Project 1

The scope of this project (Project 1) is to apply the principles learnt in ARCH 653 (Building Information Modeling) course using REVIT Architecture.

I drew my inspiration for this project from various skyscrapers around the world like Sears or Willis Tower, Chicago, Petronas Towers, Malaysia, etc.

Scope

This project has three towers (Two symmetrical and one irregular) connected by Sky bridge at middle
Helipad and Sky Deck observatory are two significant components in this project
Different curtain panels for the towers and Sky Bridge

Modeling

Modeling by creating mass in the basic process in a project in REVIT
In this project, three towers, sky bridge & sky deck were created as conceptual mass family
For creating solid mass, boundary lines were set at two levels and connected
Their dimensions were controlled parametrically
Width of the towers were kept constant and depth is varied parametrically
Sky Deck and Sky bridge were aligned to respective levels and so they adjust with the tower depth

Center Tower

This tower was created with elliptical base
Three elliptical masses with reducing major and minor radius were created on top of the tower using footprints at different levels

Helipad

In a separate conceptual mass family, different levels were created and circle foot print were drawn of different diameters
Footprints were connected to create a solid mass
Outer rim was created by creating a point on the topmost circle and drawing a small circle on the reference plane of the point

Sky Deck

Sky deck was created as in place mass by drawing a rectangle and creating solid mass 10 ft. wide
This was drawn on the curved surface of the tower, hence the mass will be curved
Curtain Panels were applied on the sky bridge mass later

Sky Bridge

Sky bridge was created as in place mass by drawing a rectangle and creating solid mass 60 ft. wide
Curtain Panels were applied on the sky bridge mass later

Curtain Panels

Rotating Panels

With a base panel and frame, rotating panel were created for this curtain panel
Angle and offset depths were controlled parametrically
Parameters Multiplier and Rotation were used to randomize the angle of panel
Once the surface was divided, few rotating panels were placed and repeat command was selected to apply curtain panels for the whole surface
In mass model, two sets of material parameters (type) were created and assigned for different angles of rotation
Those material parameters were then assigned in project

Sky Bridge Panels

Base panels and a frame panel supported by rods controlled parametrically
Frame along the sides of the panel was created using reference plane of the point on the outer sides of the panel

Parameters

Parametric modeling helps in controlling the changes in the project at any point of time without starting from the beginning
In this project, parameters were used wherever possible

Parameters in Mass Modeling

Once the footprints for towers were created, their distance were measured and parameters were assigned
Those parameters control the depth of the towers
Conditional Statements were entered for the depths if the height of sky deck or bridge was greater than the tower itself
For the center tower, height of each varying mass at the top were controlled by parameters relating to base height

Parameters in Curtain Panels

Offset, materials and angle were created as parameters in curtain panels
Instance parameters in curtain panel family were assigned to type parameters in mass family before passing it to project

Parameters in Project to change materials and angle

Angle 1 to 6 parameters were used to input different angles for the rotating curtain panels
Two sets of material parameters were employed to give material properties like color and type

Building Components

Mass family was loaded into project and placed
Levels were created till roof at 10 ft. floor height
Floors at sky deck, sky bridge and top of center tower were created with different floor heights to accommodate the mass
Ceiling plans were created for sky bridge and another level
Components were placed in the floor plan and ceiling plan

Renderings

For Exterior renderings different perspective of cropped 3D view were created
Interior renderings of sky bridge and another office level were created
Sun light at two different timings were used for exterior renderings
For interior renderings, sun light and artificial light were used
Place of sun light was set to College Station, TX for June 21, 2015 (Longest day in a year)