BATx2
2006-09-21, 10:38 PM
I’m looking for advice from experienced Revit users on how to tackle a window family(/ies) for an existing 90 year old high school. The windows in this high school were last replaced in 1975 and are over due to be replaced again. Part of our charge in replacing the windows is to provide historically accurate window design with modern energy efficient technology.
This is my office’s first project in Revit. It’s a 300,000 s.f. high school that’s been added on at least 8 times and gone through a couple dozen renovations. I know it’s huge, but this was my best opportunity to get Revit into the office (it only took two years of begging and pleading (and kicking and screaming!)). I think I’m in Phase Four of the “Six Phases of a Revit User.” I did go through a customized formal 3 day training class before doing anything in Revit. I have the entire building generically modeled already (i.e. generic walls, doors, floors, and roofs). My partner in this “pilot project” adventure is going to tackle the complex wall construction; I get to do the windows.
Of course every addition has different window types and styles. I’ve created families for some of the simpler window types in the building. Though I’m sure I could have found appropriate families on the internet to use for those simple shapes, I wanted to do it myself as a learning exercise. Those windows were generally fixed aluminum frame windows. I created a separate family for each configuration (i.e. single unit, double unit, 2Wx3T unit, 6Wx8T unit etc.) with parameters for overall size and material. The most complex window style is in the original building which I’m working on now.
The attached pdf shows the window elevations and details from the last window replacement. You’ll notice that the interior portion of the window sill is higher than the exterior portion. I have no intention of modeling every single detail of each extrusion (I know better than that). Simple rectangular extrusions or sweeps will be sufficient for the sashes. I don’t need to show the lock at the meeting rail. But how far should I take the rest of the window elements and how do I handle the different heights of the sill? Is it worth while to accurately model the frame profile of the jambs and the head and the sill?
I intend to create these families similar to how I did the simpler ones in that I’ll have a separate family for a three unit window versus a one unit window. I’ll also have separate families for equal upper and lower units versus unequal upper and lower units (with a parameter to set the lower unit height). I know I could use an array parameter to get multiple units, but I’m not ready to tackle that yet, I’ll stick to dimension and material parameters for now.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to reuse these window families for the new windows … I’m sure we’ll be replacing the aluminum frames with aluminum clad wood frames. I have found PScottHull’s contribution to Revitcity of the Pella DH Architect Series. I’m exploring that family to see if I can make use of it for my situation.
I’m sure some of you have dealt with similar circumstances. I’d love to get some feedback on how far to take the model and any tips on how to make this as easy as possible while still showing relatively accurate detail. Success stories and horror stories welcome.
Blake Thomas
This is my office’s first project in Revit. It’s a 300,000 s.f. high school that’s been added on at least 8 times and gone through a couple dozen renovations. I know it’s huge, but this was my best opportunity to get Revit into the office (it only took two years of begging and pleading (and kicking and screaming!)). I think I’m in Phase Four of the “Six Phases of a Revit User.” I did go through a customized formal 3 day training class before doing anything in Revit. I have the entire building generically modeled already (i.e. generic walls, doors, floors, and roofs). My partner in this “pilot project” adventure is going to tackle the complex wall construction; I get to do the windows.
Of course every addition has different window types and styles. I’ve created families for some of the simpler window types in the building. Though I’m sure I could have found appropriate families on the internet to use for those simple shapes, I wanted to do it myself as a learning exercise. Those windows were generally fixed aluminum frame windows. I created a separate family for each configuration (i.e. single unit, double unit, 2Wx3T unit, 6Wx8T unit etc.) with parameters for overall size and material. The most complex window style is in the original building which I’m working on now.
The attached pdf shows the window elevations and details from the last window replacement. You’ll notice that the interior portion of the window sill is higher than the exterior portion. I have no intention of modeling every single detail of each extrusion (I know better than that). Simple rectangular extrusions or sweeps will be sufficient for the sashes. I don’t need to show the lock at the meeting rail. But how far should I take the rest of the window elements and how do I handle the different heights of the sill? Is it worth while to accurately model the frame profile of the jambs and the head and the sill?
I intend to create these families similar to how I did the simpler ones in that I’ll have a separate family for a three unit window versus a one unit window. I’ll also have separate families for equal upper and lower units versus unequal upper and lower units (with a parameter to set the lower unit height). I know I could use an array parameter to get multiple units, but I’m not ready to tackle that yet, I’ll stick to dimension and material parameters for now.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to reuse these window families for the new windows … I’m sure we’ll be replacing the aluminum frames with aluminum clad wood frames. I have found PScottHull’s contribution to Revitcity of the Pella DH Architect Series. I’m exploring that family to see if I can make use of it for my situation.
I’m sure some of you have dealt with similar circumstances. I’d love to get some feedback on how far to take the model and any tips on how to make this as easy as possible while still showing relatively accurate detail. Success stories and horror stories welcome.
Blake Thomas