Conceptual design through design development: revit workflow tutorial

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I am an architectural designer at a large firm that starts projects in Sketchup and ends them in Revit. I'm trying to find more information about how to use Revit for the duration of the project but management is skeptical about Revit's ability to quickly iterate and feel malleable in the initial design phases. I would like to bring someone in to give a lunch tutorial, but if this is not possible, I would like to gain access to tutorials that deal with workflows for Revit in the initial stages of design. Can anyone recommend good resources for this content. Youtube and Lynda don't seem to offer much and the Revit website seems to have only a few command flowcharts. Thank you!

[barthbradley]

When you say "management is skeptical about Revit's ability", I immediately wonder how you are currently using Revit - or if you are? 

[Viveka_CD · Accepted solution]

Hi there @Anonymous

I see that you have made your first post!  Welcome to our community!

• Of course, you can incorporate a conceptual Trimble® SketchUp® design into Revit and proceed with your Design Documents, all you have to do is import the SKP file into a Revit family. Then load the family into a Revit project, while following few best practices for the same. See HERE for more information.
• You can try a trial version of  PlusSpec** -a parametric modeler that extracts vital information that will help optimise your workflow in Revit.
• However, Revit treats the data imported from Trimble® SketchUp® as a large block of geometry that resists being manipulated. However, you can change the layer settings from Trimble® SketchUp® to improve the results. See HERE for more information. 

Please mark this response as "Accept as Solution" if it answers your question. Kudos gladly accepted.

**I have provided a link to an application or add-in that MIGHT provide the extra functionality for which you are looking. Please note, however, this is not an Autodesk product or endorsement. You should take all precautions whenever you elect to download/install/utilize any application and do so at your own risk.

Please review the developer’s documentation and disclaimers before proceeding to utilize their product(s).

Regards,

[Anonymous]

personally i happen to agree with your management....... 😉

revit comes into its own after planning stage

[loboarch · Accepted solution]

You may want to consider adding FormIt to the workflow. FormIt is a conceptual design tool similar to SketchUp that integrates with a Revit workflow. You can take FormIt model directly into Revit and continue working on them.

Here a a few videos showing how FormIt is used and how it fits into a Revit workflow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1Wquse1QY&t=113s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BEzpQZmlDw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpnDcCGI5u4

The FormIt website has a bunch more info that might be helpful as well.

https://formit.autodesk.com/

In particular, look at the blog section. They put on a learning webcast every Friday showing different things with FormIt.

[Anonymous]

Yes, as stated, we use Revit from design development phase through construction documentation. We are an AE firm so civil, structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, IT, in addition to interiors, etc. all link models into our architectural models, so it is invaluable as a coordination tool. However, management is not fluent in Revit or in some cases is not familiar with how to use it at all and so workflow development relies upon employee initiative. The sketchup to Revit translation phase also undergirds an office schism between "designers" (people who work primarily in sketchup) and "technical staff" (people who work primarily in revit). As a designer it is frustrating to sell a client on a project, only to see it be rebuilt and in some cases redesigned based upon the capabilities of Revit. For all of these reasons I am exploring how to start a project in Revit from initial concept, programming, and planning, etc.