2026-03-02 BIM - FLOORS+ROOF+STAIRS

Quick recap

The meeting focused on teaching participants how to model horizontal surfaces and stairs in Revit. Brian guided attendees through creating floors, roofs, and slabs, explaining how to use reference planes, detail lines, and the model in place tool. He demonstrated how to add beams, adjust their lengths, and load open web beam families. The session covered creating foundations, constructing curved walls, and modeling internal stairs with multiple landings. Brian emphasized the importance of accurate measurements and attention to detail when drawing curves. He also showed how to use view templates to control drawing settings and explained the difference between floor and roof tools. The tutorial concluded with instructions on adding railings to stairs and creating a solid railing for a balcony.

Next steps

• All students: Complete modeling of floors, roofs, and the internal stairs in Revit before the next class (by Sunday), including uploading a screenshot as proof of completion.

• Students who did not submit Segment 2 work by the previous deadline: Submit your Segment 2 work to the opened form in class or as instructed by Brian.

• Brian: Upload the recording of the class session for students to reference while completing their assignments.

• All students: Be prepared to present group topics (constraints, view range, sport box) in the afternoon/evening class as scheduled.

Summary

Audio Check and Cloud Designer

Brian checked the audio and confirmed that participants could hear him. He mentioned checking the cloud and seeing a designer. The transcript ends with a mention of operators and Pavel Pashko.

Design Project Progress Review

The class reviewed progress on the design project, with Brian highlighting that most groups had completed the first checkpoint and were ready to move on to the next phase, focusing on roof floors and horizontal surfaces. Brian emphasized the importance of building the model before creating drawings, explaining that in real-world scenarios, clients prioritize drawings over models. He also clarified that the goal in Design Studio is to produce printed and pinned-up sheets, not just a fully developed model. The class planned to continue with presentations, covering topics such as constraints, view range, and sport box, and Brian encouraged students to follow along with the recording if they got lost during the session.

Revit Floor and Section Modeling

Brian demonstrated how to use Revit to model floors and sections, including the use of Pure Riff for image sticky notes and view templates for section visibility. He explained how to draw and trim floor slabs, noting that walls should not be automatically attached to slabs. Brian also showed how to adjust the visibility of grid lines and other annotations in section views using view templates.

Revit Slab Drawing Techniques

Brian led a discussion on drawing slabs and managing Z-fighting in Revit. He explained the differences between floor and roof slabs, emphasizing the need for control over slab attachments. Brian demonstrated how to create and edit roof levels, including the use of overlay options and view templates to maintain consistent gridline appearances across different floor plans. He also showed how to set visual rules for gridlines and levels to improve clarity in the model.

AutoCAD Roof Design Techniques

Brian demonstrated how to draw and modify roofs in AutoCAD, explaining the process of creating a sloped roof and adjusting its height and offset. He showed how to use section views and scale settings to accurately represent the roof's position relative to other elements. Brian also covered how to add beams to the structure, including I-beams and open web beams, and explained the process of loading and placing these elements in the correct locations. He addressed common issues with beam visibility and provided solutions for viewing and adjusting beam lengths.

Rivet Beam Modeling Demonstration

Brian demonstrated how to use Rivet to model a beam and ceiling in a building design. He showed how to select and place beams, adjust view templates, and create ceiling levels. Brian also explained that while they are representing beams in their drawings, the actual sizes will be determined by structural engineers in the construction documentation phase. He noted they would need to make a design decision about whether a beam was needed in a specific location.

Revit Foundation Modeling Techniques

Brian demonstrated how to model a foundation in Revit, emphasizing the importance of using the Imperial folder for commonly used elements. He guided the team through creating a detailed section of a building, using reference lines and planes to accurately model curves. Brian stressed the importance of paying attention to grid lines and center points when constructing the curves, as this affects the overall design. The team practiced using various tools like detail lines, arcs, and trims to create the desired shape, with Brian providing guidance on dimensions and measurements throughout the process.

Curved Wall and Slab Modeling

Brian demonstrated how to create and modify a curved wall and slab design in a 3D modeling software. He showed how to use various tools to trim walls, create holes in slabs, and adjust floor levels. Brian also explained how to model a shaped section of the slab using the model in place tool and extrusion. The design included a cantilevered section and an internal space with different floor levels.

Architectural Drawing Software Demonstration

Brian Williams demonstrated how to create and modify architectural drawings using design software, focusing on constructing walls, adjusting levels, and adding stairs. He explained the process of aligning slabs, attaching walls, and creating foundations, emphasizing the importance of structural engineering for final decisions. Williams also detailed the steps for designing internal stairs with multiple landings and levels, ensuring the design aligns with the building's layout and functional requirements.

3D Stair Modeling Demonstration

Brian demonstrated how to create and modify a set of stairs in a 3D modeling software, including adjusting the width, adding landings, and creating a solid railing for a balcony. He explained the process of editing sketches, changing stair types, and using profile tools to achieve the desired design. The final result was a set of stairs with a solid railing that matched the original sketch, though some adjustments were still needed to align the wall properly.

Architectural Modeling and Project Progress

Brian led a session on architectural modeling, focusing on completing floors, roofs, and stairs within a given deadline. He emphasized the importance of staying on track to progress to the collaborative segment of the project. Brian instructed the class on adding internal stairs, horizontal slabs, and curtain walls, and he demonstrated how to adjust wall heights and attach them to ceilings. He also discussed the need to adjust curtain wall details to accommodate doors and windows, which would be addressed in future sessions. Brian reminded students to complete the current tasks by the next class and to submit any outstanding work from the previous segment.

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