Autodesk Revit is a BIM (building information modeling) software that offers an impressive array of tools, features, and plugins for building AEC models. Of course, that’s not all. If Revit was a basic BIM solution, we wouldn’t be writing about it all the time and from every angle.

There are many good reasons to love Revit. It is one of the most thought-through software systems for architects to rely on, with fantastic applications across the AEC industry.

Let’s delve deeper into capabilities that make Revit better than competing tools and explore the benefits of using Autodesk’s best-selling software for modeling, visualization, collaboration, and project management. Here’s why you should use Revit for architecture projects.

Great project 3D visualization features

One of the most significant advantages of using Revit for architecture is the ability to multitask within the platform. With a vast majority of BIM software, architects must switch between multiple tools to complete all the different phases in the project lifecycle, but Revit is different.

It’s especially useful when it comes to 3D visualization and rendering.

Thanks to vector image families, Revit allows you to visualize projects from beginning to end. You can develop layouts early in the process and see objects as you’ve imagined them.

You can rely on Revit for rendering, too. Autodesk’s software has extensive libraries and a long list of plugins, which help create authentic presentations. Some plugins also allow you to present your models using VR. In Revit’s case, “comprehensive” is no marketing talk.

Large libraries

Revit’s library is celebrated across industries, but nobody can benefit from it as much as architects. It offers the vastest selection of objects and materials (neatly labeled and categorized for easy navigation) and allows you to contribute with your bespoke designs.

You can choose a piece of furniture from Revit’s library and make custom edits to it, or you can create a completely new one. The software will let you save your version for future use.

Good for collaboration

Have you heard about the “Sync with Central” feature in Revit? It’s another cool tool that makes this software unique on the market – and unmatched in terms of collaboration.

What “Sync with Central” does is apply your changes to the “Central” Revit model while simultaneously logging other modifications made by your teammates as individual “Local” copies. That means your team can work on the same model simultaneously, which is a big thing.

Not many BIM engines offer this level of flexibility for remote teamwork.

By Autodesk’s design, plugins make collaboration even smoother. It’s up to teams to choose the best apps for individual projects and workflows and build their custom solutions.

It’s crucial for architects working on multidisciplinary projects, as it helps teams from different technical backgrounds stay on the same page. That allows architects to share data and progress with engineers and other professionals that use Revit and vice-versa.

Revit scheduling mode

Effective teamwork requires effective scheduling. Whether you’re sharing your Revit environment with your own team of architects or with external teams on a project basis, you can create intuitive schedules and keep everyone in the loop. You can even set up triggers that automatically update everyone’s schedules as you make changes to the model and hit project milestones.

Other sophisticated BIM tools often overshadow smart scheduling features, but that doesn’t make them any less important. Time-effectiveness is crucial for complex projects and multidisciplinary teamwork, where it helps avoid misunderstandings and missed deadlines.

Automated database

Revit is designed to facilitate modeling in every single aspect. And even though its comprehensive library and visualization tools speed up the process and make it easier, Revit wouldn’t be half the software it is without its automated database – it’s Revit’s star productivity booster.

The automated database works just like its name suggests – it automates data entry across the project. Every time you change one of the components, Revit automatically adds this change to other components. It sounds basic, but most tools don’t have this capability.

If you’ve ever modeled an object, you understand the implications of this.

Automatic database updates make modeling much faster. Not having this capability means you’d have to make the same changes all over the project and different versions of the same model. Not only is this time-consuming, but it also opens room for errors and discrepancies.

Parametric modeling

Revit’s fantastic automation capabilities stem from the same core feature – the software’s family-based parametric modeling. Families are made of the widest range of elements, from tiny title blocks to chunky pieces of furniture. They can be custom-made or borrowed from Revit’s library. In any case, parametric modeling allows these elements to behave as pieces of the same puzzle.

By changing the thickness, height, or any other parameter of one of these elements or assigning a dimension to it, you’re automatically changing its family parameters.

Paperless projects

Whether you care about the environment or not, you certainly recognize that less is always more when it comes to paper. Having hundreds of different printouts for the same project is hardly efficient and brings unnecessary workload to project management. Revit knows this.

Revit’s paperless projects simply result from the software’s streamlined modeling process. Since all changes are updated across one family and throughout the project, there’s no need to print out every version of the design. It’s an excellent opportunity to go paper-free.

Great analysis capabilities

The same integrated approach to modeling enables powerful analytical capabilities.

As part of Revit’s eco-friendly initiative, various “Energy Optimization” tools can help architects design sustainable models with zero harmful environmental impact. Combined with analytical tools, these optimization features allow you to test for sustainability at each phase.

Conclusion

Revit is a dependable framework for architecture projects because it makes everything simpler and more logical. The most important consequence of this is efficiency, which promotes productivity. When modeling is easy and quick, creativity has more room to unfold.

What do you think about Revit? Let us know about your experience.