BIM – Your Next Step CPD

Hi, it’s actually Adrian Slatter at the keyboard for this post. It’s been another full week for us at Training for Design – training at Mountview Academy and Pitlochry (Federation of Scottish Theatre) for Lighting Designers, training in-house for Garden and Landscape Designers, Interior Designers and Architects. Whilst I am not a trainer, I too share Tamsin’s passion for Vectorworks and really enjoy meeting our clients. We get to work with a huge variety of talented people from different backgrounds, with different requirements from, and experience in, using Vectorworks. However, at the end of their training, as one, they are all inspired by the way that Vectorworks can save them time and effort.

With the beginning of the year well and truly behind us, I spent my week visiting customers and potential customers and on Thursday ran the first of four separately booked RIBA approved CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions for a firm of architects in London. The feedback from the twenty plus people in the room was very complimentary and the practice is looking to move to Vectorworks Architect in the very near future.

I always find it interesting how BIM (Building Information Modelling) is often seen as something magic and totally revolutionary, whereas for some, particularly Vectorworks users, BIM represents a formalisation of what they have been doing to a greater or lesser degree for a number of years. However, with the focus on BIM and Paul Morrell’s directive that Government projects should be mandating BIM capability by 2016, we are seeing a surge in CPD booking requests.

However, just as the advent of the internet has not monopolised our shopping habits as it was predicted to do around the millennium, the same is true for BIM. For some firms, BIM is happening now, mandated by lead contractors on large projects; others are moving towards BIM, understanding the benefits that implementation can bring; whilst for many others even 2016 will not see them embrace BIM workflows. The good news for Vectorworks users is that they can happily live in any or all of these camps and move between them as their work requirements demand, or even on a project by project basis.

Fired up by the CPD session, one of the delegates on the feedback form, when asked if there was anything else he wanted as a follow-up to the session, replied “Vectorworks 2012 as soon as possible!”

In addition to a further three CPD sessions over the next weeks, I have some further BIM related events that I am attending – but more of those next time.

Job Vacancy: Junior Landscape Designer / Administrator. Must use Vectorworks Landmark

Yes, despite the gloom and doom employment figures, we’re proud to say that another of our clients is expanding and has a vacancy. This is a super-quick post, but you can find all the details here. Applicants should come to us initially with a copy of your CV, and a covering letter.

Vectorworks Site Modelling: A Level Playing Field?

Vectorworks Site Model Contour Plan

One of our most frequently asked questions is related to dealing with sloping sites when using Vectorworks Landmark and Vectorworks Architect. Of course, sites are rarely flat and the slightest change in level will have an impact on the realisation of the design.

For architects and landscape designers, the planning process is becoming more demanding in terms of 3D visuals and cut and fill calculations.

Our email support service is often inundated with survey files sent to us by designers, who are hoping to create a site model, only to find that the survey does not contain the required data in a 3D format. In some cases, it’s a quick call to the surveyor to ask for the correct data, but sometimes, it’s too late and leads to additional costs and delays.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a quick help sheet listing the ideal formats for Vectorworks-ready survey data, designed for the designer to pass on to their surveyor at the time of ordering the survey, so that they can get what they need and avoid delays in starting the project.

Loading the survey is just the start of the process. After that, a good understanding of the options within the site model itself for portraying the land form is essential for getting the most out of the product. After that comes a good understanding of the functionality of the site modifiers for changing the site. Followed by how to sit a building on the site, and impose a new landscape design to establish cut and fill.

We have a site modelling course running on Monday 6th February, at our offices in Newbury, so if you’re looking to hone your skills in this area, why not come along and join in the fun?