Little Diversified Architectural Consulting Revit Architecture helps Little deliver on our brand promises of providing results beyond architecture to our clients.
—Chris France, CIO
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting Turning passion into performanceLittle Diversified Architectural Consulting delivers outstanding results with the Revit® Architecture design and documentation system. The FirmLittle Diversified Architectural Consulting (Little) combines expertise in traditional architecture with outstanding consulting services in areas such as land development, engineering, and space management. The firm delivers exceptional design solutions that generate concrete business results for the workplace, community, and retail markets. In 2003, Little set a goal to standardize on the Revit Architecture design and documentation system, enabling many different disciplines to work on a single, integrated building information model. More than just a design tool, Revit Architecture has also helped Little address a diverse array of challenges—from site selection to sustainable design to facilities planning. “The construction process is getting more complicated, not less,” says John Ellis, a member of the BIM implementation team. “A tool like Revit Architecture allows designers to spend their time on what really matters—new and innovative ways to serve clients.” The ChallengeRecently, Little designers used AutoCAD® software to prepare initial 2D design drawings for a major jail facility. When they exported the files to Revit Architecture and created a 3D model, they discovered coordination inconsistencies and a potential safety hazard— the sheriffs would not be able to view some of the prisoner cells from the control room. By placing several cameras within the model at the security station, providing a panoramic view of the design, Little designers quickly identified the trouble spots and modified the design. They were also able to suggest locations for security cameras that would give sheriffs complete visibility of all prisoners, all the time. The Solution“Revit Architecture is changing how we think and respond to clients,” says Jay Holland, project manager. “It’s also making us better designers.” It was difficult for Little designers to model a space or an elevation with actual dimensions. These incomplete building models inhibited the ability to fully communicate design intent to clients before beginning construction, at times resulting in lack of consensus, delayed decisions, and errors. Multiple Design Options
Using Revit Architecture, Little’s design teams can quickly and easily generate many different design scenarios and incorporate the client’s selections. “We’re better able to explain design intent so the client can judge what they’re seeing,” says Rachel Ritchie, director of Cad technologies and BIM implementation team lead. “We get decisions made earlier.” The result? Earlier signoff on projects, better designs, and fewer adjustments. One Building Model—Many Solutions
In its work remodeling the office building of a major financial institution in Charlotte, North Carolina, Little conducted a series of lighting studies to determine how sunlight would affect the building’s interior, exterior, and courtyard spaces throughout the year. Interior studies clearly showed how the lobby and other renovations would appear. Sustainable Design Practices
The University of South Carolina’s Living/ Learning Center is the world’s largest “green” dorm—housing five hundred students across its 172,000 square foot complex. Little designers used Revit Architecture to conduct a virtual walkthrough of the building to analyze lighting levels. As a result, they incorporated light shelves on every south-facing apartment window to maximize daytime sunlight while limiting unwanted heat. Improved Productivity
Revit Architecture significantly improves productivity by: - Automatically coordinating any design changes throughout the entire building model—right through construction documents
- Improving the accuracy and efficiency of construction documents and seamlessly integrating with AutoCAD software
- Automatically scheduling signage, equipment, and fixtures, and then exporting to supply chain systems that order, track, and purchase
- Making it easy for designers to generate content for the building information model
- Supporting collaboration among multiple disciplines and locations
The Result“Revit Architecture helps us elevate our value to clients and improve our workflow with consultants,” says Ellis. “Our construction documents are now more thorough, more accurate, and easier to understand.” By enabling architects to improve productivity and communicate design intent to clients early in the design process, Revit Architecture helps firms be more competitive. “I really believe this technology will set the standard for the industry,” says Chris France, CIO. “If a firm does not adopt it, it will not be able to compete.” TrainingAutodesk Consulting, in conjunction with their Autodesk Authorized Reseller, provided training and project implementation on Revit Architecture software. Consultants worked with selected regional office sites over the course of a few months to get them up to speed on the software. Little continues to provide in house training through its BIM implementation team.
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