AM in the morning, you adjust the weight value of several design factors in Dynamo or Grasshopper on your terminal. Within few minutes, the computer generates several potential design options following certain algorithms. You show your client and also your partner architect the possible solutions to the building design.
After a quick lunch break, you sit in front of your desk, open the python or visual studio, working on the development of a new program, which is customized a new design optimization algorithm.
Later in the afternoon, you get a feedback from the client and partner architect, who you met in the morning. After confirm with their choice, you select and click on the “send” bottom. The design data is transmitted to a manufacture thousands mile away, and the 3D printer start to “print” the customized steel structure component, MEP duct and pips fittings, even with unique facade features.
Before leaving the office, you open the BIM drafting software, adopting the design standards. When you enjoy your dinner with families at home,the water pipes, ducts and electric lines will “grow” in the architect building by themselves, following engineering standards and conducting auto clash detection.”
No more drafting until 11 pm alone in the office, no more RFI, submittals and no need to spend tonnages of times in system coordination meeting and argueing whose mistake it is, Above seems the dream work life for every Architect, Engineer and Contractors in the field of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry (AEC). While, the good news is it seems not far away from us.
Contemporary AEC industry
The last evening before the project deadline, you click on the “save” bottom and just as normal “crtl + p”, pdfs are generating. While just at this time, your outlook icon start to blink, you click on this devil and following message show on your screen:
“Hi~ …,
We just update the background due to the client requirment, would you please adopt this change in your MEP Revit model. Sorry to notice you such later but tomorrow is our deadline, we will appreciate if you can send to us ASAP”
“Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!”
It happens and it is not that rare and that is normal in contemporary workflow. Although, the LEED and REVIT workflow encough different trades start to sit down at the begining of project, above issue still sometimes happen.
What’s more, the design standards are so routine that 9 out of 10 for our daily design projects are similar to each other. Within the first 3 years of one’s career life, everyone will collect their own design standards or “cheat sheets”, while the difference between us in 20th and them in 60th is Excel sheet and paper spread sheet.
Drafting, I think if being taught by some professions, kids can also do this. Rather playing video games, I suggest kids to learn drafting to get a sense of 3D and creative, plus earning some pocket money. While HVAC and structure may need some engineering simulation or calculation, Plumbing and Fire Protection are more on applying NFPA code and local code, except few calculation on pumps selection and hydraulic calculation.
It is true that 20% of our time are spending on designing, while the rest of time are spent on the call or field visit. Coordination between different trades and thinking about ways to resolve contruction problems due to the lack of communication.
To be continued …