Past Projects - US Forest Service Kawishiwi Ranger Station

Today I want to shift gears and share a non-COVID-19 #WorkFromHome type post...

When I started working at LHB in 2004 I worked in the Government Studio for two years. I had already written my first Revit textbook (copyright 2003 on Revit 5.0) but LHB did not have Revit installed on any computers just yet. About a year in, I worked with my predecessor, the firm's CAD Administrator, to make the LHB titleblock that the housing group would use on their first Revit projects.

One of the first projects I worked on at LHB, therefore, was done in AutoCAD. I have plenty of experience in AutoCAD, including this book I still update every year: Residential Design Using AutoCAD 2021. LHB still uses AutoCAD (Civil 3D mainly) on all of its horizontal projects; civil, survey, bridge, etc.

The project I want to share today is the Kawishiwi Ranger Station located in Ely, Minnesota for the US Forest Service. The design included retail and office space as well as Apparatus bays for forest fire fighting equipment.

Recognition:

• 2009 US Forest Service Eastern Region Honor Awards – Walk the Talk for Sustainability
• LEED Silver Certified

Keep reading to learn more...

ArchSmarter - Free Dynamo Workshop Today

A quick post to share a free Dynamo webinar my friend Michael Kilkelly is doing today!

Here are the details...

Hey, it's Michael from ArchSmarter.

Just a quick reminder that I'm hosting a free Dynamo workshop today at 3 pm EST. In the workshop, I'm going to show ways you can use Dynamo to import and export data from Excel. This is one of my favorite uses for Dynamo and as you'll see, it's pretty easy to do.

​Click here to register for the free workshop​

The workshop will be recorded so don't worry if you can't make it. I will post the recording to ArchSmarter later tonight and send out a link.

I hope to see you this afternoon!

Michael

PS. I'm working on a special work-from-home edition of my "Thursday Top 5" email. Look for it in your inbox tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. 

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For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn

Check out my video-based  courses on ArchSmarter.

I also write blog posts for Enscape - a new paradigm in rendering, animation and VR for AEC.

AKN Article: Get Started with Desktop Connector for BIM 360

Autodesk Desktop Connector is required when using Revit and BIM 360 Design to host projects in the cloud... in today's post I will share some information I have found recently.

Note that the #WorkFromHome COVID-19 free extended trial for BIM 360 Design does not apply to AutoCAD Civil 3D use at this time, only Revit. I have had a lot of problems getting Civil 3D, Desktop Connector, and/or BIM 360 Design working. Not sure if it is something with our network, or what... anyone out there actually using Civil 3D and BIM 360 Design on multi-user projects?

Check out this FAQ on the extended free trial for BIM 360 Design. Only one person needs to sign up and they can invite others (unlimited users and projects).

keep reading to learn more...

Introduction to Setting up Revit Projects in Autodesk BIM 360 Design - YouTube Video

Hoping to help those new to Autodesk's BIM 360 Design and needing to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I created an 18 minute step-by-step video and shared it on YouTube.

Please share this post to help get the word out and reduce the time it takes firms who have not used BIM 360 Design to get up to speed.

keep reading to learn more...

Top 5 Steps to Securely Work from Home by SANS

My friend Ben Bernard, cyber security expert and computer services specialist in NDSU's architecture program, shared this great link with 5 tips to work securely from home by SANS.

These are great tips for students and processionals (pdf): Top 5 Steps to Securely Work from Home

Who is SANS?
The SANS Institute was established in 1989 as a cooperative research and education organization. SANS is the most trusted and, by far, the largest provider of cybersecurity training and certification for government and commercial-institution professionals worldwide. Please visit www.sans.org for more information.

Be sure to check out this info as well: SANS Security Awareness Work-from-Home Deployment Kit.

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For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn

Check out my video-based  courses on ArchSmarter.

I also write blog posts for Enscape - a new paradigm in rendering, animation and VR for AEC.

Autodesk BIM 360 Design Set Up Tips & Tricks

In light of Autodesk's announcement yesterday to make BIM 360 Design free through May to help AEC firms through the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to gather up my posts on this topic to help others get up to speed.

At LHB, we made the move to BIM 360 Design, for all Revit projects, about a year ago. This includes Architecture, Interior Design, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and some Landscape Architecture. The posts below are all things I wish I knew from day one!

I also included a guest post from my friend Mike Matheny, at BKV Group, who has been doing BIM 360 Design longer and with twice as many staff! Here is his personal cellphone number in case you have any questions 651-430-XXXX - just kidding, Mike! (but I have it;))

• Autodesk to Offer BIM 360 Design Free Until May 31, 2020

Keep reading to learn more...

Autodesk to Offer BIM 360 Design Free Until May 31, 2020

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire world, Autodesk offers some relief for challenges facing many AEC firms. They are offering free use of BIM 360 Design, for commercial use, until May 31, 2020!

Using BIM 360 Design allows staff to work from a company laptop (named user license, checked out network license) or a home computer (named user license or home use license) and work directly against the BIM 360 Design project in the cloud and not have to connect to an office server at all!

We use CTC Software's Hive to host all out content in the cloud as well. Avail and Unfi may also support cloud-host content.

Keep reading to learn more...