For a solo architect working exclusively on renovations, would adding Revit to my repertoire be worth it?

[JL-Comdec]

I work for a design-build GC that specializes in renovating older buildings (40-100 years-old). 90% of the projects I’m involved with are smaller 3-10 room hospital renovations. The client supplies 2D .dwg floor plans of each hospital involved. I’m currently using AutoCAD Architecture 2026. Usually, I draw everything 2 dimensionally because that’s what the company did before I started here a year ago. I only do 3D work if they want a rendering. Lately, they want more and more renderings, which takes more time as I have to draw everything twice. So, I started using the AutoCAD Architecture Toolset to simplify the process so I only draw it once. Unfortunately, Autodesk hasn’t really updated the Architecture Toolset in years; its interface is abysmal. My AutoCAD subscription is up soon, so I’m considering on dropping the Architecture Toolset and adding Revit instead. Mind you, I haven’t used Revit since grad school, before Autodesk bought it in 2002. I learned AutoCAD in 9th grade on AutoCAD 10. In 2005 I started using AutoCAD Architecture to start drawing in 3D. I've been going back and forth drawing 2D & 3D ever since, depending on my employer. 

So, my question is: Is it (non-monetarily) worth it? Is it difficult to learn? Is it difficult to recreate existing spaces where I'd have to put in outdated and oddly designed elements? Especially when anything not visible is a complete unknown? How about the ease of modifying spaces after they're created? And finally, how difficult is it to learn Revit after using AutoCAD for 35 years? I want to make my job easier, not harder.     

[GaryOrrMBI]

There are a lot of things to consider, but it can be boiled down fairly easily.

1) Revit is an ever-increasing requirement. Your next job might land you somewhere that will require that you know it.

2) Being familiar with working in 3D from AutoCAD Architecture will make the transition easier (the tools are different, but the concepts are similar: Walls, Doors, Windows, etc that behave in certain ways and interact with each other accordingly). I have implemented Revit at a couple of places that were AutoCAD houses, and I often used AutoCAD Architecture as a stepping-stone, so you would have a leg up, even though there are a lot of specifics that you may have to "give up" on and/or relearn.

3) AutoCAD always seems to be required while using Revit, especially given your current scenario of having CAD backgrounds to start with for existing conditions (being able to get in and re-organize or otherwise modify those drawings can make life in Revit much easier). Furthermore, your existing AutoCAD Architecture projects will not be usable in Revit (there are methods for importing but they will require being exported from or otherwise modified by ACA first so you will still need ACA as well).

My recommendation is to consider the AEC Suite (since you said non-monetarily considerations). An annual subscription is roughly about 1 1/2 times the cost of either ACA or Revit, but you will get both, along with a host of other products that you will probably never use. Your options will remain open, and you can begin the process of learning Revit without being in a make it or break it scenario.

-G

[Tom_Kunsman]

What great questions.

I will say this, as I have told the same thing to everyone else, I have taught Revit to. You need to take everything you have learned about CAD and throw it out the window. The two programs are not the same. They require different learning.

I would recommend finding some videos on YouTube and see what you think. 

As for the outdated and strange shaped elements, one thing I would consider is just use the "model in place" function of Revit. Allows you to model nearly anything you can think of. 

Revit has changed so much since you first used it. I would say consider some of the positives: Door, Window, Area schedules that automatically update, ability to use the model for renderings, getting some material take-offs, ability to better coordinate mechanical, electrical and plumbing portions of the project.

No better time to learn than now.

[gtarch]

It's very true that you need to have AutoCAD even if you are a 100% Revit operation. You cannot do without it. You'll need to edit and clean up those ACAD backgrounds and weird blocks from manufacturers all the time. 

But even if you are being fed AutoCAD files as a base, it's going to be worth moving to Revit, because Revit is so much better at producing a good set of drawings. Plans, sections, details, schedules are continuously coordinated by the nature of the program. For renovation work, Revit has phases built-in, which means you don't need 300 layers to keep track of new and existing, let alone Phase 1,2,3, etc. It's a lot easier to produce a good set of drawings with Revit. 

The biggest challenge besides just learning the program is transitioning your notes, details and standards from ACAD to Revit. Especially because Revit is kind of primitive for "Linework & Drafting", which is what ACAD is basically built to do. They do not work the same way at all. It takes time to do it, you will make a lot of mistakes along the way, but you'll be glad you did once you get through it. And you need time to build up your library of Revit objects and notes.

I went from 25 years of VersaCAD/Microstation/ACAD ADT-Architecture to Revit about 15 years ago. It's work, and you've got to put in the time. But if I had to go back to ACAD - it's like the stone-age once you figure it out.  In fact, I'm always a little shocked to learn that there are people who are still on Autocad. Those poor devils.

@gtarch - this post has been edited due to Community Rules & Etiquette violation.

[mhiserZFHXS]

Non-monetarily, yes. Moving to Revit is always worth it. It streamlines so much, cuts down on errors, easier to be more consistent. 

But when you say you work for this GC, are you an employee of theirs, or do you contract for them? If you work for them, they should be paying for this. Once you're acclimated, working in Revit is going to save hours upon hours of labor. It would be worth it for them. 

If their a client of yours, moving to Revit should give you more time to pick of more work or do more work for them. So it would be worth it for you.