if there is a change?

Thx all.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

barthbradley — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 04:44:30 GMT

Are you saying you don't like "New Coke"? 😉

Remember when Coca-Cola changed their recipe in the 80's? Remember the sink that made? Remember how Cola-Cola publicly acknowledged their mistake and brought back the original recipe?

Toposurfaces and Building Pad are coming back. I'm certain of it. In the meantime, I guess we hold our nose and tolerate "New Coke"...or drink Archicad. What other options do we have?

P.S. it is possible to get vertical surfaces in Toposolids - albeit not as easy as with Building Pads in Toposurfaces.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

barthbradley — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:04:44 GMT

...another option would be to do your site work with Toposurfaces/Building Pads in a previous version of Revit and upgrade it to 2024. I call it the PITA workflow. Maybe you have a better name.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

Mike.FORM — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 21:20:54 GMT

They are working on having an excavate tool for toposolids which will remove everything above the selected element. It is listed in the Roadmap. This will essentially work the same as the building pad tool with additional features.

https://blogs.autodesk.com/aec/roadmap/revit-architecture-roadmap/

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

barthbradley — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 21:28:45 GMT

Roadmaps are plans, not promises or guarantees.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

Mike.FORM — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 21:31:21 GMT

You can also currently use a vertical opening to cut through the main toposolid and then add a second toposolid the same boundary as the floor and have it below the floor.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

Mike.FORM — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 21:34:49 GMT

Agreed, but at least it looks like something they are working on and it looks like it is at a decent point in development from the image.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

syman2000 — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:15:33 GMT

Building pad is problematic if you are doing complex site excavation/configuration.

First you cannot have any overlapping pad. If you have overlap, it will give you errors and the pad will delete itself.
Second, the pad doesn't play nicely if you have multiple topos. Often the pad will pick the wrong topo. So you can only have one topo in the project so it will play nicely.
Third, the pad cannot extend beyond the topography. So if you have split surface topo to a small region, that pad will not cut to the other split surface.
When you have a sloped pad at the edge of the flat pad, sometimes topo will display a thin sliver of topo at the edge of the slope pad. It is very annoying and there is no way to fix it.

Re: What is the logic behind removing building pads as a tool?

kelly.colyn — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:18:50 GMT

This is, yet again, one of many reasons why the 2024 'toposolid' update is frustrating.

AUTODESK - PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS :

- Restore to us the TOPOSURFACE & BUILDING PADS

- Remove the errors of overlapping pads

At the very least, let us be able to set a negative height to a subdivided toposolid so as to excavate...!

We would be very grateful - Thank you!