Revit BIM Experience Award Winner
Profile:
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is one of the nation's major private research universities. Since its founding in 1880, USC has conferred degrees on more than a quarter-million students who have helped Southern California grow to become a national trendsetter in many fields. The School of Architecture is known for its strong professional five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree that boasts two Pritzker Prize alumni: Frank Gehry and Thom Mayne. The school has long been involved in applying technology and sustainable design to architecture from Pierre Koenig’s Case Study Houses to Conrad Wachsman’s high-tech building systems and Ralph Knowles’ pioneering work in solar access design.
USC has been exploring Revit platform products for BIM, specifically Revit Architecture, since 2003. Initial student exposure to BIM began with the introduction of rudimentary information and Getting Started Guides to invoke critical thinking around the concepts. Integration and adoption of BIM into the curriculum has grown over the years and continues today with the exploration of Revit Structure, Revit MEP and an Autodesk-developed curriculum. Currently, Revit platform products are a part of two elective courses; Architecture 307 – Digital Tools for Architecture and Architecture 507 – Theories of Computer Technology. Both courses are taught by Karen Kensek, Associate Professor of the Practice of Architecture who has been instrumental in driving the use of Revit Architecture for BIM at USC. Students can also elect to use Revit Architecture for BIM as a part of their design studios and are increasingly doing so.
Honored for:
- Successful adoption and implementation of Revit Architecture at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, serving as Revit evangelists.
- Commitment to continuing to integrate BIM into the architecture curriculum by exploring Revit MEP for the critical thinking and understanding of building systems.
- Adoption and use of the Autodesk Revit Architecture BIM Curriculum and the Autodesk Sustainable Design Curriculum.
Notable Revit BIM Student Projects
Topic Design Studio
Student Designer: Sean Heath (Graduated in May 2008)
Instructor: Kara Bartelt Project:
Hybrid Hostel, Downtown Los Angeles
This project invoked critical thinking from architectural student, Sean Heath, who saw the ever increasing popularity of urban/city living as an opportunity to propose a high-rise, innovative hostel that could reside in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The proposed hostel integrates a commercial space vertically, while simultaneously encouraging interaction between hostel users, tourists, and local Los Angeles residents. The innovative design creates an inviting environment for social interaction. The intention is for the hostel to serve as a base camp for all touristic activities in the area and eventually become a landmark promoting Los Angeles as a re-emerging city, both locally and globally. BIM Experience:
Architectural student Sean Heath used Revit Architecture software in his topic design studio to create the Hybrid Hostel project. Through the use of Revit Architecture, Heath was able to design the 22 floors of residential, commercial and community spaces in the hostel with ease. Revit Architecture enabled him to be innovative in his design, and it resulted in his being able to model a complex void form that winds through the core of the building. Using Revit Architecture, Heath was able to push the building envelope and go deeper into his design. With the Revit BIM approach, he never had to worry about creating plans and sections during the design process, which enabled him to focus more on the details of the design and the 3D models. Outside of the classroom, using Revit Architecture has also been to Heath’s advantage. After graduating, he interviewed only at firms using Revit Architecture for BIM, and his experience with Revit Architecture has been recognized and applauded as a favorable advantage among hiring firms. Listen to a podcast with Sean Heath. |
Topic Design Studio
Student Designer: Paolo Leon (Currently 5th year student)
Instructor: Charles Lagreco Project:
Vermont Recreation Center
The Vermont Recreation Center is a fictional project located on the northeast corner of Vermont and 30th Place, just one block north of the University Park Campus. The project seeks to provide USC and the surrounding community with a connection point to spark the congregation of residents for recreational activities. To provide increased value to the community, the recreation center is designed to house an after-school program that is staffed by USC students and professors providing after-school educational enrichment for neighborhood students. The goal of this mixed occupancy program is to foster a meaningful relationship between the university and the greater community. The project was created as a part of the student Paolo Leon’s topic studio which focused on the integration of building systems. BIM Experience:
Student Paolo Leon used Revit Architecture BIM software to design the Vermont Recreation facility during his topic studio. After performing site and program analysis, Leon used Revit Architecture to design the facility and was able to explore various design options while obtaining real-time feedback in 3D. The virtual model enabled Leon to identify design conflicts early on in the design process and as a result, Leon was able to continuously refine and improve a functional design. Using Revit Architecture allowed Leon to spend more time on design and less time trying to identify problems. His knowledge of Revit Architecture has also brought value in his professional career at a Southern California architecture firm that is in the process of transitioning to work strictly in Revit Architecture for BIM. Leon’s knowledge of BIM has made him a valuable member of the firm during this transition. |
