Сourse

«BIM : from sketch to digital twin»

Lesson 3
«Creation an architectural model»

Alexander Vysotskiy
 The course «BIM: FROM SKETCH TO DIGITAL TWIN» is aimed at creating a
system of knowledge in the field of building information modeling (BIM). In this course
students will learn basics of designing building models including all MEP systems and
site around the building using Revit; will create renders and images of designed building
for the project presentation with Twinmotion; will try simulating construction process and
clash detectives with Navisworks, will immerse themselves in the daily workflow using
unified platform connecting project teams and data in real-time with BIM 360, finally, will
understand what digital twin stands for and will observe it in Project Dasher.

This course is created by Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University,
Vysotskiy Consulting
Сontents
Adaptives .............................................................................................................. 4
Adaptives. Examples .......................................................................................... 13
Area .................................................................................................................... 20
Grids and levels .................................................................................................. 40
Walls ................................................................................................................... 54
Doors and windows............................................................................................. 74
Floor creation and properties .............................................................................. 80
Roof .................................................................................................................... 84
Foundation .......................................................................................................... 90
Ceilings ............................................................................................................... 92
Columns.............................................................................................................. 94
Railings ............................................................................................................... 98
Stairs................................................................................................................. 101
Furniture ........................................................................................................... 111
Model in-place .................................................................................................. 118
Room logic ........................................................................................................ 119
Room creation .................................................................................................. 122

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 Adaptives
In this project we will create quite ordinary building with flat elements but you need
to know that it is extremely powerful tool to create complex shapes with a lot of curved
elements.
Usually, to do this there are two main elements:
1. mass like a shape - a tool which allows you to create almost any shape and
then convert it to three dimensional objects and modify as you wish
2. an adaptive component.

Choose «In-Place Mass» in Massing&Site.

After that draw 2 rectangles in the free space using corresponding option.

Rotate one of the rectangles around its axis by 21 degrees clicking on the
corresponding icon.

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 Finally, to convert rectangles to 3D view, click on rectangular first, then use button
«Create Form». Do it with rectangles one after another.

You can change its dimensions by using colored directions of axes.

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 To join shapes, click on «Join» icon in Geometry section, after that click on each
volume one after another.

You can modify any corner, edge by clicking on it and pulling the axis.

Finally, click on «Finish Mass».

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 After you finish updating shapes, you can easily create some objects on it like
roof, walls and even like some complex curtain systems. Choose any of these options
and click on needed part of the volume.

You can choose Shaded visual style at the bottom of the screen.

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 To create Curtain systems, just click on its icon in Massing&Site, then choose
volume’s plane.

Finally, click on «Create Systems».

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 Another tool is an adaptive component. It is a special tool which allows you to
create complex elements, not entire building, but some of its parts.
1. Create new in-place mass.

Then set work plane and draw spline through points.

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Do the same on the opposite side.

Click on both lines and choose «Create forms».

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 Now you’re able to divide surface. Click on it and chose corresponding option at
the top.

You may choose any pattern you want from the dropdown list and then fill these
patterns with adaptive components.

Moreover, it is possible to change number U and V grids.

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 Adaptives. Examples
To show Revit modelling possibilities, a number of projects of Saint-Petersburg
Polytechnical university students will be presented.
The first one is a gas station.

It has complicated curved walls.

As a curved shape was made using mass, it is possible to modify it somehow, for
example, number of grids. Notice that, to work with such number of small elements, you
need a powerful computer.

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The second project is modern art center.

Here is Revit model.

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Below is a mass with different planes and splines.

The 3rd example is a TV tower.

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Revit model of TV tower.

And its mass elements.

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4th project is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

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The last project is a Saint-Petersburg football stadium on Krestovsky Island.

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 So now you have enough information about mass modelling to start doing your
first project. Practice and become more skillful to do advanced tasks!

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 Area

In Revit you can create design solutions and drawings, schedules even without
any 3D component. Area is a possibility to divide your future building in some areas,
divide only with lines, then calculate an area of regions, add parameters (name, number),
fill with different color, calculate its parameters in schedules and even produce drawings.
It is very handy to modify areas by changing positions of its boundaries while all
parameters change automatically.

In this practice we’ll create area plan. To do this you need to create new project.
In the opened window from the dropdown list choose Metric-Architectural template.

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At the top choose Area plan from Area button.

Select all floors by holding Ctrl key.

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 Choose yes in the small window.

Your current view is shown with bold letters in Project browser, or at the top as an
active window.

We need Level 1 and we are ready to draw a first shape of our building.

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 Select «Area Boundary» and draw boundaries of the building and its rooms. Pay
attention and do not choose Modal Line. If an icon of «Area Boundary» is not active, it
means you’re not in Area Plans.

So, let’s start. Choose the line as a drawing element. Select «Move with nearby
elements».

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 You can specify distance by clicking on the first point of the line. To draw this line
you can choose its length by moving mouse or by writing it, then click again to make the
line.

Draw the same plan as below.

You can modify your plan by using corresponding option from the panel.

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 You can also write any dimension you want instead of using special buttons.

To copy your plan from the first level to the second, you need to select all the lines,
copy them to Clipboard.

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After that go to the Level 2 and paste aligned to Current View.

Change the plan as below.

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 Area is like a room, but without walls to bound it. To define area of «Area», choose
Area from the dropdown list, then put it inside confined space one by one.

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 Do the same with the second floor.

To calculate areas in the schedule easily, we need to specify its type. Chosen
rooms will relate to Store Area, where people will work in our restaurant.

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Two rooms will be main Floor Area.

Two big rooms of the second floor will be specified as Floor Area.

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 The last room on the second floor will be stairs – Building Common Area.

We can fill areas according to its parameters. Choose Color Fill Legend from
Annotate.

Place it somewhere in the free space. Click on OK in the opened window.

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Areas will be automatically colored in differently according to its type.

The same with the second floor.

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Now let’s unite areas in schedules. Find Schedule/Quantities in View.

Specify Area (Rentable) category.

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Add following scheduled fields: Name, Number, Area, Area Type.

Choose to sort by Area Type (Header), then by Number.

In Formatting specify Area Type as Hidden Field.

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Choose to calculate totals in Area.

You should receive the following Schedule:

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Place the views of Level 1 and Schedule as a tile.

Let’s name Areas as shown below.

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If you wish, you can separate Areas from different levels.
Firstly, add Level to Scheduled fields.

Then choose to sort by Level (Header), then by Area Type (Header) and Number.

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Also, let’s specify Level will be hidden field.

You can also add some totals as a footer.

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Result:

Or totals for Area Type.

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Result:

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 Grids and levels
Grid is a line with a tag on one or two its ends. Tool «Grid» is placed in Architectural
tab. Select this tool.

Grid can be of any shape – straight, curved, multi-segment.

By default you have 3 different types of grids which can be drawn in two clicks.

Make a click in one corner, then pull it down and make the second click. If you
want to place grid straightly horizontal or vertical, you need to hold down Shift key.

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Revit will call automatically grids like 1,2,3, etc., or A,B,C etc.

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 To save time of making new grids, you can copy them. Click on the grid, then
choose «Copy». Also check the box in Constrain and Multiple. Move the grid to the right
position and click again. Do it as much, as you need to.

Also, you can write down the distance you want. Choose to copy grid, move it away
and write down the distance number.

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 Put all grids like in the picture below:

Let’s add horizontal grids with tag on the left side. To do that, click on the corner
to the right, move it to the left and click again. You see, that it has a number instead of a
letter.
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Click inside the circle and write a letter A.

You can also use Properties window to change it.

Copy the grids with writing down the distance.

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 Add other grids like in the picture. You can see a small circle at the end of the grid.
If you click on it and move it, you’ll see that all ends of other grids move too. You can
unlock any grid by clicking on the lock to change the length of only one grid.

You can click on the chat box at the end of the grid to add a tag.

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 You can also change your grids to 2D, which means that you’ll setup grid only on
this level, in 3D you add grids for entire building.

You can change the shape of the grid at the end by clicking at Z-shape element.

You can edit grids in Edit Type, like duplicate it, rename or even change its
parameters.

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 Let’s consider Levels. To find them, open any of Elevation view. By clicking on any
of Level, you’ll see, that it has settings, elevation.

Let’s add Levels for the roof basement. First of all, click on Levels at the top.

Same as grids, make first click on 4 meters elevation from Level 2, move it to the
right and click again.

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Same with basement Level. Make double-click on Esc to end process.

Extend Levels to the 1st grid.

Moreover, we can rename Levels by clicking on it or in Properties.

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 It is highly recommended to rename corresponding views in order of better
orientation in views.

Now you can see renamed views in Project Browser and in View.

In Edit Type you can change position of non-plan view symbols, let’s put them at
the bottom.
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 Let’s move grids little bit down.

By the way, there is one think you need to be aware. Make tile views and open
Roof view. You’ll see no grids there.

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 You need to extend grids to the intersection with Roof. Otherwise you won’t see
them.

Do the same with letter grids on the East view.

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 If you copy new levels, they will appear with black bubbles. Black color means, that
these levels have no linked plan in Project Browser.

To unhide them all, choose Floor Plan from the dropdown list of Plan View.

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Choose levels you want to unhide and click OK.

After that you’ll see them in Project Browser.

In our course we don’t need these levels, just delete them.

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 Walls
Wall is our first 3D object in Revit. Click on Wall in Architecture. In the dropdown
list you’ll find 3 active elements: architectural wall is non-structural element, structural wall
is load-bearing wall, wall by face is used when creating mass model. We’ll use
architectural wall, let’s choose it.

If you see in Revit the message below, choose to save the project.

Revit has different wall types. Basic wall consists of several layers. Curtain wall
comprises glass and imposts. Stacked wall consists of different types of walls.

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 Click on 3D View to see walls in perspective. Rotate object with Shift+mouse
wheel.

To improve visual style, you can setup fine detail and shaded mode.

Make tile views and improve the view in the plan like upper.

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 Let’s check main parameters of the wall. You can draw walls with tools of different
shape: straight line, curved etc. Another important parameter is location line – line of wall
which coincide with lines of grids. Usually we use core centerline. It is handy to draw walls
like polyline, that’s why we need to check the box with Chain. Height of walls is important
in Levels.

Radius creates curved walls, especially with basic walls.

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 You can change properties of wall in Edit Type. To see it’s structure, click on
Preview.

Click to edit structure of the wall to change thickness of its layers. Here you can
see the main structure inside of Core Boundary.

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 You can change parameters of curtain walls, for example vertical and horizontal
grids, choose basic wall as a curtain panel etc.

In stacked walls you can change only structure.

Now just delete all train walls and let’s continue with project.
Now let’s build walls all around building. From the dropdown list choose Render
on Brick on Block.

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 Choose properties like below.

Make first click in the corner of the building. If wall has a wrong direction, click on
Space bar to mirror it.

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 Drag the mouse around the plan of the building to add exterior walls, like in the
picture below.

Let’s draw interior walls. Choose 225mm Masonry.

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Change properties.

To stop chain of the walls, tap Esc one time, then start from another point.

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 In intersections of walls direct mouse so, that small square appears. Then click
and drag the mouse to draw the wall.

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As you can see, all interior walls are located on areas separations.

Last step – supporting wall of terrace. It’ll have the same as interior wall type.

All walls you can see in the picture below.

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 As you can see, these walls have some dismission because of different
thicknesses.

To fix it, let’s change thickness exterior structural wall on 225mm in structure edit.

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We’ll use curtain wall as a window. So, let’s set them on the 1st and 2nd floors.
Choose all parameters as below.

Start on some distance from the corner and draw the line of 2000mm.

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 To highlight curtain wall, point mouse on it, then tap on Tab, until you find it.

Now, you can see small circle laying on the wall, drag it to the centerline, then write
500mm to align curtain wall.

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Reflect windows relative to the grids.

Now copy curtain wall.

Add the second window.

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 Let’s modify curtain walls little bit. Choose any of them, open edit type and change
spacing for horizontal grid on 1500mm.

Let’s do finishing works. First of all, change supporting wall height. It will stretch
from basement up to 1st floor.

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 Click on the wall and choose «Create Similar» to build the wall of this type. We
need to build walls around terrace and lower its exterior walls.

Draw specified walls.

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 Now we need to lower top constraint of terrace exterior wall to Level 2.

Then split the second wall in the intersection of 3 walls and lower its top to Level
2.

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 Select all curtain walls of Level 1, then copy them to clipboard, finally, align them
to Level 2.

Move chosen curtain walls to opposite wall.

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Lower highlighted walls to Level 2.

Add similar basic walls like on the screen up to Roof.

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 Doors and windows
To place doors and windows, you need following icons in Architecture. Let’s add
doors.

Before we start, we can load family for doors. In opened window find Doors and
Commercial. Chose following doors and click Open.

In the next window specify selected doors as you want to.

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Now start adding doors. Let’s begin with Double doors.

Keep adding doors.

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 Now let’s add two types single doors.

Now we can turn to Level 2. Before we start adding doors, let’s dram interior walls
around stairs.

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 Add 2 double doors on Level 2.

Now select Window in Architecture bar. If you can’t find suitable dimension of the
window, you can easily change it in Edit Type. Just duplicate any type, rename it, e.g.
800x1000mm and change its dimensions.

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Now add some windows, then copy them to clipboard and paste to Level 2.

Now add windows to working rooms, change type to 915x1220mm.

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Select small windows with sill height 1500mm for WC.

Add last windows like in working rooms.

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 Floor creation and properties

In this part we’ll consider floor creation. In Revit there’re 3 types of floors:
architectural (non-bearing), structural (load-bearing), slab edge (for mass models).

Choose Architectural. When drawing floor lines, you’re not able to use other
options. To make floor, you need to draw closed domain. Revit forbids unjointed,
intersected lines and multiple lines (when some lines coincide). But you’re able to draw
inside of contour, like openings.

Also, to finish sketch, you can cancel or apply it with special buttons.

Floors like walls have different properties which can be changed in Edit Type.

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 Choose architectural floor. In properties find Insitu Concrete 225mm. The handiest
tool for making floors is Pick wall. When you choose it, just click on walls around building.
If you have chain walls, use Tab key to choose all walls.

Also, you can use simple line to draw contour of floor. You need to drag line along
exterior part of wall structure.

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 Revit has a number of tools to modify lines of floor, e.g. split, which enables you to
make a gap and add extend contour for cargo or entrance.

As you finish drawing contour, you’ll receive message about attaching walls to
bottom. It’s not necessary now, so you can not attach them.

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 Let’s do the same on Level 2 with the use of pick walls. Just move pointed line to
cover terrace.

When you get following message, choose «Yes» all the time in order to prevent
double calculations of needed materials.

You can see lines separating walls from floor. To unite them, use Join tool and
click on wall and floor one after another.

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 Roof
Let’s place a roof. It has 3 types: roof by Footprint (like floor but with slopes on its
ends), roof by extrusion (create roof from sketch you draw) and roof by Face (used in
mass models).

Choose roof by Footprint. It has similar drawing tools to floor but with some
triangles at the center of each side. In properties you can check box for slope on each
side or clean it.

In our project we’ll use flat roofs in the main areas and roof by Footprint above
terraces.
Use pick tool and draw contour of roof above first part of the building like in the
picture below.

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Now lift it up to Level 2.

Repeat all steps with Roof floor to cover areas.

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 If some walls cut your roof, select these walls and attach their top to roof by clicking
on corresponding icon.

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 You can add some roof above entrance. Just draw square and define 3 slopes with
angle in 10 degrees. Then move it to Level 2 and make base offset -1000mm.

The second type of roof is roof by Extrusion.

We’ll pick a plane to draw a line.

Choose edge of the building.

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Choose a simple line to draw inclined roof. Then specify type of the roof.

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 To attach roof to the edge of building, select Align tool, then click on the edge of
the building, then on roof.
Copy roof to Level 1 with corresponding tool from Right view.

You can change length of line just writing it down.

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 Foundation

There are 3 types of foundation in Revit in Structure tab.

1. Isolated foundation is placed under column. Firstly, you need to build a

column, then add isolated foundation from Structural Foundations family, finally, click on
the column.

2. Wall foundation creates foundations hosted by walls. Choose this option,

then click on walls to add foundation underneath.

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3. Slab which is a floor in foundation category. Draw it like floor with pick tool.

Foundation has quite similar property windows to floor.

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 Ceilings

To create ceiling, choose its icon from Arcitecture tab.

There are to different ways to build ceiling:

1. Automatic ceiling which creates at a specified distance above level;
2. Sketch ceiling which you need to draw with the use of lines.
To create ceiling, you need to look up, that’s why you need to open Ceiling plan
view.
Firstly, you can use automatic ceiling. Before doing that, specify type of your ceiling
like Compound ceiling.

Use sketch ceiling for parts which can’t be created automatically.

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Use Align tool to unite and align ceilings in different areas.

On the 2nd floor we don’t need ceiling in this course, but it’s up to your solutions.

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 Columns
As other elements, there are load-bearing and non-bearing columns. In our course
we’ll use Structural (load-bearing) column.

Specify 1st floor and load concrete square columns from structural columns.

Change depth on height at the top and add columns on the intersections of grids.
You can also use multiple adding «At Grids» to ease work.

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Change constraints for columns.

Then, load family of steel columns for terrace roof and choose any type.

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Add them on Level 1 at the intersections of grids like in the picture below.

Do the same on Level 2.

Finally, attach columns to terrace roofs with the use of corresponding button.

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 Railings
Railings in Revit are quite interesting components. They can consist of different
elements and railing profiles.

Even these rails, summer garden fans can be designed in Revit.

In general, railings comprise rails like extruded profiles and some repeated
elements called balusters.
There are 2 types of railings in Revit: Sketch Path (made by sketch) and Place on
Stair/Ramp.

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 In railings we don’t need to draw closed region, just a line on the borders of our
area. Choose Sketch Path and draw a line.

Draw other railings, you can choose different type.

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You can also change type properties in Edit Type.

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 Stairs
In Revit there are 3 different types of stairs:
1. Assembled stair consists of runs which have supports, landing and railing;
2. Cast-in-place stair – runs and landing are one object;
3. Precast stair comprises runs and landing.
To analyze selected stairs, click on Selection Box icon.

When designing stairs, you can specify its height, tread depth, number of risers,
etc.

When you set first point of stairs, Revit shows number of created and remained
risers in case of one run.

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 If you want to make several runs, just make one and click, then on some distance
from the first run start dragging mouse to desired direction and click again. This way, you
can add as much runs as you want.

In our project we need to place 2 stairs – in special room and near Cargo.

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 Specify properties like in the picture below and start drawing runs. Our stair will
consist of 3 runs.

Place runs like in the picture below.

Align two parts of stairs with corresponding tool.

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 We’ll use no railings.

You can see your stairs in Selection Box.

Now we need to add Opening. The best way is to realize it, with Shaft tool at the
top. Draw square inside of stairs room.

Don’t forget to join floor with run of stairs.

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Let’s add stairs near Cargo. Change its properties like in the picture below.

To change diretion of stairs, click on arrow nearby. Finally, choin stair with floor.

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Extend floor on the width of run.

Add remained doors in Cargo.

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 You can check how everything looks inside, click on triangle in view cube and find
Floor Plan: Level 1 there.

In the end of learning stairs, we’ll make curved stairs at the entrance of our building.
Specify this stairs as in the picture below.

We’ll create our stair by sketching the shape.

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Draw curved line, then mirror it relative to the drawn line.

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 Start drawing risers. Draw straight line in the beginning of the entrance joining two
curved lines, draw another curved line at the end, then copy it with 500mm offset. Don’t
forget to flip stairs up direction.

Click on Railing tool, choose to place on stairs and click on stairs.

To close gap between railings and walls, let’s draw simple line and make height
correction on -100mm.
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 Furniture
To add furniture, we need to load its families. Let’s start with tables.

Loaded families you can find in Component in Architecture tab or in Project

Browser in Families.

Add tables where ever you want.

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 On terrace add tables with two chairs. To do this, duplicate table with four chairs
and set only 2.

Copy them along all terrace.

Load some sofa and desk families and locate them somewhere near the window
like in the picture below.

Select all 3 features and create a model group using special tool.

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 Place all furniture somehow like in the picture below.

Also, we need steel stairs in our project. Load its family in Specialty Equipment
and find Ladders there.

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 Place these ladders somewhere like in the picture below.

Do some corrections with ladders: open West elevation view, align its supports
with fence level, make them have the same center.

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 Click on the upper ladder and on button «Edit Family». In the opened window
delete horizontal elements and then load into project and close.

Overwrite the existing version.

Finally, we’ll add plumbing fixtures. Open Plumbing Fixture in Systems tab. Load
family next way: Plumbing – Architectural – Fixtures – Water Closets and Sinks.

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Place fixtures somehow in the picture below.

Add boundaries with corresponding properties.

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Mirror all these fixtures relative to the grid.

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 Model in-place
To create complex objects in Revit, it’s handy to use Model In-Place.

You can realize even more complex objects using this tool.

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 Room logic
Recently, we used Area tool to divide different parts of the building depending on
their purpose.
There is one more tool – Room which creates a room bounded by different
elements such as walls, doors, etc. The main difference between these two tools is that
Area is commonly used in sketch project (first steps of project), while Room is used when
we need to name every part of the building.

When you try to place room, Revit automatically analyzes its boundaries. Click
inside area to add room.

You can check room area – it will be less than area of Area because room is
bounded by walls.

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 Room also can calculate volume. Click on Area and Volume Computations and
choose Areas and Volumes.

Add constraints – Upper Limit to be Level 2 and check volume.

Also, you can use Room Separator tool to divide room in smaller parts or add
balcony which hasn’t got boundaries.

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 You may ignore wall as room bounding unchecking box with it in Properties, so
area will be more than with this wall.

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 Room creation
Now we’ll add rooms in our project. Click on Room tool and change in properties
Upper Limit on Level 2 with 0 Limit Offset. Then click in every room to add its number.

We have wall bounding terrace on Level 2, but only railings on Level 1, that’s why
we can’t add room on terrace on Level 1.

Use Room Separator and draw lines along railings to add room there.

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The last thing we need to do, is to duplicate area names in rooms.

Now our building has rooms with proper names.

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This course was developed with the support of the "Open
Polytech" educational project

Online courses from the top instructors of SPbPU

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