Enscape Blog Post: BEST PRACTICES: WOOD IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

My latest blog post has just been published on the Enscape website. This one is on the ins and outs of wood textures in Autodesk Revit and Enscape.

Link to Enscape blog post: BEST PRACTICES: WOOD IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

I have included a few teaser images here... distressed wood, plywood with a proper edge and more...

A couple more images...

Informative Autodesk Insight Article by Jarod Schultz

If you have any interest or involvement in energy analysis be sure to check out this recent post, on LinkedIn, by Jarod Schultz, Director of Research and Development at MasterGraphics.

What makes Autodesk Insight Energy Analysis tool special?

The article has some good nuggets of information, like...

"Starting in 2012, Autodesk translated EnergyPlus from FORTRAN to C++ and donated the code back to the DOE / NREL"

Aaron Vonwerk, from Autodesk, also talked about the conversion from Fortran in this BIM Thoughts podcast: E82 INSIGHT WITH AARON VORWERK. I had a class on Fortran in college many, many years ago:)

Good stuff, Jarod! Thanks.

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

Insight Energy Analysis - Elevator Load Automatically Included for Multi-Story Buildings

When a multi-story Revit model, based on mass or building elements, is exported to Autodesk Insight, a basic elevator load is included automatically. Read on to learn more...

Revit Energy Settings - HVAC Systems Defined

When editing the Energy Settings dialog in Revit, one of the options is HVAC System, as shown in the image below.

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The 2017 summary of the AIA 2030 Commitment

Two weeks ago, at Greenbuild 2018, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released its annual progress report: The 2017 summary of the AIA 2030 Commitment.

First, if you are not familiar with this initiative, read about it here: The 2030 Commitment - Are you up for the challenge?

"The mission of the AIA 2030 Commitment is to support the 2030 Challenge and transform the practice of architecture in a way that is holistic, firm-wide, project based, and data-driven. By prioritizing energy performance, participating firms can more easily work toward carbon neutral buildings, developments and major renovations by 2030."

LHB, the firm I work for, signed on to this initiative in 2016. By the way, LHB has been a firm member of USGBC since 1997! You can see all the participating firms listed here: 2030 Commitment signatory firms.

You can download the 2017 report here.

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Revit's Original Rendering Engine, examples and UI

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, My Ancient Renderings from the 90's, the original rendering engine built into Revit was the same one I used in the 90's... called Accurender. Comparing the Revit renderings to the ones in yesterday's post, you can see they are basically the same quality.

All the images in this post are from the very first Revit book I wrote, which has a 2003 copyright. I started the manuscript using Revit 4.5 and then updated before being printed for Revit 5.0. For a little more on this, read Carol Bartz and Phil Bernstein Signed my First Revit Book.

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Autodesk To Aquire PlanGrid

Check out what $875 million can buy... PlanGrid.

https://adsknews.autodesk.com/pressrelease/autodesk-to-acquire-plangrid

PlanGrid is a cloud-based PDF management tool.

"PlanGrid software offers real-time collaboration, keeping the field and the office on the same page. It gives builders real-time access to project plans, punch lists, project tasks, progress photos, daily field reports, submittals and more."

For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter

My Ancient Renderings from the 90's

I thought it would give everyone who reads this blog, and my Enscape posts, a good laugh by sharing some of my earliest renderings, all dated from the mid 1990's... I am older than I look I am told;)

All of these renderings were created in AutoCAD + Accurender with no post-processing; sound familiar (Revit + Enscape with no PP). AutoCAD can create some pretty decent 3D models, in fact - but, I did not use the word "easy". And, Accurender, an add-in to AutoCAD, was created by McNeel & Associates, the same people who make Rhino. Accurender was the first rendering engine in Revit (I am not talking about an add-in, it was the built-in renderer), but has since been replaced twice by Autodesk.

All of these projects are located in, or around, the city I live, Duluth, MN, USA, in except the courthouse.

Catholic Church Remodel

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My Presentation on Lighting Analysis at the 2018 Minnesota AIA Convention

This was the week for conferences... Greenbuild, Autodesk University and the Minnesota AIA Convention all happened this week.. I had the opportunity to present at the latter... which was yesterday. This post will recap my experience at the event.

My presentation was titled: Professional Lighting Analysis for Architects.

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Enscape Blog Post: BEST PRACTICES: GRASS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

I did not get a chance to write about one of my new posts over on the Enscape website as it was overshadowed by the new release of version 2.4. This post discussed grass-related features that are new to this version, including adjustable height and variable height options. Grass just keeps getting better...

Link to post: BEST PRACTICES: GRASS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

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ROAST - Commercial Release and Webinar Series

ROAST is a new web-based Post Occupancy Evaluation tool by KT Innovations (KieranTimberlake). I was involved in their beta program and we even used it internally at LHB. I wrote an overview on the tool back in May (2018): Roast by KieranTimberlake. A few things have improved since then, but that post still embodies the main concepts of the product, workflow and results.

My motto for this product: Have the courage to find out what the occupants think of your newly designed, or remodeled, space so it - and future projects - can be improved upon!

On a related note, here is a post I wrote on some Pre/Post Occupancy Evaluation work by LHB (but, before ROAST): Pre/post-occupancy Evaluations and Generative Design.

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Mark and Type Mark Parameters in Revit - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Anyone who uses Revit know about the built-in Mark and Type Mark parameters. Here are a few things to keep in mind related to these parameters many of us have love/hate feelings for...

Mark Parameter

The Mark parameter automatically increments as families are placed. But not for all categories, as you can see with the three desks (more on this in a moment).

The Mark parameter is incremented by category, not by each family as seen here...

ASHRAE Standard 209-2018 -- Energy Simulation Aided Design for Buildings

This is very interesting… worth investigating for those involved/interested in energy modeling and high performance design.

Standard 209-2018 -- Energy Simulation Aided Design for Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ANSI Approved)

AIA article: What style of energy modeling is right for a project?

"The ASHRAE 209 Standard makes it easier to define energy modeling goals and what types of energy modeling are most useful for a project"

ASHRAE Article: ASHRAE Publishes Energy Simulation-Aided Design Standard

“defines nominal requirements for using modeling to support integrated design efforts”

The cost of ASHRAE Standard 209-2018 is $67 for ASHRAE members.

Click here to view the preview PDF.

The AIA article is written by Kjell Anderson, AIA, who is director of sustainable design at LMN Architects in Seattle, WA. While I do not know Kjell, I did work on a project with LMN several years ago... the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center - Harbor side Ballrooms Addition, which is partially pictured below.

For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter

BILT Europe 2018 Top Speakers and Recap on Simply Complex Podcast

I am honored to learn that I am the #2 speaker for the BILT Eur 2018 held last month (October) in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Thanks so much to the attendees and the committee!

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Enscape Version 2.4 Released!

Yesterday I tweeted this...

As I come off the sugar-high from Halloween yesterday, I want to share the other two items. Today I will start with the new stable release of Enscape, version 2.4. Tomorrow I will touch on the other topic.

You can get all the details in this Enscape blog post: NEW VERSION: ENSCAPE 2.4 RELEASED

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