Welcome to the second edition of Mastering Revit Architecture, based on the Revit Architecture 2010 release.
This book follows on the heels of our updated Introducing Revit Architecture 2010 (Wiley, 2009). In preparing the 2010 edition of the Mastering book, we took the opportunity to introduce some of the features new to the 2010 release of the software, to rewrite large portions of the text, and to polish up the rest, taking into consideration comments and suggestions from many readers and friends. Working as a team of three authors, we kept one another in constant check, each of us writing, reviewing, editing, and updating as chapters rolled out. One additional change we made to the previous edition of the book was to break some of the longer chapters into more bite-sized morsels, which we hope resulted in chapters that flow better and give you some breathing room as you move through the book.
Writing books looks easier than it truly is. What drives and inspires us is the feeling that we're doing something important: sharing our best knowledge and practices about Revit and building information modeling (BIM) with those who are already acquainted with its incredible power and feel the need to go deeper and further to fully leverage its abilities and values. We want to help you make better designs, be more efficient in creating correct documentation, learn some new techniques, and put some fun back into using software.
We also wanted to write a book that is as much about architectural design and practice as it is about software. We think we've succeeded, because the book follows real-life workflows and scenarios and is full of practical examples that show how to use Revit practically and creatively.
This book is written for architects who have already gotten their feet wet with Revit and are eager to learn more so they can optimize workflow and leverage the full power of this tool. It's for architects of any generation—you don't need to be a high-tech wizard to dive into this book. However, a basic understanding of Revit will make it easier to work through the book. Revit is very rich, and the topics we've selected include some of the most widely used ones, as well as some of the least understood. Many more books need to be written to cover the entire world of Revit.
This book is also for the seasoned user who has already received training or has started working on projects with Revit and is looking to discover useful best practices and tips that will make the work on a project smoother and the implementation easier. We've added many time-saving and inspiring concepts to the book, supported by examples from architect friends and colleagues from all around the world, to motivate you and help you on your journey into the new era of building information modeling. For BIM managers, the book offers insights into the best practices for creating good project or office templates; these managers should also take a sneak peek into the powerful world of building content and Revit families.
This book will help you take the basics of Revit and BIM that you already know and expand on them using real-world examples. We will show you how to take a preliminary model and add layers of intelligence to help analyze and augment your designs.
In this particular volume, we go beyond introductory topics. Thus, we won't be starting a project from scratch or teaching you how to build a simplified BIM model from the ground up. (If you are interested in that approach, please see Introducing Revit Architecture 2010 [Wiley, 2009], which is meant to be complementary to this book). Instead, our book begins with a brief overview of the BIM approach. As you are already aware, BIM is more than just a change in software; it's a change in architectural workflow and culture. To leverage the full advantages of both BIM and Revit in your office structure, you will need to make some changes to your practice. We've designed the book around an ideal, integrated workflow to help you make this transition.
Starting with the workflows for conceptual design and feasibility studies, it continues through best practices for design iteration and refinement. You'll learn about powerful modeling techniques, design documentation best practices, how to make compelling presentation graphics, parametric design with the family editor, workflow topics like tracking changes and worksharing, and some strategies for sustainable design. The book concludes with an appendix on troubleshooting and best practices so you can avoid common pitfalls. Throughout the book we've tried to share our practical experience with you, particularly in the form of Real-World Scenario sidebars.
Whether you're studying Revit on your own or in a class or training program, you can use the Master It questions in the Bottom Line section at the end of each chapter to test your mastery of the skills you've learned.
Also featured is a color project gallery containing inspirational Revit projects from friends and colleagues who were generous enough to share their good work with the rest of the world.
All the tutorial files necessary to complete the book's exercises plus sample families are hosted online at www.sybex.com/go/masteringrevit2010. To download the trial version of Revit Architecture, go to www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecture, where you'll also find complete system requirements for running Revit.
Enjoy! Revit has changed our lives. Maybe it will change yours as well.
We welcome your feedback! Please feel free to email us at [email protected].
Go Revit!
Greg, Tanja, and Eddy
The Mastering series from Sybex provides outstanding instruction for readers with intermediate and advanced skills, in the form of top-notch training and development for those already working in their field and clear, serious education for those aspiring to become pros. Every Mastering book includes:
Real-World Scenarios, ranging from case studies to interviews, that show how the tool, technique, or knowledge presented is applied in actual practice
Skill-based instruction, with chapters organized around real tasks rather than abstract concepts or subjects
Self-review test questions, so you can be certain you're equipped to do the job right