SCRUG 2-20-2014

The South Coast Revit User Group had its monthly meeting last night. There were visitors from the Santiago High School architecture program (thanks Bill Brown) looking for internships. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Nick Kramer. His analysis of detailing and the detailed comparison between methods was stellar. Essentially architecture firms are divided into three methods of documenting 2D details of projects:
• Detailing with lines and text - this method is the same as the centuries old paper and pencil method or AutoCad method
• Using the keynote system built into Revit (material, element or user) - this method uses an external text file to help keep a consistency throughout a project
• Detail Components and detail tags - this method harnesses the database power of Revit

Nick reviewed the three methods and listed the pros and cons of each. There is a great power to the third method. It offers portability - the "notes" are connected to the geometry. It offers fast revisions - a change to one means a change to all whether it is the note or switching the component.

A side discussion developed about the shift in the field of Architecture. Drafters are disappearing. People working on projects are expected to understand what the lines mean in a project. Is the line a door? What is the nature of doors? Doors belong in walls and have size parameters based on code and use. People working in the Architecture industry are required to know something of architecture and not just how to draw or use software. Looking around the industry, several firms have let their "drafters" go. HMC, gkkworks, Perkowitz+Ruth Architects, ...