Authors: Chris Laster, ASLA, PLA, SITES AP & Tammy Monnin
In a design landscape that is defined by constant innovation, it can often feel daunting to keep up with the latest-and-greatest technology. Revit integration for landscape architecture firms is no exception. As with any advancement, there is an upfront cost in time and resources to transition from CAD to Revit, and a lot of firms have been left questioning “is it worth it?”
For EDGE—yes, it is. We’re going to explore why EDGE has taken the leap into Revit, and the impact it has had on our internal firm dynamic, our partnerships, and our client relationships. As EDGE’s Revit Studio experts, we may be a little biased in our passion for the program, but it is impossible to deny that Revit has been a catalyst for redefining how we communicate and collaborate. So let’s dig in.
Why Make the Switch?
Chris: Our internal conversation started a while back, and there was admittedly a bit of hesitation when it came to Revit, because there is such a steep learning curve. We didn’t just need to purchase the software, we needed to truly invest in the skills to be adept in the program. This was easier said than done. There are growing pains when you transition to any new program, let alone one as nuanced as Revit. It’s further complicated by the fact that this software wasn’t designed with landscape architects in mind. However, we chose to invest into our Revit/Visualization Studio at the right time, as there are more resources coming out now that weren’t initially available for our discipline. At the start, we had to “break the model” so to speak, to reconfigure how Revit could be pushed into a landscape architecture space. We are doing a great job of that right now to create integration with our architecture and engineering (AE) partners and I think that we are ahead of a lot of similar-sized firms in that regard. We’re not shy about the fact that we are ambitious.
Chris: You might be asking whether those growing pains are worth it. Let’s take a step back and consider the long term value Revit can bring, compared to the alternative. Take, for example, creating a project in CAD with SketchUp model for visualization running parallel, then that being translated into Lumion to finalize renderings. You go to a public meeting, get feedback, and then have to throw a large part of the process away, returning to where you left off in CAD to complete documentation. It feels like a lot of wasted time and effort, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t it be better to work directly in the same model that is capable of performing every task needed for the entire duration of the project? Trust me when I say the time and effort you will save adds up in a monumental way.
Chris: It also allows for a better quality of design—especially in shorter time frames, because a lot of the documentation that is happening is automated. That is why I was thrilled when EDGE brought Tammy on board. She has already started changing the way we practice by creating these beautiful templates that are going to make our lives so much easier. Automating in Revit will give us a lot more time to focus on the elements of design rather than the rudimentary tasks. Any automation that we can build into our process is going to help us be the best. Not only the best design firm that we can be, but also the best partner to our AE partners and clients.
It’s a Necessity
Chris: Let’s talk about BIM. It’s no longer just a nice-to-have, it’s a need-to-have. The firms that had previously thought “I’ll stay in CAD forever/BIM is a trend” are starting to realize that architecture firms and clients really do want BIM, and we are seeing many of these requests specifically requiring Revit. The CAD-only firms are now asking themselves “how do we increase our knowledge base immediately to accommodate these requests?” EDGE is in a great position in that regard because we’re already transitioning. In my LA network outside of EDGE, a lot of folks are now starting to reach out and say “hey, our company is starting to think about going to Revit. Can I speak to you about how you guys have utilized it?” It’s comforting to know that we are already that step ahead.
Tammy: I particularly agree with what Chris said about cities requiring BIM. For universities as well it has become the standard deliverable. We’re fully embracing it, partially because we have to, but also because our firm prioritizes investing in technology and knowledge that will ultimately result in the best possible designs. Our offices’ overall opinion on Revit has rapidly evolved. We realize that there is an upfront investment in learning and transitioning to Revit, and relearning the way we create our graphics because it is slightly different, but ultimately it has saved time and effort, and produced an overall better end product.
We Are Better Partners for Our AE Leads
Chris: Revit has been the perfect collaboration tool to work with architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, and we are hoping to see civil engineers adopt it as well. We’re able to collaborate by sharing models live with each other and we can easily see where conflicts may exist between disciplines to resolve those issues in real time. This really streamlines our collaboration on projects and helps prevent potential oversights that could be costly during construction.
Chris: It’s really encouraging to see more Revit-native projects being brought in and how this has opened us up to partnering with more architects in a way in which they would like to work with us. It has become a powerful service in our repertoire. There have been AE partners that have confided in us that although they have in-house landscape architects, it is not as easy to collaborate with them because they don’t work in Revit. By taking our expertise and translating it into their language, we are showing them we are committed to being a true collaborative design partner. Coming from the architecture world, I am sure Tammy can attest to that as well.
Tammy: Absolutely, any time you can have the full design team in the same software, it is beneficial to everyone. It makes the collaboration better, prevents errors, saves time, and ultimately results in a better project.
Our Collaboration Has Never Been Stronger
Tammy: We have definitely become more collaborative in the design profession with our architects and engineers, but I also think we’re becoming even more collaborative in the office. Multiple designers can be in the same model working on different areas of the site at the same time. I may be on the West side of a building while Chris is on the East, and we have a more comprehensive view of the entire project, not just our current focus area. We can meet in the middle and figure it out together. Whereas in CAD, the process is more like one person is sketching the design on trace, one person is drafting it, and another is drawing the details—but that all becomes integrated in Revit and you are doing a little bit of everything instead of compartmentalizing.
Tammy: I have only transitioned to landscape architecture from architecture within the past four months, and I feel as though I have already learned well beyond the basics of project design, documentation, and detailing because, having come from a Revit background, I am being immersed into every aspect of a project. In my experience, there’s no better way to learn about a site and explore design options than by being able to see our projects in plan, section and 3D all at the same time. EDGE has shown that we are a firm that really values not just how fast we can produce work, but how well we can do it. And this is helping us push our expectations for ourselves even higher.
The Data Is Integrated
Chris: Another way that Revit has been game changing for the studio is the quantification of the building information modeling data that exists in the program. When we create these models, not only are we seeing it in 3D, but we’re also getting live information about quantity schedules, cost estimation, solar studies, heat indexes, and other similar data. We are working to push it further as we explore working with outside softwares to find ways to lower our project’s carbon footprint and aspire to reach net zero development—which is in the works. There’s so much more that we are looking to tap into.
We Show Clients Feedback in Real Time
Chris: We are often showing clients their feedback in real time during meetings. If someone is saying they want to see an elevation change or what it might look like if an area became all green space instead of pavement, those are easy changes we can show them in real time to come to a consensus.
Chris: For example, during the first phase of Glass City Riverwalk in Toledo, Ohio, Revit was the primary means of communicating with the client and project team. It was valuable to the point where, even though we were not the prime on the project, it was essential that we were on each call so that we could show the areas that were being discussed live in the model. A client could say “well, let’s see what it would look like if we modified it this way” and we would do it for them live. This elevated our meetings from directives that would require a follow up meeting to present their feedback back to them to an ongoing conversation. I would go as far as to say that being able to communicate the design intent in that manner with the client helped us build really great working relationships with their team and made the process clearer and easier for them. We’re seeing clients come back with additional projects because they really like how engaging our process is.
We’re Better at Building Public Support for Projects
Chris: For us, the Revit model has become not only a design/documentation tool, but a presentation tool as well. Our Revit team will bring our model to public meetings to show the clients and community what the spaces will feel like in 3-D. Since transitioning, we have definitely received better engagement from the public than showing them a plan or section that they may not be able to read because those are very specific to our industry. So it has been a very useful tool for communicating design intent in terms that are approachable for the general public.
Tammy: Absolutely, for example, last Wednesday we were at a public meeting in Toledo to present on the Glass City Riverwalk Vistula segment. We had pinned up the 2-D plans on the walls. A lot of people came over and looked at the 2-D plans and were still wondering “what is that space.” Even though we are used to seeing things in a plan, that’s just not something the general public is used to reading. Then we presented a 3-D video walkthrough of our project, and we got much more enriching feedback. There were a lot of comments along the lines of “wow, you’re able to show what I have in my head” and “it’s incredible to see it live”. Being able to immerse them in the space, to pivot and turn and take them through it, they can see “oh, this dock is next to this pavilion” and it really helps people visualize what is happening in the plans and get a better understanding of the scale of a site. We definitely plan to continue showing models at public meetings.
Chris: Adding to that, Tammy’s been instrumental in looking into the different softwares and plugins that will make our models look more realistic. So, whether that’s Lumion, Enscape, Twin Motion or anything similar, we can take those enhanced models on our computer with us to meetings and present it onto a projector or a TV and say ‘this is really what it will really look and feel like. I would say that because of our use of Revit, we are able to much more effectively build community support and buy-in for projects simply because we’re able to communicate more effectively with the public. It helps us eliminate the ambiguity that exists in that communication barrier between the public and the design team.
We’re Committed to Industry Best Practices
If you or your firm are considering whether a transition to Revit is right for you, we hope that you found it helpful to learn about some of the benefits that we have discovered as we went through our adoption process. For us, Revit is not merely a software; it is a strategic choice that is elevating our design capabilities and process. As we look to evolve with the shifting paradigms in the design profession, we feel that Revit is the best tool to help us keep stride with the firms at the forefront.
EDGE is further investing in Revit and its capabilities to demonstrate that we are going full force into the future. We’re not afraid to take that leap, and we are fully committed to going where the design profession is heading.