Multi housing workflow

[esatis]

Hi, 

what would be the best workflow to manage 60 (6x10) housing project?

Now the Revit project consists of 6 attached houses, each house have multiple groups.

So basically it's 2 groups times 3. v1.rvt [[1][2] [1][2] [1][2]] x 10 

Everything was fine and we were able to produce drawings for all 60 houses from this one project, because all 10 houses (on different plots) are the same.

Now there are some differences introduced because of the building errors etc.

Now there are 3 variants of those 10 houses.
(It was 1 variant, copied 10 times v1.rvt [[1][2] [1][2] [1][2]] x 10 )
Now it is something like this:

v1.rvt [[1][2] [1][2] [1][2]] x 3
v2.rvt [[1][2] [1][2] [1][2]] x 5
v3.rvt [[1][2] [1][2] [1][2]] x 2
The changes are small, some doors are narrower, some window higher, but they have to be scheduled.

I see two ways:
A) Use Design options in same v1.rvt

 - If more changes are introduced, the Design option management can become nightmare and even now I am not sure how this will work with groups.

B) Duplicate the v1.rvt Revit file two times and introduce the changes for file v2.rvt and file v3.rvt

 - Every new drawing and change that is introduced to all houses has to be copied 2 times.

How do you manage these types of projects? 

[vitorbortoncello]

I would prefer to work with Revit links, as the file becomes lighter and you can still schedule the elements. Duplicate the files and insert them as a link.

[esatis]

So you would have one main v0.rvt file, and then link v1 v2 v3 ?
Where would you manage sheets? On that v0? Isn't there limitations of links, I have heard that there are problems with dimensions and schedules with this type of workflow.

[vitorbortoncello]

Yes. In the "v0". I use sheet lists, and select include elements in links, that way i can view the whole documentation and file names.

I never had problems with schedules or dimensions. You can always pin your linked files to preserve their positions and dimensions, and the elements in the links are included in the schedules as you copy them

[barthbradley]

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@esatis wrote:

How do you manage these types of projects? 

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In order to advise you on "how do you manage these types of projects", I would have to know exactly what you mean by "manage" and "type of  project". You say you "were able to produce drawings" from this project type, but what kind of drawings you didn't say.  What are the deliverables?  

Need lots more information.  

[esatis]

Hi,
`manage` - workflow
`type of project` - multi housing project, with many almost the same houses, but not all. Say in groups of 3,5,2, but differences are small, just some minot door, window sizes. for now..
`were able to produce drawings` - drawing packages for design and build company, meaning, all the architecture plans, sections etc. + detail drawings and material takeoffs.

[barthbradley]

HUH?  Are you saying that you are planning the construction of multiple different houses in the same Project? Aren't all these houses permitted separately?  If so, they should each be in their own Project.  I don't know how you could "manage" it any other way.   I couldn't.  

[vitorbortoncello]

When working with multiple buildings on the same site, we typically use a "site" file.
Each building has its own separate file, which we later link into the site file...and that's' it.
That way i can easily control sheets, schedules and drawings.