Here is an example of BIM showing mechanical structural and architectural elements.

Mira Costa College Creative Arts Building

I worked as the Job Captain on this building. It served as a replacement for several nondescript buildings that were suffering from structural damage. It is three stories and houses students for the fine arts and music programs.

Calculating Allowable Area

I came across this website. It can help you to see if you have a viable basis for adding area to a project under the IBC. Please note that it will not work 100% for the California Building Code because it does not have the amendments built into it. However it is a good starting point.

Breaking it down

Sometimes it doesn't take much to break up a boring space. Take a look at this article on how to make dramatic changes with only electrical tape and foam core.

reminder of where accessibility laws come from...

The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), a federal law created in 1968 that stipulates all buildings, other than privately owned residential facilities, constructed by or on behalf of, or leased by the United States, or buildings financed in whole or in part by the United States, must be physically accessible for people with disabilities.

 The Rehabilitation Act is a federal law first passed in 1973. The purpose of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was to make sure that people with disabilities will have the same opportunities in federally funded programs as people without disabilities. For example, this section is very important in the design of schools and universities. Both physical access to the buildings and spaces, as well as equal access to participation in the programs, must be available.

Thanks to ICC for summary

Thanks Steve

Here is a great blog post that brings up a major BIM/Revit issue.
Who owns the model? The creator of it.
What happens when it is shared to a contractor? They use it to do area take-offs and they build to the model and ignore the documentation.

Heavy Stuff.

The Pocket Book of Patriotism

This book includes a history of the world compared with the history of the United States. It marks notable events from science, religion, arts, popular culture, war and disaster. The second half of the book is a collection of documents that influenced our present day United States. It is well worth a read and could easily be used as a reference.