IIDA Michigan Chapter info@michiganiida.org

darkgreendarkbluetextlightgreenborder

Insert title text here ...

Karen Stauffer, IIDA, LEED AP

Chapter President

FEATURE ARTICLE Revit Vs. AutoCAD, who will ultimately win? AutoCAD has been the leading computer aided drafting software since the mid-80's if not earlier, but many of our local firms are starting to incorporate BIM software such as Revit into their projects. Building Information Modeling is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle. BIM is a process and the CAD products that support this process are defined as BIM compatible. Both Revit Architecture and AutoCAD Architecture are BIM compatible. Both also have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm going to summarize a short discussion below composed of comments taken from interior designers, architects and architectural drafting staff, who have been working with both software systems in an effort to understand some of the benefits to each. One Model, Many Views: All building model information is stored in a single, coordinated database, but allows for many different views when using Revit Architecture. Schedules, drawing sheets, 2D views, and 3D views are all generated at one time. Many views may be opened at the same time and any changes made in one view are automatically updated in all other views. Plans, sections, and 3D views can be opened side by side so that you can verify that moving or deleting a component in one view will automatically coordinate the changes in the section and the 3D view as well. This feature allows efficiency in that a change anywhere is a change everywhere, which is extremely valuable in limiting risk for drawing errors. Single File, Multi-users: AutoCAD users are accustomed to storing and retrieving project data from multiple files. Revit Architecture users can find all project data in a single database. This creates a more collaborative environment between users because everyone is working on the same model simultaneously, which means everyone working on the model must coordinate and maintain constant communication with one another. Every time someone saves their work, the changes are incorporated and update in the central file. 3D design: A major difference between Revit Architecture and AutoCAD is that you work with intelligent objects rather than lines and curves. This is a tremendous productivity gain because, unlike traditional drafting with AutoCAD, which requires a wall to be drawn several times, once for floor plan, once for elevation, and then again in section, you only model the wall once within Revit Architecture, and at any given time, you can display this information as floor plans, sections, schedules, and perspectives, etc. Training: So do you need to understanding AutoCAD before you can use Revit? Most designers would say “no”, but having the basic understanding of drafting software never hurts. If you have been an AutoCAD user for most of your career there is certainly a learning curve and loss of productivity until that understanding is gained, but for those utilizing Revit Architecture on a daily basis for sometime seem to agree that the process is much more steam-lined for larger construction documentation packages coordinated with many different disciplines. It is also a benefit when working with third parties who may not be sitting in the same office, but who are part of your project team. Will one software replace the other? Probably not for a long time, but as always it’s best to stay in the mindset of continual learning. If you have the opportunity to learn Revit do it. If you’re just starting to learn drafting software in general, learn both, you’ll be seeing both for the foreseeable future.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT February marks the first of two annual Chapter Leadership Conferences (CLC’s) held in Chicago at IIDA headquarters (HQ) in Chicago. This year our Chapter President-Elect, Mary Bamborough and I were in attendance to represent our Chapter. The CLC’s give you an opportunity to be a part of the greater conversation of design by giving us a platform to have all Chapter Presidents & typically President-Elects in the same room for a full weekend. Yes, they can be long days, but they are GREAT experiences to network with other Chapters, large & small, and share your achievements or frustrations in an effort to become a stronger Chapter. This year IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council) is releasing a new website which will be a much needed improvement to helping us to find & maintain the database of pre-approved CEU’s. They have also moved toward a self-reporting structure for recording and reporting your CEU’s. Watch for a bigger announcement in the next few months. February is also a month for Chapter Board nominations. If you are a Professional or Associate member you should have received your nominations form last week. If you’re wondering why you haven’t received it yet, ask yourself if you have renewed your membership for the year?? Nominations are open all Professional & Associate IIDA members in good standing. If we cannot fill our Chapter Executive Board with a Professional or Associate member, we open that up to all types of IIDA membership. Typically, our board is a mix of membership types, which I believe gives us a broad perspective and voice for where the Chapter is headed. Please see the attached nominations cover letter and application. If you have an interest in participating at the Chapter Board level please contact me or Mary Bamborough for more information: karen.stauffer@michiganiida.org or mary.bamborough@michiganiida.org. Or simply fill out the nominations form. Thank you for supporting your local Michigan Chapter of IIDA!!