Learning Curve for Revit MEP

[shkuv]

I am at a loss here and figured I could ask some professionals for some advice. My boss told me today that the plumbing subcontractor on a project that is just starting up has went out of business. This plumbing sub was supposed to design the plumbing system in 3D along with the other MEP contractors so we could coordinate through Navisworks for collision avoidance on the project. The new plumbing sub is asking for way too much money to design the system in 3D, so this is where I come in. I consider myself fairly proficient in Revit Architecture, and am just beginning to get my feet wet with Navisworks. I have zero experience with any MEP design software at all. Is there a chance I can get Revit MEP and learn it well enough of design a plumbing system for a 63,000sf performance gymnasium in a two week time frame spending only nights and weekends at it? I am basically tied down at the office and won't be able to get to this system until after hours. Any advice is appreciated.
MJW

[Michael.c]

I am at a loss here and figured I could ask some professionals for some advice. My boss told me today that the plumbing subcontractor on a project that is just starting up has went out of business. This plumbing sub was supposed to design the plumbing system in 3D along with the other MEP contractors so we could coordinate through Navisworks for collision avoidance on the project. The new plumbing sub is asking for way too much money to design the system in 3D, so this is where I come in. I consider myself fairly proficient in Revit Architecture, and am just beginning to get my feet wet with Navisworks. I have zero experience with any MEP design software at all. Is there a chance I can get Revit MEP and learn it well enough of design a plumbing system for a 63,000sf performance gymnasium in a two week time frame spending only nights and weekends at it? I am basically tied down at the office and won't be able to get to this system until after hours. Any advice is appreciated.
MJW

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[ran.154477]

Are you an Architechural Designer or a Mechanical Designer? Beign proficient in Revit A is a big leg-up, but you'll see the MEP edition is "not ready for prime-time". I have found the curve very steep, but I'm trying. What software do you use to design plumbing systems now? Does this design require modeling? If you use AutoCAD, just design (draw) it in AutoCAD, and import it into the Revit titleblock: done deal.

[shkuv]

I am not a designer at all. I am more of a BIM Manager I guess. My company is a general contractor that does design/build in house and we are now offering project coordination through Navisworks. Everything needs to be done in some 3D format to be imported into Navisworks. I wish it was as easy as drawing it in AutoCad and handing over drawings.

[ran.154477]

Apparently, if you have Revit MEP, then you have AutoCAD MEP. I've been told it ships in the same box. My company has not installed the MEP version of AutoCAD, but I'm told it does 3D MEP design quite well.

[Misteracad]

I am not a designer at all. I am more of a BIM Manager I guess. My company is a general contractor that does design/build in house and we are now offering project coordination through Navisworks. Everything needs to be done in some 3D format to be imported into Navisworks. I wish it was as easy as drawing it in AutoCad and handing over drawings.

If you are not a designer, why are you being asked to design a system for a 63k sq ft gynasium whatsoever, let alone in a 2 week timeframe???? Is your employer nuts? That's part of the problem in this industry these days...project managers are under the false impression that CAD (and/or BIM tools) are "magic" and can design systems on their own. Revit is no more a magic box then AutoCAD is and there is NO easy button! Whatever the software choice is, the software is merely a TOOL and can NOT replace the knowledge of a seasoned designer with experience in the industry. Sorry, but IMHO you are destined to fail and management seriously needs to consider outsourcing this effort. I'm sure there are some MEP designers on the Forums who would love to do some freelance work.

Good luck, you're going to need a ton of it.

[JoelLondenberg]

...Is there a chance I can get Revit MEP and learn it well enough of design a plumbing system for a 63,000sf performance gymnasium in a two week time frame spending only nights and weekends at it?...

Not even a slim chance.

[shkuv]

Just an update, the project is going to be outsourced. There is no way I would be able to produce anything good enough in the timeframe that I have to work with. And just for the record, I am somewhat of an architectural designer as I do most of the design/build drawings here. I know nothing about designing any of the MEP systems. Thanks for the opinions.