Revit Architecture ?????

[Justin Clary]

Just went through a demo for Revit Architecture today. Its made by autodesk and looks to be a cross between adt and sketchUp, has anyone in here use it or knows someone who does?? The software looks easy enough but how well does it transfer to other subs not using similar software. Looking for personal experience or willing to give opinion on it to those who have not heard of it.

[Strix]

:shock: please don't shout!! we're not blind here you know :wink:

[behningt]

Wow! :shock: Sometimes I forget that there are people out there who have not heard of Revit. Revit is awesome. Most architectural firms should are ready be using it or starting to look at it. Revit sales have passed the 200,000 mark and are quiclky moving on to 300k.
My career is is based on migrating companies from Autocad or ADT to Revit. I used to love ADT but realized that Revit blows ADT out of the water. Many colleges are starting to teach it.
Check out AUGI.com http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93 and see what everybody is talking about.

About transfering to subs; It works great. We export to dwg files and send them to everyone without any problems.

Todd Behning
todd@behning.com

[Revit3D]

Just went through a demo for Revit Architecture today. Its made by autodesk and looks to be a cross between adt and sketchUp, has anyone in here use it or knows someone who does?? The software looks easy enough but how well does it transfer to other subs not using similar software. Looking for personal experience or willing to give opinion on it to those who have not heard of it.

1. download Revit Architecture @ www.tryrevit.com (http://www.tryrevit.com)
2. do the Getting Started Guide @ www.revitguide.com (http://www.revitguide.com)
3. see a bunch of demos @ www.revitvideos.com (http://www.revitvideos.com)

Revit is now 8 years old and there have been 29 releases of it including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. You can import in Autocad drawings and export a Revit model out to Autocad with all of your standard layers.

Revit comes bundled with Autocad anyway, so you may as well start playing around with it sooner than later as Autodesk is selling 8000 seats a month and there are 225,000 users of it already.

[cadclutze]

I heard today that revit will not save to an earlier version. Therefor if you work with someone who uses the latest version you are forced to upgrade. I belikeve this to be a big obsticle. we deal with architects and with vendors using autocad 2000 all the way to revit 9 and autocad 2008. Why are we, the end user, allowing the autocad corp to keep us broke.

[Revit3D]

I heard today that revit will not save to an earlier version. Therefor if you work with someone who uses the latest version you are forced to upgrade. I belikeve this to be a big obsticle. we deal with architects and with vendors using autocad 2000 all the way to revit 9 and autocad 2008. Why are we, the end user, allowing the autocad corp to keep us broke.

First of all, it's Autodesk, not the Autocad corp. If you don't like the software, go back to pencil and paper and don't use the computer for drafting. Also, stop using email, the fax machine and your cellphone. All of those companies are out to get your money as well. Don't leave your house and drive your car, because the gas companies want what's in your wallet as well. Autodesk spent $133 million in cash and $120 million in stock options to purchase Revit. Since 2002, they've created Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. They've purchased Constructware, Navisworks and almost bought Robot, a structural analysis company.

You're absolutely correct. Oh my gosh...how horrible. You should keep doing things the same way and have everyone using a different version of the software. Also, make sure that everyone uses a different layering, line colors and line weights so everything will be completely uncoordinated and inconsistent. Make sure to put your plumbing fixtures and an obscure layer so when your MEP engineer cleans up your 2008 file using LT 2000, he'll be sure to delete items by accident.

[Gary_W]

First of all, it's Autodesk, not the Autocad corp. If you don't like the software, go back to pencil and paper and don't use the computer for drafting. Also, stop using email, the fax machine and your cellphone. All of those companies are out to get your money as well. Don't leave your house and drive your car, because the gas companies want what's in your wallet as well. Autodesk spent $133 million in cash and $120 million in stock options to purchase Revit. Since 2002, they've created Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. They've purchased Constructware, Navisworks and almost bought Robot, a structural analysis company.

You're absolutely correct. Oh my gosh...how horrible. You should keep doing things the same way and have everyone using a different version of the software. Also, make sure that everyone uses a different layering, line colors and line weights so everything will be completely uncoordinated and inconsistent. Make sure to put your plumbing fixtures and an obscure layer so when your MEP engineer cleans up your 2008 file using LT 2000, he'll be sure to delete items by accident.

Revit3D

He didn't say he "Didn't Like" the software, he doesn't like the idea of being "Forced" to buy/upgrade the software simply because of its drawbacks. I agree with him as it happens. This would have been a very easy option to add to the software! but they didn't.

Your comparisons argument is extremely lame. I don't know a cell phone/fax/e-mail/computer company who charge us between $4-8K for a purchase and/or upgrade! and if they did, at least it would be "Ours" to keep, use and sell on as we see fit... Unlike Autodesk.

On the subject! why do we in the UK have to pay $8,000 for the same software that is sold in the US for $4,000 ??? Does it cost $4,000 for postage?

[PS_Port]

:o Any guesses what Revit3D does for a job :roll:

[f700es]

I was also approached to use Revit by a local rep a few years ago. I had my doubts but I asked them over non the less. Basically it came down to using a program that was well suited for normal construction documentation. Too bad I didn't need it. At the time I was doing mainly conceptual design of retail spaces and design development of said spaces. I would then pass this off to a local AEC firm for CD's.
To me it seemed like... hooking up a car engine to my grass trimmer. Sure it might work but why make the effort for such overkill.
If it works for you, great :)

[Revit3D]

Yes, I will freely admit it. I sell Revit for a living. But I will also admit that I'm a third generation general contractor and my family has been in the construction business since the 1920s. Frankly, I don't care what software you use as long as you promise to have accurate door, wall and window schedules. Do you also promise to coordinate all of your section, elevation, callout and details numbers? Will you promise to coordinate all of the MEP and Structural drawings with the architectural drawings?

I'm just trying to reduce RFIs, Change Orders and Addendums. If all of you fabulous AutoCAD users would design efficiently, coordinate everything 100% and schedule every item accurately, we wouldn't need Revit or BIM.

My motivation is to fix the construction industry, not sell software.

I also offer free Revit training to any university, college or high school architecture student and they get the software for free.

Unlike most other Revit resellers, I've worked in the construction industry for 25 years and understand that the job ends when you get your final certificate of occupancy, not when you hand the roll of blueprints to the contractor. So, I'm here to help, educate and make your business more profitable. Be stubborn and proud, but print this out and in 5 years, let me know how much business you've lost to your competitors who've switched to BIM, because the owners and developers are starting to ask what software you're using to design your buildings.

[AMANDALEE]

We have just started the process of moving to REVIT here. 3 day intro course last week, it was an eye opener believe me.
As

[AMANDALEE]

We have just started the process of moving to REVIT here. 3 day intro course last week, it was an eye opener believe me.
As a draftsperson using Autocad and also involved in 3d for imaging it showed me how much time can be saved.As for the accuracy across sheets it is going to be a great move.

[RFRUSSO]

Revit3D, Justin Clary, behningt, what ever your name is, Revit is cool, but it isn't the end all be all. It should fix a lot of the things that we drafters need to try and keep up with, but the art of drafting is lost. And yes, even construction documents should be esthetically pleasing. They do have your com. logo on them after all. As for Revit not saving back, my understanding is that Revit uses network licenses so you pay for your licenses annually regardless to what version your using. Therefore upgrading doesn't cost the company any thing additional. And if I'm wrong, you just need to coordinate what software is being used in your pre-design meeting.

[f700es]

I'm just trying to reduce RFIs, Change Orders and Addendums. If all of you fabulous AutoCAD users would design efficiently, coordinate everything 100% and schedule every item accurately, we wouldn't need Revit or BIM.



:lol: Now this sounds like a mac user throwing off on Acad users. So if you use AutoCAD you can design efficiently? Well I do space planning for a medical casement company right now and Revit will not help me one bit. I guess I'll get back to errors and bad design. :roll:

[f700es]

Now on a more serious note. Revit is a good tool but it's just another tool in an ever expanding tool belt. You might need it and you might not. It just depends on what you are trying to do. I haven't played with it in a while. Might have to download a current demo and redraw one of the homes I did back when I worked for a developer.

[Revit3D]

Revit3D, Justin Clary, behningt, what ever your name is, Revit is cool, but it isn't the end all be all. It should fix a lot of the things that we drafters need to try and keep up with, but the art of drafting is lost. And yes, even construction documents should be esthetically pleasing. They do have your com. logo on them after all. As for Revit not saving back, my understanding is that Revit uses network licenses so you pay for your licenses annually regardless to what version your using. Therefore upgrading doesn't cost the company any thing additional. And if I'm wrong, you just need to coordinate what software is being used in your pre-design meeting.

Once you buy the license of Revit, subscription costs $725/license. That works out to $1.98/day, a minimal expense once you get used to the software and increase productivity. The subscription cost is $725 for Standalone and Network licenses. The $725 covers AutoCAD and Revit upgrades, so you will automatically receive each new version of both programs.

If you bough Revit 9.1/Autocad 2007, started subscription and have the upgrade to Revit/Autocad 2008 versions, you can use the older version as long as your subscription is active.

Autocad upgrades are $600/year. If you wait 3 years between upgrades, then it's $1800 to upgrade. You're not saving any money by not upgrading every year. It's costing you money in loss of time converting files backwards to give to those you work with not on current versions. Also, the longer you wait, the more new features you have to learn and that slows you down.

The Autocad mentality of upgrading once every 3 years is mostly based on Autodesk modifying the DWG file type every 3 years, 2000, 2004, 2007. I've found that many people have upgraded at 2002, 2005 and 2008 because of the perceptions of "bugs" that would be worked out that first year. After 25 years, I don't feel that's a logical approach to take, but that's your call.

Revit and Autocad differ where Autocad 2007, 2008 and 2009 are all cross compatible, but Revit Architecture 2008 will only work with Revit Structure 2008 and Revit MEP 2008.

You can also take a Revit model, drawing, elevation or any object and export it to any version of Autocad, so there goes the theory of not being able to work with engineers on older versions.

Finally, Revit+Autocad subscription is only $125 more per year than Autocad upgrades. That's 34 cents a day and a small price to pay for parametric modeling and increased productivity.

[StykFacE]

Revit3D, man you are coming off with a serious attitude for your 1st posts on this board. last I checked this is an AutoCAD forum board to help others in need and answer any and all questions they may have in a mature manner - none of which you have done in your posts.

I use Revit MEP and I will admit it is absolutely great. But do you know how many companies utilize this in the Dallas, TX area? not many. and this city is BOOMING with Mechanical/Architectural design. the fact remains: DWG and AutoCAD is still the standard.

The costs itself of the programs might look good on paper, but then you have to take other things into consideration. Like the labor hours needed for a current CAD guy to explore and learn the program, or the training/schooling involved. and if you want to hire an experienced Revit designer, well they're gonna cost you more than a good 'ol fashioned AutoCAD designer, because they're a dime a dozen. Then there's the constant upgrades of computer equipment to run a fully 3D program at a good speed; workstations that costs 5 times the amount of a low-grade computer that can still run AutoCAD very effeciently. Gotta include everything if you wanna harp on AutoCAD not being costs effecient.

Revit is capable of increased productivity, but that all depends on who's the driving force of the program.

Either way, I do not agree with how you came on here and immediately bashed a few people on here just because you sell Revit. you will find this is a very friendly board and we are all here to help, and everyone's opinion matters and is helpful to the person that started the thread. Correct what is wrong, but you shouldn't belittle fellow posters on this board.

8)

[Revit3D]

Just went through a demo for Revit Architecture today. Its made by autodesk and looks to be a cross between adt and sketchUp, has anyone in here use it or knows someone who does?? The software looks easy enough but how well does it transfer to other subs not using similar software. Looking for personal experience or willing to give opinion on it to those who have not heard of it.

Just for the record, Mr. Forum Deity, if you hadn't noticed, it was one of your forum posters who asked to have his questions answered in the first place. I'd never have considered answering the post if I had known how territorial you are. Not answered posts in a mature manner? Give me a break. All I did was offer recommendations, advice, pricing and help those who are curious to see where the future of design is heading.

It's quite simple. 25 years ago, every architect and drafter said "I don't want a computer or CAD, I only do hand drafting." It's 25 years later and it's the same story, "I don't want Revit, I only do work in AutoCAD."

No matter what you spend on hardware, software or salary, there's absolutely no comparing the time and quality savings gained by Revit over Autocad. It's all about the salary and the final certificate of occupancy for every building built.

Scaring people with the thought of constant upgrades, expensive workstations and all of that crap is complete BS. If you'd bothered to look, AutoCAD 2008 requires more RAM and power then Revit Architecture 2008. Last year, AutoCAD moved to a 3D modeling engine and requires a lot more resources.

Within a few short years, everyone was using AutoCAD. So, anyone who's paying attention, the GSA, contractors, developers and all of your competitors are requiring or looking at Revit and it's going to affect you a lot faster than you think.

I apologize if you think I'm bashing, belittling or insulting anyone who read or wrote in this thread. I did help because people read this post, looked at Revit and some even tried it. I don't think I'll be posting here again because apparently you're not willing to explore new ideas. Take care.

[PS_Port]

I sell Revit for a living. .

I think that sums it up.

*sorry mods....couldn't resist*

[StykFacE]

I don't think I'll be posting here again because apparently you're not willing to explore new ideas.

awesome... this one didn't take long to get rid of... :lol:

[f700es]

Scaring people with the thought of constant upgrades, expensive workstations and all of that crap is complete BS. If you'd bothered to look, AutoCAD 2008 requires more RAM and power then Revit Architecture 2008. Last year, AutoCAD moved to a 3D modeling engine and requires a lot more resources.

AutoCAD® Revit® Architecture Suite: $5,695.00
System Recommendations:

Intel Core® 2 Duo 2.40 GHz, or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
Windows XP Professional (SP2 or later)
4 GB RAM
5 GB free disk space
Dedicated video card with hardware support for OpenGL® spec 1.3 or later
Two-button mouse with scroll wheelhttp://store.autodesk.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=adsk&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=80215200


AutoCAD Architecture 2008: $4,995.00
System Recommendations

Operating system Microsoft® Windows® XP (SP2) or Windows Vista™ 32 bit
CPU Intel® Pentium® 4, or AMD Athlon® 3.0 GHz or greater
Memory 3 GB RAM or greater
Display resolution 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adapter
Hard Disk 3.1 GB
Video Card 128 MB or greater, OpenGL®-capable workstation class graphics card.http://store.autodesk.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=adsk&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=80314900