Question regarding setting up a central file/ best practices'

[MLynch1]

I have a project, and within this project there are a number of elements:

1. Building 1 - the main structure
2. Building 2 - secondary structure
3. Building 3 - tertiary structure 
4. Site works and elements

Currently, we have three separate project files being worked on by three difference people on the three building elements. It was always my intention to then combine (or link) the project files into one central project file, which would also be where the site information would be modelled. 

It is probably my Autocad background that is steering me into setting up everything like that, but I am worried that my approach is flawed or even completely wrong, from a Revit point of view.

So my question is how should I approach combining the different files into one file, or is combining the files even that necessary or required at all? I'm hoping for some help from a best practice standpoint?

[Alfredo_Medina · Accepted solution]

My opinion: all the structural teams, if they are the same office, could work in the same model, and that becomes the structural model that everyone shares. To separate liabilities, create 3 worksets (or 4) one for each team. Work together, simply don't work using the same workset. Each team will have their own views. One building per model, one discipline per model. That is the best practice. Site works (if it is related to structure) can be in the same model, in its own workset. 

[RSomppi · Accepted solution]

You thinking is not flawed. 

How you approach this is often based on the nature of the project and how you prefer to work. Having multiple buildings with multiple floors in the same model can lead to confusion when working with levels but having multiple models for small fairly simple buildings can be quite convenient when it comes to managing the project.

Personally, if it's already set-up with separate models, I would continue with that approach. These kind of things are better to decide BEFORE the project starts as changing midstream can be troublesome.

[MLynch1]

@RSomppi Then my stupid question would be how would you go about creating the overall site plan with all of the elements combined? 

[RSomppi]

Link in the buildings and draw site stuff in that model.