MaCAD S.2 – Digital Tools for Integrative Modelling
Senior Faculty: Ardeshir Talaei

The growing complexity in architecture and construction has led to growth of several fields of study such as building information modeling (BIM) and computational design. BIM, as a new paradigm of managing the design and construction workflow, aggregates both the physical and functional characteristics of a project such as design geometry, construction logistics and analytical models and extends the common 3D models and technical drawings by adding additional aspects of data like times, costs and construction information. Tools developed for this matter allow users to not only design the project as generic solid shapes as of most 3D softwares, but also as defined elements that can carry different types of information regarding different disciplines. 

While most of the computationally designed projects are tailored for a specific case, BIM tools focus mostly on the more standard construction routines. This has led to daily growing gap between these two fields. However, a recent technology named “Rhino.Inside” has addressed this issue by enabling Rhino, as one of the most comprehensive tools of computational design, to run inside the environment of Revit, allowing the integration of its functionalities to the workflow of BIM. 

The main goal of this seminar is to focus on the BIM modeling techniques in Revit as well as the link developed between BIM tools and computational design by Rhino.Inside. The students will be searching for methods to add the extra layers of information provided by BIM into fabricated-oriented design and vice versa. The techniques used in computational design such as optimization, non-standard structures and panelization will be explored in the context of BIM.

Learning Objectives
At course completion the student will:

? Understanding fundamental concepts of Building Information Modeling in practice

? Introduction to “Rhino.Inside”, the McNeel’s new plugin that allows running Rhino and Grasshopper inside Revit, enabling a comprehensive workflow from design to construction 

? Complex modeling and implementation of computational design techniques in BIM through Rhino.Inside plugin 

? Integration of the BIM extra layers of information to computational workflows using Rhino.Inside 

? Fabrication-Oriented design and optimization in the context of BIM