So Where Do You Start?
Switching to any new software or system can be a daunting task leaving many firms wondering where to start.
While there is no perfect way to approach the process of learning, the key is to understand the process of learning and adapting to any system is cyclical and will continue to repeat until you move to another system, where the cycle perpetuates once again.
The Mendicant Architect has the experience to guide you through each phase of the cycle.
Three Levels of Service for each Phase:
Provide the Full Service Treatment:
- Training
- Mentoring
- Content Creation
Supplement and assist your team
- Filling in where they are lacking knowledge or time.
Consult with a firm’s leadership
- Assist in implementing the best strategy and approach appropriate to the specific firm and industry.
The Implementation Cycle
The steps below are not in a specific order because the process is cyclical and each firm chooses where to begin.
There is no “wrong” answer as to which step should be first, second, etc.
The key is to do All of the steps and to repeat them based on the need.
Several clients have chosen to retrain their entire staff once every three years to establish good habits, reset standards, and create new standards based on evolving technology.
Essentials Training
Initial Training
For the Entire staff: anyone who will touch the program or use the system. This sets the fundamental and essential program knowledge base and defines systematic practices in order for everyone in the firm to speak the same language.
intern / New Hire Training
For those new to the industry who may have “learned” how to use Revit in school, but lack systematic understanding, best practices in their industry, and other Revit skills needed in the real world.
Refresher Training
For “More Experience Users”. We are always surprised that we didn’t know what we don’t know.
Partner, Project Manager, and Owner Training
For those who need to know how to market their firm’s BIM skills, manage the BIM team, and / or write contracts for the project, as there are Revit and BIM-specific concerns which need to be addressed.
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Advanced Training
Power User Training
for deeper content creation understanding and increased skills and capabilities.
Cross Training
Multi-discipline training topics for integrated design understanding.
Multi-User Training
Training with links , groups, and worksharing so maximize the user’s ability to work efficiently with others.
Zen Training
For users wanting to understand how Revit thinks and want the ability to self-resolve issues and explain to others the solution(s).
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Mentoring
The informal training sessions which occur between the formal training classes.
Project Specific Training
For issues that arise on a particular project. This training can often save time, energy, and morale on projects where the time budget is tight and everyone needs to be as efficient as possible.
Topic Specific Training
For issues when the staff may lack a specific skill needed to implement adesign process effectively and / or efficiently. Whether it is creating families, learning to provide design options, or utilizing Groups, each topic can be isolated and addressed through mentoring when there is not a need for the entire formal class.
User Specific Training
For employees who may know their way around a project, but not how to streamline their knowledge into a Revit or BIM model. This training is very useful for new employees who may not have had much previous experience and need a virtual shoulder to lean on.
Strategy and Implementation Consulting Training
Once you can recreate “Drawings” in Revit, what is the next step or steps to make your team the best team on the market. From working remotely to providing rendered virtual reality and / or augmented reality design presentations, there is always a way to progress your firm’s capabilities. Whether it is providing energy analysis for your design or cost data for your client to test their budget, there is always another level of BIM to strive for, attracting new revenue streams for your business.
Office Specific System Training
What makes a proper system? If the system is the answer to every question. If not, maybe there is a better system. This training is critical to defining the level of success a firm experiences.
“Failure to systematize is a system of failure.”
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Create, Establish, & Evolve a Project Template
Browser Organizations
For efficient user use. Defining which views are hierarchically grouped together for any user or process can streamline the design process.
View Templates and Types
For efficient view creation. Every firm who utilizes this strategy of defining views saves AT LEAST 10% of the time needed on any given job.
Standard Schedules
For both construction documents and design processes. Schedules are one of the most powerful tools in Revit and are used for more than just documentation. They are truly a design tool and are critical to the management of any BIM model.
Titleblocks
For presentation and construction documents of all sizes. Defining titleblocks and their graphics is usually one of the first steps of any firm establishing a Project Template as it defines your firm to the client.
Standard Annotation Types
Including text, tags, and symbols, these simple choices can establish a quality and image to your client’s perception of the quality of your work.
Standard View Symbols
For elevations, sections, and callouts. these are the links to each view in the project and every firm has similar, yet different graphic representations for these devices.
Standard System Family Types
For floors, ceilings, walls, and roofs, etc. Defining these various family types ahead of time can streamline the design process allowing the interchangeable modification of finishes and structural systems as well as allow for accurate quantification for early estimates.
Standard Component Families
For typical doors, windows, cabinets, furniture, etc. Each firm and manufacturer has a wide variety of graphics and parameters for this content, causing scheduling issues and inconsistency of drawing appearance. Unifying these two factors can make or break a firm as they implement Revit and BIM.
Naming Conventions
For files, views, families, types, etc. Establishing systematic standard naming copnventions can drastically reduce the time it takes to train a new person and/or add a new employee to a job. With employees hopping form job to job, consistency between jobs can improve efficiencies.
And the list continues…
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Create Standard and Custom Content Libraries
Combine Sources
Creating your own families, finding third party resources including the TMA Family Library.
Component Family Libraries
For both generic and specific project types available for later use. This includes doors, windows, cabinets, columns, beams, trusses, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures and lights, duct and plumbing fittings, trees, etc.
System Family Libraries
For both typical and non-typical system family types.
Group Libraries
For efficient project type content delivery and unit types.
Material Libraries
For easy integration of materials into the design process while providing detailed information for later use.