Multi-story exterior wall, trimming framing at slab edge

[nrollins]

To explain my problem, I will distill it down to generic terms. I have a three story building with a basic cladding of stone/insulation over metal studs, where the studs frame between floor slabs. I would like my exterior wall to be one entity, from ground up to roof. The problem is how this appears in section/wall section, and I would prefer to not use 2d cleanup 'fakery'.

The cladding of the wall entity should span the entire height, but the framing should stop/start at each slab bottom/top, respectively. I realize I could do this by making a separate wall entity for each floor along with Extensions on the wall. But as the goal is to model one full-height wall, does anyone have tips how I can do this and have it just "look right" when I cut a section?

Lastly, I've attached a simple diagram to further explain. Thanks so much!

[arb]

just create a separate wall for the cladding so that you can control the bottom and top constraints separately. We have an all precast/curtain wall building, but we have different stud/GWB assemblies inboard of the skin, so we split the assembly into 2 components to give us the flexibility and control that we need. There's still cleanup required in details, but the 3/8" wall section are decent straight from the model.

- Alex

[sbrown]

One wall, top to bottom, join geometry selecting the floor then the wall, should do it. Make the floor go into your Exterior Face of Core. Make sure all the Elements of the floor assemby and the wall assembly are set appropriatly as Structure, substrate finish, etc. Revit will take care of it for you.

[arb]

Have you run into any issues joining many walls and floor slabs? We found it cleaner but slower to split the walls into more realistic assemblies, but if having a model that is "over joined" isn't an issue, then I might try that in the future to speed things up.

- Alex

[sbrown]

Revit likes this method much more than multiple walls with them aligned and locked. The less elements you can have the better. One wall to move, vs. how many if you stack them, not to mention the join geometry you would have to do on each of the little finish only walls at the slabs.

I've not run into any issues with this method and it is exactly how revit was designed to handle this condition.

[cliff collins]

Another angle on this:

While true that in Revit, with best practice for Architects in mind only, it may be best to create a single
multi-story wall.

However, if the model is to be used for downstream use by GC/CM/ subcontractors for 4D and 5D
scheduling and cost control, the model would need to be created as it will be built in the real world.

There are obvious advantages as Scott pointed out in limiting the number of individual elements in a Revit model. But this may not be the best way of determining a modeling approach.

It depends on the team, if there is true BIM collaboration with Owner and Contractor--or if it's just
"bang out a model and some drawings" without need for downstream use by the rest of the AEC team.

just my 2 c worth.

[michaelmew]

One wall, top to bottom, join geometry selecting the floor then the wall, should do it. Make the floor go into your Exterior Face of Core. Make sure all the Elements of the floor assemby and the wall assembly are set appropriatly as Structure, substrate finish, etc. Revit will take care of it for you.

That's perfect, if you model the slab. But, how do you do that if you have a slab from a linked structural model. I can't seem to get the join command to do anything with the linked model.

So far, this problem is only a big deal in my section views. I guess I could use a filled region and hide the structural model in the view. But, then when/if something changes, I am responsible for changing the filled region myself since aparently I cannot align and lock to a linked element.

Thanks for any suggestions.