New Windows Taskbar option

The latest update to Windows allows the Taskbar to move to the top of the screen and be smaller in size. Microsoft's counter to the Apple touchscreen? lol

Mira by Pirros: Testing Spatial Reasoning in Revit

A quick share about a fun test I did this week with my NDSU graduate architecture students in my AI in Architecture seminar.

I showed three AI chat tools in Revit: Autodesk Assistant, Mira by Pirros, and SWAPP. We talked about basic tasks like dimensioning and room and door numbering.

• Both Mira and Autodesk Assistant are free. Mira also has a paid plan. Autodesk Assistant only works in Revit 2027.
• Click here to download Mira.

But can AI help us check a design without doing the designing?

One possibility is reviewing drawings and specifications for QA/QC. For this test, I asked a specific sightline question: Can someone standing outside Restroom 107 see the urinal when the door is open?

The screenshot below shows two different approaches. Autodesk Assistant suggested ways I could manually investigate the sightline in Revit. Mira attempted to answer the question by analyzing the model, explaining its assumptions and identifying uncertainties.

• I added the red arrow.

That distinction made for a useful classroom discussion. An answer still needs verification, but getting AI to engage with a specific design condition is an interesting step beyond asking it to number doors.

We’ve talked about “clash avoidance” rather than “clash detection” for years. Perhaps AI can also help with a little “bad design avoidance.” lol

What is the answer to the sightline question... technically, you can see the urinal from outside the room. In this case, the adjacent hallway wall is glass, so from the break room you can see it (and/or someone standing there :)).

But, then again, if the door is open, that means a person is partially obscuring the opening:) In this case, Mira is correct in saying "probably not" but it did not really consider all of these factors (at least not yet).

Dell Blog Post Featuring Lake Flato's Power Saving Tech Move

Dell published a post about our latest technology move, which uses 66% less power and 50% faster computers per user! This also aligned with what I wrote in the AIA Climate Playbook three years ago!

Dell blog post:
https://lnkd.in/gy82zh6P

AIA Climate Action Playbook (Check out page 22):
https://lnkd.in/g43b3hte

Logan Lawler, Cindy Olivo, Crystal Cook
#DellProPrecision #DellTech #NVIDIA #COTE

I am a Dell Pro Precision Ambassador

Mira by Pirros - Free Claude MCP server inside Revit

A quick post to share that Pirros recently released Mira, an MCP server inside Revit that provides access to the free version of Claude.

Learn more here: https://mira.pirros.com/

Here is one example of how you might use this tool... ask Mira to renumber all the doors based on the room number the door swings into. Before making changes, it provides a preview of what will change in the model!

Live in San Antonio - What's New in Revit 2027 (in-person only)

I’m excited to be presenting on what’s new in Autodesk Revit 2027 at LPA’s office here in San Antonio, Texas, next week. Since I live in San Antonio, it’s always great to connect with the local AEC community in person.

Giveaway: two 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Kits, each worth $250.

keep reading to learn more...

Revit MCP Public Server Tech Preview now available for Revit 2027

Earlier this week, Autodesk announced the first-ever AI capabilities in Revit 2027 via the Autodesk Assistant. This same week, we also get access to the game-changing Revit MCP Public Server Tech Preview. In today's post, I will share how it works and a few quick examples of what you can do with it... 

Big picture: connect your own LLM directly to the current Revit model.

Keep reading to learn more...

What's New in Revit 2027

It is that time of year again, and Autodesk Revit 2027 is now officially available. For the first time in many years, my annual launch-day roundup is appearing here on BIM Chapters. As always, I am mainly focusing on platform and architectural features, which is where I spend most of my time as an architect, author, and everyday Revit user.

Revit 2027 has an interesting mix of practical, immediately useful features and bigger-picture investments that point to where Autodesk is taking the platform next. This year, that future-facing story is especially clear in three areas: AI inside Revit, much more serious use of the GPU, and deeper cloud-connected workflows through Forma. At the same time, Autodesk has not ignored the small production improvements that affect day-to-day work, especially around documentation and annotation.

My Top 3 New Features

If I had to pick three features that stand out most in Revit 2027, they would be these:

1. Autodesk Assistant for Revit
This is the clearest sign yet that Autodesk is beginning to bring AI directly into the Revit authoring environment. It is still a tech preview, but it already shows where things are headed.

2. Accelerated Graphics Enhancements
Revit is finally making serious use of the GPU. What began as a tech preview is now production-ready, and that is a very important long-term shift for the platform.

3. Forma-Connected
Having some of the Forma analysis tools, we use often, available directly in Revit will be super helpful and create new streamlined workflows.

Keep reading to learn more...

April Conference in Arizona: The Future of Design and Construction

Looking for a great conference at a reasonable price ($350 for two days!), then you should check this out...

Building Transformations is bringing its U.S. Industry Summit back to Phoenix with The Future of Design and Construction: An Immersive Innovation Showcase.

April 21-22, 2026

In-Person Event(Phoenix, AZ)

Register:

https://www.buildingtransformations.org/events/phoenix2026

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For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on X or on LinkedIn

Lighting design professionals: check out my Revit & ElumTools training https://bit.ly/3NJjhCVn

My New Enscape Blog Post - Enscape panoramas meet Chaos Cloud

Sharing a blog post I recently updated for Enscape... 

Enscape panoramas meet Chaos Cloud: Virtual tours, collaboration, and VR at Lake Flato

I used the Lake Flato office remodel project to show how Chaos Cloud now handles the heavy lifting: hosting panorama tours, adding hotspots and floor plans, collecting feedback, and even running immersive VR sessions on a Quest 3—no additional platform or licenses required.

keep reading to learn more...

RTO Revit Speed Test 2026 Update

Thanks to Aaron Maller, the RFO Revit Benchmark tool has been updated for Revit 2026. This script runs several Revit-related tests on a computer and provides a "score" that can be used to easily compare hardware configurations.

As a Dell Pro Precision Ambassador, it only makes sense to test the hardware I have using this industry benchmark:)

keep reading to learn more...

Reflection: Three Years on AIA COTE Leadership Group (2023–2025)

When I accepted a three-year appointment to the national American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment Leadership Group (AIA COTE LG) for 2023–2025, I hoped I could contribute in a practical way—bridging design performance, technology, policy, and communication so more firms (and more projects) can move from sustainability “intent” to sustainability outcomes. (AIA Community Hub)

Looking back, this term was a whirlwind of working group calls, writing and review cycles, conference planning, cross-committee coordination, and the kind of collaboration that reminds you why COTE matters: it’s a community of people who keep showing up—because the stakes are real, and because the profession can do more.

This post is my personal recap of the work, the people, and the moments I’ll carry forward.

keep reading to learn more...

New Enscape Blog Post - Enscape for SketchUp 2026 is now available, plus Save as External Model is back

Just published on the Chaos blog — “Enscape for SketchUp 2026 is now available, plus Save as External Model is back” — a must-read if you use SketchUp + Enscape. The update to Enscape 4.13 brings full compatibility with SketchUp 2026, plus the long-awaited return of the “Save as External Model” feature. That means you can offload heavy components into linked external .skp files, keeping your main SketchUp file lightweight and responsive, while still getting full-fidelity renders in Enscape.

keep reading to learn more...

My Autodesk Design Performance course at NDSU

Congrats to my NDSU graduate architecture student, Micah Wood, for completing the Autodesk course I created, Design Performance and Sustainability with Autodesk Forma, Revit, and Insight. Congrat Micah!

I gave my students a "choose your own adventure" option for the last three weeks of the semester, and Micah decided to take the design performance route!

By the way, Micah is also the President of the NDSU chapter of AIAS.

Learn more about the course here: https://www.autodesk.com/learn/ondemand/course/design-performance-and-sustainability-with-autodesk-forma-revit-and-insight 

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For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on X or on LinkedIn

Lighting design professionals: check out my Revit & ElumTools training https://bit.ly/3NJjhCVn

Watch Out Adobe... Affinity is Free!

In case you haven't heard, a major competitor to Adobe, which several AEC firms I know of have previously switched to at a fraction of the cost, is now totally free. And not only that, they announced this with a brand new version that appears to be amazing.

Affinity is totally free.

Also, on a slight tangent, I share some of the tools many of us use that now take advantage of your GPU (including Affinity).

keep reading to learn more...

Texas Society of Architects (TxA) 2025 Conference on Architecture Recap

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend and present at the annual Texas Society of Architects (TxA) conference, hosted in Dallas, Texas.

It was another great TxA conference. In this post, I will share some of my experiences and highlight events and sessions:)

Selfie with keynote speaker Carol Ross Barney

keep reading to learn more...

ASAI 2025 Tokyo Recap!

I had the incredible opportunity to present on Lake Flato's architectural visualization workflows and outputs at the annual American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) conference in Tokyo, Japan, last week! Here is a quick recap of the event that should inspire you to attend the event next year where it will be back in the USA.

keep reading to learn more...

Autodesk University 2025 Recap

I recently attended and presented at Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. I have a brief recap post that I'd like to share.

keep reading to learn more...

New Free Autodesk Course: Design Performance and Sustainability with Forma, Revit, and Insight (I Created)

I’m excited to share that a brand-new free course I developed for Autodesk is now live: Design Performance and Sustainability with Autodesk Forma, Revit, and Insight.

The timing couldn’t be better—Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville was full of energy and inspiring announcements, especially around Autodesk Forma and its critical role in the future of the AEC industry. I was also fortunate to present another session on Forma this year, continuing an ongoing conversation about how these tools are reshaping practice.

This new course is designed primarily for students, though professionals will also find value in it. Through engaging video lessons, hands-on exercises, and real-world examples, learners will explore how Forma, Revit, and Insight can be used to design with measurable impact—integrating performance analysis, sustainability, and outcome-based BIM practices from the start. And best of all, it’s free for everyone.

keep reading to learn more...

Autodesk University 2025 - This Week!

Autodesk University 2025 is quickly approaching, taking place later this month in Nashville, Tennessee. As both an adjunct professor and the Director of Design Technology at Lake|Flato Architects, I’m honored to be presenting two sessions that highlight emerging technologies and workflows with Autodesk tools.

The first session, led by Erica Bocian from Esri, explores the new ArcGIS extension for Autodesk Forma—an exciting advancement in connecting geospatial intelligence with early-stage design. The second session focuses on Autodesk’s end-to-end workflow with Revit and Insight (Total Carbon), a timely solution for those transitioning from the recently retired version of Insight.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with both of these tools since their beta phases, and I’m eager to share how these now publicly available workflows can be applied immediately in practice. Whether you’re a professional in architecture, engineering, or construction—or a student or professor looking to expand your toolkit—you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to bring back to your projects after AU 2025.

keep reading to learn more...

Hands-On with Autodesk Insight Total Carbon at AIA East Tennessee COTE

Last week I had the pleasure of leading a half-day workshop for AIA East Tennessee focused on Autodesk Insight’s new Total Carbon tools and practical workflows in Revit 2026. Huge thanks to Cameron Bolin for organizing and to everyone who joined us—nearly 60 attendees, with a few participating online. Your thoughtful questions made the session lively and full of real-world perspectives.

keep reading to learn more…